Roy Carroll

Roy Eric Carroll (born 30 September 1977) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who most recently played as a goalkeeper for NIFL Premiership side Linfield. He is best known for his spells at Wigan Athletic, Manchester United (where he won a Premier League winners medal and the 2004 FA Cup) and Olympiacos (where he won the Greek Superleague three times and the Greek Cup twice). He has also represented Northern Ireland 45 times at full international level, gaining his first cap in 1997, aged 19.

Roy Carroll
Carroll playing for Northern Ireland in 2012
Personal information
Full name Roy Eric Carroll[1]
Date of birth (1977-09-30) 30 September 1977
Place of birth Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Fivemiletown United
Ballinamallard United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Hull City 46 (0)
1997–2001 Wigan Athletic 138 (0)
2001–2005 Manchester United 46 (0)
2005–2007 West Ham United 31 (0)
2007–2008 Rangers 0 (0)
2008–2009 Derby County 30 (0)
2009–2011 Odense BK 46 (0)
2011–2012 OFI Crete 16 (0)
2012–2014 Olympiacos 19 (0)
2014–2016 Notts County 77 (0)
2016–2019 Linfield 78 (0)
National team‡
1998–1999 Northern Ireland U21 11 (0)
1997–2017 Northern Ireland 45 (0)
Teams managed
2011 Barnet (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06:41, 17 November 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:30, 5 June 2017 (UTC)

Carroll has also had a one-game managerial career, leading Barnet to a 2–1 victory in the 2011 Herts Senior Cup final against Stevenage. Therefore, Carroll holds the unusual honour of having won a trophy in his only game as a manager.[2]

Early career and personal life

Carroll was brought up in Tamlaght, County Fermanagh, and began his career with local sides Fivemiletown United and Ballinamallard United.

In November 2001, Carroll received a Red Cross Humanitarian Award for his kindness to a child with leukemia.[3][4] In November 2006, he entered rehabilitation for alcohol-related addiction.[5] 'Stress' was cited by the Carroll family.[6]

Club career

Hull City

Carroll joined Hull City in September 1995 as a trainee and went on to make 50 appearances for the club in all competitions[7] but he was sold two seasons later to pay off Hull's mounting debts.[4]

Wigan Athletic

Carroll signed for Wigan Athletic in April 1997 for a then club-record £350,000.[8] Despite this, he would have to wait seven months to make his first appearance in November 1997 when he replaced Lee Butler in a 2–1 defeat of Watford. He made 170 appearances in all competitions in four years.[7] He played a key role in Wigan's unbeaten run of 26 league games in 1999–2000 and was voted the best goalkeeper in the second division by his fellow professionals,[4] a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact he missed the last seven games of the season having had to undergo an emergency appendix operation.

Despite speculation of a move to a Premier League club, Carroll remained at Wigan for the 2000–01 season, during which he went on to keep 13 clean sheets in 34 first-team games to help his team reach the play-offs for a second consecutive season. In the play-off semi final second leg against Reading the aggregate score was 1-1 as the game entered the final minute. Reading were awarded a penalty which Carroll saved from Jamie Cureton, but Nicky Forster scored from the rebound to send Reading through.[9]

Manchester United

He was signed by defending Premier League champions Manchester United in July 2001 for an undisclosed fee believed to be £2.5 million.[10] He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on 26 August 2001.[11] Carroll faced stiff competition against Fabien Barthez at United but won a Premier League winners' medal in the 2002–03 season.[12][13] Carroll received yet more competition for the 2003–04 season, when Manchester United signed American goalkeeper Tim Howard after Barthez left to join Marseille. He won an FA Cup winners' medal in May 2004 when he came on as substitute for Howard in the 84th minute.[14] On 19 February 2005, in an FA Cup match against Everton, Carroll was struck on the back of the head by any of various projectiles including coins and mobile phones, in a match high on security for teammate and Everton returnee Wayne Rooney which Manchester United won 2–0.

Carroll gained his greatest infamy for the "goal that never was" against Tottenham Hotspur; a speculative shot from the half-way line by Pedro Mendes that Carroll dropped well behind his goal-line then scooped back into play.[15] The referee and his linesmen were unable to verify that the ball had gone over the line and the goal was not given.[16] Though Carroll got away with that particular gaffe, his error led to him being dropped for a few matches. He made a second blunder in a 1–0 defeat by Milan, where he spilled a shot into the path of Hernán Crespo, who then scored.[17] He was released by Manchester United on 27 May 2005 after his contract expired;[18] he refused to sign a new deal after the club failed to assure him that he would be first choice for the next season.

