Discover the surprising England star praised by Xabi Alonso as ideal for Spain’s golden era. The legendary Spanish midfielder, **Xabi Alonso**, has revealed the name of an **underrated England player** who he believes possessed the qualities to seamlessly integrate into Spain’s iconic national teams that dominated world football between 2008 and 2012.
Xabi Alonso: A Footballing Icon
Alonso, now 43 and making waves as a manager, cemented his legacy as one of the finest midfielders of his generation. His illustrious playing career saw him grace the pitches of top clubs across Europe, including Liverpool in the Premier League, Real Madrid in La Liga, and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Furthermore, he proudly represented Spain on 114 occasions, becoming a key figure in their unprecedented era of success.
Throughout his career, Alonso shared the dressing room with an elite roster of footballing talent. At Liverpool, he played alongside the dynamic duo of Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano. His time at Real Madrid saw him link up with global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. And with the Spanish national team, he formed part of a legendary midfield featuring maestros like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and David Silva.
Alonso also frequently clashed on the pitch with iconic English midfielders Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard, who are often named alongside Gerrard as England’s finest midfielders of their generation. However, when it came to selecting an England player who could have slotted into Spain’s dominant side, Alonso surprised many by choosing a different, perhaps more understated, star.
The Underrated Gem: Michael Carrick for Spain?
While acknowledging the obvious brilliance of “John Terry, Stevie Gerrard and Wayne Rooney” as pivotal figures for England, Alonso, in a 2010 interview with The Times, singled out a different name:
“If they are on top of their game and if Carrick plays, because for me he is a top player, then England will have a chance [at the 2010 World Cup].” Alonso continued, highlighting the specific qualities that impressed him: “If Carrick plays for the national team the way that he does for Manchester United, then it would be very good news for England. I think that he could easily fit into the Spanish system because I really like the way he plays.”
Xabi Alonso in action against Michael Carrick (Credit:Getty)
Alonso elaborated on Carrick’s exceptional footballing intelligence and composure:
- Reading the Game: “He reads the game so well, he is always ahead of what is going to happen…”
- Positioning: “…and he is always in the right position.”
- Simple and Effective Passing: “When he gets the ball, he plays it easy and he is available to his team-mates all the time.”
The Spanish maestro concluded his praise by stating, “For me, he has the profile to play for Barcelona or any of the Spanish teams,” a testament to Carrick’s technical ability and tactical awareness.
Michael Carrick: An Unsung Hero’s Career
Carrick was indeed often the unsung hero in Sir Alex Ferguson‘s dominant Manchester United side between 2006 and 2018. During this period, he played a crucial role in the Red Devils’ trophy-laden era, contributing to:
- Five Premier League titles
- One FA Cup
- One Champions League crown
These are just a glimpse of his numerous achievements at club level, showcasing his consistent high performance and winning mentality.
Despite his club success, Carrick’s England career didn’t quite reach the same heights. He earned just 34 caps for the Three Lions and often found it challenging to secure a regular starting place. In a candid 2018 interview with BBC Sport, Carrick openly spoke about his struggles with the national team setup, describing it as “almost depressing”.
Carrick’s England Struggles: A Different Story
“I had been in the squad a long time, I’ll be honest I was finding it hard going away with England,” Carrick confessed. “I didn’t mind going away with United in pre-season for three weeks or whatever and then coming back but going with England it was almost depressing in a way – it made me really down.”
Carrick further revealed the depth of his struggles, stating: “I came to the point where I thought I can’t do that again and people will be saying pull yourself together and be grateful for it. I understood the position I was in, the privileged position I was in, but I just found it so hard and I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I was depressed at times. I told the FA, ‘Look please don’t pick me.'”
Xabi Alonso’s words serve as a strong reminder of Michael Carrick’s understated quality and the recognition he deserved on the international stage. Perhaps in a different era or system, particularly one like Spain’s famed tiki-taka style, Carrick’s England story could have been very different.
What do you think? Was Michael Carrick underrated? Share your thoughts in the comments below!