Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season.
Jose Mourinho has previously suggested the 36-year-old will call time on his career in the summer following what has been a tough year away from football for the veteran.
Carrick underwent a minor procedure midway through the season after developing a heart problem and is now set to form part of Mourinho’s coaching staff when his contract expires.
“I think it’s pretty much already been said, to be honest with you,” he told the club’s official website. “There comes a time when, as much as you like or don’t like it, your body tells you it’s time to stop playing football. That’s pretty much where I’m at, which is fine. It’s something you have to accept. That’s where I’m at.
“Yes,” he responded when asked whether he expects to become a coach at United in the summer. “It’s kind of been sorted out. We’re still talking about it, to be honest, so there’s nothing totally confirmed as yet. But it’s looking likely, yes.
“Obviously, I had the [heart] problem in the Burton game, when it started during the second half, and then had a few tests after that.”
“The same problem came back on the Sunday of that week in training, so then I had the procedure the following week, which I went through and now it’s totally fine and I’m clear.
“It took a little bit of time to get over but there were some times when, for two or three days, I was thinking ‘am I going to carry on playing or not?’ or ‘is tit kind of worth it or not?’ but that quickly passed.
“I got back fit and I wanted to finish on my own terms really. At least I could decide and not be forced because of that, so I was determined to get back fit. I understood after getting back fit that I wouldn’t be playing as many games as perhaps I might have done, but that’s something that I understood.
“I’ve just been training hard and trying to keep fit and have managed to play a few games so far and we’ll see what happens toward the end of the season.”
Carrick, who has spent the last 12 years at United, has been limited to just four appearances in all competitions this season, including only 24 minutes of playing time in the Premier League.
Mourinho will now be tasked with replacing the former England international in the summer.
Since joining United from Tottenham in 2006, Carrick has won 12 major honours, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League and Europa League.
