Michael Carrick Bio Send To Friend  

A great squad player to have, Carrick has accepted his lot as a backup to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Having made his international debut in 2005, he has failed to make the impression he would have wanted but is a reliable, experienced player for Fabio Capello to call upon.

Beginning his career in the West Ham youth academy, he won the FA Youth Cup in 1999, before he moved to Tottenham in 2005. He impressed under the guidance of then-manager Martin Jol and established himself as a quality passer of the ball and was snapped up for £18.6 million by Manchester United after the World Cup in 2006.

His strong sense of positioning made him an important player for the Red Devils and he won three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, but is not guaranteed a first-team spot despite his lofty price tag.

Strengths: A great distributor of the ball, Carrick can play either as a holding midfielder or further forward. He boasts a powerful shot and is adept at playing with either foot.

Weaknesses: Guilty of fluctuations in his form, he is not guaranteed a starting place for his club, let alone his country. Has also suffered from injuries.

Career high: A Man of the Match performance in the 2-1 win over Germany in November 2008 put him back in the international spotlight, after doing the European double with Man Utd.

Career low: Missing out on a top four spot with Tottenham in 2006 after losing 2-1 to West Ham on the final day of the season following a bout of food poisoning that affected ten players.

Style: Inventive, versatile, two-footed, an unspectacular but important player.

Quotes: "Michael's biggest quality is to move play from defence to attack and win the ball. Because of him, other players play better.'' Former Spurs boss Martin Jol, February 2007.

Trivia: Drove former United legend Mark Hughes out of his £6 million mansion after he won planning permission to demolish and rebuild the house opposite.

Soccernet says: He won't start unless the first-choice midfielders are injured or suspended, but he remains an experienced and capable backup.