Jamie Carragher tackles Phil Neville in the recent Merseyside derby: His joint venture restaurant chain may soon open in Dublin

Liverpool FC's vice captain, Jamie Carragher, is planning to bring his restaurant chain to Ireland. The footballer says in his autobiography that "we're looking to open in Ireland, Wales and as far afield as Dubai, too". An express version of the restaurant is also due to be rolled out in the near future.

Carragher, who has played more than 500 times for his club, opened the first Café Sports: England restaurant last year in Liverpool in a joint venture with business partners Paul and Julian Flanagan of the Flanagan Group.

The Flanagans first proposed the restaurant chain to Carragher in 2004 and it claims to want to promote healthy eating to combat childhood obesity with a menu centred on pizza, pasta and chargrills. The Liverpool restaurant has 200 seats over two floors and includes two fruit smoothie bars and an open kitchen.

The Flanagan Group's business interests include the Sir Thomas Hotel, and property and leisure assets. They are also involved in plans to convert the Irish Centre in Liverpool into a hotel. The plan for the grade II-listed Wellington Rooms, the official name of the Irish Centre, has created major debate in the city.

Carragher won 34 caps for England before retiring from international football last year citing a lack of opportunities. He has since rebuffed attempts to make him reconsider that decision.