Carra: A career full of emotion, pride, guts and determination
Posted Friday, February 08, 2013 by The Sun
TURKISH DELIGHT ... Jamie Carragher lifts the European Cup in Istanbul in 2005
AS Liverpool marched towards European Cup glory in 2005, they did so to the ear-splitting Kop chorus of ‘We all dream of a team of Carraghers.’
This morning, every Red in the land is stunned at the prospect of a team without any.
For no one — skipper Steven Gerrard included — commands a place in Kopites’ hearts as much as local hero Carra, the Bootle boy who most definitely made good.
Everyone who has ever been on the Kop sees something of themselves in Carragher, 35, the man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is never afraid to show it.
When the FA held a celebration dinner in Gerrard’s honour recently, rarely have so many neutrals willed Liverpool to win a match as the organisers had done against Norwich 24 hours earlier.
One of the speakers paying tribute to his team-mate was Carragher and the FA knew that, had the Reds slipped up, there is every chance Carra may have stayed away.
Not through any disrespect to his closest pal, far from it. Purely because rarely has a footballer ever felt the pain of defeat quite as much as ex-England star Carragher.
He may have been under-rated too often outside Anfield but, within the hallowed halls, it has been the exact opposite.
The greatest names in football have always known it, as legendary Italian defender Franco Baresi revealed post-Istanbul and that unforgettable Champions League triumph in 2005.
Baresi, after his beloved AC Milan lost out on penalties, insisted Carra was one of the world’s best defenders.
From his goalscoring full debut against Aston Villa to picking up his team-mates after City went ahead in last week’s draw, it has been a career full of raw emotion, pride, guts and determination.
Carragher will doubtless be embarrassed at the accolades flooding in his direction, from fans calling him irreplaceable to Kop idol Phil Thompson insisting he could have played in any Reds team in any era.
This is a man who shuns the spotlight away from the pitch — and yesterday’s announcement proved it.
Carragher insisted: “I won’t be making any further comment on this decision until the end of the season.
“All our focus should be on achieving the best possible finish in the league and trying to win the Europa League. I’ll be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool.”
Boss Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, admitted: “He’s been fantastic for me and will have a significant role to play between now and May.
“When the time is right we will give him the tribute and recognition he deserves.”
And while one Carragher is on the way out, there IS another one on the Liverpool conveyor belt.
Son James is at the Reds’ academy and impressing in his father’s childhood position up front.
With a dad like Jamie behind him, there will not be a youngster in the land getting better advice.
His top five moments
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL ’05
Carragher’s cramp was as famous as this shootout win over Milan.
FA YOUTH CUP ’96
He still sees the 4-1 aggregate win against West Ham as a career highlight.
UEFA SUPER CUP ’05
Three months after Istanbul, Carra was skipper in an extra-time win over CSKA Moscow.
FULL DEBUT v ASTON VILLA ’97
He celebrated his first start for the Reds with a headed goal in front of the Kop at Anfield.
CARLING CUP FINAL ’12
Sub Carragher was joined by son James to get his winners’ medal after a shootout against Cardiff.
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