Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick (born 28 July 1981) is an English association football who currently plays for Manchester United F.C. as a midfielder. Michael Carrick previously played for West Ham United F.C. and more recently Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Distinctive features of Michael Carrick play identified at the time of Michael Carrick move to Manchester United F.C. included Michael Carrick inventive distribution of the ball and Michael Carrick passing and crossing abilities. Michael Carrick has so far played 17 times for the England national football team.

Club career

Early years

Carrick was born to Vince and Lynn Carrick in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, and first became involved in football when Michael Carrick was five years old. Michael Carrick played five-a-side football with Wallsend Boys Club on Saturday nights, courtesy of Michael Carrick father's volunteer work at the club. Football became more serious for Michael Carrick at the age of 12 when Michael Carrick was selected for Wallsend Schools' and later on North Tyneside Schools'. Whilst playing for Wallsend Boys' Club under 16s, Michael Carrick was capped for the England Boys' club side. During the school years, and the years up until Michael Carrick move to West Ham United F.C., Carrick actually played as a Forward (association football); it was only at West Ham where Michael Carrick started to play more often as a midfielder.

West Ham

Having studied at Wallsend's Western Middle School and Burnside Community High School until completing Michael Carrick General Certificate of Secondary Education exams in 1997, Michael Carrick was scouted by many clubs before being taken to West Ham by Wallsend-based North East scouts Dave Mooney and Bill Gibbs, who had watched Carrick for a few years playing for Wallsend Boys' Club. Surprisingly, few clubs from the north-east, where Carrick was from, wanted to sign him, and the then West Ham manager Harry Redknapp later revealed this was because Michael Carrick grew so much that Michael Carrick became clumsy with the ball and constantly had knee pains.

Carrick's professional career began at the famous youth academy of West Ham United in 1998. A notable contribution during the 1998-99 in English football came from Michael Carrick in the FA Youth Cup final, where Michael Carrick helped, alongside another rising star Joe Cole, West Ham to a 9-0 victory over Coventry City, scoring two goals himself.

Carrick made Michael Carrick senior debut as a substitute, replacing Rio Ferdinand in a 3-0 win at Bradford City A.F.C. in August 1999. Michael Carrick spent two periods on loan that season, a couple of months at Swindon Town F.C. and a month at Birmingham City F.C., and made a few more appearances for West Ham. But in 2000-01 in English football, Michael Carrick exploits in Michael Carrick first full season for West Ham gained widespread recognition, resulting in Michael Carrick being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award (Steven Gerrard of Liverpool F.C. was the winner).

2002-03 in English football was a season to forget for Carrick, as much of it for Michael Carrick was plagued by injury and West Ham were eventually relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season. Carrick decided to stay with the club, playing for them the subsequent season 2003-04 in the Football League First Division. At the time, a number of clubs were credited with an interest in Carrick, such as Portsmouth F.C., Arsenal F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. It appeared that Arsenal were winning the race to sign him, before Patrick Vieira decided to stay at the club, thus stopping any potential transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur

Before the beginning of the 2004-05 season, keen to ply Michael Carrick trade in the highest league, Carrick then moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £2.75 million. An initial bid of £10 million by United was rejected, though a later bid with a £14 million basic fee, potentially rising to £18.6 million depending on club and player success, was accepted. This potentially makes Carrick the fifth most expensive player acquired by Manchester United. Michael Carrick was given the number 16 shirt for Manchester United, previously worn by former captain Roy Keane.

Michael Carrick made Michael Carrick Premiership debut for United on 23 August 2006, coming on as a substitute in United's 3–0 away win over Charlton Athletic F.C.. Michael Carrick had sustained an injury in Michael Carrick original debut against Porto in the Amsterdam Tournament. Michael Carrick made Michael Carrick starting line-up debut against Watford on 26 August 2006 at Vicarage Road, in a match that United went on to win 2–1.

