Tom Carroll (English footballer)

Thomas James Carroll (born 28 May 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League One side Exeter City.

Tom Carroll
Carroll playing for Swansea City in 2015
Personal information
Full name Thomas James Carroll[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-28) 28 May 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Watford, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Exeter City
Number 6
Youth career
2008–2010 Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2017 Tottenham Hotspur 27 (1)
2010–2011Leyton Orient (loan) 12 (0)
2011–2012Derby County (loan) 12 (1)
2013–2014Queens Park Rangers (loan) 26 (0)
2014–2015Swansea City (loan) 13 (0)
2017–2020 Swansea City 74 (1)
2018–2019Aston Villa (loan) 2 (0)
2020–2021 Queens Park Rangers 22 (0)
2021–2022 Ipswich Town 14 (0)
2023– Exeter City 35 (1)
International career
2011 England U19[3] 1 (0)
2013–2015 England U21[3] 17 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 12 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:40, 24 June 2015 (UTC)

Carroll plays as a deep-lying creative central midfielder, and is particularly valued for his high passing percentage accuracy and creativity.[4] Carroll's style of play has drawn comparisons with former teammate Luka Modrić.[5]

Club career edit

Carroll attended Parmiter's School in Garston, Hertfordshire, near his home town of Watford, and he captained the school football team at district and county level. He also played for the Hertfordshire county side, before linking up with Tottenham Hotspur's Under-16 squad, winning the Legnago Tournament in Italy in 2008.[6]

Tottenham Hotspur edit

In June 2010, Carroll signed a professional contract with Tottenham after scoring 10 goals in 23 games for their Academy side.[7] He made his first senior Tottenham appearance against Heart of Midlothian in the Europa League play-off second leg on 25 August 2011, and was assigned the squad number 46. Carroll then featured in four group stage games. On 20 September 2011 he started a League Cup third round match away to Stoke City. The match finished 0–0 and went to penalties, Carroll scored his penalty, but Tottenham lost the shoot-out 7–6.[8] Carroll's first appearance of 2012 was versus Cheltenham Town in a 3–0 FA Cup win.[9]

On 27 January 2011, Carroll joined Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.[10] Carroll's senior debut was in a 1–1 draw at Bournemouth on 5 February,[11] and he totalled 14 appearances, including two games versus Arsenal in the FA Cup.[12][13]

On 30 January 2012, Carroll joined Championship side Derby County on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season.[14] He scored on his debut a day later in a 3–2 defeat at Barnsley, his first goal in competitive football.[15] Carroll was a regular in the Derby side and played in both central midfield as well as on the right-wing due to an injury crisis. After suffering a minor injury he finished his loan spell at Pride Park with 12 league appearances.

He made his Premier League debut on 3 November 2012, replacing Kyle Walker in the 79th minute of a 1–0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.[16]

At the end of the 2013 Summer transfer window, Carroll completed a loan move to Queens Park Rangers, reuniting with former manager Harry Redknapp. On 22 August 2014, Carroll signed for Swansea City on a season-long loan.[17]

Carroll scored his first competitive goal for Tottenham on 10 December 2015 in a 4–1 win over Monaco in the Europa League.[18] On 26 December, Carroll scored Tottenham's third goal, and his first league goal, from the bench against Norwich to help them win 3–0.[19]

For the 2016–17 season, Carroll only played three games with Tottenham, and he moved to Swansea City in January 2017.[20]

Swansea City edit

On 17 January 2017, it was announced that Swansea City had signed Carroll for a fee reported to be £4.5 million on a three-and-a-half-year deal,[20] returning to the club after a loan spell during the course of the 2014–15 season.[20] In his first game for Swansea City after the transfer, he helped the club to a first ever away League win at Liverpool.[21][22] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 vital win against Stoke City on 22 April 2017 in their bid to escape relegation.[23]

On 31 January 2019, Carroll signed for fellow Championship club Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season, a transfer which was received with surprise as Villa had been linked with his Swansea teammate Leroy Fer instead.[24][25] He made his debut two days later as a 74th-minute substitute for Glenn Whelan in a goalless draw at Reading.[26] Carroll only made two appearances for Aston Villa, before suffering a season-ending hip injury and returning to Swansea City on 4 April 2019.[27]

On 11 December 2019, Carroll received his first career red card for two bookable offences, in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.[28]

On 31 January 2020, Swansea City announced that Carroll's contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.[29]

Queens Park Rangers edit

On 4 September 2020, Carroll signed for former loan club Queens Park Rangers on a one-year deal.[30] A day later he made his debut for the club in the first round of the EFL Cup against Plymouth Argyle which QPR lost 3–2.[31] Carroll left the club at the end of the season upon his contract's end, despite being offered a new deal by the club.[32]

Ipswich Town edit

On 16 August 2021, Carroll joined Ipswich Town on a one-year deal, becoming the club's 16th signing of the summer transfer window.[33] He made just 17 appearances in all competitions before being released at the end of the season upon the end of his contract.[34]

Exeter City edit

Carroll took a year out of football to concentrate on regaining his health and fitness, training primarily with Tottenham Hotspur throughout the 2022-23 season. Carroll went on trial at Exeter City during the pre-season of 2023. On the 20 July, it was confirmed that he had joined the League One club on a one-year deal.[35]

