It all began in rather forgettable fashion, but since then indelible memories have been forged. In January 1997 a teenager from Bootle appeared for the last 15 minutes of a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in the League Cup.
Almost 13 years later, the boyhood Evertonian stands on the brink of a landmark: with 599 games for Liverpool, he is set to become the ninth member of an elite club to play 600 games for the Reds, at Portsmouth today.
Along the way, Jamie Carragher has been responsible for more own goals than strikes at the right end and gone from unappreciated utility player to the cornerstone of the defence and the embodiment of Liverpool Football Club.
The Kop, his father Phil often among them, regularly sing: "We all dream of a team of Carraghers." Eleven such competitors may struggle to score, but they would be hard to beat.
Today's game comes with Liverpool and their vice-captain at a low ebb. Following Sunday's defeat to Arsenal, he talked of praying for an end to their troubles. During an undistinguished start to the season, the notion gained credence that Carragher was in decline.
But his peak contained an enviable brand of homegrown defiance, encapsulated when he was the outstanding defender in the Champions League in 2005. Elegance was never on his agenda and Carragher seems to be sweating moments into any match, but he has proved indefatigable. Cramp could not halt him in extra-time in the final in Istanbul, when his mastery of the last-ditch tackle or the desperate block was evident. Chelsea were thwarted by a similarly colossal performance in the semi-final.
It cemented his status at Anfield. "He is one of the legends of Liverpool Football Club," said Javier Mascherano. "We know how Carra fills the Liverpool shirt. It is really good have him in the squad because you can see how important he is for the club and the team."
That significance extends to a vocal contribution which, despite the strong Scouse accent that many of Liverpool's foreign contingent struggle to understand, Mascherano appreciates from his position in the midfield. He added: "It is very important to have someone behind who can talk to you all the time and organise the team and it is always really positive."
That organisational prowess has led some to tip Carragher for a career in management. Before then, however, the 31-year-old has one clear aim.
While the league title that has eluded him throughout his career will not be secured this season, he can climb the list of Liverpool's most dedicated servants. Ian Callaghan's club record of 857 appearances looks unbeatable but within a couple of years, Carragher could stand second behind the winger who featured in the 1960s and 1970s.
It is all the greater an achievement because, whereas Liverpool used to be a byword for continuity, one-club men are all the rarer now. Each of the other men to reach 600 games debuted under Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley. Carragher first appeared under Roy Evans, but became established under Gerard Houllier.
Beginning the 2000-1 season on the bench, he ended it having appeared 58 times, invariably at left-back, and winning the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Uefa Cup.
A run in his preferred position in the middle of defence only came after Rafa Benitez's appointment in 2004. With a central role, he became fundamental to Liverpool. Mascherano captains Argentina, but he recognises that at Anfield, Steven Gerrard and Carragher personify the club. Paying tribute, he said: "He is a leader. Carra and Stevie are the most important players for this team because they were born in Liverpool and they are representative of Liverpool Football Club."
A fortnight ago, Gerrard made his 500th Liverpool appearance and Benitez added: "It's like I said with Stevie recently - to be at one club for such a long time and to play 600 games is absolutely amazing and shows the passion and commitment."
Injury may deprive Glen Johnson of a reunion with his former club today while Benitez is likely to restore Fernando Torres to the starting line-up. It would be enough, normally, to make the Spaniard the focus of attention but today should provide a celebration of the dedication of Liverpool's No 23 instead.
rjolly@thenational.ae
Portsmouth v Liverpool, KO 4.45pm, Showsports 2
McIlroy's struggles in 2016/17
European Tour: 6 events, 16 rounds, 5 cuts, 0 wins, 3 top-10s, 4 top-25s, 72,5567 points, ranked 16th
PGA Tour: 8 events, 26 rounds, 6 cuts, 0 wins, 4 top-10s, 5 top-25s, 526 points, ranked 71st
STAGE%201%20RESULTS
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Napoleon
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