Former England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is embracing a new role — doting grandad — as he takes time away from football to focus on family life.
The 45-year-old icon has been spending precious moments with his first grandchild, a baby girl born in July to his eldest daughter, Lilly-Ella, 21. Lilly, who has built a growing online following, announced the birth with a touching black-and-white Instagram photo of her partner, Lee Byrne, leaving the hospital cradling their newborn. She captioned it simply: “@leebyrne8 2 becomes 3.”
Lilly, Gerrard’s first child with wife Alex, revealed she was expecting in January, sharing a pregnancy test photo with the words, “Our little secret. The best news… mini us is on the way.” Gerrard proudly responded, “We can’t wait. Congratulations and we love you.”
The new addition makes Gerrard a grandfather at 45 — and he couldn’t be happier. On Wednesday, he melted hearts by posting a photo cuddling his granddaughter, with no caption needed. Fans flooded the comments, praising the football star’s softer side.
The timing of this new chapter may explain why Gerrard recently turned down an offer to return to football management with Rangers, the club where he famously led the team to the 2021 Premiership title. According to insiders, Gerrard told the Rangers board that “the timing isn’t right,” as his family remains based in Bahrain following his spell managing Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
It’s understood Gerrard was in talks with Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe about returning to Ibrox but ultimately stepped back, prioritizing family stability. “The conversations ended amicably,” a source said, hinting that the door remains open for a reunion in the future.
Lilly’s partner Lee Byrne, 24, made headlines of his own — as the son of convicted Irish gangster Liam Byrne. However, there is no suggestion that Lee or any member of the Gerrard family is connected to any criminal activity.
For now, Gerrard seems perfectly content in grandad mode, cherishing the calm after decades of intensity on and off the pitch. One thing’s clear — the former Liverpool captain is finding joy in his most rewarding role yet: family man.
