Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher will be celebrated by Athletic Club as their 2025 recipient of the prestigious ‘One-Club Man’ award.
He will be joining an elite list of footballers who spent their entire professional careers at a single club.
The accolade, awarded annually by the iconic Basque side, recognises players worldwide who have demonstrated loyalty by dedicating their careers to one team. Previous winners include Southampton’s Matthew Le Tissier (2015), AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini (2016), Bayern Munich’s Sepp Maier (2017), FC Barcelona’s Carles Puyol (2018), Celtic’s Billy McNeill (2019), Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs (2020), Club Atlético Independiente’s Ricardo Bochini (2022), FC Porto’s João Pinto (2023), and Inter Milan’s Giuseppe Bergomi (2024).
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?? @LFC's Jamie Carragher
7??3??7?? senior appearances across 17 seasons at the Reds. One @ChampionsLeague (2004/05), one @EuropaLeague/Uefa Cup (2000/01) and 38 @England caps.
? Congrats, @Carra23#OCM25#AthleticClub ?
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) September 11, 2025
The former defender who played 737 games for Liverpool, is second only to Ian Callaghan in the club’s all-time appearance records. A product of Liverpool’s youth system, he made his senior debut in January 1997 and quickly became a mainstay under Gérard Houllier, featuring in 58 of 63 matches during the historic 2000-01 season that saw the Reds secure a cup treble of the League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup.
The 47-year-old also won the UEFA Super Cup in 2001 and added a second League Cup in 2003. Under Rafael Benitez, Carragher transitioned from full-back to centre-half, playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s miraculous 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul, and was part of the side that lifted the FA Cup in 2006. He also reached another European Cup final in 2007, although Liverpool were beaten by AC Milan.
A long-serving vice-captain to Steven Gerrard, Carragher wore the armband 94 times, and capped off his career with a 2012 League Cup victory, more than 15 years after his senior debut. He retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, also having represented England at the international level.
Reflecting on the honour, Carragher said:
“After winning the Champions League, being a one-club man is the biggest achievement of my career. 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.”
Carragher will be presented with the award at Athletic Club’s San Mamés Stadium during their La Liga clash with Girona later this month.
