Jamie Carragher: The Untold Story of Liverpool Legend That Pushed Himself Too Far | E206

I couldn't get it out of my mind. I had to get hold of a psychologist. I was just like, "This can't go on." Jamie Carragher is a Liverpool stalwart. 730-odd appearances. There's never gonna be another Jamie Carragher. He's a winner. Carragher urged to shoot. He will, you know! Oh! (crowd cheering) That's just ridiculous. I'm not a huge Ronaldo fan. I think that's pretty obvious. It's sad for him the ways people are speaking about Messi towards the end of his career and Ronaldo and it's completely different. It's almost like he feels like he's not rated even. I've got so much admiration for him for his mental strength, to be able to withstand pressure, criticism. And I saw too many players never recover from that. I knew from the first time I played football, for me, winning was all that mattered. If you say to me, what do I miss most about being a professional footballer? It's winning. I'd rather cheat and win than not win.

When Jamie loses a game, is he different?

I punished myself when I didn't perform well, and I regret that. But there was always that thing of, "Am I good enough?" I was just driving myself mad. When I was at my absolute peak and best, that's when I needed more help. The fear in your stomach is that bad. You just, you don't want to be there. I always remember, and, uh, th- the only time I've ever did this in my whole career ... (breathes deeply)

Much of your success has been a result of a winning mentality in some of the toughest moments. Where does that come from?

The reason why I've become the player I have, I think it's-

Before this episode starts, I have a small favor to ask from you. Two months ago, 74% of people that watch this channel didn't subscribe. We're now down to 69%. My goal is 50%. So if you've ever liked any of the videos we've posted, if you like this channel, can you do me quick favor and hit the subscribe button? It helps this channel more than you know. And the bigger the channel gets, as you've seen, the bigger the guests get. Thank you, and enjoy this episode. (lively music) Jamie, when I start this podcast, I usually start with people's childhoods. But, uh, as I was reading through your story, I think this is the first time I'm gonna start before the person was even born. Because I, I read that there was a possibility that you weren't even going to be born because of a, I guess a misdiagnosis that your mother was given about you.

(sighs)

Can you take me back to that story?

Yeah. That was, uh, (sucks teeth) would've been about... (laughs) What is it? Would've been about 1977 obviously, '78 I was born. And my mum had had two miscarriages before me. And then when I, uh, well, she, she'll preg- fell pregnant with me, the, the doctors, nurses didn't know what was wrong, but they knew something was wrong. And initially, they were saying, "Uh, we think your child has got spina bifida." And I think... Well, I'm, I'm just saying it, in those days, maybe, I don't know if it's the same now, you, there was a chance she could terminate the pregnancy if, if the, if the baby was whatever, you know, didn't... And my mum was, I think was given that option. And sh- m- my mum's, my mum was very holy, I think is the right word. Uh, probably at that stage, in her early 20s, she would be going to church every day, still goes every Sunday now. So for her thing was now if... The way she says to me was, "If our Lord wants me to have th- a baby who's got spina bifida or maybe something else, that's, that's what's being decided for me. That's fine, it's my child. I love that child." And what I, what I find fascinating when you think of sort of today is that the closer it got to the, me being born, it wasn't spina bifida, but they still knew something wasn't right. And it wasn't until I was born that I had basically my insides were on the outside. So I've, I've, uh, gascro- gastroschisis, it's called, the condition. Now I've got, uh, uh, a big scar right across my stomach. I mean, if, if someone has that condition today, and, and plenty of babies do, it's a really small scar. But the, the thing that I think is f- fascinating or just makes me think wow on my mum's side is the fact that as soon as I was born, I was rushed away, straightaway to Alder Hey Children's Hospit- Hospital, which is still going strong today in Liverpool. And because of what I've gone to achieve, I've got a real link with the hospital. And, uh, through our charity, we actually funded the, uh, the ward that looks after babies who have-