Carra: My Autobiography (43 page)

When it comes to music I'm an Arctic Monkeys and Oasis fan, although the Scousers still outgun the Mancs on that score as my favourite song is 'In My Life' by The Beatles. Sky TV played it over a montage of our Istanbul victory in 2005, so the song, which I already loved, will always carry significance for me.

But as I said, I've no intention of winding down the football yet. I want to drip every last ounce of sweat I can before I play my final game. At the very least I hope still to be at Liverpool when the new stadium is built on Stanley Park in 2011. In fact, I've pencilled in a date for the diary for the first game in the arena. I'd love it to be opened with my testimonial, Liverpool v. Everton, although given how long it's taking to build the stadium it's more likely I'll play this in the current Anfield in a few years' time.

I've been due a testimonial since 2007, when the club offered me a year of events to mark my tenth anniversary, but I wasn't so keen on the timing. I wanted it delayed for a more appropriate moment later on. I preferred a one-off celebration, and the prospect of the two clubs that have defined my football career from boy to man being at the centre of it, with all the money going to local charities, should make it a fitting finale if my Liverpool playing days are nearing their end. I want to do my bit to help bring the clubs' fans closer together again, and try to heal the bad blood which has developed over the last twenty years.

I also like the idea of having an ex-players' match where our treble side takes on our Champions League winners. I suspect there will be blood shed in the fight for the services of Steven Gerrard if that comes off. Maybe he and I will have to play a half for both teams.

It seems strange for me to be thinking about a testimonial at thirty, especially as I've every intention of adding more dramatic chapters to this book in years to come, but you become more aware of what's on the horizon as each preseason approaches.

Other than the eternal quest for the League title, there are lingering regrets I've reflected upon as I've pieced together my story to this point. Everyone has disappointments, even if some of the mistakes you made early on helped you become the player and person you are. I wish, for instance, I'd settled as a centrehalf much sooner than I did. If I had, the reputation I have as a player now would have arrived seven or eight years ago. I'm sure it would also have helped my England career progress more impressively. Others may argue it was my period as a striker, midfielder and fullback which allowed me to see the game from so many different angles, making the switch to central defence a comfortable one. That's a matter for me to debate when I'm finished.

I see less stressful options than management available once I hang up my boots, such as a career in the media, possibly as a television pundit. There's already interest in me from some TV channels, and you can see why so many ex-professionals jump at the opportunity. It's a lot easier getting paid to tell the managers where they're going wrong than being on the wrong end of the criticism.

I haven't wanted to commit myself to punditry too often because if you're a young player who makes that move too early, that's pretty much it for you. You become associated with that field of work, you settle into it, and then it's harder to move back into football. But if I'm not managing it's most likely I'll pursue a career in the media, joining the illustrious names of ex-Anfield stars passing judgement on the next generation of Liverpool teams. There seems to be no shortage of demand for us, much to the aggravation, it seems, of Liverpool managers who feel extra pressure when they hear a legend slagging off the team. It's never bothered me. One or two went a bit far during the Houllier era, but overall I see them all as passionate fans who know the game, expressing an informed, balanced opinion. So many of us are thinking of following them on to TV in the future it strikes me as hypocritical to have a go at pundits.

In fact, I'm not sure as a club we've always shown enough respect to former heroes. I've my own idea about ensuring the great names of the past are never forgotten: handing them an ambassadorial role on the club's behalf. It would be fantastic if we invited a different former player as our special guest every time we travelled to a European game. The club would only have to pay the price of one extra air ticket on the plane to Europe. The Kop legend could watch us train, have lunch with us, sit in the directors' box and get a real sense of belonging to the club again. It would also help the modern players – many of whom may need a history lesson on the efforts of those who made the club what it is – understand what Liverpool FC really means. Perhaps one day I'll be the one to benefit from such a scheme.

I don't want to sound like I'm in retirement mode, but you do have to think carefully about what you'll do when that final whistle blows. I've been planning ahead for a while, investing in areas outside football but which inevitably mix business with my pleasures. Last year I opened the first of what I intend to be a chain of sports-themed family restaurants. My business partners, Paul and Julian Flanagan, approached me four years ago with the proposal and it's proved a great success. Paul and Julian are passionate Liverpudlians who've helped transform our city centre with their trendy bars and modern hotels. The Sir Thomas Hotel, which they also own, was effectively the official Liverpool FC party venue following our Champions League triumphs. We had the idea of creating a healthy-eating restaurant to address the growing problem of child obesity in this country, and with my backing it's hoped we'll get more children thinking about what they eat, as well as feeling inspired to be more active. 'Café Sports: England' is planning to expand across the rest of the country. We're looking to open in Ireland, Wales and as far afield as Dubai, too.

