There is always something a little bit special when you discuss one-club men. At most clubs, player come and go for financial reasons or prestige, but at a select few entities, certain players become pillars around which teams are built.

For over 700 games, Jamie Carragher has served Liverpool with distinction. But Anfield will have a completely different look to it next season when one of its Scouse heroes brings the curtain down on a stellar career.

His decision to announce his departure in advance was classy as it pre-empted any questions that Brendan Rodgers would have to field regarding the defender’s future.

The Everton-supporting Carragher joined Liverpool aged 9 and after working his way through the youth teams, he signed his first professional contract with Liverpool at the start of 1996-97 season, making his debut in the League Cup.

Initially a fringe player during the tail end of the Spice Boys era, Carragher played at full-back under Roy Evans.

But it was the arrival of Gerard Houllier that first brought success for Carragher and Liverpool, with a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in the 2000-01 season. Carragher started all three finals at left-back…

 

2003 was a difficult year after he had his leg broken after a shocking challenge from Lucas Neill. There was controversy a few years later when Carragher claimed in his autobiography that some of his close friends were looking to assault Neill but decided not to because the Australian was in the company of Carragher’s former team-mate David Thompson. 

But he soon established himself at centre-back and it was there that he became part of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football in the UEFA Champions League of 2005 in Istanbul.

Carragher was a rock at the back in the second-half, putting in a number of last ditch challenges to keep the Reds in it against the mighty AC Milan, even though he was plagued with cramp throughout extra-time.

 

Perhaps the main regret that Carragher will have – aside from Liverpool’s failure to win the Premier League title during his time at the club – would be his international career.

Part of England’s so-called golden generation, he was unfortunate to have emerged at the same time as Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell.

In 2007 after reports that Carragher was on the verge of retiring from England duty, TalkSport radio host Adrian Durham accused him of being a “bottler” which Carragher was not going to take lying down…