UNITED Carrick to hang up his boots to become coach

MICHAEL Carrick has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season and has revealed a role on United’s coaching staff ‘has kind of been sorted out.’

The 36-year-old, who is entering the final months of his contract, suffered a health scare during United’s Carabao Cup win against Burton in September.

Carrick underwent a procedure for an irregular heart rhythm two months later and returned to action in the 4-0 win against Yeovil in January, and has made two further appearances since, against Huddersfield.

And when asked if he would be hanging up his boots at the end of the season, Carrick confirmed that would be the case.

“Yeah. It’s pretty much been said already, to be honest with you,” he said ahead of tonight’s Champions League match with Sevilla.

“There comes a time when as much as you don’t like it, your body tells you it’s time to stop playing football. That’s pretty much where I am, which is fine and something you’ve got to accept. That’s where I’m at.”

Carrick has made 463 appearances Newcastle and in 12 seasons at United, winning 18 trophies in the process, and he has been preparing for a career in coaching for some time now.

Jose Mourinho previously confirmed that ‘the chair is there in the office for him’ to join his coaching staff when he retires and while an exact role has yet to be finalised, Carrick is preparing for that eventuality.

“It has kind of been sorted out. We are still talking about it to be honest. There is nothing to confirm as yet but it’s looking likely,” he said.

Carrick was forced to have a procedure on his heart after suffering dizzy spells earlier in the season and, speaking in depth about the problem for the first time, he admitted at one point he wondered whether it would end his career there and then.

“I had the problem in the Burton game when it started during the secondhalf,” he said.

“Then I had a few tests after that and the second problem came on the Sunday of that week in training, so I had the procedure the following week, which I went through, which was totally fine and I’m clear,” he added.

“It took a little bit of time to get over. There were some times there – two or three days where I was thinking ‘am I going to carry on’? That quickly passed and I got back fit.

“I wanted to finish on my own terms and at least I could decide. I was determined to get back fit.”