People often let players who are on the less flamboyant side of the game slip their mind once their career is over. One such star was Michael Carrick!
A deep-lying midfielder ahead of his time courtesy of his incredible footballing brain, many believe that the England international did not get the recognition he deserved while he was still playing.
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Carrick was perhaps a player who was unfortunate enough to have played in the wrong generation.
In terms of more modern players, his playing style could be compared to Manchester City's Rodri: Not the most physical individual, but someone who makes the team tick, keeps the ball moving, and is always available to receive the ball in order to help his team maintain possession while they attempt to meticulously break down the opposition defence.
While he displayed the astounding ability to seemingly always find space on the field and make line-breaking passes from deep, and the vision to read a game in such a manner that he appeared to always at the right place at the right time, he was unfortunate enough to have played in a time when perhaps more robust, athletic players were preferred at the base of midfield. This is contrary to what teams look for these days.
Although it is always beneficial to have a strong, athletic player in the middle of the park who can win back possession for the side, the game has evolved in such a manner that managers look to play out from the back and in today's game, Carrick would have been revered for his ability.
He was the type of player who made everything look easy. He would play long balls over the top of a defence ever so casually, attempt a long diagonal ball to switch the play and find his teammates with incredible accuracy.
His importance in the Manchester United side that won so much under Sir Alex Ferguson is severely overlooked. Not only did he have the ability and the coolness to dictate the tempo of a game, he could put opposition defenders under pressure by playing his forwards in behind with one pass, as he did on many occasions.
Even the way he received the ball was a sight to behold. He would be on the half-turn with a portion of his body facing the opposition goal, immediately setting himself up to move the ball forward and put his side in a dominant position. He mastered the basic elements of the game, and that is what made him an icon.
His peers all seem to be of the opinion that he was a much better player than many have given him credit for. The renowned England team that consisted of Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard could have, according to Scholes, won a lot more if Carrick was integrated into the side.
"We all needed Michael Carrick next to us," the former United midfielder told Gary Neville on Sky Sports' The Overlap.
"He was never picked. He probably wasn't as good at that time, Michael. It was when he went to Man United and you realised... Jesus Christ. What a player.
"All three of us needed that person who played that position properly. I don't think any of us did."
Another former England international, Jermain Defoe, admitted to the BBC that Carrick should have been picked for the national team more than he did when he was asked to put together a starting XI consisting of who he considers to be the most underrated players.
"Carrick probably should have had another 50 England caps for how good he was," the ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker said.
"I played with Michael in the youth team at West Ham; [he] never gave the ball away.
"If you want to watch a masterclass of a midfielder just playing simple, playing forward, range of passing, he was unbelievable."
Speaking on his Vibe With FIVE podcast, Rio Ferdinand said the former midfielder would have brought something different to the England team at the time. He explained how he felt when Carrick would get selected for the national team but then hardly get on the pitch.
"I used to feel sorry for him," the ex-United centre back said.
"I used to sit there and think: 'I play with you every week, I know how good you are and you don't play.'
"I'm not saying that he was better than Frank or Stevie or Becks [David Beckham] or Scholesy. I'm saying he was the only one who was different.
"He's the one who would have unlocked every one of those other players. He's the one that would have made all of those other four players, if they played alongside him, better.
"Michael's game wasn't ever flashy and it wasn't ever about doing a skill show reel.
"His game was about facilitating other creative players, getting the ball from the back to the front through the pitch quickly and efficiently, and then covering spaces to stop the opponents getting through to dangerous areas.
"He was a top, top, top footballer. Anyone that plays with Michael Carrick will say that."
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The now Middlesbrough manager closed the curtain on an incredible career in 2018. He represented West Ham and Spurs, before making the big move to Old Trafford where he enjoyed tremendous success.
Carrick proved to be a vital player in the Red Devils' UEFA Champions League triumph in 2008, and is also a five-time Premier League winner and FIFA Club World Cup winner.
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