Shoot! would like to wish former England international defender Jamie Carragher many happy returns as he celebrates his 40th birthday this evening.

The Liverpool legend, who earned 38 caps for his country, won 11 senior honours during his 16-year career at Anfield – including the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups.

Carragher, who began his career with The Reds back in 1988 as a schoolkid, was the club’s vice-captain for a decade and went on to become Liverpool’s second-longest ever serving player, racking up 737 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side.

The former centre-half also holds the record for the most appearances in European competition for Liverpool (150 games).

Happy birthday, @Carra23. pic.twitter.com/CUoHiHKnet

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 28, 2018

Nowadays, the Reds legend and one-club man is a pundit and commentator for Sky Sports, having retired from the beautiful game back in May 2013.

To celebrate the defender’s latest milestone, Shoot! is paying tribute to the Liverpool great by putting together five of Carragher’s most defining moments of his Reds Career in Pictures. Enjoy!

Third time lucky

Carragher managed to score just four goals for Liverpool in over 700 games for the club, so it will come as a surprise to learn that the defender netted his first goal on just his third senior appearance.

After making his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in the League Cup on January 8, 1997, and then following his Premier League bow against West Ham United just three days later, the centre-half headed home Liverpool’s opening goal against Aston Villa in a 3-0 league win at Anfield on January 18.

Though, he didn’t feature for the rest of the 1996-97 campaign.

Cup treble

What a year 2001 was for Liverpool Football Club.

Firstly, The Reds lifted the League Cup after defeating Birmingham City at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, beating The Blues 5-4 on penalties, with Carragher converting a spot kick.

Liverpool then triumphed again in Wales during the FA Cup final in May, fending off Premier League rivals Arsenal 2-1, with Carragher playing the full 90 minutes.

And finally, the Merseysiders rounded off a terrific 2000-01 season by defeating Deportivo Alaves 5-4 after extra-time, with Carragher once again playing the entire game inside the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany.

Champions League crown

One of the greatest games in the club’s history – the 2005 UEFA Champions League comeback.

Carragher and his team mates heroically came from 3-0 down at half-time against AC Milan to win 3-2 on penalties (3-3 AET) to claim Liverpool’s fifth European Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.

Milan revenge

However, two years later, Serie A giants AC Milan got their own back on Liverpool, defeating the Premier League side 2-1 in the 2007 UEFA Champions League final, thanks to goals from Filippo Inzaghi in either half, in Athens, Greece.

Final farewell

After finding himself out of favour in the Premier League under manager Brendan Rodgers during the first-half of the 2012-13 season, Carragher worked his way back into Liverpool’s first-team plans during the second-half, before calling time on his illustrious career at Anfield.

The defender announced he would be retiring from football at the end of the campaign, on February 7, 2013.

The legendary Carragher made his final Reds appearance on May 19, 2013, in a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

He was given a guard of honour before the fixture, and was substituted off after 87 minutes, being replaced by Sebastian Coates, before receiving a standing ovation from both sets of players and supporters.