This summer, Michael Carrick retired after 12 years of loyal service to Manchester United and it’s not hard to imagine the negative void his departure leaves on the club. Carrick is not completely leaving the club of course and will instead move to the back room to become a trusted member of Jose Mourinho’s backroom staff.
Though he is not ready to be assistant manager, retaining hold of Carrick’s knowledge and experience is undoubtedly a masterstroke by the Portuguese manager, even if some of his other decisions as United boss have been questionable.
United may have gained Carrick as a valuable coach/staff member but they are going to miss him on the pitch. Admittedly in the last couple of years as the legs tired and his appearances became less frequent, his influence on the playing side of things waned but there can be no doubting his commitment to the club and the huge impact he has made in the last 12 years.
When United signed Carrick from Tottenham in 2006, few fans were enthused. Rather like Darren Fletcher and other unsung heroes, it took time for Carrick’s influence and more subtle qualities to be appreciated.
Of course part of the reason that United fans were not initially enthusiastic about Carrick was because he was compared unfavourably with his predecessor Roy Keane. However, that was never a wise comparison.
Whereas Keane was more of a snarling, aggressive midfield general, Carrick was a lot less vocal, but equally effective, his qualities were just a lot more understated.
Carrick also suffered from comparisons with Paul Scholes, amid claims that he could not play without Scholes and needed to play alongside him to exert any influence on the game. Again though this was untrue and one only need look at arguably Carrick’s best season for United, 2012-13 as proof of that.
By then Scholes rarely figured in the starting line up and Carrick blossomed to be able to play in his own right, rather than in the shadow of his midfield compatriot.
At his best, Carrick could always unlock a defence in a split-second and was an excellent passer and reader of the ball and could create something out of nothing. Particularly in his early years with the club, he also scored a useful number of goals, often from long-range but his creativity was his most defining attribute. Even in his final ever game for United, it was his long range ball which led to the only goal of the game against Watford.
Looking at United’s line up at the moment, there is a significant lack of creativity from midfield (at least until Pogba is finally allowed to be set free by Mourinho) and the team badly needs a Michael Carrick in his prime. If only he were 10 years younger.
It’s hard to believe that Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United only five years ago as so much has happened at the club since then. Three managers, a whole bunch of expensive signings that have failed to impress and a handful of minor trophies won but still no Premier League title.
Of course, many players who played under Ferguson have left since his retirement. The quartet of Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra and Ryan Giggs left in 2014 and others have gradually left ever since, the most notable departure being Wayne Rooney last summer.
In fact, there are only 7 players left at United who featured under Ferguson: Lingard, Pogba, De Gea, Smalling, Valencia, Young and Jones. That number will dwindle over the coming years particularly as Valencia and Young are 33.
Carrick’s departure further cements the fact that the Ferguson era is over and will never return which saddens the hearts of many United fans. It is in a way, like fondly remembering the carefree years of your childhood.
Carrick was such a prominent fixture under Ferguson that he will be sorely missed by United fans who eventually came to appreciate his more subtle gifts.
Carrick’s link to the club’s glorious recent past is another reason to mourn his departure but the main reason United fans will miss him is because of his creativity, passion and ultimately loyalty to the United cause.