Carrick hangs up his boots having won every club trophy possible over an illustrious career which has seen him play for West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester United.

 

Yet the 36-year-old appears to be a player who will ultimately be better remembered by those within the game than the wider British audience.

 

The fact that he has been operating at the top level for so long speaks volumes of his importance to team-mates and managers.

 

Age, and a minor heart complaint which needed surgery to rectify earlier this season, has finally brought forward retirement – although Carrick is likely to join Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff over the summer.

 

Carrick said: “There comes a time when, as much as you like or don’t like it, your body tells you it’s time to stop playing football. That’s pretty much where I’m at, which is fine. It’s something you have to accept. That’s where I’m at.

 

“Obviously, I had the problem in the Burton game, when it started during the second half, and then had a few tests after that.

 

“The same problem came back on the Sunday of that week in training, so then I had the procedure the following week, which I went through and now it’s totally fine and I’m clear.

 

“It took a little bit of time to get over but there were some times when, for two or three days, I was thinking ‘am I going to carry on playing or not?’ or ‘is it kind of worth it or not?’ but that quickly passed.

 

“I got back fit and I wanted to finish on my own terms really. At least I could decide and not be forced because of that, so I was determined to get back fit.

 

“I understood after getting back fit that I wouldn’t be playing as many games as perhaps I might have done, but that’s something that I understood.”

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Michael Carrick’s retirement at the end of this season brings to an end a career that for many has not received the recognition it deserved.

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Club Honours

 

Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13

FA Cup: 2015–16

Football League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17

Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016

UEFA Champions League: 2007–08

UEFA Europa League: 2016–17

FIFA Club World Cup: 2008