32 Facts About Roy Carroll

Roy Eric Carroll was born on 30 September 1977 and is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Roy Carroll is best known for his spells at Wigan Athletic, Manchester United and Olympiacos.

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

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

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

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

Roy 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.

Roy Carroll made 170 appearances in all competitions in four years.

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

Roy 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 Roy Carroll dropped well behind his goal-line then scooped back into play.

Roy Carroll 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, Roy Carroll signed for West Ham.

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

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

Roy Carroll 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 Roy Carroll was in line for a move to Premier League side Derby County.

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

Roy Carroll signed a three-year contract with the club on 21 January 2008, and made his debut in a Premier League match against Birmingham City on 2 February 2008.

Roy Carroll signed a three-year contract with Danish Superliga side Odense BK on 17 August 2009.

In November 2010, Roy Carroll announced his decision to leave Odense BK in order to return to Britain to be closer to his family.

Roy Carroll's contract was mutually terminated on 31 January 2011 and he left Odense BK as a free agent, in search of a new club.

Roy Carroll was on trial at Sheffield United in March 2011.

Later that same month, Roy Carroll joined League Two strugglers Barnet on a trial with a view to a role as player-coach.

Roy Carroll reportedly left the club in protest in April 2011, as his former Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez was set to take a managerial role in the club.

However, despite a deal for Preston to sign Roy Carroll being close, the club opted to sign Iain Turner instead.

Roy Carroll was ranked third in shots saved statistics amid speculation that bigger clubs in Greece were interested in Carroll.

In Olympiacos' first ten league games, Roy Carroll played a part in a team which conceded only five goals and kept six clean sheets as they won the opening nine games, drawing the other.

On 2 January 2023, Roy Carroll was a shock inclusion on the Ballinamallard United team sheet for a match against Annagh United, who were in the midst of an injury crisis.

Roy Carroll said after the game that he was now officially retired, having played his final game for the club where he had started his career.

Roy Carroll gained his first full international cap on 21 May 1997 in a game against Thailand.

For many years, Roy Carroll fought a losing battle to be Northern Ireland's first-choice keeper to the experienced Maik Taylor.

In May 2013, Roy Carroll was named the Northern Ireland International Personality of the Year.