Footballer Profile - Steven Gerrard

Certainly there will be many loyal Koppites who could make a fairly convincing case in favour of Steven Gerrard being Liverpool's finest ever midfield player

After all, few Liverpool players of any generation can have been such a vital part of the team as the current captain. Not many have an FA Cup Final named after them - Stanley Matthews, Bert Trautmann, a white horse called Billy - and Steven Gerrard will probably join that list. Few other footballers can single-handedly change matches the way Gerrard does and, in one of the best Cup Finals of the modern era, he did just that in 2006 against West Ham. With Liverpool two goals adrift, first of all Gerrard picked out Cisse with an immaculate long diagonal pass for their first goal and then he volleyed home a Peter Crouch knockdown to equalise. More was to come though for, with Liverpool behind again, and the crowd waiting for the final whistle, Gerrard hit an amazing shot from 37 yards. Liverpool won the match on penalties; Gerrard, of course, scored one of them.

Chelsea FC

That wasn't, of course, the first occasion that 'Stevie G' had turned a cup final on its head. Previously, in the Champions League final against Milan in 2005, known to Liverpool fans as 'the miracle of Istanbul', Gerrard had headed home the goal just after the half-time interval that started Liverpool's resurgence after being three goals down at the break. Gerrard is now the only player to have scored in an FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and UEFA Cup final; that's some big game temperament.

Steven Gerrard has played his entire career for Liverpool FC, making his debut as an eighteen year old back in 1998. Becoming a regular two years later, when he also made his first England appearance, he has gone on to win a host of awards. PFA Young Player of the Year in his first full season, as well as PFA Fans' Player of the same season, he's added the PFA Player of the Year, UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and, in season 2008-09, he was voted the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year. Additionally, he has been in the UEFA Team of the Year on three occasions and in the FIFPro World XI twice. Steven Gerrard is also one of the select number of players to have been awarded an MBE by the Queen during his career, in December, 2007.

There has, until recently, been an almost constant debate in the English media about whether it was possible for Steven Gerrard and the Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to perform effectively together in the England team. With both attack minded midfielders preferring to play central roles, it has sometimes been suggested that they would somehow get in each other's way playing for their country. Thankfully for England's chances of success, Fabio Capello has put this idea into the dustbin of history and made both players integral parts of his World Cup qualifying team and so Gerrard has a great opportunity of adding to his 76 caps and 16 goals for his country. England fans might also like to remember that it was in a particular 5 - 1 win against Germany that the Liverpool player scored his very first international goal; another trade mark 'screamer'.

With is tackling ability, his range of passing, ferocious shooting and totally committed and enthusiastic attitude on the pitch, Steven Gerrard is undoubtedly one of the leading talents of his generation. To Liverpool fans, he's up there with the very best of the players to have pulled on their famous red kit.

Footballer Profile - Steven Gerrard

Footballer Profile - John Terry

If ever a footballer played with his heart on his sleeve, that man is John Terry.

I have no way of knowing the truth of the following story or otherwise but I wouldn't be in the least surprised if it wasn't true. Apparently, John Terry has the ball that he so horribly miskicked from the penalty spot in the Champions League final against Manchester United two seasons ago sitting in his house so that he can see it every day. It must have been the worst moment of his career; and his genuine emotion was evident for everyone to see. Now, he uses it as a spur to his determination to make amends. That sums up the man.

John Terry was, of course, the only Englishman selected for the All Star team at the end of the 2006 World Cup - and that's just one of the honours that have come the way of the Chelsea and England captain. Twice considered the Best Defender in the Champions League, the PFA Players' Player of 2005 and in the FIFPro World XI for four consecutive seasons, he was also the first England player to score at the New Wembley - heading home a David Beckham free kick in the one all draw with Brazil in June, 2007.

Twenty nine at the beginning of December, 2009, Terry has been a first team regular at Chelsea since the beginning of the decade. After a few games on loan at Nottingham Forest, he quickly became a permanent fixture in the Chelsea team and has played alongside some of the modern game's best central defenders - Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Ricardo Carvalho. Ironically, when he joined the London club at 14 years old, Terry was a midfield player but it soon became apparent that the heart of the defence was going to be the best place for this dominating, strong player.

Terry's courage, and complete commitment to the cause of his Chelsea and England teams, has become legendary. This is a man who would willingly put himself in jeopardy in order to prevent a goal - and who clearly expects nothing less from the players around him. This selfless dedication, of course, almost had tragic consequences during the League Cup Final of 2007 against Arsenal when, diving in front of an opposition player, he was kicked in the head. Unconscious and nearly swallowing his tongue, only the prompt action of Gary Levin, the Arsenal physio, who rushed onto the pitch to take the necessary action, ensured that tragedy was avoided.

Never afraid of the physical side of defending, it might be a surprise to learn that Terry didn't receive his first 'straight red card' until as recently as September 2008 in a match against Manchester City, although he has had his share of confrontations with opposition players.

He's also scored his fair share of important goals - usually with headers from corner or free kicks. Of the 36 goals he's scored for Chelsea, in his 427 matches in all competitions, many have been vital for the club; and all of them have obviously meant so much for this Chelsea stalwart and icon.

I'm sure there are many Chelsea fans who have already changed their screensavers to show John Terry celebrating his winning goal against Manchester United in the league recently. How good must that have made his feel?

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