West Ham United

Three weeks after leaving Old Trafford, Carroll signed for West Ham.[19] Carroll enjoyed a successful start to his West Ham career, making 19 appearances. However, a back injury sustained in a game against Fulham on 23 January 2006 left him needing surgery,[20] and he was sidelined for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, including the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. Shaka Hislop was his replacement. He made just 17 appearances in the 2006–07 season, due to personal problems relating to alcohol and gambling[21] and the arrival of Robert Green. His final game for the Hammers took place on 3 February 2007 against Aston Villa.[22] On 25 May 2007, West Ham stated that he had been released after asking for a transfer to achieve regular first team football.[23]

Rangers

Carroll signed for Rangers on a one-year contract on 7 July 2007,[24] initially as cover for Allan McGregor but also to challenge for a starting place. He made his only appearance for Rangers against East Fife in a League Cup match on 26 September 2007.[25]

Derby County
Carroll playing for Derby County in 2008

On 9 January 2008, it was revealed that Carroll was in line for a move to Premier League side Derby County.[26] Carroll was allowed permission to talk with Derby and personal terms were agreed, but the deal hinged on Rangers signing a replacement goalkeeper. After over a week with little progress, Derby County called off the move,[27] but when Carroll offered to pay the loan fee so Rangers could sign Sunderland keeper Darren Ward, the deal was revived. Carroll hoped to join Derby on loan for the rest of the 2007–08 season but the move was again held up by Rangers as they refused to release his registration until they found another keeper. After Rangers signed Neil Alexander from Ipswich Town, Carroll was free to sign for Derby, and a deal was completed on deadline day.[28] He signed a three-year contract with the club on 21 January 2008,[29] and made his debut in a Premier League match against Birmingham City on 2 February 2008. Carroll could not help the club avoid relegation to the Championship after just one season.

Carroll started the 2008–09 season as the club's first choice goalkeeper, but after getting sent off in a 2–1 victory at Norwich City he lost his place and was restricted to making appearances in cup competitions. He was part of the Derby side that reached the 2008–09 Football League Cup semi-final, where they lost 4–3 on aggregate to his former side Manchester United. After Paul Jewell resigned in December 2008, he was replaced by Nigel Clough. Clough made it clear Carroll was not in his plans and, a week into the 2009–10 season, it was announced that Carroll's contract with The Rams would be cancelled to allow him to move to Danish side Odense BK.[30]

Odense Boldklub

Carroll signed a three-year contract with Danish Superliga side Odense BK on 17 August 2009. His debut was granted on the very same day and only hours after he had signed the deal, when he managed to keep a clean sheet in the 1–0 win against FC Midtjylland. Having played just 14 Superliga games, he was named 2009 Superliga Goalkeeper of the Year in December 2009, in a vote amongst the league goalkeepers.[31] In November 2010, Carroll announced his decision to leave Odense BK in order to return to Britain to be closer to his family.[32] The club soon signed Stefan Wessels as his replacement. Carroll's contract was mutually terminated on 31 January 2011[33] and he left Odense BK as a free agent, in search of a new club.

2011 trial spells

Carroll was on trial at Sheffield United in March 2011. However, he conceded two goals within ten minutes and was sent off, which led to a penalty during a reserve match against Barnsley. As a result of his poor performance whilst on trial, he was not offered a contract with the Blades.[34] Later that same month, Carroll joined League Two strugglers Barnet on a trial with a view to a role as player-coach. After the departure of Martin Allen as manager in April 2011, and with caretaker manager Giuliano Grazioli on a scouting mission, Carroll was appointed as manager for the Herts Senior Cup final against Stevenage, which Barnet won 2–1. Thus, Carroll won a trophy in his only game as a football manager. He reportedly left the club in protest in April 2011, as his former Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez was set to take a managerial role in the club.[35] In July 2011, Carroll joined Preston North End on trial and played in a 7–1 friendly victory at Kendal Town.[36] However, despite a deal for Preston to sign Carroll being close,[37] the club opted to sign Iain Turner instead.[38][39]

OFI Crete

In August 2011 Carroll signed a two-year contract with Greek Superleague side OFI Crete.[40] Despite struggling for fitness and form in pre-season,[41] Carroll appeared 16 times for the club, putting in some impressive performances, which made him highly regarded in Greece.[41] He was ranked third in shots saved statistics amid speculation that bigger clubs in Greece were interested in Carroll.[41]

