WE COULD BE LAST OF A DYING BREED - CARRA
Jamie Carragher fears the era when local youngsters can spend an
entire career at one club may soon be consigned to history.
Carragher and Gerrard are among an increasingly rare breed who will
have spent the best years of their playing days at one club.
Both have spoken of their intention to finish their top class
careers at Anfield.
Ever since joining Liverpool's school of excellence, the duo have
worked their way through the ranks and will be in their early
thirties by the time their latest deals are over.
Carragher still hopes to stay at the club even longer than the four
years he committed to on Monday.
But he sympathises with those youngsters who will try to emulate
him and Gerrard in future, recognising the competition to be
established over a long period at one club is harder than
ever.
"The way football is now it's obviously going to get harder and
harder to stay at one club for your whole career," said
Carragher.
"It's rare for a player to spend so much time at one club in the
modern game.
"It used to be we'd have scouts looking for the best players in the
city and the best in England. Now they look for the best players in
the world, from countries which ten or so years ago wouldn't have
had anyone in the Premiership.
"It's also been easier for me and Stevie because we're at a big
club playing on a big stage every week and competing for trophies,
so it's natural wed want to stay as long as the club wanted
us."
Although Carragher will be 33 by the time his current deal expires,
he doesn't believe this will the last time he puts pen to paper at
Anfield.
"Signing for four years gives you the financial security, but I
wouldn't presume it means I'll still be here when I'm 33 or that it
means I won't be here longer than that. I hope I am. My idea is to
earn another contract after this one. I don't want this to be my
last."