Scott Carson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Scott Carson

Carson in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Scott Paul Carson
Date of birth	(1985-09-03) 3 September 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Whitehaven, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
2000–2001	Cleator Moor Celtic
2001–2002	Workington
2002–2003	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2005	Leeds United	3	(0)
2005–2008	Liverpool	4	(0)
2006	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	9	(0)
2006–2007	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	36	(0)
2007–2008	→ Aston Villa (loan)	35	(0)
2008–2011	West Bromwich Albion	110	(0)
2011–2013	Bursaspor	63	(0)
2013–2015	Wigan Athletic	50	(0)
2015–2021	Derby County	158	(0)
2019–2021	→ Manchester City (loan)	1	(0)
2021–2025	Manchester City	0	(0)
International career
2003	England U18	2	(0)
2004–2007	England U21	29	(0)
2006–2007	England B	2	(0)
2006–2011	England	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 March 2023 (UTC)

Scott Paul Carson (born 3 September 1985) is an English footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper. He most recently played for Premier League club Manchester City.

Carson joined the Leeds United academy in 2002. He made his first team debut for Leeds in February 2004. In January 2005, he moved to Liverpool. He was called up for the England senior team later that year. He played nine games for Liverpool. This included a UEFA Champions League quarter-final win in April 2005. He then went on loan to gain experience. He played for Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, and Aston Villa.

After returning to Liverpool, he joined West Bromwich Albion in July 2008. In 2011, he moved to Bursaspor in Turkey. After two years, he returned to England with Wigan Athletic. In 2015, he signed for Derby County. Carson joined Manchester City on loan in August 2019. He provided backup for other goalkeepers. He signed permanently for Manchester City in 2021.

Carson first played for the England under-21 team in February 2004. He set a record of 29 caps for the under-21 team. After the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Carson made his full debut for the England senior team. This was against Austria in November 2007.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Leeds United

Carson was born in Whitehaven, England. He grew up in Cleator Moor. He was a good rugby league player as a child. But he chose to focus on football. He played in goal for his school team from age 11 or 12. He quickly moved up through the youth teams. He played for the men's team at Cleator Moor Celtic when he was 15.

He joined the Leeds United academy in July 2002. He had impressed a former Leeds player. He spent less than a year in the academy. He then made his first-team debut in January 2004. He came on as a substitute after another player was sent off. Two weeks later, he started his first full game. This was against Manchester United. He made one more appearance in the 2003–04 season. In January 2005, he left Leeds to join Liverpool.

Time at Liverpool

Carson joined Liverpool on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He was meant to compete for a starting spot. He made his first team debut for Liverpool in March 2005. He played three games in April. This included a UEFA Champions League quarter-final win against Juventus. He was a substitute when Liverpool won the 2005 UEFA Champions League final. He was also a substitute for the 2005 UEFA Super Cup.

Loan to Sheffield Wednesday

Carson played only four games for Liverpool in the 2005–06 season. These were all in cup games. In March 2006, he moved to Sheffield Wednesday on loan. Wednesday needed a goalkeeper. Carson wanted more first team experience. He kept five clean sheets in nine games for Wednesday. This helped the club avoid being moved down a league. He returned to Liverpool at the end of the season. In July 2006, he extended his contract with Liverpool until 2011.

Loan to Charlton Athletic

In August 2006, Carson joined Charlton Athletic on loan. This was for the 2006–07 season. Carson explained that Liverpool wanted him to get experience. He hoped to challenge for the number one spot later. He played in 36 of 38 Premier League games. He missed only the two games against Liverpool. This was because of his loan agreement. Charlton was moved down a league that season. But Carson's great play led him to be named Charlton Athletic Player of the Year. He was the first loan player to win this award.

Loan to Aston Villa

Carson training with Aston Villa in 2007

Carson returned to Liverpool after the season. In June 2007, Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said Carson would be in the first team. But Carson remained the second-choice goalkeeper. Liverpool also signed another goalkeeper. So, Carson was loaned out again. This time he went to Aston Villa. The manager at Aston Villa preferred Carson. Carson played in almost all of Villa's league games. He kept 11 clean sheets during the 2007–08 season. He received his first red card in a game against Manchester United.

Playing for West Bromwich Albion

Carson returned to Liverpool after the 2007–08 season. But in July 2008, he joined West Bromwich Albion. He signed a four-year contract. Carson had played for five different clubs since 2004. He wanted to settle down at one club. He said he could see himself there for many years. He made his debut in a loss to Arsenal. This was the first game of the 2008–09 Premier League season.

