Jamie Carragher has been a fixture in the Liverpool first team ever since making his debut almost 15 years ago. In that time he has made 676 appearances (the second most in the history of the club), and has won ten trophies working under five different managers. As the longest-serving player currently at the club, there is no doubt that he is very much part of the furniture at Anfield. But at 33-years-old, his long playing career with the Reds may soon be drawing to a close.
With the likes of Martin Kelly and Sebastian Coates being touted as Liverpool’s future first choice centre-backs, as well as pressure from established regulars Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, Carra has spoken recently about his possible retirement:
“Ask Kenny. He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose. You want to try to get as much out of your career as play as long as possible. The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years. That won’t be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide.”
Carragher’s passionate playing style and animated personality have become almost symbolic at Liverpool, and his eventual departure will leave a huge hole at Anfield. He loves the club and knows it inside-out, and as a local lad has a great rapport and understanding with the fans. It is plain to see that every defeat hurts him more as a supporter than as a player, and that he also celebrates every victory as if he had been watching from the stands.
However, it is unlikely that Carra will be among those fans when he hangs up his boots. He has long been seen as a potential future Reds manager, and added that he was hopeful of a future in the game after he quits playing:
“Do I want to go into coaching or management? Yes, I think so. I’ve taken my first steps to coaching and the B licence. We all love the game, you want to stay involved in the game.”
The majority of Liverpool fans would love to one day see Carra in the dugout as manager. He has had such an impact on the team during his playing career, and his leadership skills as well as his understanding of what the fans want make him an ideal candidate to one day get the top job. He should certainly be able to go straight into a coaching position at the club once his playing days are over.
He’s not going anywhere just yet, and still has plenty to give the team. But it is refreshing to see that a player can appreciate that eventually he is going to be replaced in the side. He won’t mouth off or complain about it when it happens, as he knows deep down that it will be best for the club. He also knows, like most others, that in all likelihood, it won’t be the end of his time at Anfield, but instead, a new beginning.
Written by Sean Mullan for Live4Liverpool.com
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I would think that Coates would be the preferred replacement as CB. If that is not to be the case then the question would arise. Why buy him? He needs to be used more from now on in so as to ease his way into fully occupying the position. I would expect to see him permanently there by the start of the new year at the latest..