Seven Men Quoted On Michael Carrick

A host of famous figures from the world of football have praised Michael Carrick as the long-serving Manchester United star prepares for his testimonial match at Old Trafford.

The game, which kicks off at 14:30 BST today, will have United's team of 2008 taking on Carrick's All-Star XI at the Theatre of Dreams, with all monies raised after expenses going to the midfielder's chosen charities.
Here, to mark the big day, we've compiled messages for Michael from seven men who know him very well...

RYAN GIGGS
"Playing both with Michael and against him, you realise what a great player he is. For me personally, moving into midfield as I did and playing so many times alongside Michael, he just made it so easy for me. You would give him the ball and could trust him with it, he’d always make the right pass and he had that calming influence both on and off the pitch. He’s looked after himself too; we both did yoga together, he’s a great professional. I think ever since Michael joined the club, United have been winning trophies – he’s been a special player and fully deserves his testimonial."

PAUL SCHOLES
"I remember Michael coming in and taking over the number 16 shirt from Roy Keane, one of the Premier League's best-ever midfielders. He had big boots to fill, but I think he’s proven that he’s more than worthy of the shirt. I loved playing with him, at least when I was young enough to still be able to run around a little bit! I always felt comfortable and safe next to him, and he probably didn’t get the credit he deserved at the time, but he’s starting to get that now. When Michael plays, United usually win, and I like that there’s nothing flashy about him. He never broke a sweat, either! He was like a Rolls Royce, just cruising around the football pitch. Sunday is going to be a special day for him, and it’s one he deserves."

DARREN FLETCHER
"Michael is someone who was respected by everyone during my time at the club. From top to bottom, he was popular with everyone in the dressing room - the older, more experienced lads and the younger players too. Everyone got on with him. He’s everything a Manchester United player should be. We seemed to have a mutual understanding on the pitch, we dovetailed fantastically and it was so easy to play with him. We won so much together, but it’s amazing how we always talk about the ones we didn’t win! I think that speaks volumes for the feeling and the mentality we all had at United."

ASHLEY YOUNG
"Carras makes the game look easy. His passing range, his communication and his leadership – he’s fantastic. He helps people on and off the pitch and he’s still got that hunger and desire, that winning mentality. He’s the pass master, and how he’s not a mainstay of the England side, I’ll never know!"

SIR ALEX FERGUSON
"One of the things that stuck out to me when we were profiling him and preparing to make a bid was that as a young boy, 16 years of age, he left home to play for West Ham. That tells you that the boy had the confidence that he was going to make it. A 16-year-old kid from Newcastle going to East London, that’s a trek, and it impressed me. From the minute we bought Michael in 2006, his character has always been outstanding. He’s a football man and that character, coupled with his ability, made him a certainty to be a big success at United."

HARRY REDKNAPP
"When I signed him for West Ham he was only small; he suddenly went from being five-foot-five to six-foot-two, you know! I loaned him out to Swindon, and I remember getting a call one night from John Francome - the champion jockey who was a big Swindon fan – and he said, 'Harry, Michael Carrick is the best player I’ve seen in years. This Carrick you’ve loaned out is the nearest thing I’ve seen to Glenn Hoddle.'"

GRAEME CARRICK (MICHAEL'S BROTHER)
"Football was everything for us growing up, really, and my earliest memories are of kicking a ball around with Michael and his mates in the garden. Wherever we went, we always ended up playing football, and that meant our garden was probably the scruffiest on the estate! I remember watching the 1990 World Cup with Michael, he used to wear his Paul Gascoigne shirt all the time – with Gazza also being a Geordie, it was a magical time for us. We played until we couldn’t see the ball anymore; we had some great memories and they all revolved around football. It was Michael’s dream to be a footballer, and it was clear even then that he was the best player."

More comments about Michael appear in the official programme for the match on Sunday 4 June. For further details, including ticket information, visit www.manutd.com/carricktestimonial.

Credit: Manutd.com