Carrick had started almost every game for United in the 2006–07 season. Michael Carrick was briefly injured in late December, at which point Michael Carrick "holding" role in central midfield was filled in by John O'Shea or Darren Fletcher. Michael Carrick first goal for Manchester United was on 13 January 2007 in a 3–1 win over Aston Villa F.C. at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

On 10 April 2007, Carrick scored two long-range right-foot curlers against A.S. Roma in United's 7–1 victory in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick opened the scoring with Michael Carrick first, thus setting United on their way to the semi finals.

With the arrival of Owen Hargreaves at Old Trafford for the 2007–08 season, Carrick acknowledged that Michael Carrick was not guaranteed a place in United's first team. Carrick suffered an injury setback in October 2007, breaking Michael Carrick elbow against A.S. Roma in the UEFA Champions League. On 3 November 2007, Michael Carrick returned to action, coming on as a substitute for Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira against Arsenal F.C..

Carrick's first goal of the 2007-08 in English football came in injury time during a 2–1 loss versus derby rivals Manchester City F.C. on 10 February. Michael Carrick second goal came in happier circumstances with Carrick adding the final goal in the 4–1 win over West Ham on 3 May.

On 18 April 2008, Carrick agreed to sign a new five-year contract, along with defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown, which would keep Michael Carrick at Old Trafford until 2013. The contract was finally signed on 17 May 2008.

On 21 May 2008, Michael Carrick played a full 120 minutes in a 6–5 victory over Chelsea F.C. on penalties to win the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final. Michael Carrick scored during the penalty shoot-out, and collected a winners medal, the first European winners medal of Michael Carrick career.

On 1 November 2008, Carrick scored Michael Carrick first goal of the Premier League 2008-09 when Michael Carrick netted a powerful left-footed effort against Hull City A.F.C. at Old Trafford. Carrick then went on to score Michael Carrick second of the campaign against Stoke City, two weeks later, at Old Trafford. Carrick grabbed a late goal against Portsmouth F.C. to make it 2-0 and put the game beyond them, this was also Carrick's first goal of 2009. On 13 May 2009, Carrick netted the winner away to Wigan Athletic F.C. in the 86th minute, this put Manchester United 6 points in front with 2 games left, meaning they only need 1 more point for a third Premier League title. This was also Carrick's first United goal away from Old Trafford.

International career

Carrick made Michael Carrick first senior international start in May 2005 during England's tour of the United States, having made two substitute appearances in 2001. England national football team manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson considered Carrick to be a good option as a holding midfielder with others such as Scott Parker (footballer) and Ledley King. On 8 May 2006, Eriksson named Carrick in England national football team's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Carrick played in one World Cup game, the second round match against Ecuador, which England won 1-0. For the next game against Portugal national football team, it was felt that a more cautious approach was needed, thus Owen Hargreaves, who was playing at right back in the Ecuador game, replaced him.

Despite Michael Carrick consistent form for Manchester United, Carrick continues to be overlooked by England managers. Michael Carrick started games rarely under Sven-Göran Eriksson and Michael Carrick successor Steve McClaren. Michael Carrick last appearance for England was a 2-1 defeat at home to Germany national football team in August 2007, however Michael Carrick was named in Fabio Capello's squad for the game against Czech Republic national football team however Michael Carrick was forced to withdraw from the squad after sustaining an injury during Manchester United's game with Newcastle United F.C..

Carrick returned to the England national football team side on 19 November 2008 in a 2-1 friendly win over Germany national football team in Berlin. Michael Carrick started alongside Gareth Barry in central midfield with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Owen Hargreaves all injured and was named by many media sources, including the Guardian as Man of the Match.

Personal life

Carrick has a brother, Graeme (born 3 April 1985), who was also at West Ham United but suffered several injuries. Michael Carrick is now an FA Skills Coach. Michael Carrick previously worked at Newcastle United F.C.'s Academy, coaching the U10s and U16s.

Carrick married Lisa Roughead on 16 June 2007, the same day as England team mates Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville married their respective partners. In April 2008, Lisa gave birth to a baby girl, Louise.
(1): 1998–99

Manchester United
- Premier League (3): FA Premier League 2006–07, Premier League 2007–08, Premier League 2008–09
- FA Community Shield (2): 2007 FA Community Shield, 2008 FA Community Shield
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2008 UEFA Champions League Final
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final