Olympiacos

In January 2012 Carroll signed a contract with Greek Superleague champions Olympiacos for a reported transfer fee of €100K.[42] His first appearance was against Rubin Kazan in Moscow in the first match for the round of 32, in the Europa League, coming on as a late substitute after Balázs Megyeri conceded a penalty and was given a red card. Carroll saved the penalty with the first touch of his Olympiacos career and his team went on to win 0–1.[43] In the return leg, Carroll put in a performance considered legendary by the fans, after producing a string of saves in whilst carrying a visible hamstring injury.[44]

Carroll became the first choice goalkeeper at the club in 2012–13 and featured in his first Champions League game since February 2005, when he played in a 2–1 win at Montpellier on 24 October 2012, after displacing Megyeri who started the opening two European games. In Olympiacos' first ten league games, Carroll played a part in a team which conceded only five goals and kept six clean sheets as they won the opening nine games, drawing the other. In an interview with British press, Carroll said that he was happy with his life in Greece and hopeful on extending his contract at Olympiacos. In his first twenty games for Olympiacos in all competitions, he was part of the winning side in eighteen games, drawing the other two, conceded ten goals and kept twelve clean sheets, losing in his twenty-first appearance against Schalke 04 0–1 on 21 November 2012. Carroll lost his place in the side to Megyeri in January, being relegated to cup appearances as Olympiacos won the double for a second consecutive season.

Notts County

Following his departure from Greek Superleague champions, Olympiacos, Carroll signed a one-year contract with Football League One side Notts County on 4 August 2014.[45] Carroll resigned for the 2015–16 season, he was released at the end of the season. On 15 November 2014, less than 24 hours after playing an international for Northern Ireland in Bucharest, Romania, Carroll kept a clean sheet as Notts County won 1–0 away at Coventry City.[46]

Linfield

Carroll joined Linfield in 2016.[47]

International career

Carroll gained his first full international cap on 21 May 1997 in a game against Thailand.[48] For many years, Carroll fought a losing battle to be Northern Ireland's first-choice keeper to the experienced Maik Taylor. Despite this, Carroll had still amassed 19 caps up to September 2006.[48] The last of these 19 caps came in a Euro 2008 qualifying match against Spain at Windsor Park.[12][48] Northern Ireland pulled off a memorable 3–2 win, but Carroll had to be substituted after only 12 minutes due to a groin injury.[49]

After a six-year absence from the international team, Carroll was named in the friendly squad to face the Netherlands on 2 June 2012.[50] He came on as a substitute for the second half, conceding two goals as Northern Ireland lost 6–0.[51] He made his competitive return to the Northern Ireland team on 7 September 2012, when he started in Northern Ireland's 2–0 defeat away to Russia in their opening qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[52] In May 2013, Carroll was named the Northern Ireland International Personality of the Year.[53]

Career statistics

Club
As of 17 November 2018[54][55][56]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hull City 1995–96 2300000–00230
1996–97 2301020–10270
Total 46010200010500
Wigan Athletic 1996–97 000000–0000
1997–98 2902010–20340
1998–99 4303040–90590
1999–2000 3402030–20410
2000–01 2901030–20350
Total 135080110001501690
Manchester United 2001–02 7010101000100
2002–03 100102030–160
2003–04 6030201000120
2004–05 26030005000340
Total 490805010000720
West Ham United 2005–06 1900000––190
2006–07 120200020–160
Total 31020002000350
Rangers 2007–08 00001000–10
Total 000010000010
Derby County 2007–08 1400000––140
2008–09 1601070––240
Total 30010700000380
Odense BK 2009–10 28020–20–320
2010–11 18000–80–260
Total 460200010000580
OFI Crete 2011–12 16000–––160
Total 16000000000160
Olympiacos 2011–12 2030–20–70
2012–13 16040–50–250
2013–14 1000–00–10
Total 19070007000330
Notts County 2014–15 4502010–20500
2015–16 3200000–20340
Total 77020100040840
Linfield 2016–17 35030102000410
2017–18 28000104010340
2018–19 1500010––160
Total 78030306010910
Career total 52703403003502106470
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and FA Community Shield.

International
As of 27 May 2016[48][57]
Northern Ireland national team
YearAppsGoals
199710
199910
200050
200120
200220
200320
200430
200510
200620
201260
201360
201480
201530
201620
201710
Total450

Honours

As a player

Wigan Athletic

Manchester United

Olympiacos

Linfield

Individual

As a manager

Barnet

gollark: It's not really enough.
gollark: No, I have graphing, I just lack interesting data.
gollark: I must somehow graph even MORE things.
gollark: Thus, MORE INCENTIVES. DO NOT just coerce people into it.
gollark: But clearly not enough to make people who are not nationalists actually do it.

