Roy Carroll

Roy Eric Carroll (born 30 September 1977) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Carroll joined Hull City in September 1995 as a trainee and went on to make 50 appearances for the club in all competitions but he was sold two seasons later to pay off Hull's mounting debts.

He also represented Northern Ireland 45 times at full international level between 1997 and 2017, and was a part of their squad for UEFA Euro 2016.

Carroll signed for Wigan Athletic in April 1997 for a then club-record £350,000.

Despite this, he would have to wait seven months to make his first appearance in November 1997 when he replaced Lee Butler in a 2–1 defeat of Watford.

He made 170 appearances in all competitions in four years.

He played a key role in Wigan's unbeaten run of 26 league games in 1999–2000 and was voted the best goalkeeper in the second division by his fellow professionals, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact he missed the last seven games of the season having had to undergo an emergency appendix operation.

Despite speculation of a move to a Premier League club, Carroll remained at Wigan for the 2000–01 season, during which he went on to keep 13 clean sheets in 34 first-team games to help his team reach the play-offs for a second consecutive season.

In the play-off semi final second leg against Reading the aggregate score was 1-1 as the game entered the final minute.

Reading were awarded a penalty which Carroll saved from Jamie Cureton, but Nicky Forster scored from the rebound to send Reading through.

In November 2001, Carroll received a Red Cross Humanitarian Award for his kindness to a child with leukemia.

He was signed by defending Premier League champions Manchester United in July 2001 for an undisclosed fee believed to be £2.5 million.

He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Aston Villa on 26 August 2001.

Carroll faced stiff competition against Fabien Barthez at United but won a Premier League winners' medal in the 2002–03 season.

Carroll received yet more competition for the 2003–04 season, when Manchester United signed American goalkeeper Tim Howard after Barthez left to join Marseille.

He is best known for his spells at Wigan Athletic, Manchester United (where he won a Premier League winners medal and the 2004 FA Cup) and Olympiacos (where he won the Greek Superleague and the Greek Cup twice).

He won an FA Cup winners' medal in May 2004 when he came on as substitute for Howard in the 84th minute.

On 19 February 2005, in an FA Cup match against Everton, Carroll was struck on the back of the head by any of various projectiles including coins and mobile phones, in a match high on security for teammate and Everton returnee Wayne Rooney which Manchester United won 2–0.

Carroll gained his greatest infamy for the "goal that never was" against Tottenham Hotspur in January 2005; a speculative shot from the half-way line by Pedro Mendes that Carroll dropped well behind his goal-line then scooped back into play.

The referee and his linesmen were unable to verify that the ball had gone over the line and the goal was not given.

Though Carroll got away with that particular gaffe, his error led to him being dropped for a few matches.

He made a second blunder in a 1–0 defeat by Milan, where he spilled a shot into the path of Hernán Crespo, who then scored.

He was released by Manchester United on 27 May 2005 after his contract expired; he refused to sign a new deal after the club failed to assure him that he would be first choice for the next season.

Three weeks after leaving Old Trafford, Carroll signed for West Ham.

Carroll enjoyed a successful start to his West Ham career, making 19 appearances.

In November 2006, he entered rehabilitation for alcohol-related addiction.

'Stress' was cited by the Carroll family.

However, a back injury sustained in a game against Fulham on 23 January 2006 left him needing surgery, and he was sidelined for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, including the FA Cup Final against Liverpool.

Shaka Hislop was his replacement.

He made just 17 appearances in the 2006–07 season, due to personal problems relating to alcohol and gambling and the arrival of Robert Green.

His final game for the Hammers took place on 3 February 2007 against Aston Villa.

On 25 May 2007, West Ham stated that he had been released after asking for a transfer to achieve regular first team football.

Carroll signed for Rangers on a one-year contract on 7 July 2007, initially as cover for Allan McGregor but also to challenge for a starting place.

He made his only appearance for Rangers against East Fife in a League Cup match on 26 September 2007.

On 9 January 2008, it was revealed that Carroll was in line for a move to Premier League side Derby County.

Carroll was allowed permission to talk with Derby and personal terms were agreed, but the deal hinged on Rangers signing a replacement goalkeeper.

After over a week with little progress, Derby County called off the move, but when Carroll offered to pay the loan fee so Rangers could sign Sunderland keeper Darren Ward, the deal was revived.

Carroll has also had a one-game managerial career, leading Barnet to a 2–1 victory in the 2011 Herts Senior Cup final against Stevenage.

Therefore, Carroll holds the unusual honour of having won a trophy in his only game as a manager.

Carroll was brought up in Tamlaght, County Fermanagh, and began his career with local sides Fivemiletown United and Ballinamallard United.