Canice Carroll

Canice Michael Carroll (born 16 January 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is a product of the Oxford United youth system. Born in England, Carroll has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Club career

Oxford United

Adept as a central defender, full back or a midfielder, Carroll came through the youth system at hometown club Oxford United and began a scholarship in July 2015. His progression was such that he was offered a ​2 ⁄₂-year professional contract in August 2015 and signed it on 5 February 2016. Carroll made his debut for the club as a substitute for Alex MacDonald after 82 minutes of a 2–0 Football League Trophy Southern Area quarter-final victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on 11 November 2015. He did not feature in the remainder of Oxford's run to the 2016 Football League Trophy Final or in the club's promotion to League One, but was a part of the U18 team which finished the season as Football League Youth Alliance Merit League 2 champions. Carroll made seven appearances during the 2016–17 season and was named as the Us' Young Player of the Year. He was an unused substitute during the 2–1 2017 EFL Trophy Final defeat to Coventry City at Wembley Stadium. Carroll signed a new three-year contract with the club in May 2017.

Carroll made something of a breakthrough during the 2017–18 season, making 17 appearances and scoring what would be his only goal for the club, a header in a 3–2 defeat to Bradford City on 30 December 2017. He departed the Us on 9 August 2018, having made 25 appearances and scored one goal during ​2 ⁄₂ seasons as a professional at the Kassam Stadium.

Brentford

On 9 August 2018, Carroll signed a two-year B team contract at Championship club Brentford for an undisclosed fee, with the option of a further year. He featured regularly for the B team and was an unused substitute on one occasion for the first team before departing Griffin Park on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 season in January 2019. Despite being a member of the first team's Austrian training camp during the 2019–20 pre-season, Carroll departed on a season-long loan in August 2019. The loan was ended on the final day of the January 2020 transfer window and he then transferred out of the club.

Swindon Town (loan)

On 4 January 2019, Carroll joined League Two club Swindon Town on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. Deployed predominantly as a defensive midfielder, he made 17 appearances and scored one goal during his spell.

Carlisle United (loan)

On 1 August 2019, Caroll joined League Two club Carlisle United on loan for the duration of the 2019–20 season. On 10 August 2019, his second match for the club, Carroll received the first red card of his career, for a "two-footed lunge" on Jordan Lyden in a 3–2 defeat to former club Swindon Town. The loan was ended on 31 January 2020, by which time he had made 16 appearances and scored one goal.

Stevenage

On 31 January 2020, Carroll transferred to League Two club Stevenage on a contract running until the end of the 2019–20 season. Prior to the season being ended early, he made four appearances and was released when his contract expired.

International career

Carroll has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at U17, U18 and U19 level. He was nominated for the International U17 Player of the Year award at the 2016 FAI International Football Awards. Carroll was named in the U21 squad for the 2019 Toulon Tournament and made one appearance in the tournament, with a start in a shootout defeat to Mexico U22 in the third place play-off.

Personal life

Carroll attended Cherwell School.

Honours

• Oxford United Young Player of the Year: 2016–17

Career statistics

As of match played 7 March 2020