Tweet
Rafa Benitez has paid tribute to Jamie Carragher ahead of his 600th appearance for Liverpool.
The defender has been with the club for his entire professional career after working his way through the academy and an apprenticeship.
He made his senior debut in January 1997 and will reach another milestone in Saturday's away game against Portsmouth.
Benitez believes such accomplishments will become almost impossible to replicate now the game has gone so global.
He explained: "Maybe someone will do it but it will be very difficult. Now there is too much money around the world in football.
"If you have a good player normally someone will make a good offer and the agents have too much power.
"Modern football is more difficult so 600 games in a top side for a local player is a massive achievement."
Good example
Only eight players have previously reached the appearance milestone for Liverpool and Benitez believes Carragher
deserves special praise.
"I think it is amazing. At this time with modern football, to play 600 times for the same team and be a local player is a fantastic achievement," he said.
"He is a very good example for the younger players. He trains 100% in every session and that is good for the mentality of the team.
"Carra has a strong character, passion, he likes to win every game, and that is the type of player you are looking for.
"The last five and a half years have been really good. He was playing as a left-back, right-back and now he has settled down as a centre-back.
"He knows he can help the others and is always talking. That is now one of his main strengths as he can organise the defence.
"He has improved his game and, because he is a centre-back, he has time and he will play for a long time."
a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/skysports/fixturecal/icons/fix-bet.gif');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:18px;}
The defender has been with the club for his entire professional career after working his way through the academy and an apprenticeship.
He made his senior debut in January 1997 and will reach another milestone in Saturday's away game against Portsmouth.
Benitez believes such accomplishments will become almost impossible to replicate now the game has gone so global.
He explained: "Maybe someone will do it but it will be very difficult. Now there is too much money around the world in football.
"If you have a good player normally someone will make a good offer and the agents have too much power.
"Modern football is more difficult so 600 games in a top side for a local player is a massive achievement."
Good example
Only eight players have previously reached the appearance milestone for Liverpool and Benitez believes Carragher
deserves special praise."I think it is amazing. At this time with modern football, to play 600 times for the same team and be a local player is a fantastic achievement," he said.
"He is a very good example for the younger players. He trains 100% in every session and that is good for the mentality of the team.
"Carra has a strong character, passion, he likes to win every game, and that is the type of player you are looking for.
"The last five and a half years have been really good. He was playing as a left-back, right-back and now he has settled down as a centre-back.
"He knows he can help the others and is always talking. That is now one of his main strengths as he can organise the defence.
"He has improved his game and, because he is a centre-back, he has time and he will play for a long time."
a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/skysports/fixturecal/icons/fix-bet.gif');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:18px;}
Comment