Franz Carr (born 24 September 1966) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward and winger from 1984 until 2000. He made 131 appearances in seven years with Nottingham Forest, and had shorter spells in the Premier League or Football League with Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion. He also spent time in Italy with Reggiana and in United States with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Career Carr began his career with Blackburn Rovers, but before making a first team appearance was signed for £25,000 rising to £100,000 by Nottingham Forest in August 1984.
After arriving at Forest, Carr was seen as a popular winger who, at his peak, was one of the fastest players off the mark. Mostly playing down the right wing, he was a regular target for midfielder Neil Webb and striker Nigel Clough to chip balls over the opposing left-back. He was exciting but lacked a good final ball, much to the ire of manager Brian Clough. Clough described Carr in typical idiosyncratic fashion as the best bloody corner flag hitter in the country, if only that was where the net was. Despite this, Carr still contributed to Forest's Football League Cup triumphs in 1989 and 1990.
However, he lost his place in the first team during the 1989–90 season, managing just 14 league appearances and one goal. He joined relegation strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on loan, making 12 goalless appearances in the First Division.
He featured 13 times for Forest in the 1990–91 season, scoring twice, though his part in their run to the FA Cup final (which they lost to Tottenham Hotspur) was minimal. He also had a loan spell with West Ham United, playing three times in their Second Division promotion campaign.
Carr transferred to Newcastle United on 13 June 1991 for £250,000, playing under Osvaldo Ardiles. He scored on his debut as part of a 2–1 loss away to Charlton Athletic, with his second goal coming against Plymouth Argyle in September. A knee injury forced him to miss the majority of the season, returning to play the final three games, at which point Kevin Keegan had taken charge. Carr moved to Sheffield United in January 1993 for about £150,000.
He continued to play in the Premier League with Sheffield United, Leicester City and Aston Villa. Despite only playing three league games in two seasons at Aston Villa, he scored the winning goal for them in their FA Cup quarter-final against his old club Nottingham Forest in the 1995–96 season, enabling them to reach the semi-finals in which they were beaten by Liverpool.
Carr began winding down his career with a move to Reggiana and short spells with Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion.
Personal life Carr now lives in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNottingham Forest1985–86First Division2330021002541986–87First Division3640063104371987–88First Division2240031002551988–89First Division2334060213541989–90First Division1410010101611990–91First Division132000010142Total13117401855115823Sheffield Wednesday (loan)1989–90First Division120200000140West Ham United (loan)1990–91Second Division3000000030Newcastle United1991–92Second Division1520010001621992–93First Division101003000131Total253004000293Sheffield United (loan)1992–93Premier League83400000123Sheffield United1993–94Premier League101000000101Leicester City (loan)1994–95Premier League5000000050Leicester City1994–95Premier League8100000081Aston Villa1994–95Premier League20000000201995–96Premier League1011000021Total3011000041Reggiana1996–97Serie A6000000060Bolton Wanderers (loan)1997–98Premier League5000000050West Bromwich Albion1997–98First Division4000000040Career total220251112255125832
Honours Nottingham Forest Football League Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90 Full Members Cup: 1988–89 Football League Centenary Tournament: 1988
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