Soccer

On this day in 2006: Michael Carrick joins Manchester United from Tottenham

Michael Carrick signed for Manchester United on July 31, 2006 (pictured during a photo call at Carrington two days later) (Peter Byrne/PA)
Michael Carrick signed for Manchester United on July 31, 2006 (pictured during a photo call at Carrington two days later) (Peter Byrne/PA)

Michael Carrick signed for Manchester United from Tottenham on this day in 2006.

United paid an initial £14million – rising to a potential £18.6m – for the then 25-year-old England midfielder, who went on to spend the rest of his playing career with the Red Devils.

He made 464 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, two League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup before retiring in 2018.

Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick won five Premier League titles as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson (Martin Rickett/PA)

He arrived at United a year after the departure of Roy Keane and inherited the Irishman’s old number 16 shirt.

The deal, which made Carrick the sixth most expensive player in United’s history, came to fruition after protracted negotiations with Spurs, who held out for a price close to their £20m valuation.

“Michael has completed his medical today,” United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. “He has settled down fine.

“I spoke to him today. I said to him, ‘I’m giving you the number 16 jersey’ so he was delighted at that.”

Michael Carrick
Carrick joined United from Tottenham in 2006 (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Spurs had hoped to keep Carrick but the fee ensured they made a handsome profit on a player they signed for £2.75m from West Ham two years previously.

“This is a move Michael wants to make,” Spurs boss Martin Jol said. “We have given him every reason to stay but he has asked to be allowed to leave.”

Carrick joined the United coaching staff under then manager Jose Mourinho after hanging up his boots at the end of the 2017-18 campaign. He continued under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had a brief spell as caretaker manager after the Norwegian was sacked in November 2021.

He left the club after the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager in December of that year, and was appointed Middlesbrough head coach last year, leading the club to the Championship play-offs in May.