Manchester United captain Michael Carrick to become first-team coach after retiring at end of season
England midfielder has not played since experiencing an irregular heart rhythm and boss Jose Mourinho has backed his foray into the dugout
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MANCHESTER UNITED captain Michael Carrick will retire from football at the end of the season.
Boss Jose Mourinho confirmed that the 36-year-old will take up the club's offer of a first-team coaching role after hanging up his boots.
Carrick has not played since experiencing an irregular heartbeat in September.
The England midfielder, who won the Champions League with the Red Devils, underwent treatment and began training again last November.
Mourinho, speaking of Carrick's coaching role at the club, said: "The club would be very happy for him to do that.
"I would be very happy also for him to do that. I expect him to join.
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"[He had] a few months without even training so now he is in his second week of training with the team. He is a very important player for us.
"I think it is a good decision for the team and and a good decision for him to finish playing football and not injured or with some problem."
Carrick, a five-time Premier League champion, had a cardiac ablation - a treatment that aims to control or correct certain types of abnormal heart rhythms - after "feeling strange" during the 4-1 EFL Cup victory over Burton September 20.
That was his only appearance of the season.
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Two months ago Mourinho admitted he wanted Carrick as part of his backroom team once he had hung up his boots and the midfielder has indicated a willingness to take up the position.
"When he wants (it), yes," Mourinho said.
Carrick, who joined United in 2006 after two years at Spurs also won one FA Cup, Europa League trophy and Fifa Club World Cup with the side.