Carragher (born January 28, 1978 in Bootle,
Merseyside) is an English international footballer. Despite
being a boyhood Everton fan he currently plays his club football
at Liverpool F.C., where he was taken on as a trainee youngster
and wears the number 23 shirt.
He made his Premiership debut in the 1996/97 season against West
Ham as a substitute. He started the next game against Aston
Villa and scored in front of the Kop. Fortunately for Carragher,
within two seasons of his emergence, Liverpool had taken a
general change in direction away from the 1990s' innuendo of
being characteristically high profile underachievers and "Spice
Boys" - a derogatory term at the time that signified the likes
of then Liverpool players like David James, Jamie Redknapp,
Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, who were perceived to be more
interested in their playboy lifestyles than success - to a more
serious, calculated approach under new boss, Gerard Houllier.
In July 2005, he married his childhood sweetheart, Nicola Hart,
with whom he has two young children.
While Carragher's main position is centre-back, he has the
ability to play at either full-back position, or even in
midfield as a defensive midfielder. He had a promising career
from its start, being a regular in the England Under-21 team,
winning a record 27 caps. Many football experts consider
Carragher to be one of, if not the best, natural "out-and-out"
defender in England, although there have been doubts about his
effectiveness going forward. Carragher has had over 300 first
team appearances for Liverpool, more than any other player in
the current Liverpool squad. As of August 2005, he had scored 3
first team goals.
Carragher has become a fans' favourite for his determination,
and "no-nonsense" style of defending. As of 13 November 2005 he
has 22 England caps, and he was a non-playing squad member at
Euro 2004. He was unlucky to come in second in Liverpool's
Player of the Year voting in 2005, narrowly finishing behind
Steven Gerrard. On Friday the 8th of July, 2005, he signed a new
4-year contract with Liverpool FC alongside his friend and
teammate Gerrard.
On 26 July 2005 during the UEFA Champions League second
qualifying round first leg, he scored his first goal in six
years, and his third ever, in the 3-1 victory against Lithuanian
champions FBK Kaunas. On August 26 2005, he lifted the UEFA
Super Cup when Liverpool won against CSKA Moscow in Monte Carlo.
Carragher is currently Liverpool's vice-captain, behind teammate
and fellow Liverpudlian Steven Gerrard.
Carragher was awarded the freedom of his home town Sefton for
his local charity work and the exceptional example he sets to
the youth of today. |
