Michael Carrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Carrick

Carrick as coach of Middlesbrough in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Michael Carrick
Date of birth	(1981-07-28) 28 July 1981 (age 44)
Place of birth	Wallsend, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
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)
1999	→ Swindon Town (loan)	6	(2)
2000	→ Birmingham 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)
2022–2025	Middlesbrough
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Carrick (born 28 July 1981) is an English professional football coach and former player. He was most recently the head coach of Middlesbrough. Many people consider him one of the best midfielders of his time. He is especially known for playing 12 years with Manchester United, where he also became captain.

Carrick usually played as a defensive midfielder. However, he sometimes played as a centre-back when his team needed him to. His playing style was famous for his amazing passing skills.

He started his career at West Ham United in 1997. Two years later, he helped their youth team win the FA Youth Cup. He played over 150 games for West Ham before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2004. In 2006, he joined Manchester United for £14 million.

At Manchester United, Carrick quickly became a key player. He helped them win the Premier League in 2007, their first title in four years. The next season, he was part of the team that won the Champions League final in 2008. He played the whole game and scored in the penalty shootout. Michael Carrick is one of only two English players to win all major English and European club trophies. These include the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, Community Shield, Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Carrick also played for the England national team at different levels. He made his senior England debut in 2001 and played 34 games for his country. He was part of England's squad for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

Early Life and Football Start

Michael Carrick was born in Wallsend, England. He started playing football at age four. As a child, he supported Newcastle United. He played five-a-side football with Wallsend Boys Club because his dad volunteered there.

When he was nine, he had trials with big clubs like Middlesbrough, Arsenal, and Chelsea. At 12, he played for North Tyneside Schools. He even played for the England Boys' club team when he was 16.

Interestingly, Carrick played as a centre-forward until he joined West Ham United. There, he started playing more often as a midfielder. He finished his school exams in 1997.

Club Career Highlights

West Ham United Journey

Carrick was part of the West Ham United youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in the 1998–99 season. He scored two goals in their big 9–0 win over Coventry City in the final.

He made his first team debut for West Ham in July 1999. His league debut came in August, when he played against Bradford City. Early in his career, he had some injuries due to growing quickly.

In November 1999, Carrick went on loan to Swindon Town. He scored his first professional goal there. He also had a short loan spell at Birmingham City. When he returned to West Ham, he scored his first goal for them in a 5–0 win over Coventry City. He was named West Ham United's Young Player of the Year in his first season.

In the 2000–01 season, Carrick became a regular player, playing 41 games. He signed a new contract and was even nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He won West Ham's Young Player of the Year award for the second time.

West Ham was relegated from the Premier League in the 2002–03 season. Carrick chose to stay with the club in the First Division. In the 2003–04 season, West Ham reached the play-offs but lost the final. Carrick was chosen for the PFA Team of the Year for the First Division.

Time at Tottenham Hotspur

After West Ham didn't get promoted, Carrick felt he needed to leave the First Division. In August 2004, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for about £3.5 million. He made his Tottenham debut in October.

At first, he didn't play much under manager Jacques Santini. But when Martin Jol became the new manager, Carrick became a regular starter in midfield. He made 29 league appearances in his first season.

In December 2005, Carrick scored his first goal for Tottenham in a 3–2 win against Sunderland. He scored again in April 2006 against Manchester City. In May 2006, many Tottenham players, including Carrick, got sick before their final game against West Ham. They lost the game, which meant they missed out on a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United Success

Winning Titles and European Cups

Carrick celebrates a goal with Cristiano Ronaldo (left) in the Manchester derby in a 3–1 home win in 2006

In July 2006, Michael Carrick joined Manchester United. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson saw him as a replacement for the legendary Roy Keane. The transfer fee was £14 million, which could go up to £18.6 million. He was given the number 16 shirt, which Keane used to wear.

