Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is a midfielder of Manchester United. He was born on 28 July 1981 in Wallsend, England.

Michael’s youth career began in 1986, when he joined the Wallsend Boys Club academy at the age of five. During 11 years Carrick successfully trained and played for the youth team where he made a lot of starts. Michael’s progress could not leave the Premier League clubs indifferent. West Ham invited the young midfielder to its academy so that he could join the first team as soon as possible. Michael Carrick accepted the offer, moved to the club youth system in 1997 and trained there for a year.

In 1998 Michael began his professional career signing a contract with West Ham United. During the first season, the head coach periodically let the Carrick make starts, but he did not give the player the opportunity to become a regular. By 2004, when Michael left his first professional club, he had already made 136 appearances and scored six goals. When in West Ham, Carrick was twice sent on loan: to Swindon Town (1999) and to Birmingham City (2000).

In 2004 the midfielder was offered to sign for Tottenham that wanted to see Michael a regular of the first team. Carrick was glad to make some changes in his life and transferred to the Spurs in the summer of 2004. During two seasons from 2004 till 2006, Michael played 64 games for Tottenham and netted two goals. In 2006 Carrick made his last (as of today) move to Manchester United. Every player who joins a top club feels it is the stage of career, when he can say that all past efforts were not fruitless. Michael signed a long-term contract with the club, which paid £14 million for the midfielder. From 2006 Carrick has been a regular of the ‘Red Devils’ and has made over 300 appearances.

From 2000 till 2003, Carrick played 18 games and contributed two goals for the England national U-18 and U-21 teams. From 2001 he has been capped for the Three Lions.