Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
Carragher, who won 38 caps for England, will leave the club in the summer.
"I'm making this announcement because I don't want the manager to be answering questions when I've already decided what I am going to do," he said.
Carragher, who was out of contract at the
end of the season, joined Liverpool's youth system aged nine and made
his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in January 1997.
He was part of the Reds side that won the Uefa Cup in
2001 and Champions League in 2005, and picked up two FA Cup winners'
medals and three League Cup titles.
"I will be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool Football Club, as I have done my entire career since joining aged just nine," said Carragher.
"It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as I have. 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 [Europa League] we are competing in."
Although the Liverpool statement announcing Carragher's retirement said he will leave the club at the end of the season, Reds managing director Ian Ayre hinted the player may still have a future role with the club.
"Everyone within the game knows that Jamie has been a colossal figure for Liverpool Football Club," said Ayre. "You don't have a career spanning three decades at the very top of this game unless you are an exceptional player and he epitomises the values this club was built on and continues to stand for.
"In line with Jamie's wishes we will wait until the season concludes before giving him the true recognition he deserves. We will also wait until that time to comment further regarding what involvement he may have with the club going forward."
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.
"When the time is right we, as a team and a club, will give the man the tribute and recognition he deserves; I know the supporters will want to say thank you to someone who has served them with such distinction for so long."
Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen also paid tribute to his former team-mate, tweeting: "What a servant Carra has been for Liverpool. A rare breed and it's been a privilege to play alongside, room with and be big mates with one of football's real men. I doubt we have heard the last of him. He has too much to offer the game to be away for long!"
Read more: updatallnews
No comments:
Post a Comment