he was decorated with the UEFA Club footballer of the year award. His development as a player continued, playing starring roles for club and country.  He was perhaps the only player to have emerged with any distinction whatsoever from England's last two World Cup jaunts, scoring three goals across both -- more than any other player. In 2009, for his incredible season with Liverpool, he was voted as the Football Writer and PFA fans' player of the year. Since 2010, Gerrard has suffered a succession of injuries which have had him averaging 25 games over the two seasons, his fewest since 1998/1999 when he made his debut.  Despite slowing down, his pedigree remains unquestioned; his fantastic hat-trick of goals against Everton in Liverpool's 3-0 derby victory a testament to that. Roy Hodgson named him captain of England going into the European Championships, acknowledgement of his abilities as a leader and player.  Starting in a deeper position, at 32 and with injuries ravaging his body, Gerrard will most likely be making his last bow at an international tournament and will seek to do better than ever by winning it.