7 Feb 2013

'I'm in shock' - Aldo, Didi, Fowler, Lucas & Thommo on Carra's retirement

In a surprise announcement, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed that he plans to retire from professional football at the end of the season.

In recent weeks, Carra has put in some fantastic performances for the first team, and shown that he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level. As such, it's a real shame that he's decided to end his career so early.

Hopefully, Carra will stay on at the club in some kind of coaching capacity, and it would be a huge waste of the man's unrivalled experience to let some other club get the benefit from all his years in the game. Announcing his decision, the defender made the following statement:

"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 LFC, as I've done my entire career.

"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."


As soon as the announcement happened, Ex-Reds were lining up on twitter to pay tribute to one of Liverpool's greatest ever servants. Here is a selection of tweets:

Phil Thompson

"Carra retiring. What a legend and what a wonderful servant to our great club.Wwe won't see the likes of him again. RESPECT MATE"

Didi Hamann

"Just heard that Carra retires at the end of the season. One of the all time great LFC players. He showed in the last few weeks that he's still got it"

Robbie Fowler

"Sorry to hear the news on carra, his quotes regarding retirement tell you everything about the man. An absolute legend of a player. Knowing carra, he won't want a big fuss, but you know what, he deserves one of the biggest.

John Aldridge

"I'm in shock. Carra to retire at the end of the season. I'm lost for words. Speak later on it"

Neil Mellor

"Sad to hear Jamie Carragher is set to retire at end of the season. An honour to have played with a Liverpool Great. A model pro to any young lad"

Lucas

Just read Carra statement. Let's enjoy a few more months with him before he retires. It is amazing what he is done for LFC

I still vividly remember Carra scoring on his full debut against Aston Villa in 1997:



It's a weird feeling to basically witness a player's entire career from beginning to end.

Good luck, Carra!



NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


44 comments:

  1. I hope he stays on in a coaching role.

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  2. He will be missed, gutted he retiring, hope he stays in a coaching role though..... :)

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  3. Im absolutely heartbroken and totally shocked by this, It makes no sense at all when he is vitally important to LFC......................this is sickening news.

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  4. There goes the dream of fielding a 'Team' of Carragher's... We won't be able to field one soon enough... 

    Get him on the coaching staff, god knows we need a DF coach, since Steve Clarke left. All the best mate, hardly understood a word you said (without subtitles), but you can tell he spoke with passion. 

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  5. I think going out when still near the top of your game is the best way to go.  I'm sure he could not see himself playing at any other club and did not want to spend two seasons sitting on the bench.  Perhaps he will do a Scholes and come back in our hour of need.  I would love to see him in a role for the club in the backroom staff.

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  6. fairly typical of this site to miss an important part of a quote...... Carra actually said he would be LEAVING Liverpool Football Club at the end of this season and retiring from professional football. I have already decided what I am going to do.
    Seems certain to me that his immediate future lies away from the club maybe he will return but it might be a few years away

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  7. Forever in my memory!! Last ditch tackle Vs AC Milan in Istanbul even with cramp and being stood 5 yards away from him celebrating having won the European cup!!!
    A truely fine role model to any kid growing up, clearly made the most of his ability, was never the most technically gifted players but made up for that with hard work, determination and with the general love for the game his ability to read the game at the back made him IMO the best centre half in Europe in 2005-2006!!

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  8. Will be missed. Thought he had it in him to stay for another season as a squad player. Probably will see him do some punditry for a while, me thinks, and then coming back to the club in some capacity. One of the best CBs in Europe for a season or two, some achievement. LFC legend. 

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  9. I have a feeling that Rodgers told him behind the scenes that he wouldn't feature next season, which probably prompted him to retire.

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  10. Your pedantry knows no bounds. What possible difference does it make? None whatsoever.

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  11. Why you guys are shocked and sad to hear this, carra did make it clear last year this will be his last season plus hes 35 do you expect him to play until 40's? Its a tough game and he feels he cant carry on anymore thats it its no surprise but well expected, lets hope we win the europa league just for carra so he could retire with a trophy.

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  12. You cant speculate like that, carra made it clear last year hes retiring

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  13. it makes a world of difference to readers and posters who hope he is going to become a member of the backroom team.
    Missing that part from your article changes entirely what he has said.
    There is no chance of Carra staying at the club in any capacity after the end of the season he is not simply retiring from professional football, the magnitude of the announcement is that he is leaving the club

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  14. Thank you for giving me your permission to speculate.

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  15. No, you are just being argumentative for the hell of it. I didn't say he *would* become part of the backroom staff, I gave my opinion - which matches millions of LFC fans - that I *hope* he becomes part of the backroom staff. Don't bother replying to this comment, as it will be deleted. I don't have time to waste on quasi-sniping pedantry such as this.

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  16. He is a leader so now we are in big trouble, on the pitch he makes players play!!!.....................this is bad news indeed.

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  17. you have completely missed the magnitude of the announcement.

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  18. I'm just shocked that even on his last legs, Carragher appears to be the best centre-back at LFC!

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  19. The important part of the announcement is that Carra is LEAVING the club at the end of the season the full transcript is available on the Clubs official website.

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  20. in total shock, showed he is still one of the best defenders around! YNWA  Carragher :D 

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  21. The man has made his call. He is retiring at the end of the season. He was dabbling in being a pundit and might get into that seriously for now until he gets his coaching badges if he has not already. not too sure.
    Or he could make a turn around and come out of retirement at the end of the season. like he did for England.
    Good Luck Carra. 
    Buck seems to be quiet without a comment on this. hmmm........

