Binge drinking pretty much ruined my career, says ex-Man U goalkeeper

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll reckons that alcohol has ruined his career.

Carroll had spent four years at Old Trafford from 2001 to 2005, and recently won awards at Denmark's Odense.

"I went through a stage of my life when I was binge drinking. I was stupid. It has pretty much ruined my career. All I wanted to do was go out and drink. I then woke up one day and said this could not continue. I thought if I don't sort it out, I'd end up six foot under," the Sun quoted Carroll, as saying.

"At training on Monday and Tuesdays, I didn't want to know. Alan Pardew was wonderful with me, though, and was very understanding. I went into rehab and ended up in the news pages of your paper."

"Yet my mistake was that I tried to push it under the carpet and I never spoke about it publicly, like I am today. Since then, whenever something bad has happened or I made a mistake, it has been 'Roy Carroll has a bad attitude - he drinks and gambles'," he added.

Carroll was released by United in May 2005 after his contract expired. He refused to sign a new deal after the club failed to assure him that he would be first choice for the next season.