Steven Gerrard played with and against some of the finest players in football history during his 20-year career with Liverpool, LA Galaxy and England. However, it was a Manchester United legend that stood out as the very best the Englishman lined up alongside.
Among the most talented peers Gerrard has shared a dressing room with are ex-Liverpool greats Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez and Xabi Alonso. The all-action midfielder also played alongside some world-class stars for his country, including Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes.
However, it was another Three Lions hero that stuck in Gerrard’s mind as the best he ever lined up with. In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, the 45-year-old didn’t hesitate when describing his greatest ever England colleague.
Steven Gerrard in No Doubt About Best-Ever England Teammate
While he’s locked in a never-ending debate along with Scholes and Lampard, the former Liverpool superstar didn’t even consider either of the legendary Premier League midfielders. Instead, he name-checked Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney as the best player he represented his country with. He stated:
“Wayne Rooney is the best player I’ve played with for England, hands down. He can do so many things… I don’t see Wayne as a No.9 or a No.10; I see him as an all-round attacker. He could occupy a back four on his own.”
Watch Gerrard’s interview with Rio Ferdinand below.
Rooney was the nation’s leading goalscorer until March 2023 – when his record was eclipsed by Harry Kane – after netting 53 times for England. Capable of playing as a lone centre-forward leading the line, in a strike partnership, or in a deeper midfield role, the Liverpool-born ace had many strings to his bow.
The respect runs both ways between the iconic scousers, as Rooney feels Gerrard is the best England teammate he ever had. He revealed as much in a 2018 interview with former Man Utd captain Gary Neville. The striker-turned-manager said:
“It’s got to be Steven Gerrard. At times, he got us through games. At the period where, obviously, we lost players – yourself, Rio, Becks. It was me, Stevie and Frank left. Stevie pulled us through our games then.”
Gerrard and Rooney played together on 67 occasions for their country. The first came in a 2002 win vs Turkey and the final time they were on the pitch together on the international stage came in a disappointing goalless draw against Costa Rica as the Three Lions were booted out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stages.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 11-10-25.
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