Michael Carrick's return to Tyneside is one he will remember. In January he was driving north to the North East when Manchester United offered him the interim manager's job. Rather than make that moment about himself, he attended a family gathering with close friend Chris Hood and others.
"It doesn't shock me, but nothing was mentioned," Hood recalled. "Not one of us knew even though it was bandied around. Michael was there for his family and to see his friends — to make the most of that precious time." Hood added that Carrick recognises how much his upbringing shaped him: "He understands he is what he is because of what made him."
Now firmly a Manchester United man, Carrick prepares to manage at St James' Park for the first time. But his connection to Newcastle remains deep-rooted. Wallsend Boys Club played a central role in his development — the same club that produced Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Steve Bruce, and which has sent 97 players into the professional game.
The indoor 'Boyza' where Carrick honed his skills was lost to wind damage in 2012. In response, his foundation helped fund the club's recovery: it enabled the appointment of ge