References
  1. "Roy Carroll". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  2. "Barnet 2 Stevenage 1", Barnet Mad, 13 April 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  3. "Leeds fan Adam meets Becks" Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Impartial Reporter, 29 November 2001. Retrieved 18 June 2007
  4. Roy Carroll profile Archived 17 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, www.uefa.com. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  5. "Keeper Carroll receives support", BBC Sport, 22 November 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  6. Ziegler, Martyn. "Carroll treated for 'stress' – father". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  7. Soccerbase: Roy Carroll Archived 5 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Racing Post. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  8. Roy Carroll profile, www.manutdzone.com. Retrieved 18 June 2005.
  9. "Reading comeback thwarts Wigan". BBC. 16 May 2001. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  10. "Carroll seals dream Man Utd move", BBC Sport, 27 July 2001. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  11. "Villa show up frailty of Ferguson defence". Guardian. 27 August 2001. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  12. "Roy Carroll". Soccer-Ireland.com. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  13. Hammer, Chris (18 August 2011). "Carroll moves to Greece". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  14. "Man Utd win FA Cup", BBC Sport, 22 May 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  15. "Manchester United 0–0 Tottenham", BBC Sport, 4 January 2005. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  16. "Linesman defends disallowed goal", BBC Sport, 5 January 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  17. "Ferguson refuses to blame Carroll", BBC Sport, 24 February 2005. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  18. "Man Utd let goalkeeper Carroll go", BBC Sport, 27 May 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  19. "Carroll completes West Ham move", BBC Sport, 15 June 2005.
  20. "Keeper Carroll out for six weeks", BBC Sport, 3 March 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  21. "BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Keeper Carroll receives support". BBC News. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  22. "Roy Carroll". Westhamstats.info. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  23. "Hammers in international action" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, whufc.com (West Ham United FC), 25 May 2007.
  24. "Carroll signs one year Gers deal". BBC Sport. 7 July 2007.
  25. "East Fife 0–4 Rangers". BBC Sport. 26 September 2007.
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  27. "Rams boss calls off Carroll chase". BBC Sport. 18 January 2008.
  28. "Derby capture goalkeeper Carroll". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
  29. "Carroll Extends Derby Stay". BBC Sport. 22 February 2008.
  30. "Roy Carroll Leaves Derby County". dcfc.co.uk. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2009.
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  32. "Roy Carroll vil væk fra OB nu". tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). 29 November 2010.
  33. "Roy Carroll: OB gav mig lov". tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). 8 February 2011.
  34. "Carroll's Not Singing Anymore" vitalfootball.co.uk 4 March 2011 Retrieved 5 March 2011
  35. "Carrolls mareridt fortsætter". tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). 27 April 2011.
  36. "Match Report: Kendal Town 1–7 Preston North End". Westmorland Gazette. Kendal. 21 July 2011.
  37. "Carroll nears Preston move". ESPNsoccernet. 25 July 2011.
  38. "Goalkeeper Iain Turner close to Preston North End deal". BBC Sport. 28 July 2011.
  39. "Preston North End sign goalkeeper Iain Turner". BBC Sport. 29 July 2011.
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  41. "Roy Caroll among the best goalkeepers in Greece". Football Speak. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
  42. "Roy Carroll to Olympiacos" (in Greek). Contra.gr. 26 January 2012.
  43. "Carroll proves Olympiacos hero at Rubin". UEFA. Kazan. 14 February 2012.
  44. "Reds win second leg on Carroll's one leg". ekathimerini.com. Piraeus. 23 February 2012.
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  46. "Coventry 0-1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  47. Roy Carroll: Linfield sign Northern Ireland keeper - BBC Sport
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  49. "Northern Ireland 3-2 Spain". BBC Sport. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  50. "Northern Ireland-Netherlands: Roy Carroll and James McPake named". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  51. Jackson, Lyle (2 June 2012). "Netherlands 6–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport NI. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  52. "Russia 2–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  53. "Roy Carroll is named International Personality". News Letter. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  54. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack. "English League Players Directory". Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008 (39th ed.). Headline Publishing Group. p. 554. ISBN 978-0-7553-1664-9.
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  56. "R. Carroll". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  57. "Roy Carroll". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
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  59. "Man Utd win Community Shield". BBC Sport. 10 August 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
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