Jamie Carragher

James "Jamie" Carragher (born 28 January 1978) is an England Association football who plays as a defender (association football) for Premier League side Liverpool F.C.. Jamie Carragher is the current vice-captain (football) and is one of the club's longest-serving players; Jamie Carragher made Jamie Carragher 500th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions in January 2008.

Carragher is a one-club man, having started Jamie Carragher career with the Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy. Jamie Carragher made Jamie Carragher professional debut in the 1996–97 in English football and became a first team regular the following season. Jamie Carragher gained Jamie Carragher first senior honours in 2001, winning a Treble (association football) Other trebles of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup. Having initially played as a Defender (association football) Full back, the arrival of manager Rafael Benítez in 2004 saw Carragher move to the Defender (association football) Centre back position and that season Jamie Carragher won Jamie Carragher greatest honour to date—the UEFA Champions League 2004–05. In the next season, Jamie Carragher won the 2006 FA Cup Final and was selected in the PFA Team of the Year. Carragher set a record for the most appearances in European competition for Liverpool in 2007.

Internationally, Carragher held the national record for most caps at under-21 level and earned Jamie Carragher senior debut in 1999. Although Jamie Carragher competed at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, Jamie Carragher failed to pin down a first team place in the England national football team. Frustrated with being used as cover for the defensive positions, Carragher decided to retire from international football in 2007, finishing with 34 senior England caps. Jamie Carragher released Jamie Carragher autobiography, Carra, in 2008.

Club career

Born in Bootle, Merseyside, Carragher attended the former FA school of excellence in Lilleshall in Jamie Carragher youth and was a member of Liverpool's FA Youth Cup winning team in 1996 along with Jamie Carragher friend Michael Owen. Jamie Carragher signed a professional contract in October 1996 and then made Jamie Carragher first team debut under Roy Evans' management three months later in the second leg of the Football League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough F.C., coming on as a substitute for Rob Jones (footballer born 1971). Next came Jamie Carragher FA Premier League debut, again coming on as a substitute, against West Ham United F.C.. Jamie Carragher then started the next game against Aston Villa F.C. and marked the occasion with Jamie Carragher first goal (a header in front of the Spion Kop (stadia)) in a 3-0 win to temporarily take the side to the top of the table, but Liverpool finished the season in fourth place. In the 1997–98 in English football season, Carragher broke into the first team, making twenty Premier League appearances. The following season Jamie Carragher cemented Jamie Carragher place in the first-team squad, missing just four league games all season, and Kevin Keegan awarded Jamie Carragher Jamie Carragher first full international cap.

Throughout Jamie Carragher early years Jamie Carragher was essentially used as a utility player, spending time as a Football (soccer) positions Centre back, right and left Football (soccer) positions Full back and defensive midfielder. Because of this Jamie Carragher would be deployed to fill in wherever there was a hole, ultimately harming Jamie Carragher ability to hold down a first team position of Jamie Carragher own. In 1999–2000 in English football Jamie Carragher played mainly as a right-back, this season saw one of Carragher's darkest Liverpool moments as Jamie Carragher scored 2 own goals in 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United, then in 2000–01 in English football Jamie Carragher made the left-back position Jamie Carragher own. 2001 also saw Carragher gain Jamie Carragher first senior trophies: the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, League Cup (scoring in the shootout in the final against Birmingham), Community Shield and European Super Cup.

Jamie Carragher hit the headlines in January 2002 during an FA Cup tie against Arsenal F.C., when Jamie Carragher threw a coin back into the stands that had been tossed at him. Carragher earned a red card and a disrepute charge from The Football Association. From 2002 till 2004 Carragher was hit by two serious injuries, firstly missing the 2002 FIFA World Cup for an operation on Jamie Carragher troublesome knee and later due to a broken leg in the first half of the 2003–04 in English football season after a tackle by Blackburn Rovers F.C. Lucas Neill at Ewood Park in the Reds' fifth game of the season. During this period, Carragher's place in the team was also threatened by signings of Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise. However, Jamie Carragher succeeded in retaining Jamie Carragher place in the team, making 24 appearances in the first half of 2004.

