Soccerlens looks back on five memorable Murphy moments:
Boyhood dream
Murphy signed for Liverpool, his boyhood club, at the age of 20 in the summer of 1997 after coming through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra.
His Premier League debut came as a sub on the opening day of the 1997-98 season against Wimbledon.
Murphy went on to become a Reds regular, making almost 250 appearances in all competitions before being sold to Charlton Athletic in 2004.
Regular goals against bitter rivals Manchester United made him a hit with the Kop.
Taste of silverware
Liverpool won a cup treble in 2000-01. Murphy played in their FA Cup and UEFA Cup final victories. Murphy sat out their earlier League Cup triumph, but has a winner’s medal.
The Reds also lifted the UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield the following summer.
Murphy then added a sixth trophy from his spell at Anfield by playing in the 2003 League Cup final win over Manchester United.
Country’s call
An England debut came in November 2001 against Sweden. Murphy then scored his first and only international goal against Paraguay the following April.
Injuries restricted him to just nine appearances for the Three Lions. Murphy was set to replace club teammate Steven Gerrard in the squad for the 2002 World Cup, but suffered a metatarsal injury.
Golden goal
Following difficult spells with Charlton and Tottenham Hotspur, Murphy joined Fulham in August 2007. The first season at Craven Cottage was a struggle, but under Roy Hodgson the Londoners pulled off a great escape.
This was in no small part thanks to Murphy. His headed winner at Portsmouth on the final day of the season kept Fulham up on goal difference, sending Reading and Birmingham City down.
European adventure
Fulham made remarkable progress under Hodgson. With Murphy as captain they finished seventh the following season. That meant Europa League football, the rebranded UEFA Cup, at the Cottage.
Hodgson steered Fulham to the final. At the age of 33, Murphy skippered the side in Hamburg’s Nordbank Arena albeit in a losing effort.
Diego Forlan sunk Fulham late in extra time as Atletico Madrid won the rechristened competition.
Murphy went on to play for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship before being frozen out and released.
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