Steven Gerrard loving his 'Z-list' status

Footballer Steven Gerrard has said he is enjoying his "Z-list" celebrity status in America after moving to LA Galaxy.

The former England and Liverpool captain said his new life in the US was "mind-blowing" and he can now walk down the street "without being stopped every five minutes".

Gerrard, 35, left Merseyside this summer after 17 years with the Reds - who he famously led to Champions League glory in 2005 - in order to play in America's Major Soccer League.

He told Hello! magazine: "I couldn't be happier right now. I've gone from not being able to walk down a street without being stopped every five minutes to being a Z-lister out here and that's cool. I love it.

"We're very lucky, I know that. I grew up on a council estate and will always remain grounded and humble. But this is mind-blowing."

Gerrard, his wife Alex and their daughters, Lily-Ella, Lexie and Lourdes, are renting an 18 million-dollar (£12 million), six-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills - once occupied by singer Mariah Carey - during his 18-month contract with LA Galaxy.

He said: "I've become a cool dad all of a sudden because I can take the kids out and no-one interferes.

"We can take them to the park, the beach, fairgrounds, water parks and be there for six hours and I might hear one person say my name and they're not even sure if it's me, so I just smile. The kids have been shocked I'm around and can do more things with them."

Gerrard said he was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family in Liverpool without being involved in the busy English football schedule.

(Read the full interview in Hello!)