Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Michael Carrick will retire at the end of the season.
The Manchester United manager said the midfielder, the club’s longest serving player, is expected to join his coaching staff from next season onwards.
Carrick’s last appearance came in the Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion in September – the 36-year-old undergoing a minor heart procedure shortly afterwards.
Mourinho confirmed Carrick is expected to play again between now and the end of the season, stressing his importance to the team.
“He could be a very important player for us. I think his decision to [retire] at the end of the season and not last week, is a good decision for the team and a good decision for him to finish playing football and not because he is injured or with some problem.
“So we are all happy and in the end of the season I expect him to join, unless he changes his mind.
“But the club would be very happy for him to do that. I would be very happy also for him to do that.”
Carrick joined United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, going on to win every major honour possible with the club.
