EPL 2016-17: Steven Gerrard reveals why he rejected Chelsea

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has divulged the reason why he turned down Chelsea and opted to stay at the Merseyside club. The 36-year-old announced his retirement from football yesterday which drew the curtains over an 18-year long stellar career. During the peak of his career, several clubs tried to lure him away from Anfield but Gerrard turned down all the offers he received.

The former England international brought to light why he never left his boyhood club. “I get quite a lot of stick about not winning the Premier League,” he told BT Sport. “I look back at the opportunities I had to go to the strongest teams in the league, and I could be sat here now with four or five Premier League medals, or could have gone abroad to the big teams and chased that glory.

“But it’s also satisfying that I stayed here and was loyal to the people who were most important to me, I didn’t chase cash, chase the glory.”

Gerrard had handed in a transfer request in 2005 following Chelsea’s interest in signing him. Also, he was frustrated with Liverpool’s lack of ambition to win the league and hesitancy of the club’s hierarchy to extend his contract. However, in a remarkable turn of events, he then chose to stay at Anfield much to the happiness as well as relief of the Liverpool fans.

He has also snubbed the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan for the English club.

The midfielder admitted not having the elusive Premier League medal in his locker is something that would always haunt him but he is glad that he never left the club. “Of course I am sitting here with that one big regret that I didn’t win the Premier League, but I am proud of my loyalty,” he said.

"Liverpool means the world."

Gerrard wore the Liverpool shirt for 17 seasons, winning the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup, 2 FA cups and 3 League cups. He is regarded as one of the best and complete midfielders of his generation and he was named in the PFA team of the year, 8 times, more than any other player in history.

Also, he is the only player till date to score in the finals of the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and the League Cup. It is no doubt that the Premier League will never see another player like him, let alone Liverpool Football Club.

The 36-year-old recently turned down the offer of a managerial role at MK Dons and is rumoured to return to the Merseyside club in a coaching role in the academy.