Manchester United longest-serving midfielder, Michael Carrick has announced his intention to hang his boots at the end of the season and will take a coaching role at the club.
The English perfect ball-passer will hang up his boots in the summer after 12 years at Old Trafford and the Portuguese is pleased to welcome him into his staff.
United manager Jose Mourinho has hailed the contribution that Michael Carrick has made over the years to the club.
Carrick has been at the club for 12 years and Mourinho admits that it is a wretch to see him hang up his boots.
“I have to admit that one of the most difficult things in my 18 years as a manager is when a big player is leaving – it is always very sad,” he said.
“So this time we try to do it in a way where I am not sad. A big player is leaving but a big man is staying.
“There is a space for him and we will welcome him with open arms but, before that, we still want Michael to play and then the next day give his boots to his kids.”
Upon accepting his prize at the club’s annual prize giving ceremony, Carrick said: “I don’t know what to say after that. I said I wasn’t going to get emotional but that caught me out.
“To the fans, I’ve turned into one of you now – I support this club home and away. We’ve got a great spirit. We need to keep that and we need to stick together.”