The 2004–05 in English football was a career defining one for Carragher. New manager Rafael Benítez moved Jamie Carragher to centre-half where Jamie Carragher managed 56 appearances alongside Sami Hyypiä. Carragher shrugged off the utility tag and established himself as a centre half. Carragher developed a reputation as a strong and positionally astute defender. Jamie Carragher partnership with Hyypiä was central in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League 2004-05 victory. One of the most memorable moments of the match was when Carragher made two vital last ditch intercept into extra time whilst suffering from cramp. Carragher was voted as Liverpool's player of the year at the end of the campaign. Jamie Carragher later went on to captain the team in their 2005 UEFA Super Cup victory over PFC CSKA Moscow.

On 13 May 2006, Carragher played in the FA Cup final against West Ham United F.C.. It was Jamie Carragher tenth final in as many years of club football. Jamie Carragher scored an own goal in the 21st minute, but Liverpool went on to win 3–1 on penalties after the match finished 3–3 after extra-time.

On 9 December 2006, Carragher scored Jamie Carragher first league goal since January 1999, in a match against Fulham at Anfield. Jamie Carragher central defence partner Daniel Agger flicked the ball on from a corner, and Carragher slid the ball under Fulham keeper Jan Lastuvka at the far post. The goal was only Jamie Carragher fourth in Jamie Carragher Liverpool career.

In Liverpool's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea F.C. on 1 May 2007, Carragher set a record for the most appearances in European competition for the club. Jamie Carragher 90th European match took Jamie Carragher past Ian Callaghan's 89 matches between 1964 and 1978. Carragher was voted as Liverpool's Player of the Year for the 2006–07 in English football season by the fans and soon after extended Jamie Carragher contract till 2011. That season also saw Carragher's international retirement, with the defender citing frustration with a lack of appearances under Steve McClaren.

The 2007–08 in English football season saw Carragher reach Jamie Carragher 500th appearance for Liverpool. Jamie Carragher was made captain for this match. Jamie Carragher currently stands at 9th in the all time Liverpool appearances table in all competitions.

On 18 May 2009, in the match against West Bromwich Albion F.C., Carragher was involved in an on-field clash with fellow defender Álvaro Arbeloa and the twosome to be separated by teammates Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and others. Manager Rafael Benítez refused to comment any further on the matter. The former England defender later explained, "We want to keep a clean sheet and we want José Manuel Reina to have a chance of the Golden Glove for the third season running."

International career

In 1996, Carragher had Jamie Carragher first appearance for the England national under-21 football team. Playing as a defensive midfielder, Jamie Carragher became a regular for the team, and eventually Captain (sports). In 2000, when Jamie Carragher became ineligible for the team, Jamie Carragher held the national record for most caps at this level, with 27. The record was eclipsed in 2007 by goalkeeper Scott Carson.

On 28 April 1999 Jamie Carragher earned Jamie Carragher first cap for the senior England team, as a substitute against Hungary national football team. Jamie Carragher made Jamie Carragher full international début against Netherlands national football team at White Hart Lane in 2001, and later came on as a substitute as England famously beat Germany national football team Germany 1–5 England (2001) in the Olympic Stadium (Munich). Carragher missed the 2002 World Cup through injury, but travelled with England to 2004 UEFA European Football Championship. Jamie Carragher eventually ended up with no playing time, losing out to Ledley King when a vacancy opened up. Jamie Carragher was selected for the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and was not in the original starting eleven, but came into the team after Gary Neville suffered an injury.

Carragher has played centre-back, right-back, left-back, and in the defensive midfield for England. Despite Jamie Carragher many caps and regular squad appearances, Jamie Carragher has never held down a consistent place in the starting eleven. Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson generally used two central defenders from John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell in preference to Carragher, but occasionally used Carragher as right-back as deputy for Gary Neville, as Jamie Carragher did during the 2006 World Cup.

On 1 July 2006 Carragher was one of three players to have a penalty saved by Ricardo Pereira, as England yet again succumbed on penalties to exit the 2006 World Cup in the quarter finals against Portugal national football team. Carragher, who had been brought on as a substitute for Aaron Lennon late in Jamie Carragher game, scored with Jamie Carragher first attempt but was forced to re-take Jamie Carragher penalty by the referee, who had not blown Jamie Carragher whistle. Carragher then saw Jamie Carragher second effort saved.

