Gerrard, who represented England‘s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ 114 times between 2000 and 2014 under Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson, was part of a team bursting with stars. However, they never realised their potential and failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at a major tournament.
Speaking as a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard admitted that while England had world-class talent, the squad was crippled by arrogance, division, and club rivalries that destroyed any sense of unity.
“There was a bigger problem in England, in my opinion. I think we were all egotistical losers,” Gerrard said, agreeing with Ferdinand’s view that the rivalry among the Premier League giants was poisonous to team chemistry.
In a moment of raw honesty, Gerrard confessed that it still bothers him to see how friendly his former rivals are now, when they couldn’t even hold a proper conversation back in their prime.
“I watch the telly now and I see Carragher sitting next to Paul Scholes on this fan debate and they look like they’ve been best mates for 20 years,” he said.
“I see Carragher’s relationship with Gary Neville and they look like they’ve been mates for 20 years. I’m probably more close and friendly with you now than I ever was when I played with you for 15 years. So why didn’t we connect when we were 20, 21, 22, 23? Was it ego? Was it rivalry? Why are we all mature enough now and at stages in our life where we’re closer and more connected now? Why couldn’t we connect as England team-mates back then?
“I think it was down to the culture within England that we were all never connected. All in our rooms too much. We weren’t friendly or connected. We weren’t a team. We never at any stage became a real good strong team.”
While Gerrard insists he always loved representing England, he admitted the national team environment felt sterile, distant, and emotionally draining. Unlike Liverpool, where he “felt special” and part of a genuine family, England felt like a hotel stay; cold and disconnected.
“It was like I didn’t feel part of a team, I didn’t feel connected with my teammates with England,” Gerrard said. “I didn’t feel that with Liverpool, they were the best days of my life. When I used to go abroad to Liverpool or I used to go to an away game with Liverpool, I felt part of a team. I felt like the staff looked over me, like I felt special. I felt like I couldn’t wait to get there. With England, I just wanted the games and the training sessions and then to be away.
“I felt like the last one or two days of the 10 days, you could feel a connection coming, but then the games would be done. The games would be done. There was a little bit more of a connection during the tournament because you’d be living together a little bit more.”
As England prepare for their next set of fixtures, a friendly clash with Wales on Friday before a World Cup qualifier against Latvia three days later, Gerrard’s words serve as a stark reminder of what can happen when ego outweighs teamwork. For a man who gave everything on the pitch, Gerrard’s honesty cuts deep, and his “egotistical losers” verdict will echo long in the halls of St George’s Park.