Carrick made his Manchester United debut in a friendly match in August 2006. He then made his official debut in a 3–0 league win against Charlton Athletic. In January 2007, he scored his first goal for Manchester United against Aston Villa. He also scored his first FA Cup goal and two UEFA Champions League goals that season. His first season ended with Manchester United winning the Premier League title.

In October 2007, Carrick broke his elbow but returned to play in November. He scored two league goals in the 2007–08 season, helping United win another league title. On May 21, 2008, he played in his first Champions League final in Moscow. United won 6–5 on penalties against Chelsea, and Carrick scored his penalty kick. This was his first European trophy.

Carrick (back) defending a shot from Lionel Messi in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

In the 2008–09 season, Carrick had some ankle and foot injuries. However, he scored his first goal of the season in November against Hull City. He scored a late winning goal against Wigan in May, which helped United secure their third straight Premier League title. He played in the 2009 Champions League Final but United lost to Barcelona. He later said this was the worst night of his career.

In the 2009–10 season, Carrick scored his first Champions League goal against Wolfsburg. Due to many defensive injuries, he even played as a centre-back, which he had never done before. Sir Alex Ferguson was very happy with his performance in this new role.

More Success and Awards

In January 2010, Carrick scored his first League Cup goal. He played the whole game in the 2010 League Cup Final, which United won 2–1, giving him his first League Cup medal.

He signed a new three-year contract in March 2011. In April, he played a key role in a Champions League win against Chelsea.

In the 2011–12 season, Carrick made a surprise start in the 2011 FA Community Shield. He scored his first goal for United in 70 games in December 2011. In January 2012, he played his 250th match for Manchester United. In February, he played his 500th career match.

For the 2012–13 season, Carrick sometimes played as a centre-back again due to injuries. He scored his first goal of the season in a Champions League win against Galatasaray. In April 2013, he was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year Award. Even Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger praised him, saying he could play for Barcelona. Carrick was included in the PFA Team of the Year and was named Manchester United's Players' Player of the Year for that season.

In November 2013, Carrick signed a contract extension until 2015. The 2013–14 season was tough for him and the team, partly due to an Achilles problem.

Final Years at United

Carrick playing in a pre-season friendly in 2015

In July 2014, Carrick had an injury that kept him out for 12 weeks. When he returned, he sometimes played as a makeshift centre-back again. His return helped Manchester United improve their form.

In December 2014, Sir Alex Ferguson called Carrick the best English player. Carrick was also named Manchester United's new vice-captain. In March 2015, he scored his first goal in over a year against his old club, Tottenham. He signed a new one-year contract, extending his time at United to 10 seasons.

On January 2, 2016, Carrick played his 400th game for Manchester United. On May 21, he played the full 120 minutes in United's FA Cup win against Crystal Palace. This victory meant he had won every major domestic trophy in English football. He signed another one-year contract in June 2016.

Carrick receiving a guard of honour at Old Trafford before his final match in 2018

In the 2016–17 season, Carrick became a key player for manager José Mourinho. Mourinho praised his ability to control the game and pass accurately. In May 2017, Carrick extended his contract again. He had a testimonial match at Old Trafford in June 2017 to celebrate his 11 years at the club. The money raised went to charities he supported. After Wayne Rooney left, Carrick became the club captain in July 2017.

In November 2017, Carrick shared that he had a heart issue that caused dizziness. He had a successful medical procedure and returned to play. In January 2018, he announced he would join the club's coaching staff after retiring as a player at the end of the 2017–18 season. He played his 464th and final game for Manchester United on May 13, 2018, against Watford. He received a standing ovation from the fans.

International Career with England

Carrick played for England's under-18 and under-21 teams. He was first called up to the senior team in February 2001. He made his England debut in May 2001, coming on as a substitute against Mexico. His first full start was in May 2005 against the United States.

In May 2006, he was named in England's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He played one game in the tournament, a 1–0 win against Ecuador. However, he was then dropped for the next game, and England was knocked out by Portugal.