International career edit

In March 2011, Carroll was called up to represent the England Under-19 team for the first time in a friendly away to the Netherlands. In November 2011, Carroll was called up to the England under-21 squad, for qualifying matches against Iceland and Belgium.[36] He was an unused substitute in the 5–0 victory over Iceland.[37] He made his under-21 debut on 21 March 2013, replacing Jordan Henderson in the 74th minute of a 3–0 win against Romania.[38] He scored his first goal for England Under-21s on 13 August 2013, in a 6–0 win against Scotland.[39]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 12 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leyton Orient (loan) 2010–11[40] League One 12 0 2 0 0 0 14 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2011–12[41] Premier League 0 0 1 0 1 0 5[a] 0 7 0
2012–13[42] Premier League 7 0 1 0 2 0 4[a] 0 14 0
2013–14[43] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 2 0
2015–16[44] Premier League 19 1 3 1 1 0 7[a] 1 30 3
2016–17[45] Premier League 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Total 27 1 5 1 6 0 18 1 56 3
Derby County (loan) 2011–12[41] Championship 12 1 12 1
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2013–14[43] Championship 26 0 0 0 0 0 26 0
Swansea City (loan) 2014–15[46] Premier League 13 0 2 1 3 0 18 1
Swansea City 2016–17[45] Premier League 17 1 0 0 17 1
2017–18[47] Premier League 37 0 7 1 1 0 45 1
2018–19[48] Championship 12 0 0 0 1 0 13 0
2019–20[49] Championship 8 0 1 0 1 0 10 0
Total 74 1 8 1 3 0 0 0 85 2
Aston Villa (loan) 2018–19[48] Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Queens Park Rangers 2020–21[50] Championship 22 0 1 0 1 0 24 0
Ipswich Town 2021–22[51] League One 14 0 1 0 0 0 2[b] 0 17 0
Exeter City 2023–24[52] League One 35 1 0 0 2 0 1[b] 0 38 1
Career total 237 4 19 3 15 0 21 1 290 8
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearance in EFL Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile Tom Carroll". Premier League. 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Thomas Carroll". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Tom Carroll – the change of pace to the power game? – blog – Spurs Fanatic". 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Has Tom Carroll's time at Tottenham finally come?". 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Thomas Carroll biography at Tottenhamhotspur.com". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Carroll loan to Orient". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 27 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Stoke 0–0 Tottenham (7–6 pens)" BBC Sport. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Tottenham 3–0 Cheltenham" BBC Sport. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Os take Spurs youngster on loan". Leyton Orient F.C. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Bournemouth 1–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 5 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Leyton Orient 1–1 Arsenal" BBC Sport. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Arsenal 5–0 Leyton Orient" BBC Sport. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Derby County sign Tottenham midfielder Tom Carroll" BBC Sport. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Barnsley 3–2 Derby" BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Tottenham 0–1 Wigan" BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Carroll joins Swans on loan". Swansea City A.F.C. 22 August 2014.
  18. ^ Higginson, Marc (10 December 2015). "Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 Monaco". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  19. ^ Oscroft, Tim (26 December 2015). "Tottenham Hotspur 3–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "Tom Carroll: Swansea City sign midfielder from Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. 17 January 2017.
  21. ^ Hunter, Andy (21 January 2017). "Gylfi Sigurdsson and Swansea stun Liverpool in five-goal thriller at Anfield". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  22. ^ Charlie Eccleshare; Chris Bascombe (21 January 2017). "Liverpool 2 Swansea 3: Heroic visitors make history to damage Jurgen Klopp's title ambitions". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  23. ^ Bacon, Jake (22 April 2017). "Fernando Llorente and Tom Carroll seal Swansea's vital win over Stoke". The Guardian.
  24. ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (31 January 2019). "Tom Carroll joins Aston Villa on loan as Leroy Fer remains with Swansea City". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  25. ^ Dicken, Alex (1 February 2019). "Aston Villa sign Tom Carroll – and fans are ALL saying the same thing". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  26. ^ Kendrick, Mat (3 February 2019). "Aston Villa provide Jack Grealish injury news as boss delivers verdict on Tom Carroll". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Tom Carroll: Swansea City midfielder out for the season". BBC News. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  28. ^ Bywater, Alex (11 December 2019). "Swansea City 1–1 Blackburn Rovers: Home form concerns continue as both sides end match with 10 men". Wales Online. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  29. ^ "BORJA BASTON LEAVES SWANSEA CITY FOR ASTON VILLA". Swansea City Official. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Tom Carroll: QPR sign former Tottenham & Swansea midfielder on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  31. ^ "Plymouth Argyle 3 – 2 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Carroll & Owens offered new deals".
  33. ^ "Tom Carroll: Town complete Tom Carroll signing". itfc.co.uk. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Quartet depart Town". Ipswich Town F.C. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Tom Carroll is a Grecian!". Exeter City F.C. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Tom Carroll in England u21 Squad" Tottenham Hotspur FC. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  37. ^ "England U21 5–0 Iceland U21" BBC Sport. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  38. ^ "England v Romania". The FA.com. The Football Association. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  39. ^ "England Under-21s thrash Scotland 6–0 in friendly" BBC Sport. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  40. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  42. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  43. ^ a b "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  44. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  45. ^ a b "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  46. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  47. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  48. ^ a b "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  49. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  50. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  51. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  52. ^ "Games played by Tom Carroll in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.

External links edit