Friday, 24th May, 2013
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes "artists" like Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher are a rare commodity in the modern footballing world.
Carragher ended his nearly 17-year career this season, following 737 games with the Reds, which also included a Champions League triumph in 2005.
While he is expected to take on the post a pundit with Sky Sports – alongside his former England team-mate Gary Neville – Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson had called on him to consider a role in coaching.
However, Mourinho, who as Chelsea boss faced Carragher’s Liverpool side on several high-profile occasions in the mid-noughties, told LFC TV: "I want to wish him a great future, either as a manager, a coach or as a pundit.
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"I think he will be successful no matter what decision he takes."
The former Inter Milan boss also joined Hodgson in praising the centre-back, who gave a glimpse of his best years in the final game against Queens Park Rangers with a 30-yard screamer that was only denied by the post.
"Normally, the world of football cries when what they call ‘the artists’ finish their career", Mourinho said. "But people don’t really know what an artist is.
"For me, the artist is a guy who gives everything to his manager, to his club, to his fellow players on the pitch. And I think Jamie represents all of this.
"[These players] for me are the real artists, so when one of them finishes their career, I’m always a bit sad.
"I never worked with Jamie but I played against him a dozen times and I understand what he means."
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