HOW IS IT possible for a player to have a longer international career than David Beckham but less caps than Kieron Dyer?
That is the strange sort of purgatory that Michael Carrick’s international career exists in. Remarkably, the Manchester United midfielder debuted in 2001 in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s first game in charge and last weekend he played against Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier, winning his 32nd cap.
Former Newcastle and Ipswich midfielder Dyer won 33 caps in nine years and Shaun Wright Phillips received 36 in six.
The fact that the 4-0 win at Wembley was Carrick’s first international game in 17 months sums up the stop-start nature of his time in an England shirt. He has only played one game at a major tournament for England despite winning caps across a 14-year period. David Beckham managed to squeeze 115 caps into a slightly shorter 13-year time-frame.
He is like football’s version of former Irish rugby international Mick Galwey, who somehow managed to never play in a World Cup despite winning 41 caps over 11 years.
Despite being rated by Alex Ferguson as one of Europe’s top midfielders a succession of England managers haven’t deemed him worthy of a starting place, instead preferring Scott Parker and Gareth Barry among others.
And if Carrick does get onto the field at Euro 2016, he will be the first Englishman to win caps 15 years apart since goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Shilton made his debut for England in 1970… and didn’t retire for another 20 years. So while Carrick hasn’t always been an automatic in the England side, the fact that he has outlasted so many of his contemporariness should give him some comfort.
Although once again, he has played for England longer than Beckham but has less appearances than one of the most injury-prone players in Premier League history.
Crazy stuff.
H/T to Goal for the stats.
Roy Keane has turned into the very thing he hates – a show clown!
@Pat Rascal: you’re obviously a poo fan
@anthony davoren: a poo fan? Anto try get it right ! Roy be disappointed with your feeble comeback.
@anthony davoren: idiot alert.
@anthony davoren: seriously – what age are you?
@Graham: jaysus ye are all out tonight
@colin coady: hardly a comeback,.just stating the obvious based on his cynical comment
@anthony davoren: You left out the letter L but still managed to touch a nerve.
@Pat Rascal: And I haven’t forgiven him for Saipan, when push came to shove he fu€&ed off in the one tournament that we had a real chance in if any one is old enough to remember.
Most entertaining maybe but not the best, give me a sadlier or kerr anyway. They provide such indepth analysis that rue football fans love. Roy is for the casual fan
@Phil: anyday*
@Phil: Sadlier is the best imo. Kerr good also. Keane doesn’t come close to these guys.
@Phil: damian Delaney is excellent
@Ray Ridge: Sky aren’t interested in in-depth analysis of the game. They’re interested in stats and sensationalism. Keane does what he’s told because they pay his wages. That’s about the size of it. Kerr, Delaney and Sadlier are by far the better “pundits” imo.
Roy has become the king of sound bites.
And the worst – winner by a country mile. Ex red Mr Spitty who shows zero balance in his alleged analysis. Should have been sacked!
What a nonsense article! Keano is a United legend but average pundit. Mostly he’s there to get a reaction from the other pundits. Oh and it’s TP (initials of player from previous article)
@G Bot: Gavin talking out of his hole.To much snow (actual snow )
It’s great to see Keane find success/happiness after retirement as a player. For years he was bitter about how he was fired until he became a much loved pundit.
But Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Micah Richards are equally as interesting to listen to as Keane.
@Caolan Z: “big meeks” is dreadful to listen to.
He comes out with the same guff every week.
Not getting stuck in
Not wanting it enough
He has to do better.
@Brendan Coleman: That’s exactly the issue Amorim has with Rashford since he joined the club recently, not doing enough and not getting stuck in, so what’s wrong with Roy Keane as a pundit exposing the same shortcomings in Rashfords and others game. By his own admission Keane never regarded himself as a gifted footballer but he showed leadership, got stuck in and done enough to help Man. Utd, have so much success. As a manager he took Sunderland from the bottom of the Championship table to winning it the same season. Just name me another Irish born soccer player that achieved more success in their football career than Roy Keane?
Brian Kerr and Richie Sadlier far better at analysing the game. Keane is there for the novelty factor.
But that’s his job !!
@ Robert conway. Agreed about Carraher. That a h**e Neville as well so bias towards the other team in red.
The ManUre fans love him.
Best pundit…….No. Most entertaining… Yes.
He’s become everything he pretended to hate
He is probably the most famous pundit based on his quick wit and playing career. He is also probably the most entertaining pundit.
I think the likes of Delaney and Kerr are better pundits and can explain tactical stuff in an easy to understand way.
Worst pundit for anyone who knows anything about the game , great for the clueless masses