Former Blackburn Rovers Defender Stephane Henchoz Announces Retirement

Former Blackburn Rovers defender Stephane Henchoz has announced his retirement from football.

The 34-year-old has been without a club since his contract with Barclays Premier League side Blackburn expired at the end of last season. He now intends to study for his coaching badge.

Henchoz, who began his career in 1992 with Neuchatel Xamax, represented Switzerland on 72 occasions and enjoyed a successful period with Liverpool, whom he joined from Blackburn in 1999.

He won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001, going on to make 205 appearances for the Reds.

Spells with Celtic and Wigan Athletic followed before a return to Blackburn, his final club as a professional footballer.

Liverpool Defender Jamie Carragher called the English Premier League Soccer Club's Owners "ruthless"

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called the English Premier League soccer club's owners "ruthless" and accused them of promises and profiteering.

The Liverpool Football Club is owned by Tom Hicks of Dallas and George Gillett Jr. of Vail, Colorado.

In his autobiography to be published tomorrow, Carragher expresses sympathy with the two Americans in saying manager Rafa Benitez publicly undermined them over transfers. But he gives a largely critical assessment of a year of turmoil.

The 30-year-old Carragher has been with Liverpool since he was a youth player in 1994. He embraced the Americans hesitantly at the time of their March 2007 takeover. That's when they pledged to invest in the team and replace crumbling Anfield stadium without burdening the Reds with debt.

But the stadium remains on hold. and Carragher said he became disgruntled over infighting that triggered "the demise of those values which come under the definition 'The Liverpool Way.'"