A look back at the decorated career of Michael Carrick…
It was 2006 and Roy Keane had just left Manchester United. The club had not won the league title for three years and losing their captain had led everyone to believe that Ferguson’s team was on the decline. That summer, Sir Alex signed a 25-year-old Michael Carrick from Tottenham Hotspur to replace the departing Irishman. With many questioning Fergie’s decision, Carrick was given Keane’s number 16 shirt and was tipped to fill the void left behind by the former United captain. Despite these lofty expectations, few expected what was to come.
With Sir Alex building a young team to challenge for major honours, Carrick was given the duties of a defensive-minded midfielder, partnering Scholes as the ageing maestro was past his physical peak. Gradually, Carrick settled into the role of a deep-lying playmaker – and that’s arguably where he flourished the most.
At the time, the deep-lying midfielder had become a mainstay in European football, with Pirlo and Busquets pioneering their own variations of the role. Carrick, on the other hand, defined it in his own way. His priority was always to get the ball forward quickly, and he was a fundamental part of United’s success – helping them win three Premier League titles in a row and a Champions League in 2008.
Michael Carrick has had quite the career at Man United. 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/5z52dnoeKS
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 12, 2018
Despite winning it all at club level, Carrick never seemed to cross the mind of the English national coaches. In hindsight, he was largely under-used as he managed just 34 caps for his country. That era was often described as the ‘Golden Age’ of English football, with players like Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, and Rooney coming to fore – but Carrick was quite possibly the key to unlocking their combined potential. Alas, that will always remain a mystery.
Carrick, now the club-captain of Manchester United, will be playing his last game against Watford. In doing so, he will exit the game as an absolute legend – with very few superlatives worthy of his greatness. The outright best passer I have seen in the English game, Michael Carrick is one-of-a-kind. As Manchester United continue to languish behind Manchester City, they unquestionably require another Carrick to restore parity with their city rivals and mount a serious title challenge. He was quite possibly the last of a dying breed, and certainly the kind of player you miss when they’re no longer playing.
The age-old cliche, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”, undeniably fits the Michael Carrick narrative. Now that the Englishman is taking over as the assistant to Jose Mourinho, his footballing brain will undoubtedly prove useful – and all odds will be on him making an excellent coach. Fans have seen glimpses of his coaching ability this season, as he was revealed to be the mastermind behind United’s comeback from two goals down against City. Also, Paul Pogba has consistently credited Carrick for his resurgent form. His tactical ability continues to show promise, and if the man can attain half the success he did as a player, he’ll have done remarkably well.