Carragher to retire at season's end

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher greets his supporters at the end of the UEFA Europa League Group A soccer match between Udinese and Liverpool, at the Friuli Stadium in Udine, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2012. Liverpool won 1 - 0. AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will retire from football at the end of this season, the English Premier League club said in a statement on Thursday.

"This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer," said Carragher.

"I'm making this announcement now because I don't want the manager (Brendan Rodgers) or the club to be answering questions on my future when I've already decided what I am going to do." The 35-year-old former England international -- a one-club man -- joined home town side Liverpool as a youth player and has since made over 700 senior appearances following his debut in 1997.