The next free agent to fall under our microscope is ex-Everton and Derby midfielder Lee Carsley.
The next free agent to fall under our microscope is ex-Everton and Birmingham midfielder Lee Carsley
Lee Carsley finds himself in an unfamiliar situation this summer...being without a club for the first time in his career. That is some feat given that the experienced midfielder set out at Derby way back in 1992. He spent seven years with the Rams before Blackburn lured him away. He returned to the Midlands briefly with Coventry, before heading back to the North West and Everton in 2002. Six memorable years at Goodison Park followed, during which time he became a firm fans' favourite. The former Republic of Ireland international, who is now a qualified coach, opted to take in a second spell at Coventry last season but is now keeping his options open and his phone on!
You are a player with plenty of experience, does that allow you to relax slightly and not worry about getting something sorted early in the summer?
It's important that you get the right offer, as opposed to just playing for the sake of it. I have completed my coaching badges so I want to try and make sure I can do a bit of coaching as well. It's about keeping my options open.
So you are looking to go into a combined role are you?
Yeah, definitely. It's something that any person would like. It's about getting the right offer.
Have you given any thought as to the level you would like to work at?
I'm not sure, to be honest. I'm not ruling anything out. I don't want to say I'll only work in the Premiership, or the Championship, or Leagues One or Two. I'm open-minded and as long as it's the right offer, I'll go with it. Then I can start the next stage of my career, learn off a manager and hopefully keep playing a little bit as well.
Are there any other factors that will influence your decision?
I don't want to go into a club that's going to be struggling at the wrong end of a table. I want to go somewhere with ambition, that is on its way up. Hopefully I will be able to add something to them.
You have spent the last few years in the Midlands, are you looking to stay put or are you willing to relocate?
I'm not sure. I travelled most days when I played for Everton, so that's not a problem. I'm used to spending a lot of time in my car.
Is it strange being without a club at this time of year having spent your entire career to date tied to someone?
I finished with Coventry at the end of the season, so I've had the last two months. It's a bit strange because I have got nothing to go back to and it's the first season when I haven't had that. We'll see what happens from here.
You're fortunate, though, aren't you that you don't need to be plugging yourself too much?
Obviously, for me, I'm lucky that I've had a good career and I don't need to worry about things. I've had a good career in the top flight and I'm fortunate that I'm not in the position where you are worrying about paying the mortgage and things like that. I appreciate a lot of players are.
Have you set any deadline for when you would like to have something sorted by?
It just depends. If I was younger, I would probably want to know what I was doing and where I was going. A lot of contracts will have finished at the end of last season and a lot of those in the Premier League and the Championship will have already decided where they are going for next season. It's exciting because I have still got a lot to offer and I'm a fully qualified coach as well now. It's like a buy one, get one free.
Is it exciting because you can now pick and choose somewhat, rather than be dictated to by a club?
I wouldn't say pick and choose. If I could do that I'd probably go to Manchester United! I know what you mean, it is a change. You can go and speak to clubs and managers, have a good look at their squad, where they are going, their ambitions for the season and then decide on those facts, as opposed to being at a club where the manager has changed and he doesn't fancy you and wants to get rid of you. It's definitely different.
Are you confident something will come up in the next couple of weeks?
I'm not sure. I won't be worrying about it. I am just focused on getting myself fit and hopefully something that suits both parties will turn up.
To see the full list of players currently available as free agents, provided by the PFA, click
here.
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