Liverpool skipper Gerrard: I had Man Utd trials
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he had trials at Manchester United as a 14 year-old.
In his autobiography, which is being serialised by the News of the World, Gerrard revealed: "I wore the red of United in two trial matches.
"After doing well in those games, United offered me a three-year pro contract.
"I even met their legendary manager. A group of trialists had dinner with Mr Ferguson, as he was then.
"Michael Owen was meant to be at the meal, but didn't turn up.
"We sat and listened in awe to one of the managerial greats. He had heard about me and desperately wanted me to sign, but I was never going to sign for United. I looked around other clubs partly to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract.
"But almost 20 years of being conditioned to hate Man U went up in smoke on my first England call-up. The other Liverpool boys introduced me to the rest of the squad. The last table I visited belonged to Manchester United. Phil Neville, David Beckham, Andy Cole and Paul Scholes looked up and smiled at me.
"What the hell was going on? Shock-waves ripped through me.
"These people were supposed to be my enemy. We don't smile at each other. We snarl. I was thinking: 'But they hate me and I them.'
"But they didn't hate me. They were brilliant at putting the new boy at ease. I ran out the next day for practice, looking for any sign of an ambush. Surely this would be normal United versus Liverpool, in a neutral venue? No. Again, the United lads were fantastic. "
In his autobiography, which is being serialised by the News of the World, Gerrard revealed: "I wore the red of United in two trial matches.
"After doing well in those games, United offered me a three-year pro contract.
"I even met their legendary manager. A group of trialists had dinner with Mr Ferguson, as he was then.
"Michael Owen was meant to be at the meal, but didn't turn up.
"We sat and listened in awe to one of the managerial greats. He had heard about me and desperately wanted me to sign, but I was never going to sign for United. I looked around other clubs partly to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract.
"But almost 20 years of being conditioned to hate Man U went up in smoke on my first England call-up. The other Liverpool boys introduced me to the rest of the squad. The last table I visited belonged to Manchester United. Phil Neville, David Beckham, Andy Cole and Paul Scholes looked up and smiled at me.
"What the hell was going on? Shock-waves ripped through me.
"These people were supposed to be my enemy. We don't smile at each other. We snarl. I was thinking: 'But they hate me and I them.'
"But they didn't hate me. They were brilliant at putting the new boy at ease. I ran out the next day for practice, looking for any sign of an ambush. Surely this would be normal United versus Liverpool, in a neutral venue? No. Again, the United lads were fantastic. "
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