Even though West Bromwich Albion was moved down to the Championship, Carson kept his starting spot. He was given the captaincy after the previous captain left. West Bromwich Albion was promoted back to the Premier League. They finished second in the Championship. Carson kept 15 clean sheets in 43 games. He played regularly for the club. But in the 2010–11 season, his performance seemed to drop. He was briefly put on the bench. But he quickly got his spot back.

Moving to Bursaspor in Turkey

On 1 July 2011, Carson moved to the Turkish club Bursaspor. He played in every game in his first season. He let in 35 goals in 34 games. This was the fifth-lowest in the league. The club finished eighth. He also received a runner-up medal for the 2011–12 Turkish Cup.

In his second season in Turkey, he played 29 league games. He let in 33 goals. This helped his team have the sixth-fewest goals against them. Bursaspor finished fourth. They qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.

Back in England with Wigan Athletic

Carson joined Wigan Athletic on 4 July 2013. He signed a three-year deal.

Time at Derby County

After Wigan was moved down a league, Carson signed with Derby County. This was a Championship club. He signed a two-year deal. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Carson was named Derby's Player of the Year.

Joining Manchester City

Carson signed for Manchester City on 8 August 2019. This was a loan for the 2019–20 season. He was the third-choice goalkeeper. He extended his loan for the 2020–21 season. On 14 May 2021, he played his first Premier League game in almost ten years. This was a 4–3 away win against Newcastle United. During the game, Carson saved a penalty.

On 14 June 2021, it was announced he would leave Derby. He then joined Manchester City permanently. On 9 March 2022, he played his first European game in 17 years. This was in the UEFA Champions League against Sporting CP. Carson came off the bench. He helped keep a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. City moved on to the next stage.

Carson extended his stay with City for a fourth season. He signed a new one-year contract on 14 June 2022. He was a substitute when City won the 2023 UEFA Champions League final. This was against Inter Milan. The game was played at the same stadium where he won the 2005 UEFA Champions League final with Liverpool. He equaled a record for the longest gap between European Cup titles (18 years). This record is shared with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.

On 16 June 2023, Carson signed another one-year contract extension. This kept him at the club until the end of the 2023–24 season. On 23 May 2024, he signed a further one-year extension. This kept him at the club until the end of the 2024–25 season. On 9 June 2025, Manchester City announced that Carson would leave the club. His contract ended at the end of that month.

Playing for England

Carson was first called up to the England under-21 squad in October 2003. This was a month after his 18th birthday. He made his under-21 debut in February 2004. England won 3–2 against the Netherlands. He was chosen for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In a game against Serbia, he earned his 28th under-21 cap. This broke the record held by Gareth Barry and Jamie Carragher. His 29th and final cap was against the Netherlands in the semi-final. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. In the penalty shoot-out, he saved one penalty and scored one himself. But England lost. James Milner has since broken Carson's record for most under-21 caps.

In May 2005, Carson was called up to the England senior team squad. This was for a tour of the United States. A year later, he played as a substitute in an England B game. This was against Belarus. An injury to another player meant Carson was added to the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He did not play in any games. Carson continued to be selected for the England senior team. In May 2007, he played his second game for the England B team.

He made his full England debut in a friendly against Austria in November 2007. He kept a clean sheet. A week later, he made his first competitive debut. This was in a very important game against Croatia. England lost 3–2. This meant they did not qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. Carson was blamed for the first goal. The England coach was fired the next day.

New manager Fabio Capello included Carson in his first England squad. This was for a friendly game in February 2008. But Carson did not make the final squad for the next game due to injury. After not being picked for five more international games, Carson was called back up in October 2008. This was for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He earned his third England cap in November 2008. This was in a friendly against Germany. He came on for the second half. He became the first West Bromwich Albion player to play for England in 24 years. He earned his fourth cap in November 2011. He became the first Bursaspor player to play for England.

Career Statistics

International Appearances

Awards and Achievements

Liverpool

• UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
• UEFA Super Cup: 2005
• Football League Cup runner-up: 2004–05

Bursaspor

• Turkish Cup runner-up: 2011–12

Manchester City

• FA Community Shield: 2024
• UEFA Champions League: 2022–23; runner-up: 2020–21
• UEFA Super Cup: 2023
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
• FA Cup runner-up: 2023–24

Individual Awards

• Charlton Athletic Player of the Year: 2006–07
• Derby County Player of the Year: 2016–17
• EFL Championship Player of the Month: December 2017

See also

In Spanish: Scott Carson para niños