Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 7y

Steven Gerrard more complete player than Zinedine Zidane - Arbeloa

West Ham United defender Alvaro Arbeloa believes his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard was the most complete footballer he has ever played with.

The Spanish full-back played alongside Gerrard for three seasons on Merseyside between 2006 and 2009 before moving to Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old says that Gerrard's footballing talents were more well-rounded than those of Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane.

"I've been lucky. I've played with some of the best players in history, but Gerrard's the most complete," Arbeloa told the Guardian. "Could Zidane defend like Steven? He defended, he attacked, he was good in the air, he could hit it with his right, with his left, he could head a corner or take it, play everywhere. 

"He could do so much, so well. He has experience, he's worked with good coaches, and if he wants to be a coach, he can.

"You think he's calm but on the pitch he's all passion. You see him flying into a tackle or celebrating a goal and think: 'Calm? Yeah, when he's sleeping maybe'. And if he wants to be a coach there's no better place than Liverpool."

Arbeloa, who moved to West Ham in the summer on a free transfer, is reportedly set to miss out on a return to Anfield on Sunday due to injury.

The 2010 World Cup winner has been limited to just three Premier League appearances this season, but insists he does not have any regrets about joining the struggling London outfit.

"One of the good things about getting older is you learn with experience and I've learnt that a season isn't September to January," he added.

"What really matters is January to June, and I hope to be here. I just want to help. I don't regret coming at all -- and the proof of that is that I don't want to go in January. I want to be here to the end."

^ Back to Top ^