Eddie Howe tells Jamie Carragher ‘being your team-mate was a privilege’ with fans just realising they played together
EDDIE HOWE called being Jamie Carragher’s team-mate a “privilege” as the pair caught up last night.
While Carragher, 45, spent his entire career at Liverpool, Howe spent the bulk of his in the First and Second Division with Bournemouth and Portsmouth.
The pair’s paths did cross, however, as they were both named in England‘s Under-21 squad that travelled to the Toulon Tournament in 1998.
By this point Carragher was already an established Premier League player with Liverpool, while Howe had been playing in the third tier.
Carra started all three of the Three Lions’ matches, while Howe made two appearances.
The squad also featured the likes of Frank Lampard and Emile Heskey, but was unable to progress beyond the group stage.
Catching up live on CBS Sports last night ahead of Newcastle’s 4-1 thumping of Paris Saint-Germain, Carragher recalled their time as team-mates.
The pundit said to Howe: “We were actually in the same Under-21s squad, any reflections, any thoughts?
“It didn’t go particularly well that tournament, did it?”
With a smile, Howe replied: “No it was, for me coming out of League One, a real eye-opener.
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“And being your team-mate was a real privilege and an honour.”
An incredulous Kate Abdo then said “Shut up, what?” as a grinning Carragher nudged Micah Richards.
Howe then continued: “It didn’t go great for me at the time, for me and the team because we got knocked out after the group stages.
“But coming from League One that was a brilliant experience for me at a really young age.”
Carragher then cheekily replied: “Well thank you for those kind words, we’ll make sure we get that clipped up for the socials please.”
Howe was forced to retire from his playing career early following a string of knee injuries.
He began his coaching career with Bournemouth aged just 29, eventually working his way up to first team boss.
Following his first Champions League win, a thrilled Howe gushed: “I’m so pleased with the players for what they gave tonight.
“It was a difficult game tactically, PSG try to play from the back, so we had to unbalance and unsettle them.
“We were man for man at the back against elite players and they had some moments when they hurt us in what, I thought, was an even game but our goals came at good moments.
“To score four times against PSG in front of our supporters made it a really special night. The atmosphere was very special; I can’t thank our fans enough.
“In Milan in the last game there was an element of us not quite hitting our levels but tonight gives us the belief we need to be successful. But it’s only a small step.”