My 5 star review of
My Story, by Steven Gerrard:-
Spoiler:
I feel like I committed treason by giving My Story, by Steven Gerrard, 5 stars. But I have to admit that this book was much better than many of the autobiographies that I had the pleasure of reading. Gerrard was a name that I had been associating with anathema for over a decade. To summarize my agony with his career, I'd say that Gerrard played for Liverpool Football Club, and I support Manchester United. These 2 clubs are rivals in English and European football - or soccer if you want to be pedantic.
Gerrard might not have actually sat before a keyboard or with a pen in writing this book. The de facto route to writing a sports autobiography is to record one's voice before a collaborator, who is also going to be dubbed the co-writer. After which comes a tedious editing process. I suppose that Gerrard must have used an associate. But the fact remains that there are no co-authors on the cover of this book. Still, even actual writers have support from a team of professionals. This means that Gerrard is not a superlatively silver tongued author along with having been a very good footballer. I could breathe again...
Gerrard's book is full of his love for his club, which was also his boyhood club that he followed. Towards the wrapping up of his career, when he is leaving Liverpool for an American soccer club, his vulnerability really shines through. We think footballers in terms of athletes, which they are. But for many footballers, including Steven Gerrard, there is much wear and tear. The body goes through swift movements in games that it never ought to have gone through. Men's feet were made to stand upright and walk and run long distances, not to twist, jump, change direction in the middle of a sprint, have a defender clip one's boot with studs showing etc etc.
The world class midfielder or defender will always carry hurts and tiny scars to their grave. However fit these players might be, they remind us that beneath their six packs and their deltoids, they are only human beings who will one day grow old having retired from football at the age of 35 years. Gerrard narrates in his book that once, a few days before a match, he had to have an abscess removed from his mouth. So footballers like him have that Spartan life during their careers.
I don't know if I believe every word in this book, but I feel Gerrard is not as scummy as some other players... or managers. Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain, comes across as a humble, quiet, and grounded person. He has the occasional drinking marathon. Like many Englishmen, Gerrard considers getting drunk with your 'mates' as an example of having fun. I personally don't see any fun in that. So, the odd episode aside, he seems honest, even. That was the difference between this book and countless other sports biographies. One other reason for Gerrard not to feel like the king of the world was that there were players better, more good looking, with more trophies and more pedigree than him! One such person was Paolo Maldini; football royalty, and the best player not to win the World Cup. So when Gerrard insinuates that he felt grateful to his fans, I reluctantly believe him.
Steven Gerrard ended his book at the point where he was going to play and settle in the US. At that point he would not know that he would become a semi successful manager. As the latter he would have, if he were managing in the English first league, to pit his wits against his former club Liverpool. He has in effect done that. Gerrard never won the Premiership. He was never crowned English champions. Reading his book, I feel that the difference between my club and his was that his had defenders and keepers that were error prone. Mislaid passes, own goals, misuse of the offside trap... they took their toll against Gerrard's and his team's efforts in winning each and every match. I liked this book for its insight, and its honesty. Gerrard might be slightly boring, but that is a pleasant quality for a football superstar. He is boring and also has enough nous to write a 5 star book. Well done indeed.