![Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is settling into life in Hollywood after joining Los Angeles Galaxy -- the city's Major League Soccer team -- in July last year. The former England captain swapped the UK for LA after 18 years with his hometown club.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129162518-gerrard-glaxay-yellow-shirt.jpg?q=w_4776,h_3396,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is settling into life in Hollywood after joining Los Angeles Galaxy -- the city's Major League Soccer team -- in July last year. The former England captain swapped the UK for LA after 18 years with his hometown club.
![The Galaxy was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in 2015 and is hoping to put that right when the new season starts in March. Despite last year's setback, Gerrard and his family are loving life in the U.S. He told CNN one of the things he most enjoys about L.A. is the "peace and quiet."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129162251-gerrard-galaxy-presser.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2138,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
The Galaxy was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in 2015 and is hoping to put that right when the new season starts in March. Despite last year's setback, Gerrard and his family are loving life in the U.S. He told CNN one of the things he most enjoys about L.A. is the "peace and quiet."
![The 35-year-old dispelled the long-held notion that MLS was a virtual retirement home for some professionals. "I think if players believe they can come here and put their feet up they're going to be in for a very big shock," Gerrard explained. "It's a very demanding league. There are very good players here, good teams, good management."<br />](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150713105007-gerrard-los-angeles-galaxy.jpg?q=w_4080,h_2880,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
The 35-year-old dispelled the long-held notion that MLS was a virtual retirement home for some professionals. "I think if players believe they can come here and put their feet up they're going to be in for a very big shock," Gerrard explained. "It's a very demanding league. There are very good players here, good teams, good management."
![Gerrard is following in the footsteps of another former England captain by joining the Galaxy. David Beckham was something of a trailblazer when he went from one of the world's biggest clubs -- Spanish giants Real Madrid -- to LA in 2007. He spent five years in MLS, with his impact on the league described by one official as "invaluable and immeasurable."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150713112729-becks-gerrard.jpg?q=w_3000,h_2315,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Gerrard is following in the footsteps of another former England captain by joining the Galaxy. David Beckham was something of a trailblazer when he went from one of the world's biggest clubs -- Spanish giants Real Madrid -- to LA in 2007. He spent five years in MLS, with his impact on the league described by one official as "invaluable and immeasurable."
![Gerrard left Liverpool as a bona fide legend after playing for his hometown club for 18 years. He made over 700 appearances and won 10 major trophies. He was afforded a huge send off when he departed in 2015.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129161303-gerrard-send-off.jpg?q=w_4584,h_2967,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Gerrard left Liverpool as a bona fide legend after playing for his hometown club for 18 years. He made over 700 appearances and won 10 major trophies. He was afforded a huge send off when he departed in 2015.
![Making his first team debut aged 18, Gerrard quickly established himself as a fans' favorite at a club whose supporters love nothing more than seeing one of their own doing well.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129161432-gerrard-2000.jpg?q=w_3072,h_2048,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Making his first team debut aged 18, Gerrard quickly established himself as a fans' favorite at a club whose supporters love nothing more than seeing one of their own doing well.
![Gerrard won the FA Cup twice with Liverpool, and the League Cup three times. He was made captain in 2003.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129161435-gerrard-fa-cup-2006.jpg?q=w_2500,h_1497,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Gerrard won the FA Cup twice with Liverpool, and the League Cup three times. He was made captain in 2003.
![His finest hour in a Liverpool shirt came in 2005 when he led Liverpool to a memorable European Champions League victory. Trailing Italian side AC Milan 3-0 at halftime, Gerrard sparked an incredible comeback, netting the first goal as the Reds leveled at 3-3. The game went to penalties, and Liverpool emerged triumphant.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150529184248-liverpool-champions-league-trophy.jpg?q=w_2970,h_1845,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
His finest hour in a Liverpool shirt came in 2005 when he led Liverpool to a memorable European Champions League victory. Trailing Italian side AC Milan 3-0 at halftime, Gerrard sparked an incredible comeback, netting the first goal as the Reds leveled at 3-3. The game went to penalties, and Liverpool emerged triumphant.
![Gerrard won 10 major trophies with Liverpool but the one he really wanted, the Premier League title, eluded him. He came agonizingly close in 2013-14, when Liverpool topped the league with three matches of the season left. His slip in a vital game with Chelsea saw the Londoners win and Liverpool would go on to finish two points behind Manchester City.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150510132643-gerrard-farewell.jpg?q=w_3449,h_2107,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Gerrard won 10 major trophies with Liverpool but the one he really wanted, the Premier League title, eluded him. He came agonizingly close in 2013-14, when Liverpool topped the league with three matches of the season left. His slip in a vital game with Chelsea saw the Londoners win and Liverpool would go on to finish two points behind Manchester City.
![After a disappointing World Cup campaign with England at Brazil 2014, Gerrard called time on his international career having earned 114 caps. He made his debut aged 20, but never managed to get close to winning a major tournament with the three lions on his chest.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/150514115246-gerrard-celebrates-goal-germany.jpg?q=w_1394,h_1134,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
After a disappointing World Cup campaign with England at Brazil 2014, Gerrard called time on his international career having earned 114 caps. He made his debut aged 20, but never managed to get close to winning a major tournament with the three lions on his chest.
![Gerrard will forever be linked with Liverpool and will more than likely end up back at the club in some capacity once his playing career is over. He returned to Merseyside during the MLS off season and trained with his old club, meeting its new manager Jurgen Klopp.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160129161439-gerrard-wimbledon.jpg?q=w_4360,h_2908,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Gerrard will forever be linked with Liverpool and will more than likely end up back at the club in some capacity once his playing career is over. He returned to Merseyside during the MLS off season and trained with his old club, meeting its new manager Jurgen Klopp.