Jamie Carragher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jamie Carragher

Carragher in 2012
Personal information
Full name	James Lee Duncan Carragher
Date of birth	(1978-01-28) 28 January 1978 (age 47)
Place of birth	Bootle, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1988–1997	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2013	Liverpool	508	(3)
International career
1996–1997	England U20	4	(1)
1996–2000	England U21	27	(1)
1999–2010	England	38	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jamie Carragher (born 28 January 1978) is a famous English football expert and former player. He played as a defender for Premier League club Liverpool for 17 years. He was a "one-club man," meaning he only played for one team his whole career.

Carragher was Liverpool's vice-captain for ten years. He is the club's second-longest serving player, playing 737 games for Liverpool. He also holds the record for playing the most European games for Liverpool, with 149 appearances.

He started his journey at the Liverpool Academy. He made his first professional game in the 1996–97 season. He became a regular player the next season. At first, he played as a full-back. But when manager Rafael Benítez arrived in 2004, Carragher moved to play as a centre-back. This is where he played his best football.

With Liverpool, he won many trophies. These include two FA Cups, three Football League Cups, two FA Charity/Community Shields, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two UEFA Super Cups.

For England, Carragher played for the under-21 team many times. He made his senior team debut in 1999. He played for England in UEFA Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He retired from international football in 2007 but came back for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He ended his England career with 38 games played.

After retiring from playing in 2013, Carragher became a football expert. He works as a commentator and pundit for Sky Sports and CBS Sports.

Early Life and Beginnings in Football

Jamie Carragher was born in Bootle, England, on 28 January 1978. His family background includes Maltese and Irish roots. When he was born, he had a health condition called gastroschisis. This meant he needed immediate care at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Despite what some people thought, Carragher said he had a good childhood. He grew up in a nice area and attended St James Catholic Primary School. He supported Everton, just like his dad. His middle names, Lee and Duncan, were chosen to honor Everton's manager Gordon Lee and player Duncan McKenzie.

Carragher went to the FA's school of excellence when he was young. Even though he was an Everton fan, he joined their rivals, Liverpool, in 1988. He even wore an Everton kit to Liverpool's training sessions! He spent a year at Everton's school but returned to Liverpool. He felt Liverpool had better coaching.

He started as a striker but later moved to midfield. He then found his place in the reserve team. In 1996, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup. His team beat West Ham United, which had future stars like Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.

Playing for Liverpool: A Long Career

First Team and Early Trophies (1997–2004)

Jamie Carragher made his first team debut for Liverpool in January 1997. It was a League Cup game against Middlesbrough. A few days later, he played his first Premier League game. On 18 January, he scored his first goal for Liverpool. It was a header in a 3–0 win against Aston Villa.

In the 1997–98 season, Carragher became a regular player. He often played in different positions, like centre-back, full-back, or defensive midfielder. He was known as a "utility player." New manager Gérard Houllier helped him focus on football. Carragher played 44 games in the 1998–99 season. Fans voted him the club's Player of the Year.

In the 2000–01 season, Carragher played as a left-back. This was a very successful year for Liverpool. They won five trophies: the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, Community Shield, and Super Cup.

In 2002, during an FA Cup game, Carragher reacted poorly to something thrown from the crowd. He apologized publicly for his actions. From 2002 to 2004, he faced two serious injuries. He missed the 2002 FIFA World Cup due to knee surgery. Later, he broke his leg in a game. Despite these setbacks, he won another League Cup in 2003. He was also named the club's vice-captain.

Champions League and FA Cup Success (2004–2007)

Carragher playing against Benfica in 2005.

The 2004–05 season was a huge turning point for Carragher. New manager Rafael Benítez moved him to centre-back. This became his main position for the rest of his career. He became known as a strong and smart defender.

This season, Carragher was key to Liverpool winning the UEFA Champions League. In the final, he made two crucial blocks in extra-time, even though he had cramps. Fans voted him Liverpool Player of the Year again. He also helped the team win the UEFA Super Cup. He was even nominated for the Ballon d'Or award in 2005.

In May 2006, Carragher played in the FA Cup Final. Liverpool won the match after a penalty shootout. This gave Carragher his second FA Cup trophy. Two months later, he also won the FA Community Shield. In December 2006, he scored his first league goal in nearly eight years.

In May 2007, Carragher set a new record for Liverpool. He played his 90th European game, more than any other Liverpool player before him. After the 2006–07 season, fans voted him Liverpool's Player of the Year for a third time. He then signed a new contract until 2011.

Later Liverpool Career and Retirement (2007–2013)

Carragher (second from right) with his Liverpool teammates in 2010.

In the 2007–08 season, Carragher played his 500th game for Liverpool. He was made captain for this special occasion. In 2009, he had a small disagreement with a teammate on the field. He later explained they both wanted to keep a clean sheet for the goalkeeper.

Some people questioned his performances in the next season. But he played very well against Manchester United in October 2009. A few days later, he received a red card in a game against Fulham. This was his first red card in over seven years.

Carragher training with Liverpool in 2011.

In September 2010, Carragher had a charity match at Anfield. All the money raised went to local charities through his 23 Foundation. He scored a goal for both teams in the game. In October 2010, he dislocated his shoulder. He needed surgery and was out for about three months. He returned to play in February 2011.

Carragher playing for Liverpool in 2011.

