Garry Birtles: Jamie Carragher's next move has me fearing for football
FOOTBALL is in danger of missing out. In my day, when you took the decision to hang up your boots, you had to get another job.
For most of us, the first port of call was considering how you might be able to stay in the game. Unfortunately, everyone had the same plan.
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Model pro: Jamie Carragher.
There were only so many coaching roles going – and they were always in demand. After that, you were left scratching your head a little bit, wondering how you were going to make a living.
The lowest point, for me, was actually having to go to the post office to claim dole money. It just makes you feel worthless. But there was a point in my life when I had to do that.
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Fortunately, I have subsequently managed to build a career in the media. I am very appreciative of that. And the industry has long been an alternative for those of us who still need to work for a living, once we have given up playing.
But now I fear the tide has changed. Now it is no longer the alternative, but the most attractive option when it comes to players who are about to retire.
More specifically, I fear football is losing players who would otherwise still have a great deal to offer to the sport.
Look at Jamie Carragher. There are few better examples of the perfect professional. A one-club man, a legend in Liverpool and a man who has worked hard to make the most of his ability.
He was always going to be a good player, but he has made himself into an outstanding one through his willingness to graft, to go the extra mile, on and off the pitch.
He has always conducted himself with dignity and decency and those of a red persuasion in that part of the world will be devastated to see him go.
But he has announced he will retire at the end of the season and was facing the same crossroads I was at, years ago.
And, instead of being desperate to stay in the game; to pass on his influence to young players coming through, he looks likely to accept an offer to go into television.
I am 100 per cent certain that this will be the media's gain. But it will be football's loss.
I realise I can be accused of hypocrisy over this, for obvious reasons. But there is a crucial difference in that Carragher is a man who, presumably, no longer needs to work, because of the money he has earned – and he has earned every penny by the way.
And that is what concerns me. Those men who have reached the very top in the game, the very ones who you would like to stick around; who are best equipped to teach the next generation, are no longer inspired to do so.
Financially speaking, they do not need to work.
Yes, they may have a hankering to stay in the game, but so big is the media now that they are easily able to do that.
In the meantime, football itself is going to miss out on somebody who, after a glorious career as a player, could have helped a few more to follow in his footsteps.
9 Comments
by Sunnysideup
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 10:41AM
“He could only work with people who can tell what the hell he's saying.”
by lazarou73
Thursday, February 21 2013, 12:00PM
“Birtles didn't get a job in coaching because he knows naf all about football as he has proved by talking utter rubbish on the radio and writing garbage in his post column. Wasn't he Platt's biggest supporter?”
by figaro1
Sunday, February 17 2013, 12:26PM
“Well done Jamie and I agree with ancient red totally.
In the 70 and 80 footballers were paid , very well , about 4 to 10 xs more than the average fan if bonuses were taken into account.
A footballer on 10 grand a week Chambers , Earnshaw, Cox type his earning 20times more and the so called stars 200 xs.
Obscene perfect choice of phrase.”
by squealy
Saturday, February 16 2013, 11:50AM
“Not sure he's really cut out for the media. That accent is a bit much, and I speak as a Brummie. Not every player is cut out for managership or coaching either. Must be nice to not have to bother with either though if you had the choice. The bloke put in his shift for England though so good luck to him.”
by omega03
Friday, February 15 2013, 5:07PM
“...FORLOGSON.... many players in a round Birtles era may struggle without a job.... Read Kenny Burns posts ......signed in 1977 for £100 a week... Stuart Pearce carried on being an electrician when at Coventry and for a time at Forest... Ian Storey Moore..a Forest legend opened a bookies in Nottm and that was after a transfer to Man Utd... Carraghers home in Liverpool is on a few footy stars "pads" web sites.. paid for by possibly £80k a week... ???... when I started going down the pub early 80's when I got a job... players like Hodge, Davenport, Procter & Gunn
would be in my local on a Saturday nights having a beer with locals on normal jobs chatting about the days game... not like modern day footballers going to nightclubs and running up thousands on a bar tab... by the way the players named lodged behind where I lived... best ever comment on Sky Sports Saturday afternoon football... George Best... I cannot believe
xxx xxxxx is on £60k a week and can only kick with one foot... Birtles was one of our best ever strikers and a damn good centre half... for those of you that can remember... Tony Woocock came back from Cologne.. signed for Arsenal and the first time they met Birtles had in in his pocket !!!!!.. of course he is jealous..... wouldn't you ??”
by Forlogson
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:55PM
“Feeling jealous Garry?”
by AncientRed
Thursday, February 14 2013, 4:33PM
“Why would Carragher stay in football? The present attrition rate amongst managers/coaches is ridiculous. If he can afford to leave, why not? He's obviously got a stable homelife with only playing for one club. Assuming he has family of school age [I don't know for certain], why uproot them to chase a coaching job which may end up being extremely short term. [McLeish for example].”
by Craigwigan
Thursday, February 14 2013, 12:06PM
“HE HAS A NICE SNAP PLACE IN THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL”
by Doug1978
Thursday, February 14 2013, 8:23AM
“Carragher is a great player - he's been talented enough to reach the top, and he made up any shortfalls via hard graft and determination. (He's also a player who could still do a good job for Forest's current leaky defence, but that's not going to happen).
I wouldn't worry too much Garry - Carragher was lucky enough to play in an age when footballers get paid obscene amounts of money, and he won't have to work again if he doesn't want to. Indeed, he has earnt the chance to happily spend every hour with his family if he so wishes.
That being said, he might well be a good choice for media, though personally I think that he might be a better defensive coach for a club in the future.
Ultimately, Carragher is / was a very good professional who more than deserved and fought for the trophies that came his way.
He and Gerrard are perhaps the only current players who would not look out of a place in the ultimate Liverpool XI.”