Liverpool signed Carragher as an apprentice while in his teens, although as a boy he had been a supporter of their local arch-rivals Everton. As a talented youngster Carragher attended the former FA school of excellence in Lilleshall and was a member of Liverpool’s FA Youth Cup winning team in 1996 — a side that also contained his good friend Michael Owen.
He signed a professional contract in October 1996 and then made his first team debut three months later in the second leg of the Coca Cola Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, coming on as a substitute for Rob Jones.
Next came his Premiership debut, again coming on a substitute, against West Ham. He then started the next game against Aston Villa and marked the occasion with his first goal, scored in front of the Kop.
By the following season Carragher was a regular in the first team squad and by the 1998–99 campaign was considered a player of real promise - which led to his first full international cap towards the end of the season.
Throughout his early years he was essentially used as a utility player, spending time as a centre-half, right and left full-back and defensive midfield. Because of this he would be deployed to fill in wherever there was a hole, ultimately harming his ability to hold down a first team position of his own. In 1999–00 he played mainly as a right-back, then in 2000–2001 he made the left-back position his own. By this time Carragher had become a firm fans’ favourite for his determination, and “no-nonsense” style of defending.
He hit the headlines in January 2002 during an FA Cup tie against Arsenal. A coin was thrown from the crowd, and Carragher opted to throw it back into the fans. He earned a red card and a disrepute charge from The Football Association. Carragher then missed out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup as he needed an operation on his troublesome knee, which was also expected to keep him out of the first two months of the 2002–03 season.
By this time Carragher was back playing on the right following the signing of John Arne Riise. In summer 2003 it seemed that he might struggle to hold down a first team place, as the more attacking Steve Finnan was signed to give the team a better balance. However, this battle for the right-back spot never came into fruition. A tackle by Blackburn’s Lucas Neill at Ewood Park in the Reds’ fifth game of the season left Carragher out of the game for six months with a broken leg, and sparked a war of words between Gérard Houllier and Blackburn manager Graeme Souness after Neill and his manager failed to apologise for the tackle. In the second half of the season, he made a terrific comeback making 24 further appearances.
The 2004–05 season was a career defining one for Carragher. New manager Rafael Benítez moved him to centre-half where he managed 56 appearances alongside Sami Hyypiä, forming what became one of the best central defensive partnerships in Europe. Carragher finally shrugged off the utility tag and established himself as a centre half of true international quality. Carragher’s strength, positioning and never-say-die attitude proved instrumental in Liverpool winning the 2005 UEFA Champions League. One of the most memorable moments of the match was when Carragher made two vital last ditch interceptions deep into extra time whilst suffering from cramp. Carragher was voted as Liverpool’s player of the year at the end of the campaign.
On 8 July 2005, he signed a new four year contract with Liverpool FC alongside his friend and teammate, Steven 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 as captain instead of the injured Steven Gerrard.
On 13 May 2006, Carragher played in the FA Cup final against West Ham. It was his tenth final in ten years of club football. In the 21st minute, Carragher rolled the ball into his own net after a strong cross from the Irons’ full-back Lionel Scaloni got caught under his own feet. Despite this Liverpool went on to win 3–1 on penalties after the match finished 3–3 after extra-time.
On 9 December 2006, Carragher scored his first league goal since January 1999, in a match against Fulham at Anfield. His central defence partner Agger flicked the ball on from a corner, and Carragher slid the ball under Fulham keeper Jan Lastuvka at the far post.
[Profile from Wikipedia]
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