Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his autobiography that Steven Gerrard was never a "top, top player." When Zinedine Zidane heard that, he couldn't stay silent.

This story dates back to 2013, but it remains one of the most debated topics in football. Ferguson, Lampard, Scholes, Gerrard — the trio that English football still can't stop comparing.

What Ferguson Wrote

In his 2013 autobiography Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography (Hodder & Stoughton, October 30, 2013), Ferguson penned a line that the football world has never forgotten:

"I'm one of the few who felt Gerrard was not a top, top player."

The statement infuriated Liverpool fans. Gerrard made 710 appearances for the club — only Ian Callaghan (841) and Jamie Carragher (737) played more. He led the team to the 2005 Champions League title, sparking an iconic comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan in Istanbul. His goal against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final is regarded as one of the greatest strikes in English football history. For England, he scored 21 goals in 114 caps and captained the team at three major tournaments between 2010 and 2014.

And about this man, Ferguson said — "not a top, top player."

Zidane's Response

In 2013, Zidane was Real Madrid's sporting director — and one of the most respected voices in world football. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, the Frenchman didn't hold back:

"For two or three years, Steven Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. Even now he is playing at a high level for Liverpool and England."

"Alex Ferguson is obviously one of the most successful coaches the game has ever had. But I did find his comments about Steven Gerrard very strange. To say he is not a top player is wrong. At 33, Gerrard is still operating at a high level."

"Gerrard has been loyal to Liverpool throughout his career — which is great for them — but if he had wanted to leave four or five years ago, then every top club in Europe would have tried to sign him."

A firm statement from arguably the greatest midfielder of his generation. But Zidane wasn't alone.

The Pile-On Ferguson Walked Into

Liverpool's then-manager Brendan Rodgers offered his rebuttal after a Reds win over West Brom: "Steven is a top, top, top, top, top player." Jamie Carragher weighed in via his Daily Mail column. The book had only just hit shelves, and the football world was already pushing back.

Gerrard's Own Response

The captain himself chose to take the high road. Speaking on The Clare Balding Show, Gerrard said:

"I went on trial at Manchester United when I was 13 and had a letter off them wanting to sign me on a seven-year deal. I'm a huge fan of Alex Ferguson and what he's done in the game is fantastic, that's the reason why he's sold that many copies in the first week. I was genuinely a little bit gutted when I read that, the reaction of the papers, when he said I'm not a top, top player. But I won't lose sleep over it, everyone is entitled to their opinion."

The Context

Many interpreted Ferguson's statement as an attempt to elevate his own player — Paul Scholes — at Gerrard's expense. Scholes, Frank Lampard and Gerrard played in the same era, and comparing the three remains one of English football's endless debates.

What makes Ferguson's 2013 verdict so striking, however, is that it contradicts almost everything Ferguson had said about Gerrard before the book.

In December 2000, with Liverpool preparing to face United at Old Trafford, Ferguson said:

"He is physically and technically precocious. He's got a good engine and remarkable energy. He reads the game and he passes quickly. I would hate to think Liverpool have someone as good as Roy Keane."

Four years later, in a 2004 Sunday Times interview, Ferguson went even further:

"He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. More than [Patrick] Vieira. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but I think he does more for his team than Vieira does and has way more to his game."

Around that same period, Ferguson reportedly explored the possibility of signing Gerrard as a long-term replacement for Roy Keane in Manchester United's midfield.

So Ferguson once called Gerrard the most influential player in England, considered signing him to anchor United's midfield — and then, eight years later, decided he wasn't a "top, top player" after all.

After Football: A Changed Relationship

Ferguson's tone softened in the years that followed. After being sacked by Aston Villa on October 20, 2022, Gerrard turned to none other than Ferguson for advice — a story he revealed publicly only in May 2024.

After a ten-month break from the game, Gerrard took charge of Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League in July 2023, where he remains as manager.

Ferguson's words in his autobiography are still debated. Zidane's response is not.