On 9 July 2007 it was reported that Carragher was considering quitting the England squad. TalkSport host Adrian Durham accused Carragher of "bottling it." Carragher confirmed on the show that Jamie Carragher was indeed thinking about retirement, but Jamie Carragher had already had two talks with England head coach Steve McClaren and would leave it until the upcoming match against Germany national football team to decide.

Carragher did subsequently retire from International football. McClaren attempted to persuade Jamie Carragher to return to the International setup on at least one occasion, whilst McClaren's replacement Fabio Capello has reportedly suggested that Jamie Carragher would be happy to consider Carragher. Carragher's responses have suggested that Jamie Carragher would not respond positively to any offers of a call-up. Carragher was said to have been unhappy at the failure of successive England managers to pick Jamie Carragher at centre-back, preferring to use Jamie Carragher as cover along the back four and even as a holding midfielder.

Personal life

In 2005, Carragher starred in an anti-bullying music video for Liverpool band Just 3, entitled Stand Tall. The video was directed by Samantha Janus, and was heavily backed by Childline ambassador Esther Rantzen.

Carragher has also cited Oasis and The Arctic Monkeys as Jamie Carragher favourite bands and claims Jamie Carragher favourite song is In My Life by The Beatles. Jamie Carragher is good friends with Noel Gallagher from Oasis.

Carragher received the Freedom of the City of Jamie Carragher home borough of Metropolitan Borough of Sefton for Jamie Carragher local charity work and "the exceptional example Jamie Carragher sets to the youth of today." Jamie Carragher occasionally visits schools as part of Jamie Carragher charity work, promoting the importance of family life.

Carragher also owns a restaurant in Liverpool called "Cafe Sport England Restaurant".

Carragher is married to Jamie Carragher childhood sweetheart, Nicola Hart, and has two children; James and Mia.

Carragher has no navel due to having been born with gastroschisis.

Carragher grew up supporting Everton F.C. Although Jamie Carragher was a staunch Evertonion as a child, Jamie Carragher grew annoyed with the Everton fans for their bitterness and complete obsession of Liverpool F.C. Jamie Carragher also resented how they picked on Jamie Carragher close friends Robbie Fowler and Steven Gerrard when they claimed that Robbie was a cocaine abuser. There were rumours that the reason Carragher wore long sleeved shirts was because of an Everton tatoo on Jamie Carragher arm- though this tatoo has never been seen when Jamie Carragher takes Jamie Carragher top off at the end of a match.
Carragher claims the moment Jamie Carragher finally stopped supporting Everton was in 1999 when Liverpool had just suffered a bad defeat. Jamie Carragher walked into Jamie Carragher local pub and, even though Jamie Carragher expected to be comforted by friends despite being Evertonians, was jeered at and mocked.

Controversy

On 28 February 2008, Carragher was arrested and cautioned for assault outside a school near Jamie Carragher home in Crosby. Liverpool refused to comment.

On September 11, 2008, Carragher's biography, Carra, was released, but controversial excerpts were leaked to the press beforehand. In one instance, Carragher claimed that Jamie Carragher close friends were looking to assault West Ham United F.C.'s Australian defender Lucas Neill. Jamie Carragher also claimed that the incident was averted only because Neill was in the company of David Thompson (footballer), one of Carragher's former teammates, who Carragher did not want to "become a witness to an assault." Carragher sent a text to Thompson, "telling Jamie Carragher Neill should give Jamie Carragher a hug of thanks," suggesting had Thompson not been there, Neill would have faced an assault. "Song walked on to the training pitch with a smile on Jamie Carragher face. Jamie Carragher was limping off it with a grimace an hour later. The first chance I got, I did him. Never have I hunted down a 50-50 tackle with greater appetite. 'You're not fucking laughing now, are you, you soft cunt?' I said as Jamie Carragher hobbled away."

Carragher also asserted therein that Jamie Carragher brothers have trouble finding employment in the city of Liverpool because of the number of foreign immigrants working in England, prompting claims of xenophobia.