'I've played more European games than any other English player in history': Former Liverpool star on his surprise record

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No English player has made more European appearances – with another player holding the record for Britain as a whole

Liverpool players (1st row, L-R) Stephen Finnan, Milan Baros, Luis Garcia, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Risse; (2nd row, L-R) Djimi Traore, Xabi Alonso, Sami Hyypia, Jerzy Dudek, Jamie Carragher, Harry Kewell pose prior the UEFA Champions league football final AC Milan vs Liverpool, 25 May 2005 at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.
(Image credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher has recalled his European debut against Celtic, which sent him on the path to becoming the England’s top appearance holder in continental competitions.

The former defender stayed at Liverpool for his entire playing career, winning the Champions League, UEFA Cup and two UEFA Super Cups in that time.

And he revealed on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast that his tally of 150 games in UEFA competitions is unmatched among English footballers.   

Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard

Carragher was a Champions League winner with Liverpool (Image credit: PA Images)

“I've played more European games than any other English player in history – 150,” Carragher said.

“Giggsy [Ryan Giggs] has played more but he’s Welsh!

“My first European game was Celtic at home – Steve McManaman scored the goal – the dribble at Parkhead.

“I was on the bench that night and my first European game was the return of that. We drew 2-2 there, drew 0-0 at home and went through on away goals.”

The game in question was in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup first round, but Liverpool were knocked out by Strasbourg in their next tie.

Over a 17-year career at Anfield, Carragher made 737 appearances for the Reds, second only to Ian Callaghan in the club’s all-time ranking.

Jamie Carragher was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.