Not sure whether it merits its own thread, but thought it was lovely all the same so decided to go for it. Here's a piece by Rafa on Gerrard, translated from German:
http://www.11freunde.de/artikel/rafael-benitez-huldigt-steven-gerrardRafa Benitez hails Steven GerrardMasterpieces of passionSteven Gerrard leaves Liverpool FC at the end of the season. The club doesn't just lose its captain, says his former manager Rafa Benitez: "It loses its heart". Here, he says goodbye.
Steven Gerrard was my captain. He was our captain. The heart of Liverpool FC.I still recall my first meeting with him, in June 2004, the day I joined Liverpool. I had an appointment with him, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen, the local lads at the club, to speak about common goals. Where do we want to go? How do we want to get there? I asked them, what they could bring the side. Steven said 'passion'. He said it like it was his second name.
He always gave everything, and nobody wanted to give less.There wasn't a single game during our six years together at LFC, that he didn't show his typical passion. He was a captain, a magnificent example for all around him. His sheer presence lifted the team to a higher level. He refused to accept defeat before the game was over. Therefore it was impossible for his team-mates to lie down. He always gave everything, and nobody wanted to give less
While others bask in the glory during their career already, Steven wasn't satisfied with his achievements. Immediately after the Champions League Final victory in 2005 against AC Milan, the Miracle of Istanbul, that wouldn't have happened but for his endless desire, he said to me: "Gaffer, make me the best midfield player in the world!" I said: "We're not starting today, Steven, but we will tomorrow."
I made him an attacking midfielderThis wasn't an easy task. I knew, that I could hardly get anything more out of him, because he was already playing to his mental and physical limit. But I found out that he previously had not played in his ideal positon. As a box-to-box-midfielder he exhausted himself too much in the duels and wasted his dynamics, which knew no equal. I like it when somebody takes part in defending, but Steven was a one man army who, once he was unleashed, could sweep aside opposing teams on his own. So I put him from the centre to the right wing, as an attacking midfielder. His closed inon his goal with his partnership with Fernando Torres, who joined LFC from Atletico in 2007: for a couple of years, he was amongst the most threatening, spectacular midfield players in the world.
His goals were masterpiecesBelief, decisiveness, power and techniqueTo simply consider him the best, wouldn't do other players of his generation justice, Kaka for example during his best days in Milan. But what set him apart from all others, was his ability to decide matches in the last minute, by belief, decisiveness, power and technique. I think of his goal against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final, I think of his goal against Olympiakos in the last group match in 2005's Champions League. Those weren't lucky goals, born out of desperation, they were masterpieces of passion.
I want to thank Steven Gerrard. For the hard work he delivered, for the devotion, for his passion. Liverpool don't just lose a brilliant athlete and a great captain. They lose their heart.
You’ll never walk alone, Steven.