It's important for me to give something back to the community. Liverpool and Bootle mean so much to me, and I'm determined to do what I can to help continue their regeneration, and encourage youngsters to fulfil whatever potential they might have. I've been able to do this in several ways. If there's a charity auction to be held, I'm happy to donate signed shirts and football boots. Since breaking into the Liverpool team I've handed my gear to youth clubs and football teams in Bootle who needed to raise money to buy kits or equipment. For obvious reasons, the Alder Hey Children's Unit has always been in my thoughts over the years too.

To me it's a tiny gesture to raise funds, but I was honoured to be awarded with the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton for my efforts two years ago. I was shocked to hear I was receiving the award, which among other things now means I'm legally allowed to walk sheep through the streets of Bootle. Seriously, I felt privileged to be recognized by my own community in such a way. Once more, I shared the accolade with my family. The people of Bootle may have been showing their gratitude towards me, but it pales into insignificance compared with my debt to them.

Bill Shankly famously said, 'Football is not a matter of life or death; it is much more important than that.' Now, we all know he was wrong. Tragically, too much has happened at Liverpool since Shankly coined this much-repeated sentence for it not to have been questioned, even if there is still a great deal of truth behind the sentiments he was trying to express. But in my city, in my town and in my family, the importance of football has been central to everything I am. It's defined me, given me the opportunity to provide for my own wife and children, and allowed me to fulfil the ambitions my dad had for me when he took his lad to those places I remember on the fields of Marsh Lane. Whatever I do with myself when I stop playing, football will always be there. I owe everything to the game, and everything to the place where I was born and the people who live there. I'll never lose that affection.

I also feel that Shankly quote has deeper meaning for me. My becoming a footballer was a matter of life and death. When I look over my career it all leads back to that distressing decision my mum took three decades ago. Everything begins for me the moment she looked a doctor in the eye and insisted she would give birth to her baby, regardless of the medical advice she was hearing. That was the day she proved no matter how tough the circumstances or how painful the outcome might be, if you showed the right character and stood firm behind what you believed was right, everything could turn out for the best.

My mum said she was sure someone was watching over me from the moment I was born. As I re-read the pages in my life, I think she was right.

Liverpool appearances/goals (to end 2007–08)

Debuts

Liverpool: 8 January 1997 v Middlesbrough (away), League Cup (sub)

England (full): 28 April 1999 v Hungary (away), friendly (sub)

First goal

Liverpool: 18 January 1997 v Aston Villa (home), Premier League

Ablett, Gary

Abramovich, Roman

AC Milan

beating in European Cup final (2005)

wins European Cup final (2007)

Academy, The (was School of Excellence)

Agger, Daniel

AK Graz

Al-Ansari, Sameer

Alaves

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Aldridge, John

Alonso, Xabi

Alves, Daniel

Ancelotti, Carlo

Anelka, Nicolas

Arsenal

beating in FA Cup Final (2001)

Aston Villa

Atkinson, Ron

Ayala, Roberto

Ayesteran, Pako

Babbel, Markus

Babel, Ryan

Bailey, John

Baldini, Franco

Ball, Alan

Banks, Gordon

Barcelona

Baresi, Franco

Barmby, Nick

Barnes, John

Baros, Milan

Barrett, Tony

Batistuta, Gabriel

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich

Beagrie, Peter

Beardsley, Peter

Beckham, David

Beckham, Victoria

Bellamy, Craig

Benayoun, Yossi

Benfica

Benitez, Rafa

and 2005–06 season

appointment as manager

and Carragher's contract

criticism over team selection for FA tie against Burnley

and Crouch

devotion to game

and Didi Hamann

disagreements with American owners and sacking of speculation

and European Cup (2005)

