Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick Stats
-Full Name: Michael Carrick
-Birthplace: Wallsend, England
-Date of Birth: 28/07/1981
-Height: 190cm (6ft 2.5ins)
-Weight: 164lbs (12st 10lbs)
-Position: Midfield
-Squad Number: 16

International Football
England (2001 -)

Introduction
Michael Carrick seems to have been around for years. After making his debut for West Ham United as a waif like 18 year old, he has known grown into one of the best passing midfileders in the country, with his long range searching balls surpassed by few.

Although his passing is viewed by many as being second to none his goal scoring record could be improved upon and is sometimes guilty of being caught in possession in highly charged and fast paced games, but this can probably be attibuted to his tall stature, which makes it a little bit more difficult to get the ball under control than players with lower centres of gravity like Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez.

All in all Michael Carrick looks more and more like a Manchester United player everytime he pulls on the famous red jersey and his partnership with Paul Scholes in United's engine room is flourishing all the time.

West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur
Michael Carrick - like fellow red Rio Ferdinand - started is footballing career playing as a striker for the famous Wallsend Boys' Club before he switched to his more recognised position as Central Midfield when he was signed up by West Ham United courtesy of The Hammers North-East scouts Dave Mooney and Bill Gibbs in 1997.

After Carrick was groomed for future stardom in the Upton Park outfit's superb academy he eventually made his debut on 28 August 1999 as a substitute when he replaced Rio Ferdinand in the 3-0 Premier League victory over Bradford at Valley Parade.

After a slow start to his career at West Ham United and a couple of loan spells at Swindon Town and Birmingham City Carrick began to establish himself as a regular first team player and in the 2000-01 season his exploits were not going un-noticed by larger clubs, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and the PFA who nominated him for their Young Player of the Year accoladed - Michael Carrick would eventually lose out to Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

Although being courted by larger clubs the player remained at West Ham United and was handed his first England cap by Eriksson on 25 May 2001 in the 4-0 friendly victory over Mexico at Pride Park, Derby where, ironically he replaced Steven Gerrard as a half-time substitute. Amazingly Carrick would have to wait four years to make his full senior England debut, doing so in the 2-1 victory of the U.S.A. in Chicago.

The 2002-03 season was one defintaley to forget for the player as he and his West Ham United team were relegated from the Premier League after Carrick spent most of the season on the sidelines through injury.

Instead of jumping the sinking ship like other West Ham United players Carrick stayed in order to help the club regain Premier League status once more, but when the club were defeated by Crystal Palace in the 2003-04 Play-off final, the player realised that for the sake of his career he had move on, and was quickly snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £2.75m.

After an ankle injury had plagued the start to his career at White Hart Lane, he eventually made his debut on 18 October 2004 coming off the bench in a 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Although he didn't pick up any trophies whilst in North London his time there was fruitful, with his superb return to form leading him back into the England fold and encouraging Sir Alex Ferguson to splash out in excess of £15m to acquire his services.

Manchester United Career
On 31 July 2006 Michael Carrick signed for Manchester United and was given the unenviable task of filling the number 16 shirt vacated by Roy Keane, after he had left the club to join Celtic on 15 December 2005.

Again, as with his Tottenham career his Manchester United debut was delayed due to a niggling ankle injury. He made his much awaited debut from the bench on 23 August 2006 in the 3-0 away victory over Charlton Athletic. His first goal for the club came four months later when scored United's second in the 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on 13 January 2007.

In his first season Carrick was an ever present figure in the Red Devils' team and was seen as a key component of that succesful Premier League winning team. In fact it seems that the player is a lucky charm as in his first two seasons he helped United win two League Ttiles and the Uefa Champions League, scoring crucial penalty in United's 6-5 shoot-out defeat of Chelsea.

Michael Carrick Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup:2010