Carragher made his first-team debut for Liverpool in 1996 and only one player has played more games for Liverpool than Carragher, who has played 723 total games for the team with 496 of those appearances taking place in the English Premier League. The only player with more appearances for the Reds is Ian Callaghan who played in 856 games for the squad.
Over the last two decades Carragher and teammate Steven Gerrard have been the faces of a team that has gone through it's longest drought of not winning a Premier League title. While Carragher was never able to win the Premier League during his career he has helped bring many trophies to the legendary squad.
Carragher has helped Liverpool win two FA Cups, three League Cups, two FA Community Shields, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup twice, an FA Youth Cup and most importantly the UEFA Champions League during the 2004-2005 season.
It was the 2005 Champions League win that will most be remembered in Carragher's career. His performance in the semifinal against Chelsea helped propel Liverpool to the final where they eventually defeated AC Milan 3-2 in penalties. "I looked at him and saw a man hell-bent on not letting a lead slip. He was prepared to offer the last drop of sweat and blood in his body to get us to Istanbul," said Gerrard on Carragher's performance in the semifinal.
I first became a fan of soccer after playing FIFA World Cup Soccer 2006 and watching UEFA Euro 2008 during the summer of 2008. My favorite player in the tournament was Fernando Torres who at the time played for Liverpool, which originally led me to becoming a Liverpool fan. Carragher and England were not a part of the tournament because they didn't qualify, but I soon became well aware of the greatness of #23.
Since becoming a fan of Liverpool in 2008 not many players remain from that team outside of Carragher so I've grown to really appreciate his loyalty to this club. Carragher has chosen to retire this year partially because he isn't playing as regularly as he would like, and rather than going to another club elsewhere he has decided that he would like to hang up his boots with the one team he has called his own his entire career.
While I haven't been able to see Carragher play in the prime of his career during Liverpool's more successful days of the early 2000's, I will always remember him as a player that always put the team first and was able to solidify a back four that has seen many departures and arrivals in recent years. He was never a flashy player or a real goal threat, but what he added to the defense in communication and ability to help a team play better together is what he will be remembered for in his later years.
Carragher hadn't been featured as much as he had liked this season, but recently has regained his starting spot in the Liverpool XI and has helped Liverpool avoid a loss in the last three games.
This will be the last season with "Carra" playing for the Liverpool squad which is only competing for a shot at one trophy at this point in the season (UEFA Europa League) and the possibility of finishing in the top four. If Carragher were to help turn the season around at this point in the season and achieve either of those things, that would a great sending off for Liverpool's #23.
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