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Blink Publishing signs Manchester United coach and ex-captain Michael Carrick

Blink Publishing has signed Manchester United coach and ex-captain Michael Carrick’s first autobiography out autumn 2018.

Matthew Philips, Publishing Director at Kings Road Publishing, acquired UK and commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from David Luxton at David Luxton Associates. The book will be published under the Blink Publishing imprint on 18th October.

Michael Carrick is one the most decorated English players of all time, best known for his 12 year tenure as a Manchester United player, which he captained and will now coach. Loved by his managers, lauded by his fellow professionals, worshipped by the Old Trafford faithful, yet regularly misunderstood by the wider public, Carrick is a player like no other.

Intelligent, calm and thoughtful, he is the opposite of the archetypal English midfielder.  Winning every honour in club football including, 5 Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and multiple League Cups.

In his first book, Carrick invites us to experience the camaraderie and desire to succeed inside the United dressing room, and lets us feels what it’s like to walk out on the Old Trafford pitch alongside some of the biggest names in the game – from Ronaldo to Scholes to Pogba and the rest.

Matt Phillips said: “Michael’s book has all the qualities he displayed as a player – thoughtful, incisive and honest. His story takes in some of the biggest personalities in the history of the game: Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and gets to the heart of what it’s really like to be a professional footballer. The book is revelatory on both the man and the game, and I couldn’t be more delighted to be publishing it.”

Carrick said: “This is a story of my life, from growing up in Wallsend, dreaming of becoming a footballer, and going on to win the Champions League with Manchester United and play for England in the World Cup. I played for some of the greatest managers as well as with and against the best footballers in the world. I experienced extremes in emotions, some amazing moments and some very dark periods. I dealt with the challenge of finding a balance between the huge pressure of having to perform at the very highest level in the public eye with the day-to-day responsibilities of being a husband and simply daddy. Now my playing days are over, it’s time to share my story, the real story.”

A product of the famous Wallsend Boys Club, Michael Carrick is one of the most successful players to come out of the North-East.  In his 17 year professional career, Carrick has played for West Ham United, Swindon Town, Birmingham City, Tottenham Hotspur and most famously Manchester United as Captain and has won 34 caps for England.

In 2017, Carrick setup the Michael Carrick Foundation, a registered charity that focuses on ensuring that children have suitable provision in their communities to keep them safe and engaged in positive activities.  And since his retirement from the professional game earlier this year, he has now joined Manchester United’s first team coaching staff to pass on his experience to future generations.

Carrick’s story reveals him to be his own man: fearless, thoughtful, intelligent and honest.

All of Michael Carrick’s profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the Michael Carrick Foundation.  The foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to community services that will give underprivileged children living in the North and North East better opportunities so that they feel safe, valued and inspired.

Michael Carrick: Between The Lines is set to publish on the 18th October.

You can follow Michael on twitter @carras16.

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