The former Liverpool defender became a hero after the Reds won the European Cup in astonishing fashion back in 2005
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher celebrates with the fans inside the Stadium after the dramatic match against AC Milan,
25th May 2005
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher celebrates with the fans inside the Stadium after the dramatic match against AC Milan, 25th May 2005(Image: Mirrorpix)
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The wife of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher revealed she felt "embarrassed" and was "worried" after the Reds icon's profile soared following the club's iconic Champions League triumph in May 2005. Nicola Carragher said she struggled to cope with the heightened attention it brought to their lives.
Liverpool overcame an AC Milan side packed with world-class talent, recovering from 3-0 down to claim victory on penalties. Under the management of Rafael Benitez at the time, the Anfield club secured their fifth European Cup against Carlo Ancelotti's outfit.
Nicola spoke to The Telegraph about how her husband's newfound celebrity status following the victory meant they were constantly in the spotlight, along with their children, James and Mia, wherever they went.
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"When the kids were little, Liverpool won the Champions League and James was made player of the year. He was a very recognisable face and that did affect me a bit," she admitted.
"If we were out in public I was always worried that people were looking at us. I felt shy, embarrassed. I remember being in a restaurant and he was messing about with the kids, pulling faces, hiding under the table, making a right fool of himself."
Despite any unwanted media intrusion, however, Nicola insisted that the Sky Sports pundit's foremost priority remains his family. She said: "As long as the kids were happy, he didn't care what anybody thought."
Jamie Carragher and wife Nicola at Glastonbury festival
Jamie and Nicola have been together for almost 30 years(Image: Instagram/23_carra)
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"What I can tell you is he is without doubt the best dad in the world," she added. "Yes, there have been times when he has done things he regrets, but so have I. If the world focused on every stupid thing that you did or I did, we'd be in trouble."
The game known as 'the miracle of Istanbul' proved to be a defining moment for numerous Liverpool players at the time. Whilst many had enjoyed the success of the treble-winning campaign of 2001, when the Reds secured the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup, claiming the Champions League in such spectacular circumstances propelled figures like Carragher into the spotlight as never before.
Speaking to The Mirror in 2020, Carragher reflected on how Liverpool's fifth European Cup victory transformed his life. "It's funny how those great European triumphs are known by the city where they took place. As a kid, for me it was Rotterdam, with Everton. Rome '77. [Manchester] United have Barcelona... Not 'the Bayern game,' but Barcelona," he said.
"Istanbul, though. It's somehow even more powerful. It's our city and our club. Just the word makes you feel lucky to have been part of it. An honour and a privilege.
Carragher lifts the European Cup after a dramatic victory over AC Milan on May 25, 2005
Carragher lifts the European Cup after a dramatic victory over AC Milan on May 25, 2005(Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
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"It's the one moment in my career I'd love to go back to. That moment of realisation, and then release. I ran towards Jerzy [Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper, Dudek] and was the first one there. But there was no way I could stop and hug someone. I needed to keep running, jumping, shouting, screaming.
"I couldn't have bottled that up. It was just an energy rush that had to come out. I carried on around the track, couldn't have stood still with the players, had to get involved in the crowd. It's just a pity I didn't get that energy in the first half."
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Expanding on how the match brought the club and its supporters closer together, he said: "We had a great night in the hotel after the game, with the lads, the chairman and the manager giving speeches. But when we got back to Liverpool for the homecoming was the real celebration."
"The final was on a Wednesday and I kept drinking until the Sunday night! I was with people back home who couldn't make it to the game but still had so many stories, and I'm probably more interested in how they felt.
"I think it's one of those games – it's for the people of the city, not the players. The whole city had a glow to it, a bounce in the step for six months."
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