Steven Gerrard greets fans at Adidas store in Mall of The Emirates 19.02.2017: England and Liverpool FC legend pays special visit to meet fans and sign autographs in Dubai Dubai: adidas welcomed one of world’s most iconic football

England and Liverpool FC legend pays special visit to meet fans and sign autographs in Dubai
 




Dubai: adidas welcomed one of world’s most iconic football players, Steven Gerrard, into its store in the Mall of the Emirates, giving local football fanatics a chance to meet the England and Liverpool FC legend.



Hundreds of fans visited the adidas store to catch a glimpse of the Anfield hero on UAE soil. The recently appointed Liverpool FC Academy coach also took time to speak with budding young football stars, sign autographs and take pictures with the public.



Speaking at the event, Steven Gerrard talked about his affection for Dubai and young fans here: “I love Dubai, it’s one of my favourite destinations. Every time I come here I always bump into Liverpool fans, so it’s been great to spend some time with them today.



 I think the region overall is doing a great job in growing football and I will give the same message I give to kids all over the world - just keep practicing and work as hard as you can, because you get out of this game what you put in.”



While in the adidas store, Gerrard spoke about how important boots are to your game too: “When I was very young, I wore adidas World Cups and Copa Mundials. They are classics and still around today, which shows how consistent and good the boots are.



Then I moved into Predator once I signed with adidas. I trust Predator, I believe in them, I wore them probably 17 years. Every single year adidas surprise me – they make the boot lighter and more comfortable. I have a fantastic relationship with this brand and I hope it will continue.”



With the FA Cup providing some dramatic results over the weekend, Gerrard who has won the title twice himself was in support of the competition due to its unpredictable nature:



 “I’ve been a fan of the FA Cup since I was five years old, watching cup finals growing up desperate to play in the competition. I think it’s magical and I’ve had some fantastic experiences personally with Liverpool over the years.



Watching it now as a fan, I think it’s incredible to see the upsets - it’s still got that magic. It gives the whole of football the chance to be successful and that’s the reason why I love it.’



With Millwall’s win over Leicester City being one of those FA Cup surprises, Gerrard said the current Premier League Champions need to improve to avoid relegation this season: “I think they have to improve.



They did incredibly well, one of the biggest stories in football last year, and congratulations for that achievement. But they’ve certainly taken their foot off the gas and there’s a lot of hard work to do to stay in the league.”



Looking ahead to international competitions, Gerrard who has 144 England caps commented on the England squad: “They are on the back of a disappointing tournament.



 It’s a fresh start with a new manager. I have confidence in the individuals in the team – there’s huge talent there with a good blend of youth and experience. I think now they have to all listen to Gareth and buy into what he’s trying to do. I certainly think they can go on and see a big improve moving forward. I’m really looking forward to watching them.”



He also shared support for the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022: “I have every confidence that Qatar will put on a great event, you can feel the passion and excitement every time you come to the region. Everyone is football crazy. Good luck to them and I hope they put on a good show.”



The iconic central midfielder, who spent 17 seasons playing for Liverpool FC, has recently taken on the role as academy coach at the club. Winning two FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Super Cup with the club, Gerrard will now share this elite experience with the future stars of Liverpool FC.



adidas is the global leader in football. Through its partnerships with the sport’s governing bodies, clubs and superstars, it aims to share the brands’ love for sport with the region and help to bring fans closer to their sporting idols.
 



Sameena Ibrahim, Getty Images