Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
This essay is on the topic – my favorite sportsperson and source of inspiration. My favorite sport is football. And my favorite footballer is Raheem Sterling. His playing style, ability, and aptitude are world-class. He is one of the best players in the EPL as of now. This essay is dedicated to Raheem Sterling.
I’m a huge fan of football. My favorite domestic league is the English Premier League. And I’m also an ardent fan of the England national team.
English Premier League is the toughest and most competitive league in this world. The EPL is very unpredictable, fast, and physical in nature. On a specific day, any club can do the unimaginable and beat a high-flying team. It is not uncommon to see relatively smaller EPL clubs defeating much bigger teams in the EPL.
The EPL also boasts a direct and physical type of football. In order to thrive in this game, a player must be strong physically and mentally. Raheem Sterling has been my favorite footballer for quite some time now. My favorite club in the EPL is Liverpool FC. During his days at Liverpool, Raheem was unstoppable. At his best, he could perform miracles on the field.
As of now, he is playing for Manchester City. Though he left my favorite club, I still support him and look up to him for inspiration. Yes, I was quite mad when he left Liverpool FC. After a long and ugly transfer saga, he said goodbye to my favorite club and decided to join EPL competitors Manchester City.
I was quite dejected when he made this move. Still, Raheem is a quality player. He is capable of achieving a lot for the England national team. He also works a lot towards ensuring racial equality in the Premier League. These are the main reasons why I still support him.
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Okay, let us talk about his early life and career now. Raheem Sterling was born in Jamaica. His mother is a former competitive athlete who used to represent Jamaica. Now I know where his searing pace comes from!
He lost his father at a very young age. After the loss of his father, Raheem’s mother decided to emigrate to London. At five years of age, Raheem emigrated to London with his mother. Gradually, he settled down in England and adapted well to the surroundings.
As a child, little Raheem was fascinated by football. He would play football in local parks and streets along with his friends. He stood out with his pace, technique, and trickery. He joined a local club names Alpha and Omega and played with the youth team for around four years.
Thanks to his talent and ability, he was signed by Queens Park Rangers when he was just ten years of age. The club identified the talent that this young boy possessed.
At QPR youth academy, Raheem Sterling continued to progress at a decent pace. He managed to impress his coaches, manager, support staff, and spectators. Not only the folks at QPR but also managed to attract the attention of other big clubs in the EPL.
Gradually, EPL giants Liverpool came knocking and signed him. He played for the youth team of Liverpool FC. Raheem was exceptionally talented. This helped him play for the first team on a few occasions that season.
From the 2012 season onward, Raheem started getting more playing time at Liverpool. He made his European debut as well in this season. The team would often deploy him as a part of the first team! This boosted his confidence. He was often deployed as a winger during this period. And he was very good at that position.
On the wings and wide positions of the field, Raheem was very effective. He had pace, dribbling skills, ball control, trickery, awareness, passing ability, and shooting ability. This made him a very dangerous and effective winger. He was capable of providing assists as well as scoring goals.
After each season, Raheem just got better and better. At one point, he was an integral part of Liverpool’s lethal attacking trio – Suarez, Sterling, and Sturridge. They had good chemistry, techniques, skill, and ability. They came very close to clinching the PL title.
2014-15 was his last season at Liverpool. After the season’s end, the club and Raheem got involved in a long and ugly transfer saga. In the end, he ended up signing for Manchester City. Fans were very upset with Raheem’s move. Even some of the club’s legends criticized him. At first, I was quite mad at him.
As of now, he is still playing for Manchester City. With the Manchester-based club, he has won the following titles and trophies – Premier League (thrice), FA Cup, Football League (4 times), and Community Shield. He is an integral part of the City team. At City, he is usually deployed as a winger, striker, or attacking midfielder. He is quite versatile and can play well in any of these positions.
At international level, Raheem Sterling plays for the England national team. He is an integral part of the senior team. In the recently concluded Euro tournament, he played a crucial role and helped the team reach the final. Unfortunately, we were unable to lift the trophy. But it was an excellent tournament for the team.
Apart from that, he has also represented England at other tournaments such as – World Cup and Euro (previous editions). On the field, Raheem is an exceptional player. Yes, he is gifted with pace and technique. But talent alone won’t work if there is no hard work and discipline. From a very young age, Raheem has been working hard.
Sterling has been a victim of racial abuse on many occasions. This hasn’t bogged him down. Instead, it has made him only stronger. He takes part in various initiatives aimed at fighting racism in sports and society in general. He is one of the most influential Black Britons. Raheem Sterling is still very young. He will continue to perform at the highest level for a long time. And he sure is capable of winning more titles and individual honors.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.