Jamie Carragher reacts to 'honour' of landing surprise award as statement is issued

Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has become the latest recipient of Athletic Club's 'One Club Man' award. The ex-England international defender joins a number of European football icons on the La Liga club's exclusive list, with previous winners including AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini and multiple Champions League winning Barcelona captain Carles Puyol.

Carragher is the third former Premier League player to be added to the list by the Bilbao club. Former Southampton star Matt Le Tissier was the first recipient in 2015, with Ryan Giggs - a 13-time Premier League winner with Manchester United - winning the award in 2020.

“After winning the Champions League, being a one-club man is the biggest achievement of my career,” Carragher told Athletic Club in August. “It was an honour when Athletic Club got in touch. Athletic are respected everywhere in the world of football. They’re a truly unique club.

“I’m very honoured to receive this award and to know my name will always remain alongside some great footballers like Paolo Maldini and Carles Puyol. As soon as I started playing for Liverpool, I knew I wanted to be a one-club man.

"I like the idea that when people ask: ‘Who did you play for?’ You respond: ‘Liverpool’ and nothing else. I was a supporter on the pitch.”

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Liverpool and Athletic faced off in a pair of pre-season friendlies on the eve of the new campaign, with the Premier League champions winning both. Carragher will make the trip over to Bilbao himself before the end of September, receiving the award in person at San Mames before Athletic take on Girona in La Liga.

Fans have been congratulating Carragher on his award on social media, with one writing "Well done, Jamie! Well deserved" and another telling Carragher: "You are one of the reasons I fell in love with Liverpool FC". Athletic's official account wrote: "See you at The Cathedral, Carra!," while Liverpool marked the award with a statement on their website.

Carragher, 47, ended his career in 2013 with 737 senior Liverpool appearances to his name. He won the UEFA Cup with the Reds in 2001 and picked up a Champions League winner's medal four years later, playing the full 120 minutes in the dramatic victory over AC Milan in Istanbul.

The versatile defender also won five domestic cups with the Merseyside club and a pair of Super Cup trophies. His international career brought 38 senior England caps, and he played for his country at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

Athletic Club's One Club Man winners: Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton FC, 2015), Paolo Maldini (AC Milán, 2016), Sepp Maier (Bayern München, 2017), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona, 2018), Billy McNeill (Celtic FC, 2019), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United, 2020), Ricardo Bochini (Club Atlético Independiente, 2022), João Pinto (FC Porto, 2023) and Giuseppe Bergomi (FC Internazionale de Milan, 2024).

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