30 June 2006
VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick has been the latest player to talk to TheFA.com about how he got into football.
Michael Carrick completed his high-profile move to Old Trafford today, reportedly becoming the third most expensive English midfielder behind Shaun Wright-Phillips and David Beckham.

No doubt there are many young players who have watched Michael in recent seasons, at West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur and also with England at the World Cup, who will be wondering how he made his way in football.

We spoke to Michael exclusively before the World Cup to find out just how he started life in the footballing world, and what advice he would give to aspiring young players who seek to follow his footsteps - and Michael also revealed that he started out as striker!

Michael revealed that his father was instrumental in helping him take the initial steps into football at an early age.

He said: "My Dad was heavily involved in a volunteering capacity at Wallsend Boys Club, so I actually started playing a bit of five-a-side when I was about five years old on Saturday nights."

Michael also made it clear that sometimes you have to look for your chance to play at a higher level, as that chance will not always present itself easily.

"My school wasn’t that big into sport, but when I was about 12, I got selected for the district. I didn’t know too much about those opportunities, but I played at that level really until I left school," Michael told us.

"At that stage I played as a centre forward and it wasn’t until I joined West Ham that I began to play more consistently in midfield. At that time I always seemed to score a lot of goals, but they’ve dried up a bit lately!" 

His advice to kids eager to reach the highest level in football is simple,  Michael insists: "Always enjoy it. If you do something you enjoy, you tend to always give your best and put the hours in to be the best you can be."

If you would like to find more about how to ‘Get into Football’ click here.