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  22. In his prime one of the best Cb in the world, him and Hypia on the run up to winning the Champions league was fantastic. Really hope he takes on some sort of coaching role, maybe he could teach Agger and Skrtel how to talk to each other!! Whatever he does I wish him all the best.

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  23. It's a sad day for LFC but he's given us fifteen years worth of great days. Whatever I can say all adds up to Thank You!

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  24. Honestly my favorate Liverpool player. Always 100% on the pitch, always class off the pitch, and most importantly never once considered leaving us. Can't express how gutted I am right now and will definitely be making a trip across the atlantic to see the man in action one more time! He IS liverpool and ebodies everything the club and players should be (where we currently aren't as a whole organization imo, but are making progress towards). Hope he takes the time to shake allen, borini, skrtel, and reina and remind them what it means to put on that jersey in the upcoming weeks and months because they're few who've worn it better. YNWA Jamie...never!

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  25. Hope Rafa comes out and sings his praise, just love the way he pronounces 'CARRA!!'. Gonna miss his post match interviews, when he starts with his high pitch 'YEEAHHH!!!'s' (need go watch a Darren Farley vid to reminisce). Some quarters would lambast Carra of the last 2-3 yrs, undeniable a LEGEND. I tip my hat to you good sir...        

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  26. Maybe consider him as role model over last 7 yrs, not before that time (spice boys). Got to hand it to him tho, when I heard he 'nobbed' the stripper at their Christmas do (YOLO), I was laughing my arse off. Legend in more than one sense.... 

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  27. Really upset hearing this news, think he's a real legend. I'ts virtually going to be impossible to replace what he brought to the club. He is the embodiment of team spirit and fight, he may not have been the quickest, biggest or most skillful, but he had more heart than many of the so class superstar footballers in the world today and we are going to be a much weaker team without him. 
    YNWA

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  28. the word legend is throw about like confetti in football,but jamie carragher deserves that accolade,not the most naturally gifted player in the world but heart and determination as big as any man,we never furfulled our dream of a team of carraghers,but we were blessed with one, jamie i salute you and you will surely never walk alone

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  29. No! He said you can't speculate!

    You have my permission to learn to read!

    You're being so disrespectful!!

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  30. The fella has said it in a bit of a pissy way, but that quote is pretty relevant. It frames the article in a whole different way.

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  31. I would be surprised if liverpool now go on some crazy run to get a top four place and win the Europa league...lets do it for Carra!!!

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  32. They don't make them like that anymore. Will be forever missed..!!

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  33. Think we can talk him into staying on for another year.

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  34. Touch wood, this (hoping) can be a catalyst. 

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  35. STEVEN GERRARD has been the captain in terms of leading by example with the ball but from a communication stand point CARRA has been the real captain.Just hearing him bark orders is assuring.
    Losing a big character/voice and great organiser with possibly REINA to add to the departure of CARRA,we definitely need big characters to replace these players.Our squad lacks talkers as it is.Sometimes talent isn't the most important factor,you need tough players who express themselves and are willing to put their body on the line.
    The likes of SKRTEL despite looking like he could eat CARRA for breakfast is soft in comparison.JAMIE CARRAGHER is totally committed to not conceding and would take a boot in the face to prevent a goal.Every squad needs that type of player.BRENDAN and the scouts will have a difficult job finding a replacement,who should we go for?

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  36. A legend indeed..

    Unlikely to make it into an all time great team in terms of ability.. Although he was an accomplished player no doubt.

    But in term's of heart,desire,leadership and love for the Liver bird he is arguably without equal..

    I will never forget his contribution in Istanbul.. One of the most heroic performance by any Liverpool player i've had the pleasure of witnessing.

    His finest moment..

    Thank's for the memories Carra.

    How bout a goal in front of the Kop before you go !! :)

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  37. hope he does a paul scholes.if he dont well thanks for your service jc a true lfc great , still think he could do a least one more season we will see

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  38. LFC 1892-2009 then we died10:16 pm, February 07, 2013

    Just like when a artist dies he suddenly is the best thing since sliced bread.I for one wont shed a tear for Carra,hes a selfish manipulating back stabber who was the main cause for Rafas departure and LFCs demise.The man is a sneaky sly coward who gets his mates Owen and Murphy to peddle crap to the sun to get Rafa the sack so he got his 2 year contract worth £100k a week the robbing get.also when he new Rafa was stalling on a new contract for him he was running to the press putting pressure on him by saying he will gladly play for another club.I depsise Carra,he got his huge contract at the expense of LFC.Get rid of this bad apple and dont ever come back.YNWA Rafa.

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  39. Really gutted to hear the news re Carra leaving at the end of this season tbh & i find myself firmly in the John Aldridge camp on this one....

    I will comment later. 


     

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  40. In fairness he did say, he has a feeling. So not like he was stating it as a fact.

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  41. Club legend. The man has earnt that respect. I completely get his call too, he hasnt played to much this year, and maybe feels putting in the work everyday, is getting to hard, when you know you prob wont be playing, and will play even less next year. Fairplay for saying it now too, just shows he has put the club first again, trying to take pressure off the boss, who might be getting quizzed about not playing him.

    He has been brilliant for us, and shown a loyalty that is rarely seen these days.

    I wish him all the best.

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  42. Rafa will never be a legend in Liverpool. get real pal.

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  43. qpr 19th may my moneys down ,i would not even mind suarez taking a tumble if it meant carra got the chance in his final game at anfield,i was at rushies last game before he went to juventus(think it was against oxford and am sure this will be as emotional

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