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Gantavya Adukia

Milos Kerkez Driving A Truck At Age 10 Has Liverpool Fans Grinning

Liverpool, Milos Kerkez

Liverpool will look for a change in ways for the season that beckons after finishing fifth in the 2025/26 Premier League. They are set to usher in a new era with the appointment of Andoni Iraola as head coach after giving Arne Slot the sack in the summer.

While the Reds may be strangers to the Bournemouth import, left-back Milos Kerkez knows him all too well. The Hungarian arrived in England under Iraola’s charge and enjoyed a breakthrough with the Cherries that culminated in a PFA Young Player nomination.

The growth has prepared Kerkez for a new chapter too, after 38 starts in his first Liverpool season. Having shared duties so far with veteran Andy Robertson, the 22-year-old is primed to be the first-choice starter next season onwards following the Scot’s departure.

Given the legacy Robertson leaves behind at Anfield, most stepping into his shoes would be fazed. But not Kerkez.

As the youngster explained in a recent interview, spending childhood in Serbia shapes you up in extraordinary ways.

“I grew up a bit different in Serbia. It’s just your job. Do your own damn job. Honestly, I don’t care about pressure. It’s a normal thing,” Kerkez said.

Despite the loud echoes of a certain Roy Keane, Kerkez seemingly felt he had not made his point clear. What he chose to say next has sent the internet in a frenzy, and understandably so.

“For example, I started to drive a truck when I was 10 years old!” Kerkez revealed.

Kerkez went on to elucidate how that is even possible. The defender stated he would sit on his father’s lap and take control of the steering wheel, while his dad continued to work the pedals on the truck.

To put it into context how absurd the proposition is, at 10 years old most children are just starting to ride bicycles and have not even learned long division in school. Driving a truck at that age is not just ridiculously beyond mental bounds but also a felony, and for good reason.

Fans were also taken off-guard by how nonchalantly and out of the blue the quote came from. Kerkez went from talking about football and succeeding Robertson in creating his own legacy with the Reds to this. As one user on X pointed out, there is unfortunately little common between driving trucks at 10 and becoming a world-class full back.

Some Liverpool fans took further offense at the comment considering Kerkez’ words were not backed up by his actions. The fledgling defender enjoyed a resurgence in the second half of the season but was still caught at sea often with his decision making, especially when going forward.

Kerkez’ task is not made easier by taking over Robertson, who spent nearly a decade at the club to rack up close to 400 appearances winning 9 titles, including a UEFA Champions League and two Premier Leagues.

However, the very uttering of Kerkez reflects his desire to overwhelm all odds that threaten him. It won’t be easy, but his childhood tales might just have turned a section of the Kop into believers.

Afterall, the Balkan culture is well respected in sports and beyond for producing mentality monsters. The battle-ridden history of the region and tough living conditions have made for the some of the fiercest athletes known to mankind, ranging from Novak Djokovic, Nikola Jokic or Luka Modric.

And in a long season with 38 league games as well as knockout cup games to boot, such driven mentality can be the difference between glory and despair.

Kerkez is currently in the US with Liverpool for their pre-season tour, facing the likes of Sunderland, Wrexham, and Leeds. The side begin their Premier League campaign against Newcastle at St James Park on August 23.

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