Pundit Jamie Carragher switched sides when asked about his favorite Scottish club between Celtic and Rangers.
Liverpool legend Carragher made 737 appearances for the Reds over 17 years and has since become a regular on Sky Sports alongside former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville.
As a player, Carragher won a number of domestic cup competitions, but never won a Premier League title. In Europe, the defender starred in the historic final against AC Milan in Istanbul, winning the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the Champions League in 2005.
Jamie Carragher’s career honors | Years earned |
|---|---|
champions league | 2005 |
UEFA Cup | 2001 |
UEFA Super Cup | 2001, 2005 |
FA Cup | 2001, 2006 |
league cup | 2001, 2003, 2012 |
community shield | 2001, 2006 |
Interestingly, the former Reds defender has never played against Rangers in his career, but he did appear three times against Celtic.
In the 1997/98 season, Carragher was an unused substitute in the UEFA Cup first round first leg of a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. In the return match against Anfield, Carragher started as the Reds qualified with a 0–0 draw on away goals.
When the teams met again in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, the Hoops famously won 3-1 on aggregate, with Carragher playing in every match.
Martin O’Neill’s team made a historic run in Europe and reached the final at the Estadio Olimpico, but lost 3-2 in extra time to Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto.
Carragher chooses Celtic or Rangers
I’m often asked which player or manager I prefer who is not at Celtic or Rangers, and Carragher is no exception.
While covering the 2024 Champions League on American network CBS Sports, Carragher was asked by pundit Micah Richards whether he would choose Celtic or Rangers. The former England defender said simply:
However, in 2020, Carragher was asked the same question during an Instagram Q&A, at which time he answered: “Rangers now because of Steven Gerrard, but as soon as Steven leaves it will be Celtic.”
Carragher’s long-time teammate at Anfield, Steven Gerrard, will step down as Rangers manager in 2021, resulting in Carragher returning to the green and white.
Gerrard enjoyed a successful spell as manager, winning the Scottish Premiership with Ibrox, but left for Aston Villa.
His tenure at Villa Park was not as positive as expected, and Gerrard will now move to Saudi Arabia with Al Etifaq until 2025.
