Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher to retire at end of season

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The 35 year-old has made more than 700 appearances for the Reds since in debut in January 1997 will leave the club in the summer.

In a statement Carragher, who is second only to Ian Callaghan on the club’s all-time appearance list, told liverpoolfc.com: “This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer.

In a statement Carragher, said: “This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer.

“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.

“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 made his first-team debut as a substitute in a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Middlesbrough in January 1997 and was part of the treble-winning team in 2001, picking up the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. He was also in the side that famously won the Champions League in 2005 on penalties against AC Milan in Rafael Benitez’s first season in charge.

While his Liverpool career progressed, Carragher was also starting his rise through the England ranks, where he went on to earn 38 caps for his country.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, who said in January he wanted Carragher to remain at the club beyond his current deal, says the centre-back will continue to feature in his plans between now and the end of the season.

“Jamie has been absolutely outstanding for me since I joined the club,” said the former Swansea manager, who took charge at Anfield last summer.

“He has been a model professional on and off the pitch and has shown an unswerving commitment to our work. He will have a significant role to play for us between now and May.