Jamie Carragher Could End His Career As Soon As 2012

The end of Jamie Carragher's professional soccer career is within sight. The veteran Liverpool defender spoke at the Leaders in Football conference in London and said his playing days would be over in the next year or two.

The Evening Echo of Ireland reports that Carragher was asked how much time he had left and reponded, "Ask (Liverpool manager) Kenny (Dalglish). He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose. You want to try to get as much out of your career and play as long as possible. The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years.

"That won't be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide."

Carragher is a product of the Liverpool academy and has made an astonishing 676 appearances for the club since his 1997 debut. He is now 33 years young and has begun to consider his future. He says he would like to move into coaching or management when his playing days are done. 

"Do I want to go in to coaching or management? Yes, I think so," he said. "I've taken my first steps to coaching and the B licence. We all love the game, you want to stay involved in the game."

Carragher is still the first-choice center back in the Liverpool team. As his physical skills have begun to decline, he has increasingly relied on his savvy and determination to stifle opposing attackers. 

If he decides to retire at the end of the season, it will leave a gaping hole in the Liverpool rearguard which will need to be addressed. 

Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are the next two center defenders in Dalglish's pecking order. Youngsters Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson and Sebastian Coates are future long-term options at the position, but are unproven at this level.