Steven Gerrard enjoying anonymity in L.A.: 'That has been a surprise for me'

CARSON, Calif. -- For the second time in eight years, the Los Angeles Galaxy has signed England's former soccer captain, but for anyone seeking a version of David Beckham 2.0, Steven Gerrard is not your guy.

Beckham is a friend of Gerrard, a stalwart of English Premier League side Liverpool and the national team for more than a decade, and the pair spoke before Gerrard completed his deal to join the Galaxy for 18 months, starting with a friendly game against Mexico's Club America on Saturday.

Yet despite a similarly lofty status in the soccer world, the two Brits are likely to discover their experiences in Tinseltown to be very different.

Because while Gerrard has found his early days in Los Angeles equal parts appealing and confusing - wonderful weather, miserable traffic - amid wondering whether the rumors of a local burger chain having a "secret" menu are true or a practical joke from his teammates - there is one immediate plus in settling into a city he had never even visited.

"It has been nice for the first time to take the kids to a fairground on Santa Monica pier," Gerrard told USA TODAY Sports. "It is something I've never been able to do in England. It's good that not many people notice me out here, because away from training and the games it is nice to go and spend some quality time with your family as well. That has been a surprise for me."

Anonymity was never going to be an option for Beckham, not after his arrival in the summer of 2007 was kicked off with a spectacular ceremony attended by 600 photographers, quickly followed by a party thrown by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, appearances on the couches of Jay Leno and Ellen De Generes and an ill-fated reality television show featuring his wife Victoria, aka Posh Spice.

Such was the nature of the Beckham show, and such was the reality of American soccer back then, before big name arrivals of this stature ceased to be such a novelty and when breathless delirium was still the customary response.

Gerrard's media unveiling this week was more about friendly and functional than festival. His reasons for coming to America are plain and forthright and carry no empty promise to have a transformative effect on American soccer. Simply, the 35-year-old was told he would no longer be first choice at Liverpool and felt he had more to offer than a role off the bench. He's here to contribute, and to win.

"I had conversations with [Liverpool head coach] Brendan Rodgers, who handled the whole situation really well and was very respectful to me," Gerrard said. "The conversations were along the lines of 'I want you to become more of a squad player and maybe play less time on the pitch.'

"That was the key to me. I don't feel as if I was ready for that. I wanted to be a regular and carry on playing. It was time for a change. I needed a new challenge and a fresh start."

Discussion with Galaxy coach Bruce Arena and the front office were markedly different. Arena sees Gerrard as pivotal asset, both in terms of being a midfield creator and a senior voice of reason in the locker room.

He told Gerrard that such responsibility would be expected. It was the right sales pitch. "I still want that on my shoulders," Gerrard said.

Beckham's tenure in L.A. ultimately came to be considered a success after a pair of demoralizing early years was followed by two titles to cap off his stint in MLS. Gerrard comes into a far more stable situation where the Galaxy is the reigning league champion, having beaten the New England Revolution in last year's final. While teams like the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and MLS newcomers New York City FC are scattering money to bring in star names, everyone is still chasing the Galaxy's coattails.

Having won the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup - but never the Premier League - during his career with Liverpool, Gerrard has no plans to allow his switch to sunnier climes be viewed as a vacation.

"I just don't want my last couple of years to fizzle out and go into that comfort zone of plodding along," he said. "It was important that I come in to an environment where they are used to winning, a successful team. I want to go out with a win and make sure I add some trophies to my winning collection."