Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick
Carrick with Manchester United in 2009
Personal information
Full name Michael Carrick[1]
Date of birth (1981-07-28) 28 July 1981 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth Wallsend, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Defensive Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Middlesbrough (manager)
Youth career
1986–1997 Wallsend Boys Club
1997–1999 West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 West Ham United 136 (6)
1999Swindon Town (loan) 6 (2)
2000Birmingham City (loan) 2 (0)
2004–2006 Tottenham Hotspur 64 (2)
2006–2018 Manchester United 316 (17)
Total 524 (27)
International career
England U18 4 (0)
2000–2003 England U21 14 (2)
2006 England B 1 (0)
2001–2015 England 34 (0)
Managerial career
2021 Manchester United (caretaker)
2022– Middlesbrough
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Carrick (born 28 July 1981) is an English professional football coach and former footballer he is the currently manager of EFL Championship club Middlesbrough. He is considered as one of the best midfielders of his generation and is known for his 12-year playing career with Manchester United, whom he also captained.[3] Carrick was a defensive midfielder, but he was used as an emergency centre-back under Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho. His playing style was grounded in his passing ability.[4][5]

Carrick began his career at West Ham United, joining the youth team in 1997 and winning the FA Youth Cup two years later. He was sent on loan twice during his debut season, to Swindon Town and Birmingham City, before securing a place in the first team by the 2000–01 season. He experienced relegation in the 2002–03 season and was voted into the PFA First Division Team of the Year in the following campaign. He made more than 150 appearances for the Hammers, and in 2004, he moved to rival London club Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be £3.5 million. He played an influential role at the club for two seasons before moving to Manchester United in 2006 for £14 million.

From his debut onwards, Carrick was a regular in the Manchester United first team, making more than 50 appearances in his first season with them. He established himself as a key member of the team that won the Premier League in 2006–07, their first title success in four years. The following season he was part of the side that won the 2008 Champions League final, playing the full 120 minutes as they enjoyed a 6–5 penalty shootout win, with Carrick converting his spot kick, to help achieve the European Double. As of 2024, he is one of only two English players alongside former teammate Wayne Rooney to win the Premier League title, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, League Cup, FA Community Shield, UEFA Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup.[6][7] In winning the 2016 FA Cup, Carrick completed his collection of every domestic honour in the English game.[8]

Carrick has represented England at under-18, under-21, B and senior levels. He made his England debut in 2001 and went on to gain 34 caps without scoring a goal. Carrick was often overlooked during his England career, with many of his contemporaries being preferred in his position. This was the case until the 2012–13 season, when Carrick established himself as a regular. He was a member of the England squad for two major tournaments, the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 109. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. ^ "Michael Carrick". Manchester United F.C. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. ^ Wilson, Jeremy (15 October 2013). "Michael Carrick the king of control takes possession for England and shows his worth". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. ^ Kay, Oliver (3 August 2006). "Carrick sweet on Keane's No 16 in new-look United". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  5. ^ Ronay, Barney (13 April 2015). "Manchester United's Michael Carrick: so smooth he plays in a dinner jacket". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Michael Carrick: Man Utd midfielder agrees new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 27 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Carrick hungry to add Super Cup to trophy cabinet". FourFourTwo. 8 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Carrick reflects on 10-year anniversary". Manchester United F.C.