Andy Carroll interview: ‘There’s always been this fascination with me… You go into dark places’

Former England and Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll speaks about the highs and lows of his career and life

‘I probably wouldn’t change anything. I’ve got three beautiful kids, I’ve done more than I could have ever dreamed of doing. But it would have been nice to have stayed injury-free and won things’

Andy Carroll is sitting in the sunshine, reflecting on his career and life. The former England and Newcastle United striker is now 34 and retired from playing, but he still looks as imposing as he did when he was banging in goals for fun.

Carroll is a fascinating character. He is a man of contradictions: a gentle giant who can be a handful when he wants to be; a talented footballer who has never quite fulfilled his potential; a loving father who has made some bad decisions in his life.

In this wide-ranging interview, Carroll talks about everything from his early days at Newcastle to his time at Liverpool, West Ham and Reading. He also discusses his struggles with injury, his battle with depression, and his hopes for the future.

‘I always wanted to be a footballer’

Carroll was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in 1989. He started playing football at a young age and quickly showed a natural talent for the game.

“I always wanted to be a footballer,” he says. “I used to play in the street with my friends, and I would always be the one scoring goals.”

Carroll joined Newcastle United’s academy at the age of 11. He progressed through the ranks quickly and made his first-team debut in 2006. He scored on his debut, becoming the youngest player to score for Newcastle in the Premier League.

‘I was a bit of a handful’

Carroll quickly established himself as a regular in the Newcastle team. He was a powerful striker with a good eye for goal. However, he also had a reputation for being a bit of a handful off the pitch.

“I was a bit of a handful, yeah,” he admits. “I got into a few scrapes, but I was never really a bad kid. I just liked to have a good time.”

Carroll’s off-field antics eventually caught up with him. In 2010, he was arrested for assault and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

‘I made some bad decisions’

Carroll’s arrest was a wake-up call. He realized that he needed to change his ways.

“I made some bad decisions when I was younger,” he says. “But I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I’m a different person now.”

Carroll’s career began to take off again after his arrest. He helped Newcastle win promotion to the Premier League in 2010, and he was called up to the England squad for the first time in 2011.

‘I was never quite the same player after the injuries’

In 2011, Carroll moved to Liverpool for a fee of £35 million. He scored 11 goals in his first season at Anfield, but he struggled to maintain that level of form in subsequent seasons.

Carroll was plagued by injuries during his time at Liverpool. He suffered a serious knee injury in 2013, and he never quite regained his full fitness after that.

“I was never quite the same player after the injuries,” he says. “I lost a bit of my pace and power, and I wasn’t as effective in front of goal.”

‘I had a great time at West Ham’

Carroll joined West Ham on loan in 2013, and he made the move permanent the following year. He spent four seasons at the London Stadium, and he scored 34 goals in 139 appearances.

“I had a great time at West Ham,” he says. “The fans were amazing, and I enjoyed playing for the club.”

Carroll was released by West Ham in 2019, and he joined Reading on a short-term deal