MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER Michael Carrick has revealed he brought his international career to a premature end because tournament duty with England was making him “depressed.”
Despite winning 18 trophies in 12 years at United, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008, Carrick was often overlooked at international level.
He won 34 caps in a 14-year international career between 2001 and 2015, but only played one game at a major tournament and said his experience at the South Africa World Cup in 2010 left a lasting negative effect.
“I was finding it hard going away with England. I didn’t mind going away with United on pre-season for the three weeks or whatever but going away with England it was almost depressing in a way, it made me really down,” Carrick told the BBC’s Premier League Show.
“It came to a point after South Africa I thought I can’t do that again. People will say ‘pull yourself together and be grateful for it’.
I understood the privileged position I was in, but I just found it so hard and I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I was depressed at times, I told the FA please don’t pick me.”
Jose Mourinho revealed in January that he expected Carrick to call time on his career at the end of the season, and the 36-year-old confirmed his intention to retire last month.
He has indicated that he is likely to join the coaching staff at Old Trafford.
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell.
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Good effort every time from ward whenever he’s called up,time for a young gun to step up and claim left back spot for keeps
It’s nice that when there’s a story about how much Ward loves playing for Ireland, people still feel the need to jump in and say how sh*t they think he is.
He is absolutely BLESSED to be a professional footballer and to be getting paid for it.
That’s a bit harsh Pat. He’s not the most talented but he more talented than most. He is lucky to be getting paid to play ball. Very few get the chance. I say fair play to Ward!
Have to agree with Patrick. Ward is a very limited footballer.
Hopefully Martin doesn’t pick him for the euros! I think we should be looking to get Steve Finnan out of retirement
You’d have to find finnan first
Some of the comments on this thread already show us what we’ve to look forward to come the summer, no nothing’s having too much to say,when the guys been playing for Ireland he’s always done a decent job
Doing well this year for Burnley. We’ve had way way worse
The chap would be a welcome edition to Liverpool at the minute lord have mercy on him