Jamie Carragher's son gains citizenship for shock country and could represent them at international level

Jamie Carragher and his son James have gained citizenship for a small European nation which could now see the latter play for a country other than England on the international stage.

Retired Liverpool defender Carragher scored four goals in 737 games for the Anfield side, picking up the Champions League, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the UEFA Cup before hanging up his boots in 2013 and has since embarked on a career in punditry and broadcasting.

On the international stage, Carragher picked up 38 caps for England between 1999 and 2010, being part of a central defensive group for the Three Lions which also included the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell and Ledley King, among others.

Carragher's son James has followed in his father's footsteps and also become a professional footballer.

The younger Carragher came through the youth team ranks at Liverpool before switching to fellow North West side Wigan Athletic.

While with Wigan, Carragher has had loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Carragher has established himself in the Latics team this season, with 26 appearances in all competitions and one goal for Shaun Maloney's side, who sit 16th in the League One table as things stand.

He is yet to make an appearance for England in any of its youth teams and so is therefore free to play for any other country he is eligible to represent.

James Carragher. (Image: Getty)

And now, Carragher could now represent another European country after he and his father acquired citizenship for a small island nation in the Mediterranean.

According to the Times of Malta, the pair have recently been granted Maltese citizenship.

Jamie Carragher was eligible to become a Maltese citizen owing to both his grandfather Paul Vassallo and his mother Paula hailing from the Mediterranean island and obtained the citizenship through being a direct descendent.

And the publication reports that James Carragher was granted Maltese citizenship at the same time as his father, thus potentially opening the door for him to one day represent the country on the international stage.

Malta Football Association president Bjorn Vassallo has confirmed that talks have opened with the Carragher family over the potential of James playing for the country.

He said: "We’ve been in talks with James and his father Jamie for the last few months now; he [James] is open to it, but we’re still working on it.

"We will not shy from signing players internationally; everyone is doing it, so why not us?"