Fowler: You all failed
Kop idol Robbie Fowler believes the greatest battle Jamie Carragher ever won was to consistently fend off competition from other players for his place in the Liverpool team.
The 35-year-old brings the curtain down on his outstanding Reds career this Sunday, when he will captain the side as they conclude the 2012-13 season at home to Queens Park Rangers.
It will be the 737th and final time the defender pulls on a Liverpool jersey before switching his focus to punditry, with tributes arriving from around the country and further afield.
Fowler joined the queue of former teammates wishing to recall their fond memories of the No.23 - and the man who notched 183 goals at Anfield remembered how no rival could topple Carragher.
"It has been a massive achievement when you think of the players that Liverpool have had over the years - Jamie is up there with the greatest," Fowler told LFC TV's new 'Carragher' documentary.
"When he first got into the side, probably people didn't expect him to become the player he was. He was a little bit raw. But we've seen over the years what he has grown into.
"He has been unbelievable in terms of his playing; he's played many positions but he's always excelled wherever he has played. He has never once moaned and he always put the club first.
"I think he should be applauded for that. Many players have come in and many players have tried to keep Jamie Carragher out of the side - no-one has done it.
"One of the better seasons, he played right-back. He has played left-back. But in the last four or five years, where he has been in central defence, he has been magnificent.
"He's not one of these cultured defenders who like to run out of the back and dictate play. Jamie is a no-nonsense centre-half and what you see is what you get. There are no airs or graces about him, he does a job and he does a job right."
Carragher and Fowler shared in one of the club's finest ever campaigns in 2000-01, when Gerard Houllier's men scooped three cup competitions - FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup - in a single season.
"When you've got a player like Jamie, you know straight away that he will see everything and he's not afraid to tell people," the striker continued.
"In his first few games, Jamie would be shouting at the older players - that tells you a little bit of his character as well.
"He wasn't afraid of anyone; if someone wasn't doing a job, regardless of who you were - John Barnes, Ian Rush, myself or even a young kid now that's coming into the side - you could guarantee that he would tell you what you were doing wrong.
"Jamie is very vocal, he wants the best out of players. Like me, Jamie was a big Everton fan, but to get beat by them or to have a bad game against them would be criminal.
"I know Jamie would be in the dressing room and be vocal in there - telling people what you should do, what you're doing wrong and maybe what you're doing right as well. He was instrumental in a lot of things in dressing rooms, and not just in derbies."
Liverpool to the core, manager Brendan Rodgers and colleagues have stressed the hole that will be left by the centre-back's departure - a sentiment Fowler can empathise with.
He added: "Jamie typifies every lad from Bootle, who wants to play football. Jamie has been on that pitch for many years, playing for arguably one of the best clubs in the world.
"All the people from Bootle or Liverpool in general see a bit of themselves in Carra because it means that much to him.
"I don't know what he's going to do after football but he would certainly be a big loss if he doesn't want to continue going down the coaching and management route.
"Maybe he will take a year or two out but he would be sorely missed by anyone within the game and particularly at Liverpool."
A new documentary featuring Jamie Carragher's managers, teammates and some high-profile opponents airs for the first time at 7pm BST on Friday, May 24 on LFC TV. 'Carragher' will also be available on LFC TV Online and will conclude a fortnight of tributes across club media.
