Here is an in-depth look at the life and times of England and Liverpool midfielder Steven George Gerrard, MBE.
1980: Born May 30, in Huyton.
1988: Joins Liverpool Academy.
1998: November - Makes Liverpool debut as substitute against Blackburn.
December - Makes full debut against Tottenham.
1999: September - One of three players sent off in bad-tempered Merseyside derby as Everton achieve 1-0 win at Anfield.
December - Scores first Liverpool goal in 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
2000: May - Included in Euro 2000 squad and makes England debut in 2-0 friendly win against Ukraine.
June - Features as substitute in England's 1-0 success against Germany in Charleroi but forced to pull out of final group game through injury. England lose to Romania and go out of Euro 2000.
2001: September - Scores with a terrific long-range shot to put England ahead against Germany after they had fallen behind. They go on to win the match 5-1.
October - He is called up for England's World Cup qualifier against Greece, but is spotted out drinking 11 hours before he is due to meet up with the rest of the England squad. He apologises to manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
2002: May 12 - Ruled out of World Cup because of groin injury.
2003: February 3 - Banned for three games with immediate effect by an FA disciplinary hearing at Bolton's Reebok Stadium after two-footed lunge at Everton defender Gary Naysmith.
September 11 - Gerrard appointed Liverpool captain.
November 11 - Signs new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2007.
2004: March 30 - Named England captain for friendly in Sweden in the absence of David Beckham and Michael Owen.
June 13 - Stray backpass while playing for England eventually allows Zinedine Zidane to equalise for France in a European Championship match. France go on to win 2-1.
December 8 - Stunning long-range goal seals 3-1 win over Olympiacos and earns place in the second round of the Champions League.
2005: May 25 - Lifts Champions League trophy, scoring the first goal as Rafael Benitez's team fight back from 3-0 down to win on penalties.
July 7 - Signs a four-year contract extension to Liverpool contract.
2006: March 25 - Sent off for two bookings against Everton - both within minutes of each other - but Liverpool win 3-1.
April 19 - Real Madrid include Gerrard on their list of transfer targets, according to the club's footballing director Benito Floro.
April 23 - Named PFA player of the year.
May 13 - Nets twice as Liverpool win FA Cup with defeat of West Ham.
June 15 - Scores England's second goal in 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup group stage.
June 20 - On the scoresheet again in final group game, a 2-2 draw with Sweden.
July 1 - England knocked out on penalties by Portugal in the quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.
August 10 - Named England vice captain to John Terry by new manager Steve McClaren.
2007: June 4 - Signs new contract with Liverpool, committing him to the Anfield club until 2011.
2008: October - Scores his 100th goal for Liverpool with strike against PSV Eindhoven.
December 29 - Arrested in early hours after incident in a Southport nightclub, hours after helping Liverpool go three points clear at the top of the Premier League with two goals in a 5-1 win at Newcastle.