Carragher signs new Liverpool contract

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has signed a new two-year contract extension which will keep him at Anfield until June 2013.

The centre-back, who will be 33 in January, has been keen to secure his future which will more than likely see him end his career at the club he joined as a schoolboy.

Bootle-born Carragher has been a key member of the side since making his debut in 1997 and is currently sixth in the list of all-time Liverpool appearances, having played 641 times so far.

He has won 10 major honours with the Reds, including two FA Cups, two League Cups, a UEFA Cup and the Champions League.

The veteran defender held a testimonial against Everton, the club he supported as a boy, at Anfield last month.

Prior to that game he spoke of his desire to continue playing for a couple more years.

"I want to play football until I'm about 35 or 36," the Liverpool vice-captain said at the time.

Carragher is taking his coaching badges and the assumption is he will join the backroom staff at Liverpool when his playing days are finally over.

There are no provisions in his new contract for that to happen but former manager Rafael Benitez tipped the defender as a potential Reds boss one day.

Carragher said last month: "I think it would find it very hard not to have football in my life.

"If I go down that road I might be coaching, scouting...I don't know.

"Here would be great. But Liverpool always have top managers and you would have to earn your stripes."