Steven Gerrard Shows His True Colors in Viral Liverpool Video: “Yeah, That Was Really Me”
During his three-year stint at Liverpool, Kolo Toure made 71 appearances and played a part in near-miss title campaigns under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp. But ironically, one of his most memorable associations with the club came when he wasn’t even there — in a video that went viral after Gerrard’s final game for the Reds in 2015.
After Liverpool’s humiliating 6-1 defeat to Stoke City — Gerrard’s last match — the squad jetted off to Dubai for an end-of-season holiday to bid farewell to their legendary captain. During the trip, a now-iconic video emerged: the team joyfully singing the “Kolo, Kolo Toure… Yaya, Yaya Toure” chant, led enthusiastically by none other than Gerrard himself.
Although Toure was absent due to a charity match in the Ivory Coast, he played an unexpected role. Gerrard, writing in his 2015 autobiography, recalled getting a phone call from Toure while the team was riding in a stretch Hummer. The phone was connected to the music system, and as Toure called to apologize for missing the trip, the players began chanting the brothers’ names in tribute.
Inspired by the moment, Gerrard jumped to the front of the group, taking charge of the singing and dancing, embracing the fun and silliness with his teammates. Security filmed the whole thing, and once Gerrard shared it in the team WhatsApp group, it quickly spread online. Within a day, it had gone viral — with even England’s women’s team and Sunday League clubs joining in.
Gerrard’s kids were shocked to see him in the video. “That’s not you,” they said. But away from the stress of elite football, Gerrard allowed himself to just enjoy the moment.
In hindsight, it was surreal that the celebration came just 24 hours after such a devastating loss. Gerrard even questioned if the trip should go ahead. The initial mood was subdued, but eventually, the squad let loose and celebrated their captain — an early example of resilience and unity.
This light-hearted spirit would later become part of the team’s culture under Klopp. After another heartbreak in the 2016 Europa League final, Klopp famously urged his dejected players to come down to the hotel bar and dance together — a call for unity and perspective in the face of defeat.
A year after that, Klopp himself went viral singing after Liverpool’s 2018 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. One year later, they won it all.
The 2015 Toure chant in Dubai wasn’t just a viral laugh — it marked the beginning of a mentality shift. What seemed like a silly post-season moment became a symbol of togetherness and resilience. Gerrard’s bold decision to lead the chant rather than hide away showed the kind of spirit Klopp would later harness to turn Liverpool into champions.
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