Former England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has delivered a damning assessment of England's so-called "Golden Generation," labeling them "egotistical losers" who ultimately failed to deliver on their potential due to club rivalries and an unfriendly team environment.
Gerrard, who earned 114 caps for England, made the remarks as a guest on the "Rio Ferdinand Presents" podcast. He stated that the intense club rivalries between players from Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea created a toxic environment that prevented the team from gelling. According to Gerrard, these divisions overshadowed the collective goal of achieving success for England.
"I think we were all egotistical losers," Gerrard said. He highlighted the contrast between the current camaraderie among former players in their punditry roles and the lack of connection during their playing days. "Why are we all mature enough now and at stages in our life where we're closer and more connected? Why couldn't we connect as England teammates back then?" he questioned.
Gerrard pointed to the culture within the England setup as a significant factor. He described an environment where players were isolated, spending too much time alone in their rooms and failing to form genuine bonds. "It was down to the culture within England that we were all never connected," Gerrard explained. "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".
He confessed that he "hated" being away with the England squad. "It was like I didn't feel part of a team," Gerrard admitted. "I didn't feel connected with my teammates with England". He contrasted this with his experiences at Liverpool, where he "felt special" and part of a genuine family.
The "Golden Generation," which included stars such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Wayne Rooney, failed to live up to expectations, never progressing beyond the quarter-finals of major tournaments. Gerrard believes that the team's inability to unite as a cohesive unit was a primary reason for their underachievement.
Despite his harsh assessment, Gerrard acknowledged the talent within the squad. "For me, the talent was there. The players were there," he stated. "The level of games we were all playing at was there to go and do better than what we did".
Gerrard also lauded Gareth Southgate for his work in connecting with the England team and fostering a positive environment. He suggested that Southgate is "underrated" for his ability to create a unified squad.
Looking ahead, Gerrard, whose managerial career has included spells at Rangers, Aston Villa, and Al Ettifaq, expressed his desire to return to management. "There's a part of me that still feels that there's a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges," he said. He emphasized his ambition to manage a team that competes for trophies.
