Howard Kendall gave me golden memories growing up... and he also left me starstruck

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'We would talk tactics for hours on end... with some darts thrown in!' Read MARTIN KEOWN's moving tribute to Howard Kendall
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JAMIE CARRAGHER: Howard Kendall gave me golden memories growing up... and he also left me starstruck
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Jamie Carragher spoke highly of former Everton boss Howard Kendall
Kendall left him 'starstruck' after watching him when he was eight
The ex-Liverpool star says Kendall's Everton was the best in club's history

Published: 16:31 EST, 18 October 2015 | Updated: 17:55 EST, 18 October 2015

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Howard Kendall was the man who gave me my first memories in football and provided some of the happiest moments in my life.

He was also the person who first left me starstruck. I remember playing a game for my Dad’s team when I was about eight, out in Formby, and he said beforehand that ‘someone very important’ was watching.

So the match started and I looked over at the touchline and there was Howard Kendall, dressed immaculately, taking everything in. I couldn’t believe it. I tried to carry on as normal but there, a few feet away, was the manager I idolised of the team I supported.

Jamie Carragher says Howard Kendall (right) left him starstruck when he was eight years old

The former Liverpool defenders Dad believes Kendall was best player to not win an England cap

I couldn’t stop staring at him.

My Dad used to tell me frequently that Kendall was the best player to never a win an England cap, so you could imagine how I felt afterwards when he came over to the team and said ‘well played boys’. His son Simon had played for the team we had beaten.

I’ve been watching football for more than 30 years and played it professionally for 17 seasons. My two favourite campaigns are 2005, when Liverpool won the Champions League, and 2001, when we completed a Cup treble but not far behind in my affections is 1984-85.

Everton meant everything to me then. I had seen his team win the 1984 FA Cup final, beating Watford 2-0 at Wembley, but the 12 months that followed will never be forgotten by all Blues who are old enough to remember them.

The former Everton boss was last seen at the Merseyside derby before he sadly passed away

Despite playing his whole career at Liverpool, Carragher (right) was an Everton fan growing up

I went to both legs of the famous European Cup-winners’ Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich; I was at Anfield when Graeme Sharp scored that stunning volley and was at Goodison for all the games in the run-in as they won the title.

Looking back, I know now that Kendall produced the best team in Everton’s history and I can quite confidently say their achievements — they won two trophies and almost added the FA Cup — will never be eclipsed at Everton.

The way the modern game has gone means, unless they are the subject of a Manchester City-style takeover, it is impossible for clubs such as Everton to replicate past achievements, so when you see him being referred to as ‘Everton’s greatest manager’ he will stay that way.

Carragher says Kendall created the best Everton side in the club's history during his first tenure

RIP Howard Kendall the greatest EFC manager there's been. He gave me some of my best football memories especially in the 84/85 season.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) October 17, 2015

Of course, circumstances meant Everton never had the chance to show in the European Cup how good they might have been, but there is no question that between 1985 and 1987 they were one of the top four sides in Europe.

The league title, remember, stayed on Merseyside from 1982 to 1988 and growing up as a kid, it felt as if my city was the capital of football. We shouldn’t forget what role Kendall’s Everton played in that domination.

He joined Athletic Bilbao in 1987 but I remember the buzz in 1990 when Howard came back for his second spell as manager; I had been at the League Cup game away at Sheffield United, which Everton lost 2-1 to end Colin Harvey’s reign and I was at Bramall Lane 10 days later for his return.

Kendall was unable to replicate his success during his second spell but is still seen as a hero

It felt like everything would be fine again with him in charge but, unfortunately, he was never able to replicate his success in that spell or in 1997-98, when he returned for a third time.

Nothing, however, will affect his legacy. I used to bump into Howard at functions and at Goodison Park and he’d always greet you the same with ‘now then, lad’ so I was devastated when I came out of the gym on Saturday morning to messages that he had passed away.

He was an outstanding manager but, more than anything, he was a lovely man. I will not have been alone in thanking him for the memories.