Gerrard To LA Galaxy Fans: "I'm not as influential as Beckham"

Steven Gerrard has warned LA Galaxy fans not to compare him to David Beckham, insisting that he will not match his former England team-mate in terms of looks or influence on MLS.

Beckham joined Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007 and spent five years in Los Angeles, winning the Western Conference regular season and play-offs three times as well as two MLS Cups before leaving to end his career at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Manchester United icon was a fan favourite in MLS and paved the way for more European stars to cross the Atlantic and further enhance the reputation of the sport in the United States.

Gerrard is one of the latest European players to move to America, following Frank Lampard, who joined New York City FC from Chelsea via a loan at Manchester City.

However, the Liverpool legend insists fans must not expect him to be the same as Beckham, suggesting he will struggle to be as influential on the nation's game as his predecessor.

"I think the important thing for me and for people to understand is that I'm not David Beckham," Gerrard told ESPN. "I'm not as good looking as him and I don't have the influence that maybe David has, but I'd like to think I'm on the same level when it comes down to performing on the football pitch.

"I've been studying MLS since I had the idea I was going to come here. I watched the Galaxy's games and I've been following stuff on YouTube, the individual players, to see their movements."


The 35-year-old ended a 28-year spell at Liverpool, the only other club he has played for, to join Galaxy and he admits it was a challenge to leave Anfield for Los Angeles.

"The easy thing for me would have been to sign a year extension and stay in my comfort zone at Liverpool and become a squad player and use my name to just filter into the background, or retire and call it a day," he added.

"But I like to challenge myself, and I think this is a fantastic opportunity and a big challenge for me at this age, and I can't wait to get stuck in."

Despite the massive change in scenery, though, he is confident he will settle into life at Galaxy.

"Without being big-headed, I feel I can contribute in many areas," he continued. "I like to be an all-round midfielder, I like to help the team defensively and I also like to help the team going forward.

"I'll work as hard as I can, I'll fight for the team with and without the ball and I'm looking to contribute in the final third.

"I'm coming into the champions, I'm coming into a fantastic team who are ready to win and if I can just add a little bit to that I'm sure the future can be successful."

Gerrard's wage is said to be higher than the majority of his team-mates', but he maintains that money was not a deciding factor for him.

"The only thing I can do is go out the pitch and walk the walk and prove to them in my performances that I'm not done, that I'm not retired," he said.

"Money's never been a motivation for me. I respect money. I'm secure, I've been secure for a very long time. I could have retired last year and sat on the beach for the rest of my life. That's not me. I'm a footballer, I'm a winner and I want to win for as long as I can."