Johnny Carey

Not to be confused withJohnny Carey (Gaelic footballer).

Johnny Carey

Personal information
Full name	John Joseph Carey
Date of birth	(1919-02-23)23 February 1919
Place of birth	Dublin,Ireland
Date of death	22 August 1995(1995-08-22)(aged 76)
Place of death	Macclesfield,England
Position(s)	Right back
Youth career
193?	Home Farm
193?	Dublin county team(Gaelic football)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1936	St James's Gate
1936–1953	Manchester United	304	(17)
	→Manchester United(wartime)	112	(47)
1941–1942	→Cardiff City(guest)	1	(0)
1941–1942	→Manchester City(guest)	1	(0)
1941–1945	→Shamrock Rovers(guest)	2	(3)
1942–1943	→Middlesbrough(guest)	1	(0)
1942–1943	→Everton(guest)	2	(0)
194?	→Liverpool(guest)
194?	→Played in Italy(guest)
International career
1937–1953	Ireland (FAI)	29	(3)
1940	League of Ireland XI	1	(0)
1946–1949	Ireland (IFA)	9	(0)
1947	Europe XI	1	(0)
Managerial career
1953–1958	Blackburn Rovers
1955–1967	Republic of Ireland
1958–1961	Everton
1961–1963	Leyton Orient
1963–1968	Nottingham Forest
1970–1971	Blackburn Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Joseph Carey(23 February 1919 – 22 August 1995), known asJohnny CareyorJackie Carey,was an Irish professionalfootballerand manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career atManchester United,where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953. He was also adual internationalist,playing for and captaining both Ireland teams – theFAI XIand theIFA XI.In 1947 he also captained aEurope XIwhich played aGreat Britain XIatHampden Park.In 1949 he was voted theFootball Writers' Association Footballer of the Yearand in the same year captained the FAI XI that defeatedEngland2–0atGoodison Park,becoming the first non-UKteam to beat England at home. Carey was also the first non-UKplayer and the first Irishman to captain a winning team in both anFA Cup Finaland theFirst Division.Like his contemporaryCon Martin,Carey was an extremely versatile footballer and played in nine different positions throughout his career. He even played in goal for United on one occasion.

Early years

As a schoolboy, Carey played football forHome Farm.As a youth, he also playedGaelic footballand was selected for theDublin county teamat minor level before he signed forSt James's Gateat the start of the1936–37season. After just two months ofLeague of Irelandfootball, he was spotted byBilly Behan,aDublin-basedManchester Unitedscout. Behan convinced the United chief scout, Louis Rocca, to check him out and in November 1936 United signed him for a then League of Ireland record fee of £250. He made his debut as an inside-left for United on 23 September 1937 againstSouthampton.During his first season with United, Carey, together withHarry Baird,Jack Rowley,Tommy Bamford,Tommy BreenandStan Pearson,helped United gain promotion to theFirst Division.

Second World War

During theSecond World War,Carey continued to play forManchester Unitedand between 1939 and 1943 he played 112 games and scored 47 goals in the wartime regional leagues. He also played as a guest for several other clubs includingCardiff City,Manchester City,Everton,LiverpoolandMiddlesbrough On 28 April 1940, Carey guested for aLeague of Ireland XIagainst aScottish League XIin a 3–2 defeat atDalymount Park.His teammates on the day includedJimmy Dunne,Paddy BradshawandJohn Feenan.He also guested forShamrock Roversin aLeague of Irelandgame againstLimerickon 6 April 1941. He gave a good performance at inside left, scoring in a 5–0 win. He guested again for Rovers in April 1942 and scored twice in a 7–1 win againstShelbourne.He also played and scored again for Rovers in aLeague of Ireland Shieldgame atMilltownagainstWaterford Unitedon 11 November 1945.Carey also served with theBritish Armyin both Italy and theMiddle Eastand while in Italy, he also played part-time for several different clubs using the nicknameCario.When the war ended Carey received several offers to stay on in Italy.

Return to Manchester United

On his return toManchester United,Carey began playing as a midfielder and defender. He was also appointed team captain byMatt Busby.He captained United to victory in the1948 FA Cup finaland to second place in theFirst Divisionfour times before eventually winning the title in 1952. His teammates at United during this era included among others,Jack Rowley,Charlie MittenandJohn Aston.During his career with United, Carey played 304 league games, scoring 17 goals. He played a further 38 games in theFA Cupand scored one further goal. Carey also played twice for United in theFA Charity Shield.

He also gained the distinction of being the first player from Ireland to win a major trophy with Manchester United.

Irish international

When Carey began his international career in 1937 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland-basedIFAand the Ireland-basedFAIclaimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Carey played for both teams. In September 1946 Carey, along withBill Gorman,even played for both teams within three days of each other, both times againstEngland.On 28 September atWindsor Parkhe played for the IFA XI in a 7–2 defeat. Then on 30 September atDalymount Parkhe played for the FAI XI in a 1–0 defeat.

FAI XI

Between 1937 and 1953 Carey made 29 appearances and scored 3 goals for theFAI XI,making his debut againstNorwayon 7 November 1937 in a team that also includedJimmy Dunneand fellow debutant,Kevin O'Flanagan.The game which was a qualifier for the1938 FIFA World Cupfinished as a 3–3 draw.He scored his first goal for the FAI XI in a 3–2 win againstPolandon 13 November 1938 and scored his second in the very next game, a 2–2 draw withHungaryon 19 March 1939. Carey captained the XI on 19 occasions. On 21 September 1949, he was captain when an FAI XI defeatedEngland2–0atGoodison Park,becoming the first non-UKteam to beat England at home. Carey scored his third goal, a penalty, for the FAI XI in a 2–2 draw withNorwayon 26 November 1950. He played his last game for the FAI XI on 25 March 1953 in a 4–0 win overAustria.

IFA XI

Carey also made 9 appearances for theIFA XIbetween 1946 and 1949. In 1946 he played in theVictory InternationalsagainstScotlandandWalesOn 27 November 1946 he played for the IFA XI in a 0–0 draw withScotland.Together withPeter Farrell,Con Martin,Bill Gorman,Tommy Eglington,Alex StevensonandDavy Walsh,he was one of seven players born in theIrish Free Stateto play for the IFA XI that day. The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the1947 British Home Championship.

Coaching career

One of Carey's earliest experiences as a coach came when he was still an active player; he took charge of theIrelandteam at the1948 Olympics.Ireland lost 3–1 to theNetherlandsin the opening round in a game played atFratton Park.Carey retired as a player in 1953 and almost immediately accepted the position as manager ofBlackburn Rovers.In 1958 he guided Rovers intoFirst Division.He then became manager atEvertonbut, despite leading them to fifth place in the1960–61season, their highest post-war position, he was sacked in the back of a taxi by directorJohn Moores.As a result, the jibe, 'Taxi for...!' has become a staple insult offered to any manager facing the threat of the sack. He next managedLeyton Orientand took them into the First Division in 1962, their only season in the top division. However his greatest success as a manager came withNottingham Forest.In 1967, he guided them to theFA Cupsemi-finals and to second place in the First Division behind his former club Manchester United.Between 1955 and 1967 Carey also served as team manager of theRepublic of Ireland.However Carey had very little power as the team itself was chosen by a selection committee.In October 1970, Carey returned to the manager's role at Blackburn, after a spell as administrative manager. He was sacked on 7 June 1971.

Honours

Club

Manchester United

• FA Cup:1948
• First Division:1951–52
• FA Charity Shield:1952

Individual

• FWA Footballer of the Year:1949
• Football League 100 Legends:1998 (inducted)

External links

• Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
• Biography at irelandshirts