44 Facts About Raheem Sterling

1.

Raheem Shaquille Sterling was born on 8 December 1994 and is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team.

2.

Raheem Sterling began his career at Queens Park Rangers before signing for Liverpool in 2010.

3.

Raheem Sterling was awarded the Golden Boy award in 2014.

4.

Raheem Sterling made his senior debut for England in November 2012 after previously being capped by England youth teams at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.

5.

Raheem Sterling was chosen in England's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2014,2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.

6.

Raheem Sterling was born in a Christian family in Kingston, Jamaica, and spent his early years there.

7.

Raheem Sterling's father was murdered in Jamaica when Sterling was two years old.

8.

Raheem Sterling was scouted by the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester City.

9.

Raheem Sterling initially played in the club's youth team, making his debut in an Under-18s derby match against Everton.

10.

On 24 March 2012, Raheem Sterling made his senior Liverpool debut as a substitute in a league match against Wigan Athletic, aged 17 years and 107 days, becoming the third-youngest player to play for the club.

11.

Raheem Sterling made two more appearances over the remainder of the campaign, again as a substitute.

12.

On 21 December 2012, Raheem Sterling signed a contract extension, committing his future to Liverpool.

13.

On 18 April 2014, Raheem Sterling was named as one of the six players on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

14.

On 20 December, Raheem Sterling was named as the recipient of the 2014 Golden Boy award.

15.

Raheem Sterling was officially excused from Liverpool's FA Cup match against AFC Wimbledon in January 2015, with manager Brendan Rodgers aiming to prevent the player becoming exhausted.

16.

Raheem Sterling used the time off to holiday in Jamaica.

17.

Raheem Sterling was Premier League Player of the Month for August 2016 after he scored two goals and provided one assist in three games.

18.

Raheem Sterling was sent off by Mike Dean with a second yellow after he celebrated among travelling supporters that had run onto the pitch.

19.

In December 2018, Raheem Sterling alleged that sections of the media served to "fuel racism" with their portrayal of young black footballers.

20.

In February 2020, during an interview with Diario AS, Raheem Sterling was asked whether he would one day like to play for Real Madrid.

21.

Raheem Sterling scored another three goals in the last three league games of the season, ending with a total of 20 goals, his best ever tally in the Premier League.

22.

Raheem Sterling was later bestowed with the Premier League Player of the Month award for December 2021.

23.

Raheem Sterling was born in Jamaica and moved to England at a young age, and holds dual nationality.

24.

Raheem Sterling first represented England at under-16 level in November 2009 in a match against Northern Ireland.

25.

Raheem Sterling was selected to play for England for the 2011 U-17 World Cup.

26.

On 10 September 2012, Raheem Sterling was called up to the senior England squad for the first time for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Ukraine, where he was an unused substitute.

27.

Raheem Sterling made his senior debut for England on 14 November 2012, starting in a friendly away to Sweden.

28.

On 12 May 2014, Raheem Sterling was named in England's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

29.

Raheem Sterling was one of 23 players chosen for the final tournament.

30.

Raheem Sterling was named in the 23-man England national team squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

31.

In November 2019, Raheem Sterling was dropped from the England team after clashing with international teammate but club rival Joe Gomez.

32.

On 13 June 2021, Raheem Sterling scored the only goal against Croatia to kick off England's UEFA Euro 2020 campaign with a winning start.

33.

Raheem Sterling plays as a winger, attacking midfielder or striker, though he is more comfortable as a natural winger.

34.

Raheem Sterling has been praised for his adaptability and ability to play wide, at the tip of a midfield diamond and centrally, offering flexibility.

35.

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi said in November 2014 that Raheem Sterling is good enough to play for the La Liga club, praising his physical and technical qualities.

36.

Raheem Sterling has one daughter, Melody Rose, born in 2012 after a brief relationship.

37.

On 8 August 2013, Raheem Sterling was arrested for an alleged common assault on his former girlfriend, a model.

38.

In June 2017, following the Grenfell Tower fire in which 71 people died, Raheem Sterling made a "substantial" donation to those affected by the fire.

39.

On 16 December 2017, Raheem Sterling was attacked outside Manchester City's training ground by a man who used racist language towards him.

40.

Raheem Sterling has been named as one of the 100 most influential Black Britons, with his inclusion in the annual Powerlist in both the 2020 and 2021 editions.

41.

Raheem Sterling was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to racial equality in sport.

42.

In November 2021, Raheem Sterling launched his own charitable foundation at the Ark Elvin Academy, his former school.

43.

In 2012, Raheem Sterling signed a sponsorship deal with American sportswear and equipment supplier, Nike.

44.

Raheem Sterling appeared in an advertisement for the new Nike Green Speed II alongside Mario Gotze, Theo Walcott, Eden Hazard, Christian Eriksen and Stephan El Shaarawy in November 2012.