 Jamie Lee Duncan Carragher (born January 28, 1978 in Bootle, Sefton near Liverpool) is an English international footballer. He currently plays his club football at Liverpool F.C., where he was taken on as a trainee youngster and wears the number 23 shirt.
He made his Premiership debut in the 1996/97 season against West Ham as a substitute. He started the next game against Aston Villa and scored in front of the Kop. Fortunately for Carragher, within two seasons of his emergence, Liverpool had taken a general change in direction away from the 1990s' innuendo of being characteristically high profile underachievers and "Spice Boys" - a derogatory term at the time that signified the likes of then Liverpool players like David James, Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, who were perceived to be more interested in their playboy lifestyles than success - to a more serious, calculated approach under new boss, Gerard Houllier.
In July 2005, he married his childhood sweetheart, Nicola Hart, with whom he has two young children.
While Carragher's main position is centre-back, he has the ability to play at either full-back position, or even in midfield as a defensive midfielder. He had a promising career from the start of his career, being a regular in the England Under-21 team, winning a record 26 caps. Many football experts consider Carragher to be one of, if not the best, natural "out-and-out" defender in England, although there have been doubts about his effectiveness going forward. Carragher has had over 300 first team appearances for Liverpool, more than any other player in the current Liverpool squad. As of August 2005, he had scored 3 first team goals.
Carragher has become a fans' favourite for his determination, and "no-nonsense" style of defending. As of 13 November 2005 he has 22 England caps, and he was a non-playing squad member at Euro 2004. He was unlucky to come in second in Liverpool's Player of the Year voting in 2005, narrowly finishing behind Steven Gerrard. On Friday the 8th of July, 2005, he signed a new 4-year contract with Liverpool FC alongside his friend and teammate Gerrard.
On 26 July 2005 during the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first leg, he scored his first goal in six years, and his third ever, in the 3-1 victory against Lithuanian champions FBK Kaunas. On August 27 2005, he lifted the UEFA Super Cup when Liverpool won against CSKA Moscow in Monte Carlo.
Carragher is currently Liverpool's vice-captain, behind teammate and fellow Liverpudlian Steven Gerrard.
Carragher was awarded the freedom of his home town Sefton for his local charity work and the exceptional example he sets to the youth of today.
Honours
* 1995/96 FA Youth Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2000/01 League Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2000/01 FA Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2000/01 UEFA Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2001/02 Charity Shield with Liverpool FC
* 2001/02 European Super Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2002/03 League Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2004/05 UEFA Champions League with Liverpool FC
* 2005/06 European Super Cup with Liverpool FC
* 2005/06 FA Cup with Liverpool FC
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