and Everton

and Gerrard

introduction of zonal marking

management style

and Mourinho

and Owen

player rotation policy

problems in 2004–05 season and criticism of

rebuilding of team for 2008-09 season

recruitment of foreign teenagers

relationship with Carragher and influence on

relationship with players

shows interest in vacant England job

signings

tactics

talking about players

tensions with Heighway

training sessions

and Valencia

Bent, Darren

Bentley, Fran

Berbatov, Dimitar

Berger, Patrik

Bergkamp, Dennis

Bergues, Patrice

Beswick, Bill

Birmingham City

Biscan, Igor

Blackburn

Blair, Tony

Blunt, Keith

Bootle

Bootle Boys

bootroom

Boumsong, Jean-Alain

Bracewell, Paul

Bradford

Briscoe, Lee

Broomes, Marlon

Brunswick, The

Brunswick Youth Club

Buffon, Gianluigi

Burnley

Butt, Nicky

Cafu

Callaghan, Ian

Campbell, Sol

Cantona, Eric

Capello, Fabio

Carling Cup
see
League Cup

Carragher, Ann (aunt)

Carragher, James (grandfather)

Carragher, James (son)

Carragher, Jamie

Early Years

attitude towards Liverpool FC

behaviour

childhood and upbringing in Bootle

decision not to terminate by mother during pregnancy

football training

gastroschisis condition and hospitalization

lessons learned

plays for Merton Villa junior team

plays for school team and Bootle Boys

schooling

and separation of parents

signs for Everton at age eleven

spotted by and training at Liverpool's School of Excellence

support of and loyalty to Everton

Football Career

abilities/qualities

addiction to game

change in position from striker to defender

contemplation of becoming a manager

crossing weakness

earning of UEFA 'B' coaching licence

Everton tattoo issue

knee injury

knowledge about football

and media

and passing

and punditry

shortlisted for UEFA defender of the year (2005)

taking penalties

transformation of loyalties from Everton to Liverpool

wins place at Lilleshall–

International Career

attitude towards playing for England

call-up for World Cup qualifier (2000)

decision to retire from

delay in quitting

difficulty in becoming established as first choice under Eriksson

disciplinary mishaps whilst in Under-21 squad

matches representing Lilleshall at U-16 level

missing of penalty in World Cup against Portugal (2006)

not picked for opening game against France in Euro (2004)

number of caps

overlooked by McClaren in playing centrehalf

playing for England Under-21 squad 198–200

promotion to full squad

Under-21 captaincy

view on appointment of foreign England managers

view of Eriksson

Liverpool Career

altercation with Mourinho

appearances/goals record

attitude towards playing games

breakthrough into first team and debut (1997)

broken leg due to fierce tackle and comeback

change of position from centre-back

contract offer with no pay offer and disappointment with (2005)

criticism of

debut for 'B' team

delay in testimonial

demoralization at

devotion to

dip in form during 2006–07 season

dropped from squad (1999)

enhancement of reputation and increase in popularity

establishment of in 2000– 2001 season

and fans

first goal scored

500th appearance (2008)

getting established in first team

'magic coin' scandal

match against Aston Villa

named club's player of the year (1999)

named club's player of the year (2007)

named sub for senior team (1996)

own goals scored

playing for reserves

promoted to 'A' team

public image of and reputation

relationship with Benitez and influence of

relationship with Evans

relationship with Houllier and influence of

rivals to position and dealing with competition

seen as 'soul' of Liverpool

setbacks

shift to left-back position

signs first contract with

suspension (1999)

and 'Team of Carraghers' chant

training at

wages

wanting to win League title medal

wins FA Youth Cup (1996)

see also
Liverpool FC

Personal Life

awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Sefton

and birth of daughter (Mia)

brush with law in Japan

and charity events

and drinking

family background

family life and fatherhood

fracturing of wrist

impact of fame on family and home life

influence of father

love of reading

and Marsh Lane roots

misses birth of son

musical tastes

naming

off-the-pitch scrapes

opening of sport-themed family restaurant

relationship and marriage to Nicola

and staying in shape

'stripper' incident

wedding day

Carragher, John (brother)

Carragher, Mia (daughter)

Carragher, Nanny (grandmother)

Carragher, Nicola (wife)

Carragher, Pat (uncle)

Carragher, Paul (brother)

Carragher, Paula (mother)

Carragher, Philly (father)

brushes with the law

character

disciplining of son

and football

influence on son (Jamie)

jail sentence for tax fraud

managing of football teams

run-in with Dalglish

and son's football career

and World Cup (2006)

Carson, Scott

Case, Jimmy

Cassidy, Jamie

Cavanagh, Eddie

Cech, Petr

Champions League
see

European Cup

Chapman, Ian

Charity Shield (2001)

Charlton Athletic