The year 2005 was one that defined Steven Gerrard's career, not just because of the success in Istanbul, but because of his last minute u-turn that kept him at his childhood club.
At the time his relationship with Benitez was fluctuating, he was having frustrations with his new contract, and in his own words ''exciting things were happening in Chelsea.''
It escalated to the point that the then 25-year old turned down a £100,000 a week contract, but Liverpool were stubborn dealing with Chelsea's advances and rejected a £32m move for him.
Gerrard described his contract rejection as the hardest decision he ever had to make, he said that he fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League Final but then backed out saying ''events of the past five to six weeks have changed all that.''
#OnThisDay Liverpool miraculously overcame AC Milan to win Champions League trophy in Istanbul.
54' Gerrard ⚽️
56' Smicer ⚽️
60' Alonso ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ru8e2ZW7BN— BlameFootball (@blamefootball) May 25, 2017
Liverpool's Chief Executive Rick Parry had confirmed the news to the media that Gerrard indeed wanted out of the club saying that he had ''made that clear'' and all seemed set in stone, that is until the events in Istanbul.
You know the rest of the story, the high he felt after Liverpool's stunning comeback against Milan was more than enough to keep Gerrard at Liverpool and despite admitting he was tempted before, that one game completely changed his stance on leaving Liverpool.
Speaking at an even in Belfast called 'Steven Gerrard Live' on Monday night, the former England midfielder revealed Jose Mourinho continued to try to pry him away from Anfield.
He tried to sign me probably about five or six times during my career. Twice at Chelsea, he tried to sign me at Inter Milan and for Real Madrid as well. I could have gone and played for him at different teams but I never did.
Gerrard also opened up on Liverpool's defeat of Man City and how he wished he toned down his reaction to the win which set them up for a title run in.
I wish I could go back to that day (against City). If I could rewind the clock that would be the day I would go back to and try and go the other way with a bit of calmness and a bit of realisation where we were at that time. It was passion, emotion and it was real and I felt in the moment we did need that. But now, in hindsight, I would probably have gone a bit more calmer and realised who we still had to play.
Gerrard then went on to talk about the infamous slip that changed everything.
That was the most difficult day in my life and still is. No matter what happens to me to the day I die that will be the most difficult day of my life because it is difficult to erase it. It was a tough time.
To this day it still haunts me a bit, it still hurts. I’m the type of person that setbacks drive me on. I won’t give up trying to make up for that as long as I live. With the Chelsea one the reason I can’t accept it is because it was bad luck.
If I had given a pass away or tried a turn and got it wrong or scored an own goal I wouldn’t be able to live with myself or deal with it. When it is a stroke of bad luck I have to get on with it and try to make it amends for it.
The Reds icon also admitted that he still had a lot to do before he could enter the management scene which may be why he has decided to take over Liverpool's u18 squad to help him develop.
Since announcing his retirement fom football last November Gerrard has been working in different positions within the academy, although he says he has only been shadowing, there is one report that he gave a rousing half-time pep talk to the 18s in a 2-0 win over Man City earlier this year.
