Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old has spent the entirety of his club career at Anfield, having made his debut for in 1997.
"This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer," Carragher confirmed.
"I'm making this announcement now because I don't want the manager or the club to be answering questions on my future when I've already decided what I am going to do.
Carragher was named man of the match at Arsenal last week
"I will be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool Football Club, as I've done my entire career since joining aged just nine-years-old.
"It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as I have and I am immensely proud to have done so and thankful for all the support I have had. There are many memories I want to share and people to thank, but now is not the time for that.
"I won't be making any further comment on this decision until the end of the season; all our focus and concentration should be on achieving the best possible finish in the league this season and trying to win the last remaining trophy we are competing in."
A member of the club's 1996 FA Youth Cup-winning team, he made his first-team debut in January 1997 against Middlesbrough and has played 723 times for the club. He is second only to Ian Callaghan in club's all-time appearance table.
A boyhood Everton fan, Carragher has won two League Cups, two FA Cups, a Uefa Cup and a Champions League winners' medal with Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher
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A raw Red, 1996
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First goal, 1997
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Carragher scores the second of two own goals against Manchester United in September 1999
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File photo dated 25/05/2005 of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard (right) and Jamie Carragher kissing the UEFA Champions League trophy. (credit:PA)
Liverpool players (L-R) Jamie Carragher,(05 of56)
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM: Liverpool players (L-R) Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia, Vladimir Smicer, Milan Baros, Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise hold up the Champion's League trophy to the thousands of fans gathered to welcome them home, 26 May, 2005, following their Champions League victory over AC Milan in Istanbul the previous day. Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. AFP PHOTO / JOHN D MCHUGH (Photo credit should read JOHN D MCHUGH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (R) and team-mate Jamie Carragher parade the UEFA Champions League Trophy ahead of the pre-season friendly. (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard with the UEFA Champions League trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (l) and Jamie Carragher celebrate with the trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher (C) lifts the trophy after winning the UEFA Super Cup against Monaco at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco, Friday August 26, 2005. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA. THIS PICTURE CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN EDITORIAL FEATURE. NO WEBSITE/INTERNET USE UNLESS SITE IS REGISTERED WITH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE. (credit:PA)
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Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher lifts the Super Cup trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher lifts the Super Cup trophy (credit:PA)
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UEFA President Lennart Johansson (l) presents the Super Cup trophy to Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher lifts the Super Cup trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher lifts the Super Cup trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher lifts the Super Cup trophy (credit:PA)
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UEFA President Lennart Johansson presents the Super Cup trophy to Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher (r) (credit:PA)
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CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 13: Jamie Carragher (L) and Steven Gerrard of Liverpool hold the trophy following their team's victory during the FA Community Shield match between Liverpool and Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium on August 13, 2006 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard holds the trophy with Jamie Carragher and his son during the FA Cup victory parade in Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (r) kisses the trophy as does Jamie Carragher (l) (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (l) and Jamie Carragher celebrate with the trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (R) and team-mate Jamie Carragher parade the UEFA Champions League Trophy ahead of the pre-season friendly. (credit:PA)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Kenny Dalglish manager of Liverpool and Jamie Carragher celebrate with the trophy after the Carling Cup Final match between Liverpool and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2012 in London, England. Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (left) and Jamie Carragher (right) celebrate with the Carling Cup Trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (left) and his son celebrate with the Carling Cup Trophy as Steven Gerrard (right) looks on (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard celebrate with the trophy (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard celebrate with the trophy (credit:PA)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool is presented with a trophy for reaching 700 appearances by former manager Roy Evans prior to the UEFA Europa League Third Round Qualifier between Liverpool and Gomel at Anfield on August 9, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (credit:PA)
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Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, centre, takes the ball down field against Liverpool's Jamie Carragher during their team's English Premier League soccer match at The Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday Feb. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super) (credit:AP)
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Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Edin Dzeko (right) argues with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (centre) (credit:PA)
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Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero (2nd L) vies with Liverpool's English defender Jamie Carragher during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Liverpool at The Etihad stadium in Manchester, north-west England on February 3, 2013. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, right, competes for the ball with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher gives his shirt to Mansfield Town's Matt Green (credit:PA)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool goes in for the tackle on Theo Walcott of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, second right, scores his side's first goal past Jamie Carragher, right, and Lukas Podolski, third right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (credit:AP)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool goes in for the tackle on Theo Walcott of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 30, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher blocks from Mansfield Town's Matt Green (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher talks to goalkeeper Brad Jones (credit:PA)
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MANSFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool heads clear during the FA Cup with Budweiser Third Round match between Mansfield Town and Liverpool at One Call Stadium on January 6, 2013 in Mansfield, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Liverpool's captain Jamie Carragher (left) and Mansfield Town's captain Adam Murray lead out their teams before the game (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League football match between Udinese and Liverpool on December 6, 2012 at Friuli Stadium in Udine. AFP PHOTO / SIMONE FERRARO (Photo credit should read SIMONE FERRARO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Udinese's Roberto Pereyra, left, and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher, challenge for the ball, during the UEFA Europa League Group A soccer match between Udinese and Liverpool, at the Friuli Stadium in Udine, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2012. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher greets his supporters at the end of the UEFA Europa League Group A soccer match between Udinese and Liverpool, at the Friuli Stadium in Udine, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2012. Liverpool won 1 - 0. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini) (credit:AP)
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Udinese's Diego Fabbrini (L) fights for the ball with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher the UEFA Europa League football match between Udinese and Liverpool on December 6, 2012 at Friuli Stadium in Udine. AFP PHOTO / SIMONE FERRARO (Photo credit should read SIMONE FERRARO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool wears a t-shirt in support of 'Living with HIV' for world aids day, ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on December 1, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Jamie Carragher of Liverpool tangles with Steven Fletcher of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on January 2, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (credit:PA)
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Jamie Carragher, Liverpool (credit:PA)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (right) and Nuri Sahin (centre) battle for the ball with Chelsea's Fernando Torres (credit:PA)
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Chelsea's Fernando Torres (left) and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (right) battle for the ball (credit:PA)
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Chelsea's Fernando Torres, left, fights for the ball with Liverpool's Jamie Carragher during their English Premier League soccer match at the Stamford Bridge Stadium, London, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi) (credit:AP)
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Liverpool's Jamie Carragher salutes the fans following the Barclays Premier League match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. (credit:PA)