Steven Gerrard is considered as one of Liverpool’s best ever players but even he had to do things he did not want to do.
The Reds have had a hugely successful time of things lately, with Jurgen Klopp, and now Arne Slot, helping change the trajectory of the entire club.
Of course, all the players deserve the trophies that they have been getting, but it is hard not to think that Liverpool legend Gerrard might feel a little hard done by.
Although he still won plenty, the talent he possessed should have meant that he won so much more, although the team around him was nowhere near the level it is at now.
The former captain carried Liverpool on his back at times and got them out of some really difficult situations, with it hard to imagine just how good he would be in his prime playing now.
The players the Reds can attract today are nothing short of sensational, although they did try bringing in top quality stars in the past, they just were not as interested, even if Gerrard himself had to personally reach out to them.
Brendan Rodgers asked Steven Gerrard to text Toni Kroos to convince him to join Liverpool
Before Klopp arrived, Liverpool were managed by Brendan Rodgers, the man who, somehow, almost brought them their first Premier League title.
However, despite this one-off season, the Reds were rather lacklustre under the Northern Irishman, hence why signing top players was proving difficult.
In fact, they got a little desperate at times, with Rodgers even asking his captain to text players personally to help convince them to join, with Gerrard once revealing that he reached out to Toni Kroos but he was not interested.
“Our target in 2014 was ridiculously optimistic and Brendan even asked me to take a crack at trying to talk Toni Kroos into signing for Liverpool,” Gerrard revealed to the Daily Mail back in 2015.
“We both admired Kroos immensely. I knew Real Madrid were gearing up to make Bayern Munich an offer and so I felt a bit awkward when I texted Kroos. The German was on his way to winning the World Cup with his country and Real were the champions of Europe. But God loves a trier, and so I gave it a whirl.
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“Some of the best footballers in the world can also be the most respectful. Kroos didn’t make me feel like I was a total idiot. But, of course, he would soon sign for Real Madrid. We had a nice little exchange of texts and I said well done and good luck.”
At the time, it would have been no surprise why the World Cup winner had no interest in joining, although you have to at least rate Rodgers’ optimism for thinking it was, somehow, even possible.
Steven Gerrard also messaged Willian
Kroos was not the only player who Gerrard was asked to text, with the scouser also revealing that Rodgers wanted him to do the same with Willian too.
The Brazilian was at Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala at the time, although he was one of the hottest young talents in world football, making it no surprise why he opted against a move to Anfield.
“In 2013, the latest player in our sights was Willian, the Brazilian midfielder,” Gerrard said in 2015.
“I followed the usual routine when approaching a star player we wanted to sign. Instead of calling him directly I always sent a text. It seemed more respectful and allowed the player to read my message at a time when it suited him best. A cold call felt wrong.
“I said hello and hoped he didn’t mind me contacting him directly. I stressed how much I admired him as a player and then, having mentioned that I knew Liverpool were speaking to his agent, I used the standard line: ‘If you need to chat or ask any questions I’m available at any time.’
“The reply came in and the same old conversation started. Willian thanked me and he said the usual, along the lines of, ‘I’d love to play with you, Steven, blah-blah-blah, but there are other clubs who play in the Champions League I need to talk to as well.’”
Willian then decided to make the move to Chelsea and, well, the rest is history.
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