Gerrard: golden generation were 'egotistical losers'

Steven Gerrard has described himself and the other stars of England's so-called golden generation as “egotistical losers” who could not see beyond club-level rivalries and did not deliver on their potential because of an unfriendly environment.

- David Hytner

Steven Gerrard is in line for a return to management with Rangers

The former Liverpool captain, speaking as a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, also admitted that he hated being away with the England squad. Gerrard won 114 caps, the first of them coming in 2000, and he appeared at six major tournaments. Yet success eluded him, with one of the major issues being the cliques from Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Gerrard had Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher with him from Liverpool while the United set featured Ferdinand, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney. From Chelsea there was Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Gerrard struggled to dovetail in midfield with Lampard, while Scholes also failed to fit in. There was a problem with the system, Gerrard said, with a central midfield two not working. But the problems ran deeper than that.