Michael Carrick was not at White Hart Lane for very long, but his contributions while in North London earned him a reputation as one of the nation's brightest young talents, a £16.5 million Old Trafford move to replace Roy Keane, and a plane ticket for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It's fair to say that Spurs were well-rewarded with their decision to shell out £3.5 million on the 22 year old West Ham midfielder in 2004. However, it must be stated that it didn't start so well for Carrick in North London, and indeed he might have questioned whether he had made too hasty a decision in moving across the capital following the Hammers' failure to gain promotion. The name 'Jacques Santini' is held in the same regard as that of Juande Ramos around White Hart Lane, in that it will serve as nothing more than a cringe-worthy reminder of a bleak past. Fresh from failing at Euro 2004 with France, the former Lyon manager went about wreaking havoc at White Hart Lane as well, immediately alienating the new boy. With speculation that Carrick had strictly been a signing at the behest of Director of Football Frank Arnesen as opposed to the Frenchman, the up-and-coming Geordie was consistently overlooked as the White Hart Lane outfit floundered during the opening weeks of the season. Santini resigned after 13 games, citing ' broken club agreements', fuelling speculation of a rift between him and Arnesen over transfer targets. Capping a miserable year for the Frenchman, it was to be Carrick who would reap the rewards from his ousting, with the in-coming Martin Jol granting him a new lease of life with a regular starting berth in midfield. The rest, as they say, is history.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
