Thursday, 7th February, 2013
Liverpool have announced that Jamie Carragher will leave the club and retire from football at the end of the current season.
The 35-year-old has slipped firmly down the defensive pecking order at Anfield this season, although he has still performed well for manager Brendan Rodgers when called upon.
Carragher turned 35 years old last month and clearly feels the time has come to hang up his boots and call time on a hugely successful playing career.
"This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer", he told his club’s official site.
"I’m making this announcement now because I don’t want the manager or the club to be answering questions on my future when I’ve already decided what I am going to do.
relatedNewsStory
"I will be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool Football Club, as I’ve done my entire career since joining aged just nine-years-old.
"It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as I have and I am immensely proud to have done so and thankful for all the support I have had. There are many memories I want to share and people to thank, but now is not the time for that.
"I won’t be making any further comment on this decision until the end of the season; all our focus and concentration should be on achieving the best possible finish in the league this season and trying to win the last remaining trophy we are competing in."
Carragher came through Liverpool’s youth system and made his first team debut for the club in 1997 against Middlesbrough.
The defender, who has played all across the defensive line at points throughout his career, has amassed more than 700 senior appearances for the Reds.
In his time at Anfield, Carragher has won the FA Cup twice, the League Cup three times, the UEFA Cup once, the Champions League once, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the FA Community Shield twice. The Premier League title though has ultimately eluded him.
Beat the bookie with Inside Bet! Free bets, tips, the best markets. Check out Inside Bet now.
