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Football fans have been left feeling nostalgic, and perhaps a little old, as Steven Gerrard has become a grandfather at the age of just 45.
The former Liverpool and England midfielder’s eldest daughter, Lilly-Ella, has welcomed her first child, a baby girl, with her partner, Lee Byrne.
Lilly-Ella, 20, shared the happy news on Instagram with a touching black-and-white photo showing Lee carrying their newborn in a car seat as they left the hospital. She simply captioned the image: “@leebyrne8 2 becomes 3.”
The couple’s baby girl is Gerrard’s first grandchild, making the football legend one of the youngest grandfathers in the Premier League alumni club.
Lilly-Ella, who keeps a relatively low public profile, first revealed she was expecting in January when she posted a series of photos showing off her baby bump. The announcement was met with an outpouring of support from friends, family, and even some Liverpool fans who fondly remember seeing her at matches as a child.
She has been in a relationship with Lee Byrne since October 2022. Lee is known as the son of jailed Irish gangster Liam Byrne, a connection which made headlines when the couple’s romance first came to light. Despite the media attention, the couple appear to have focused on their relationship and now their growing family.
Steven Gerrard, who captained Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005 and earned 114 caps for England, has not yet commented publicly on becoming a grandfather. However, those close to the family have said he is “over the moon” with the arrival of his granddaughter and excited to help support his daughter and her new family.
One family friend told the press: “Steven is incredibly proud of Lilly. He’s always been a hands-on dad, and he’s looking forward to being just as hands-on as a grandad. He and Alex, Gerrard’s wife, are thrilled.”
Since retiring from playing in 2016, Gerrard has managed Rangers and more recently Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. He has often spoken about how important his family is to him and credited them with keeping him grounded throughout his career.
Fans have been quick to react on social media, with many commenting on how surreal it feels to see someone who was a young football star just a decade ago now becoming a grandfather. One Liverpool supporter joked: “Feeling ancient now. Congrats Stevie G, hope the little one’s first words are ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone!’”
The Gerrard family has not yet revealed the baby’s name or shared further details, but the family’s supporters will undoubtedly be keeping a keen eye on Instagram for more adorable updates.