Steven Gerrard has delivered a heartfelt homage to his ex-Liverpool colleague Pepe Reina, with the Spanish shot-stopper preparing to wrap up an illustrious career after Como’s concluding Serie A fixture against Inter Milan this Friday.
At the ripe age of 42, Reina is preparing to take his final bow following a commendable career. Having arrived at Anfield from Villarreal back in 2005, he racked up close to 400 appearances for the Merseyside club. He is preparing to end his career with Como, having signed for Cesc Fabregas’ team last year.
Reina’s tenure on Merseyside was distinguished by key triumphs including FA Cup and League Cup victories, not to mention scooping the Premier League Golden Glove thrice. He was, however, close to leaving the club at one point.
With retirement on the horizon, Gerrard took to social media to celebrate his former comrade’s “incredible career”, which has stretched across more than a millennium of matches.
On Instagram, Gerrard expressed his sentiments saying, “Congratulations on your incredible career and journey,”. “It was a pleasure not only to play alongside you but also to share many years together at Liverpool.
“A leader, standard setter and a top top goalkeeper. Enjoy your time till you decide your next challenge. All the best Rossi La … what a guy.”
(Image: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Since his Anfield exit in 2014, Reina’s globetrotting career has included stints with AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio and a nostalgic Villarreal return. The Spaniard briefly reacquainted himself with Premier League action through a loan spell at Aston Villa in January 2020.
Reina took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce his decision to hang up his gloves, musing over a career that exceeded his wildest dreams yet passed in a flash, prompting him to quip, “It’s been much longer than I dreamed and it’s been so short that I’d live it all over again.
“Only three days from the ‘last dance’, so many emotions, people and experiences come to my mind that I can only summarise with an immense THANK YOU.
“My heartfelt thanks to all those people who have crossed my path, the greatest heritage of this profession, I carry a bit of all of them and I don’t forget that they have helped me live this real career privilege as a footballer. “I feel proud and relaxed of every moment lived; the bad because they taught me, the good because they made me an extraordinarily happy guy.
“Thank you God for blessing me with a family that is responsible for all the good things that have happened to me and that I will not have years to live to repay.
“See you soon, new projects coming and football runs through my veins… I wouldn’t understand this life without him. My most sincere hug.”
