A liquid-cooled self-excited eddy current retarder having two salient poles is provided. The liquid-cooled self-excited eddy current retarder may comprise a retarder rotor, a retarder stator, a retarder coil, a retarder generator and a control module. The retarder rotor may be a jagged turntable, and an axial cross section of the jagged turntable may be in an inverted h shape. Each of the two salient poles may be located at a respective one of two axial ends of the jagged turntable. The retarder rotor may be connectable to a transmission shaft, and an inner circle of the retarder stator may be coaxial with an outer circle of the retarder rotor. The retarder coil may be an independent coil and disposed between the two salient poles of the retarder rotor. The retarder coil may be affixed to the retarder stator.