Thank You, Michael Carrick!
It was in 1993 that players were first assigned designated kit numbers in the Premier League. Manchester United assigned their No.16 to the young midfielder they signed from Nottingham Forest for a British transfer record fee. Over the next 12+ years, that young lad moved from exciting prospect to legend, a captain unrivaled. To this day, the Old Trafford faithful sing, “There’s Only One Keano”!
After Keano’s departure, the void in United midfield was evident. They needed a partner for Paul Scholes. Sir Alex Ferguson looked towards an Englishman, who was pivotal to Martin Jol’s Spurs almost securing a Top Four spot. After a lengthy negotiation with Daniel Levy, the transfer was secured on the lad’s 25th birthday.
Michael Carrick was signed to fill in the position that Keano had commanded for so long, but was also given his kit number, 16. United hadn’t won the league in 3 years, and a certain Jose Mourinho had built the English team to beat. A lot was expected from him and the team, which had a pretty good attack, but not the midfield or defence to contend with. Most players would have folded under the circumstances. But, not this guy.
In his first season, United won the League, and the brilliance of Kaka and Seedorf was needed to stop them in Europe. The partnership of Rooney and Ronaldo captured the headlines, sometimes shared with strong performances from a new CB pairing of Ferdinand and Vidic, with the old guard of Giggs, Scholes and Solskjaer all contributing.
But quietly, the midfield partnership of Carrick and Scholes had rebuilt the spine of that team! A team that would win the League and the Champions League the next season, a feat that they nearly repeated the very next year. Two years down the line, United were at it again.
Through all of this, others continued to take all the plaudits. The brilliant defence, the awesome attack, Giggs, Scholes, Van Der Saar, everyone of them. Carrick continued to work in the background. There were few moments of flamboyance, like those awesome twin goals against Roma in a 7–1 demolition. But, more often, it was him going about doing his job. Filling in at right back or in central defence, whenever called for. He put his hand up for taking a critical penalty in the Champions League final. While the Old Trafford faithful saw the value that this guy offered, few outside did. A sentiment echoed by his longtime teammate, Rooney. And then, few more did.
It was when Scholes retired, that the true void in the midfield felt. The maestro returned and served for another year and half. Carrick’s age was catching up too. But, in the next four years, under Moyes, van Gaal and Mourinho, his true value was realised. United were a far better team when he was in the XI, reflected in the points gap in an LVG season. Here was a guy who was so good that he made the people around him play to their best potential.
He wasn’t a hard tackling midfield destroyer. High energy box to box running wasn’t his style either. He possessed an extraordinary reading of the game, and combined that with great sense of position to always be at the right place, be it in intercepting passes, blocking spaces, receiving a pass. Added to that, his vision, passing and crossing meant he could not only intercept opposition, but initiate attacks too. So often did he rip open opposition defences with a through ball, or that perfect cross onto the head of a forward.
But, his biggest asset, something he developed in his partnership with Scholes, was his ability to control the pace of the game. Make the ball move faster when the team needed it, or slow it down as was needed. Control the pace of the game, and one can dictate the game.
Over the years, the quiet unassuming man had won the respect of the Old Trafford faithful, but also of the rival players, and their fans too.
The next player donning the United №16 jersey will be inheriting a great legacy, of not just one but two legends, for Michael Carrick is a United Legend!
Thanks Michael, for all the great memories!
Thanks Michael, for giving it all for the club!
Thanks Michael, for putting the team and the teammates ahead of yourself, every single time!
