Jamie Carragher has opened up on how he once almost called time on his Liverpool career mid-way through a season because he could not accept being a bit-part player during his latter years at the club.
The former defender also revealed that he was talked out of the decision by then-manager Brendan Rodgers, who urged the ex-England star to ‘stick with it’.
Carragher enjoyed a distinguished career with the Reds, joining Liverpool’s academy back in 1996 before retiring in 2013, aged 35.
Before his retirement, the Sky Sports pundit revealed that he had a fear of embarrassing himself while playing for Liverpool while speaking out on his demanding playing schedule on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet.
He revealed that he had targeted playing 50 games a season at the club but admitted that he was not prepared to leave the Anfield side or accept a bit-part role towards the later stages of his career.
Jamie Carragher (right) has revealed how Brendan Rodgers (left) once talked him out ofretiring mid-way through a season
The ex-Liverpool defender retired from professional football back in 2013 following a distinguished career at the club
‘The start of every season my target was to play 50 games,’ the 46-year-old told the podcast. ‘So, from 2000 – that decade of ten years – I played over 50 games and nine seasons and the only one season when I didn’t was when I broke my leg.
‘I played every three days, that was my mentality and if I hadn’t done that – in my mid-twenties – I would have left. There was no way I could have accepted being a substitute, or building up to a game and you’re not involved and it got to a stage at the end where I thought I’m not going to leave Liverpool at the age of 34. I want to be a one-club man. I’ll put up with this for 18 months.’
Carragher made 737 appearances for Liverpool during his career, putting him second on Liverpool’s all-time leading appearance makers, behind Ian Callaghan.
He also won 12 major titles for the Merseyside outfit, notably playing a pivotal role in the Liverpool side that won the Champions League in the 2004-05 season.
Carragher made 737 appearances for Liverpool during his career, putting him second on Liverpool’s all-time leading appearance makers, behind Ian Callaghan
‘But, I was embarrassed – the worst bit was the day after a game, we might train, like the subs and a few of the kids, and there’s nothing wrong with that because players come down and you’re passing experience, and you’ll see the other lads warming down and stretching.
‘You know what it’s like, a manager and staff are all over the first team players, and rightly so, and you’re just thinking, “What am I doing?”
Carragher announced he would retire at the end of the 2012-13 season in February 2013, but admitted it was Rodgers who urged him to continue playing and not stop halfway through the campaign.
‘I nearly finished halfway through a season with Brendan Rodgers, and he said: “No, just stick with it” and he ended up putting me back in the team,’ he said to the podcast.
Carragher enjoyed a distinguished career with the Reds, winning the Champions League in 2005
‘I played the last 10 or 12 games of the season – it was a brilliant way to finish. Probably most players at my age finish [their careers] sat in the stands – I was playing every week for Liverpool.
‘We had a great team, we finished seventh, but I did well so I didn’t embarrass myself, so people said, “Why don’t you carry on?” I said, “This is the best time to go, I’m playing, not embarrassing myself, get out now.”‘