In February 2011, Carragher set a new British record. He made his 137th European appearance in a match against Sparta Prague. In April 2011, he had a head collision with a teammate during a game. He recovered quickly and played his 666th game for Liverpool days later. This made him second on Liverpool's all-time appearance list. In 2012, Carragher won his third League Cup with Liverpool.

In the 2012–13 season, Carragher played his 700th game for Liverpool. This was in a Europa League qualifying match. He often captained the team in the Europa League.

Liverpool fans showing their support for Carragher with a mosaic before his last game in 2013.

On 7 February 2013, Carragher announced he would retire at the end of the season. He said it was "a privilege and honour" to play for Liverpool for so long. On 9 March 2013, he played his 500th league game for the club. His final game for Liverpool was on 19 May 2013. He received a special tribute from fans and players.

International Career with England

In 1996, Carragher started playing for the England U21 team. He became a regular player and was made captain. By 2000, he had played 27 games for the U21 team, which was a record at the time.

On 28 April 1999, he played his first game for the senior England team. He came on as a substitute against Hungary. He made his first start for England in 2001 against the Netherlands. He also played a part in England's famous 5–1 win over Germany. Carragher missed the 2002 FIFA World Cup because of knee surgery.

He was chosen for UEFA Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the 2006 World Cup, he came on as a substitute in the quarter-finals against Portugal. The game went to a penalty shootout. Carragher scored his first penalty, but the referee made him retake it. His second shot hit the crossbar, and England lost.

In July 2007, Carragher decided to retire from international football. He felt he wasn't playing enough games for England. He wanted to focus on Liverpool and spend more time with his family.

However, in May 2010, he was called up by manager Fabio Capello for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played his first England game in three years against Mexico. He played in England's first two World Cup games but received two yellow cards, which meant he missed a game. After the World Cup, Carragher retired from international football for good. He said his return was a "one-off" due to other players' injuries.

After Football: Media and Charity Work

After retiring from playing, Jamie Carragher became a football expert. He joined Sky Sports in 2013 as a commentator and pundit. He often appears on Monday Night Football with Gary Neville. They are praised for their analysis and their friendly rivalry.

Carragher also writes columns for the Daily Mail. He has also worked for Danish Sports Channel TV3 Sport and The Telegraph.

In March 2018, there was a difficult moment where Carragher was involved in an incident with a car. This led to a temporary suspension from his TV work at Sky Sports. He apologized for his actions. He returned to TV3 Sport in April 2018 and to Sky Sports in August 2018. He also joined CBS Sports to cover the UEFA Champions League.

Carragher is also very active in charity work. In 2009, he started the 23 Foundation. This charity helps young people in Merseyside, the area where he grew up. In 2010, he gave all the money from his testimonial match to the charity.

He has visited schools to talk about the importance of family life. He is also a supporter of the Alder Hey Charity. In 2008, he was given the Freedom of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton for his charity work. This award recognized him as a great example for young people.

In 2018, Carragher visited Kingsway House, a shelter for homeless people in Liverpool. He talked to residents and volunteers. He also announced plans for a charity football match with former Liverpool and Everton players. He has also supported Andy Grant, a former Royal Marine from Bootle, in promoting his autobiography.

In October 2018, Carragher helped open the Cotton Street shelter. He said he was proud to support the project. He wants to help people using the shelter improve their lives.

Playing Style

Carragher started as an attacking midfielder and even a striker when he was young. But he soon learned how to defend. He could play in any position across the back four defenders. He often played as a full-back on either side. Sometimes, he played in the centre of midfield early in his career. But he spent most of his time as a centre back.

As a centre-back, he became one of the best English defenders of his time. He was strong, versatile, and consistent. He was known for his hard work, stamina, loyalty, and leadership. He was also courageous and tackled hard. Carragher was very good at reading the game. He could chase down opponents and make last-minute tackles.

His former teammate Jamie Redknapp said Carragher was "ultra competitive" and "the most driven footballer" he had ever met. Didier Drogba, a famous striker, called Carragher the toughest defender he ever played against. Drogba described him as an aggressive but fair player. Carragher was also known for how long he played at a high level.

Personal Life

Jamie Carragher married his childhood sweetheart, Nicola Hart, in 2005. They have a daughter named Mia and a son named James. His son James is also a footballer.

Carragher's autobiography, Carra, was released in 2008. He has spoken about his views on politics, saying he is "a little bit wary" of getting too involved. However, he praised the people of Liverpool for their strong political awareness. He said they "stand up for ourselves" and "don't accept what the government is saying."

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Carragher sent a message of support to the people of Malta. This was his maternal grandfather's home country.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Liverpool Youth

• FA Youth Cup: 1995–96

Liverpool

• FA Cup: 2000–01, 2005–06; runner-up: 2011–12
• Football League Cup: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12; runner-up: 2004–05
• FA Charity/Community Shield: 2001, 2006
• UEFA Champions League: 2004–05; runner-up 2006–07
• UEFA Cup: 2000–01
• UEFA Super Cup: 2001, 2005
• FIFA Club World Championship runner-up: 2005

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 2005–06 Premier League
• Liverpool Player of the Season: 1998–99, 2004–05
• Honorary Freedom of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton: 23 January 2006
• Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University: July 2012
• Premier League Player of the Year by Northwest Football Awards: 2013

Images for kids

• 

  Carragher in 2005.

• 

  Carragher blocking a shot in 2012.

See also

• List of one-club men in association football