Carrick (bottom) in the 2–0 defeat to Spain in 2009

Carrick was often overlooked by England managers, who preferred other midfielders like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. He played under Sven-Göran Eriksson and Steve McClaren. In November 2008, he returned to the squad for a friendly against Germany and was named Man of the Match.

He was part of the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but did not play in any games. England was knocked out by Germany.

In May 2012, England manager Roy Hodgson said he left Carrick out of the Euro 2012 squad because Carrick preferred not to be a "bit-part player." However, Carrick was recalled in August 2012 for a friendly against Italy. He played in several World Cup qualifiers in 2012 and 2013, helping England qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was on the standby list for the 2014 World Cup but didn't make the final squad.

In March 2015, Carrick made his first England appearance in 17 months. He played well in a friendly against Italy. In November 2015, he suffered an ankle injury during a match against Spain.

Coaching Career

Coaching at Manchester United

After retiring as a player, Carrick stayed at Manchester United and joined José Mourinho's coaching staff. When Mourinho was sacked in December 2018, Carrick briefly became the acting caretaker manager. Then, former United player Ole Gunnar Solskjær took over, and Carrick remained part of his coaching team.

On November 21, 2021, after Ole Gunnar Solskjær left, Carrick was named caretaker manager again. His first game in charge was a Champions League match against Villarreal, which United won. He also managed a draw against Chelsea and a win against Arsenal. After three games, Carrick stepped down from his coaching role at Manchester United in December 2021, when Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager.

Leading Middlesbrough

On October 24, 2022, Michael Carrick was appointed head coach of Championship club Middlesbrough. When he joined, Middlesbrough was near the bottom of the league.

His first game in charge was a 2–1 loss to Preston North End. However, Carrick quickly turned things around. Middlesbrough won 16 of his first 23 games, climbing up the league table. He won the EFL Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2023. He guided Middlesbrough to a fourth-place finish, but they lost in the play-off semi-finals.

In his second season, Carrick led Middlesbrough to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2004. They won the first leg against Chelsea but lost the second leg. Middlesbrough finished the 2023–24 season in 8th place. On June 3, 2024, Carrick signed a new three-year contract with Middlesbrough. However, on June 4, 2025, Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough after the team finished tenth in the league.

Style of Play

Michael Carrick was a deep-lying midfielder. He wasn't known for being super fast or for making lots of tackles. Instead, he used his intelligence and calm approach to read the game. He was great at covering space and stopping opponents' attacks.

His best skills were his passing, vision, and creativity. He could control the speed of the game and start attacks for his team. Many people, including other top European midfielders like Xavi and Xabi Alonso, praised his importance to the team.

After joining Manchester United, Carrick formed a strong partnership with Paul Scholes. Carrick played in a holding role, while Scholes helped create plays. This helped Manchester United play a more passing-focused style. Even though he was very good, some England managers didn't pick him as often as other midfielders. In 2015, The Telegraph called him one of the most "under-rated footballers of all time."

Personal Life

Michael Carrick married Lisa Roughead, a Pilates instructor, on June 16, 2007. They started dating when they were in school. They have a daughter named Louise and a son named Jacey.

In October 2018, Carrick shared that he had faced mental health challenges for two years after the 2009 Champions League Final defeat. He spoke openly about his struggles to help others.

Michael has a younger brother named Graeme, who also played for West Ham United. Graeme is now a football coach.

Career Statistics

Club

Source:

International

Source:

Managerial Statistics

Honours

As a player

West Ham United U18

• FA Youth Cup: 1998–99

West Ham United

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
• FA Cup: 2015–16
• Football League/EFL Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17
• FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016
• UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
• UEFA Europa League: 2016–17
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 2003–04 First Division, 2012–13 Premier League
• Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2012–13

As a manager

Individual

• EFL Championship Manager of the Month: March 2023

See also

In Spanish: Michael Carrick para niños