STEVEN GERRARD could have been a Wimbledon tennis champ rather than England's midfield maestro, according to the PE teacher who set him on the path to fame.
The Liverpool ace will once again be the three lions main man this weekend as Steve McClaren's side take on Macedonia at Old Trafford.
But Stephen Monaghan, who nurtured Gerrard's talent for five years at Cardinal Heenan School, in Huyton, says he could easily be gracing Centre Court by now.
Stephen, 51, was Head of PE and upper school from 1991 to 1996 during which time Gerrard did not lose a competitive tennis match.
The Reds captain's natural flair with the racket, allied to notoriously competitive nature made him as big a hit on the court as he was on the footy field.
And Stephen believes if Gerrard had not chosen the soccer star's life he would now be vying with Andy Murray for the British number one spot.
He said: "Steven Gerrard could just as easily have been lifting the Wimbledon trophy on centre court instead of turning out for England.
"If he'd have kept it up he would undoubtedly have been a world class tennis player.
"Such was the prowess he showed I believe he could have been even better than Tim Henman or Andy Murray.
"Steven has thatcontrolled aggression you need at that top level. He was undefeated at tennis for the entire time he was here.
"Even at that age his shot selection and awareness of his positioning were terrific."
Stephen, who has been a teacher at Heenans for 15 years, said that despite his incredible talent Gerrard always kept a level head.
He said: "He would never act superior or take the micky out of players not as good."
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