Young North Korea Forward Embarrassed Liverpool By Not Knowing Who Steven Gerrard Is

For the last 20 years there's been no name as synonymous with Liverpool FC as that of Steven Gerrard. However name dropping the former captain didn't help them impress one youngster who didn't know who he was.

In the Premier League era there aren't many players as recognisable as Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool midfielder was one of the best players around and might be the best midfielder to have played the game in that time.

During his time at Anfield the midfielder scored 120 goals in 504 league games and lifted the Champions League, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the UEFA Cup- not a bad haul.

_{That night in Istanbul, Gerrard was an absolute hero. Image: PA}

So you'd have thought that pretty much any footballer going would know who he is, after all it's not like the Premier League doesn't get £3.2 billion for foreign tv rights.

However the clubs attempts to lure young North Korean forward Han Kwang-song from Italy by name dropping didn't work out. A story in the New York Times says Liverpool chief scout Barry Hunter casually name dropped Gerrard into a conversation with the striker but it was meant with a blank stare and a:

"Who is Gerrard?"

_{Now under 18s coach at Liverpool, Gerrard won't be happy (he probably won't care) that he wasn't known. Image: PA}

Hunter apparently had to then try and find a picture of Gerrard for the teenager to explain to him who the former Liverpool and England captain was.

Director of the I.S.M. Academy, Alessandro Dominici, where Hunter was meeting the Korean back in 2015 then added to the awkwardness by pointing it out and saying, "This is a bit of an awkward situation."

_{Han playing in Italy. Image: PA}

The 19 year old was in Italy at the academy and has now found himself a club in the country after signing for Cagliari's academy later in 2015 and made his debut for the Serie A side earlier this year.

He made five league appearances last season before going on loan to Perugia this season where he has scored six times in 12 Serie B games so far.

Han could go along way and who knows maybe he'll one day end up being managed by Gerrard at Anfield.

Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, England, Steven Gerrard, Italy

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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