MICHAEL CARRICK WILL call time on his professional career at the end of this season, the Manchester United and England midfielder has confirmed today.
The 36-year-old club captain has featured sparingly for United this season, having been sidelined earlier in the campaign due to a heart scare.
He returned to action last month but, speaking at a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 match against Sevilla, Carrick confirmed the current campaign will be his last.
“There comes a time when, as much as you don’t like, your body tells you it’s time to stop playing football,” he said.
That’s pretty much where I’m at, which is fine.”
In January, United boss Jose Mourinho said he expected Carrick to retire at the end of 2017-18 and join the Old Trafford coaching staff – a move the player himself acknowledges as his likely next step.
“It’s kind of being sorted out, we’re still talking about it to be honest. But it’s looking likely, yeah.”
Carrick joined United from Tottenham for £18million in 2006 and has played 463 times for the Red Devils. A graduate of West Ham’s youth academy alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand, Carrick went on to win five Premier League titles under Alex Ferguson.
He became a Champions League winner when United saw off Chelsea on penalties in Moscow in 2008 and, although he lost subsequent finals in Europe’s top competition against Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, last season’s Europa League triumph completed an individual clean sweep of major domestic and European club trophies.
Carrick, who was capped 34 times by England, underwent a procedure to correct an irregular heart rhythm, having initially felt unwell during the EFL Cup win over Burton Albion last September.
Now back in action, he is happy to be retiring on his own terms.
“It started in the Burton game and then happened again in training,” Carrick added, discussing his health problem. “I’m clear now, it took a bit of time to get over. There were two or three times when I wondered whether it was worth still playing, but I soon got over that.
“I understood that I wouldn’t be playing as many games, but I’ve been training hard and trying to keep fit. I wanted to finish on my own terms.”
He announced this week’s ago. Also ye are reporting today that McTominnay has declared for Scotland. That was announced last week.
I downloaded the app for up to date news, not old news I’d already heard.
@Trev Gilmore: to be fair McTominay was not called up today. But yeah, the Carrick news is old
@Dave O Keeffe: *was only called up today
@Trev Gilmore: no, he didn’t. Jose did.
Underused by England and underrated by clueless fans. A top class midfielder.
@The Bloody Nine: Agree 100% (Liverpool fan here)
@Keith Synnott: me too.
A Rolls Royce of a player.
So long Michael………it was a pleasure to watch you.
@David Sinclair: only comes out for the weddings is it?!
If I recall correctly, in LVG’S first season, Carrick was out injured in the early part of the season and United were struggling by mid November. Carrick came back from injury to help steady the ship and I think they won 8 and drew 2 of the next 10 games. He would have been 32/33 back then but he was still able to show what a good player he was to help turn United’s fortunes around. He was always unappreciated by the (non United) fans and pundits in Ireland like Giles and Dunphy, particularly on Champions League nights, because he had taken the place, and the jersey, of Roy Keane. Very underrated player, still capable of doing a job if required before he retires at end of season.
@Sloop John G: Always liked Carrick as a player Sloop John, don’t support any club he played for but he was the ultimate pro, and he played in teams where box box and scoring midfielders took the plaudits, Carrick doh knitted it all together held up play left players get into position and played the pass, sounds easy but he made it look easy not a bad medal haul either, will be missed by many football fans.
His watch is nearly ended. He did a fantastic job for the club,no messing,just got on with the job.
And he just learned to pass the ball forward. A legend though with a nice family life
A fine player who hardly ever put in a poor performance, unappreciated because he was seen as Keane’s replacement which he wasn’t and could never be.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: That’s a good one Eamonn, now why didn’t I think of that :-)