Now vice-captain and Liverpool's longest serving player - one of a select band of players to have made more than 500 appearances for the club - Jamie Carragher signed professional terms with the Reds aged 18 in October 1996. His first team debut came at Middlesbrough on 8 January 1997 as a substitute and he made his first start against Aston Villa ten days later. Carra's passion, enthusiasm and incredible versatility soon ensured regular starts from then on, whether at right-back, left-back, centre-half or in defensive midfield. Carra was part of Gerard Houllier's Treble-winning side of 2001, playing most of the season at left-back. His solid displays earned him a full England debut against Holland in August 2001. Sadly, like teammate Steven Gerrard, injury ruled him out of the 2002 World Cup, and there was more heartbreak a year later when a broken leg forced him to miss six months of the 2003-04 campaign. While Carra had always been a first-team regular at Anfield, he'd somehow struggled to get the recognition he deserved. Each new signing was seen as a threat to his place. The arrival of new boss Rafa Benitez changed all this, with Mr Versatile getting the permanent centre-back slot he'd always craved. The Bootle boy was soon being labelled the most underrated defender in the country, not least for his heroics in the unforgettable Champions League final in 2005, and was voted Liverpoolfc.tv's Player of the Year. In July 2005, the defender signed a new four-year deal at Anfield. His loyalty was rewarded a month later when, in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, Carra lifted the European Super Cup. There was more silverware at the end of the season despite an own goal in the FA Cup final against West Ham. It was the defender's 10th final in as many years - and what better way to prepare for the World Cup, even though it was to end in crushing disappointment. In August 2006 Carra captained the club in the Community Shield against champions Chelsea, jointly holding the silver dish aloft with injured skipper Gerrard.

Product Description

Jamie Carragher is one of the most charismatic footballers of his generation. Adored by the fans, he was recently voted the most popular player in the entire Liverpool squad. Yet the young Carra came to Liverpool as an Everton fan, from an Everton family and with Everton friends. Packed with great anecdotes, controversial opinions and large helpings of his trademark humour, this is his story...Born in January 1978 in Bootle, Merseyside, Carragher signed professional terms with Liverpool in 1996, having served a successful apprenticeship, won the FA Youth Cup and played for England Under-21s. He scored a goal in his first full league game for the senior team - pretty good for a defender and very unusual for him - and his versatility was to ensure a permanent place in the starting line up before long and he is now vice-captain. In fact he is so integral to the Liverpool squad, the Kop chants 'we all dream of a team of Carraghers' to the tune of 'Yellow Submarine'. Raw, funny and down-to-earth, his book is an antidote to the anodyne sports autobiography. It takes you behind the scenes of all of Liverpool and England's greatest triumphs and disasters in the company of a player who never fails to be intelligent, controversial or just downright hilarious.