Son of Vince and Lynn Carrick, the Manchester United midfielder was introduced to competitive football at the age of 5 when he played 5-a-side for Wallsend Boys Club on Saturday nights.  Educated at Burnside Community High School, he continued to play for the Wallsend Boys Club up to U16 level and eventually made his way onto the books at West Ham United, entering their Youth Academy in 1998.

Carrick came on for the senior team for the first time when he substituted for Rio Ferdinand in a match against Bradford City in August 1999.  Carrick continued to show potential and spent two loan periods with Swindon Town and Birmingham City, and when West Ham were relegated at the end of the 2002 - 2003 season, Carrick initially stayed on.

Carrick eventually left the Hammers and joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £2.75 million deal at the start of the 2004 season, a move which took him back into the Premier League, and after several good performances he caught the attention of Manchester United who put in a bid to get him.

Carrick’s first appearance for the England senior team was in Mexico on 25 May 2001 when he came on as a substitute.  His second appearance for the team was also a substitution, and it wasn’t until May 2005 in the USA that Carrick started a match for his side.  He was thereafter named as part of the England team in the 2006 World Cup and last played at this level against Egypt on 3 March 2010