People live and breathe football in the UK. It was all I wanted to do ever since I was little. As soon as I could walk, I would carry a football around with me.

I never wanted to be anything else, being a footballer is what I’ve always wanted to do.

My dad was instrumental in a lot of things when I was growing up. He used to give me extra coaching, taught me how to kick with both feet. He really helped me become a good player.

I grew up at Liverpool FC. I was there from when I was 10.

My coaches were a big inspiration. I had the Liverpool way of doing things instilled in me from a young age. Steve Heighway [a former Liverpool player] made an especially big impact. He told you what was right, was wrong. He was very successful at bringing players through.

You live a life removed from reality as a footballer. But there’s good and bad in anything you do, and no one ever made me become a footballer.

You have to make sacrifices if you want to be a good player.

You get judged on what you’ve won. I’ve enjoyed everything about my career but I don’t think there’s one moment that really stands out.

If you’re successful in this sport you get recognition; people want to shake your hand, wish you well. But there’s always a flip side. You have to take the good with the bad.

I don’t call myself God, but I can’t deny it’s a great nickname. I’ve been called a lot worse as well. I guess it shows what people think of me, that I’ve done stuff right. It’s not like I go around telling everyone that’s what they should call me.

Life has to move on. As much as I had a great time at Liverpool, there’s always someone else ready to follow in your footsteps, ready to take your place.

Most things happen for a reason. If you start having regrets or looking back at the past you might start wishing things went differently, but you can’t change anything. I’ve had a good career and I wouldn’t swap anything.

Playing is living the dream. You can set goals for what you want to do, but in this life you don’t always get to achieve them. I’ve managed to achieve my dream.

I get paid to do a job I love. You don’t play because you need to, you play because you enjoy it.

I’ve had loads of operations and lots of injuries but that’s all part of the job. You’re going to get kicked, you’re going to get injured; it’s just part of playing football.

I’d never heard about the Thai Premier League before. But when the deal came up I did some research and I liked what I saw about the game here. Some of the stadiums aren’t great but Muangthong is really the blueprint for other clubs to follow. They have a good stadium, good fans and good owners. Potentially this league could go on and on.

I don’t really have any expectations. I’ve only just arrived but, potentially, this club could be huge if they can keep progressing.

You don’t want to let yourself down. If you want to keep playing, you have to keep yourself fit. You train to stay healthy. But it’s also about having pride in what you do. You want to perform to your best ability.

I’m here for football, not for a holiday. If I didn’t want to do well then I wouldn’t have come. Thai people are so friendly and down to earth, so I want to do well as I can for them.

I am only as good as the team, though. It’s not just all about me. There are 15 other players in the squad. The team is far more important than the individual.

If someone offers you X amount of money to play, you’re not going to turn it down. It’s not the players who should be blamed for the huge salaries that they get these days.

Players are like actors. They are there to entertain. No one moans when actors get paid millions for a film. They are there to give people enjoyment.

I want to be involved with the game as long as I can. I think I have one or two more years left of playing but then I want to try and go into coaching.

It’s one of life’s mysteries. I don’t know why England never does better at major tournaments.

I wouldn’t want to be anyone else. I am more than happy in my life.