Ex-Liverpool star was told by coaches to hide club he supports before transfer mistake

Jamie Carragher has shared an intriguing slice of his footballing journey. Despite his deep-rooted Evertonian beginnings, Carragher transformed into a true Anfield legend, amassing 737 appearances for Liverpool and becoming their second-longest serving player as well as the record holder for most European outings.

His path to legendary status at Liverpool was not without its unique challenges. Carragher disclosed that during his early days, Liverpool coaches advised him to tone down his Everton loyalties.

This advice came to life vividly when, during a Premier League match against Middlesbrough at The Riverside, Carragher, while warming up, communicated Everton's leading score against Newcastle to his father in the stands through hand signals. His dad quickly made it clear that such displays had to cease if Carragher was to succeed at Liverpool.

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Carragher reminisced on about the moment he finally hung up his Evertonian hat: "When I was in the Liverpool first team," he said, reflecting on the transition from fan to professional. "I was still a fan in the youth team."

He recalled the significant shift in his career trajectory following Liverpool's Youth Cup victory and the subsequent change allowing five substitutes instead of three. Carragher found himself on the bench during Liverpool's away game at Middlesbrough a memorable match marked by Fabrizio Ravanelli's debut hat-trick for the home side.

"It was also Alan Shearer's first game for Newcastle that day but it was at Goodison Park. Everton were winning 2-0 at half time. I was warming up at half-time, I saw my dad in the crowd, so I signaled 'It's 2-0! ' Even my dad said that after that it had to stop.

"Before that, Ronnie Moran had pulled me and the youth coaches. We were playing for Liverpool reserves, and Everton were playing a replay against Stockport in the FA Cup. Stockport score, and everyone went 'Get in', and then Everton scored, and I went 'Get in'. Even the youth team coaches pulled me and told me to calm down.

"I went to Everton for a year, when I was about 12. They knew I was a massive fan, and they played on it. My dad didn't want me to go, even though he's a massive Everton fan, because Liverpool were the best team and had won everything.

"I got there, and after a month I knew I had made a massive mistake. The coaches, the training, everything. We asked if we could leave at Christmas, but you had a 12-month contract. So I did a year at Everton, but I knew [it wasn't for me] straight away.

"How could I possibly still be an Everton fan if I was playing for Liverpool? What Liverpool have done for me and my life my family, the trips, the memories - how can I not be a Liverpool fan?

"Being an Everton fan came from my family. We were massive Everton fans, went home and away. My middle name is Lee Duncan Gordon Lee was the Everton manager in 1978, and Duncan McKenzie was Everton's best player that's what my name was."