Liverpool FC Player Profile - Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher has been a Liverpool player for fifteen years and has made nearly 700 appearances for the club. After joining the club as an apprentice he signed professionally in 1996 and has only ever played for the one club, a rarity in the modern game. Carragher has been a fundamental part of the club's success during his time as a player, his enthusiasm and commitment to the team has earned him the nick name Mr Liverpool.
Carragher had already won the FA Youth Cup 1996 before progressing to the senior team and he made his debut as a substitute in 1997 against Middlesbrough but it wasn't until 1998 that he made his first start in the Premier League when he played against Aston Villa and he marked the occasion by scoring a goal. Soon established in the first team it wasn't uncommon to see the versatile defender playing on the right, left or his preferred central defensive role.

The Liverpool man's talents didn't go unnoticed and he soon earned his first full England cap in 1999, having already been an established member of the England under 21 squad, for whom he made a record 27 appearances. Injury forced Carragher to miss the 2002 World Cup Finals and although he was in the squad for the European Championships in 2004, he didn't make an appearance.
Domestically things were much better as he played an important role in the Reds treble winning team of 1991, winning the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup, and making a total of 58 appearances for the team that season. With so many great performances for the Reds the 2005 Champions League Final will be remembered as one of Carragher's finest, with one of the finest displays of defending and commitment imaginable, he was also voted Liverpool's player of year during 2005 and later that year captained the side when winning the European Super Cup against CSKA Moscow.
More silverware was to follow in 2006 when the Reds beat West Ham in a dramatic FA Cup Final, after the game ended 3-3 Liverpool won after a penalty shoot out, and then captain the side as they beat Chelsea in the Charity Shield match. More international disappointment was to follow in the World Cup Finals however, although selected to play, England lost in the quarter final penalty shoot out.
The following season saw Carragher make his 89th European performance, a record for the club, and he was also voted as the highest placed defender in a list of Liverpool's greatest 100 players, he also surpassed 500 appearances for the Reds in 2008, only the 12th player ever to do so.
Steve Goodwin is an expert author, football fan and retailer of Liverpool merchandise available from the Liverpool Shop all products from the Liverpool Store are available to ship worldwide.
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