Jamie Carragher: "The world's best Scouser"

Regulars at Anfield would by now be all too familiar with a voice that squeaked instructions out really loud, with a distinct Scouse accent. Those regulars would now know that May 19th 2013 against QPR would be the last time they will hear it. For a man who wore his heart on his sleeve every time he stepped onto the football field, James Lee Duncan Carragher is seldom given the sort of recognition that he should be. What Carragher was to Liverpool Football Club would be extremely hard for anyone to emulate. So, when Anfield sings “We dream of a team of Carraghers” on Sunday, emotions will be running at their highest.

Sir Alex Ferguson summed up those emotions: “A bedrock. The epitome of a loyal, dedicated player. You’re lucky to have players like that“.

Carragher was an Everton supporter in his childhood and by his own admission, was disgusted by the amount of stick he had to take from his mates who were from the Red half of Merseyside, for Liverpool were at their all-conquering best then. Carragher, a striker then, joined the Liverpool academy in 1990 and turned up for his first training session there, in the blue of his beloved Everton.

According to Carragher, that transformation from striker to defender was only because he got slower as days progressed and those around him became quicker. In 1996, Carragher won the FA Youth Cup with Liverpool in a team that also included one-time Liverpool star Michael Owen. Carragher was one of those footballers that you don’t often see. He was adept in playing at many positions across the back and sometimes in an advanced holding midfield role. Carragher was always seen bellowing out instructions, and to him, it didn’t matter what the incentive was, his team had to win. Maybe, that tiff with Alvaro Arbeloa while leading 2-0 the day after United had won the title in 2009 summed up the sort of footballer that Jamie Carragher was. Other players’ interest were always on his mind and after that incident, he said that the tiff was just because he wanted a clean sheet to help Pepe Reina win the Golden Glove award for the third season running.

This season, some would have sulked if they had to play the role he had to play in the beginning of the season. But sulking is just not Jamie Carragher. Instead of sulking, he kept working, maintained his fitness levels and has probably been among the Premier League’s best defenders in the second half of the season. No coincidence then that Liverpool have shown excellent form since January. Like many Liverpool players of this generation, the night of May 25th, 2005 in Istanbul was the greatest night of Carragher’s career. Many Liverpool fans will have lasting memories of those last ditch challenges that Carragher made in extra time, even while battling a bout of cramps. Of course, that one regret will always linger; not being able to win the Premier League in his career.

For Carra, Liverpool was always of paramount importance but he never neglected his international commitments. So much so, that he heeded to Fabio Capello’s call in 2010 before the World Cup and as is always the case, gave his everything for the cause. So, it was a surprise when Matthew Upson was preferred over him for the crucial knockout match against Germany. Perhaps, that night when he called in to British radio station Talksport to take on Adrian Durham for calling him a “Bottler” after he decided to quit international football told the world what the man was.

In many ways, Jamie Carragher has been the heart and soul of Liverpool Football Club for a long time now, and it will be no surprise that he will receive a Guard of Honor from Liverpool and QPR players when he graces the hallowed turf of Anfield for one last time. What Carragher leaves is more than a gaping hole not only in the Liverpool rearguard, but in the very fabric of the club. And, it is not going to be very easy to replace him, because players like Jamie Carragher don’t come along very often. Sir Alex called Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as “Once-in-a-Generation Players” and it wouldn’t sound out of place to put Carragher on that list. When asked what he wanted to be remembered as, he said

“Nothing special, just a player who gave it his all“

I can assure you, he will be remembered as much much more than that. As they say at Anfield, 23 CARRA GOLD.

Thank you for the memories, Jamie. You’ll never be forgotten and of course, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”