The tall Irish defender caught the attention of Manchester United when they snapped him up from Cork City in 1989 but he struggled to break through into United's first eleven.

He enjoyed a double loan spell with Wrexham and his performances at the Racecourse Ground won the approval of then-City boss Brian Little, who signed him for £250,000 to bolster the City defensive ranks. Little tried numerous defensive pairings that season in a bid to guide city to play-off glory, and Carey shared in Wembley glory as City beat Derby to book a place in the Premier League.

His first game in the top-flight was one to forget, however, as he was sent off at Wimbledon He requested a transfer from Mark McGhee, who took over from Little, but was then reprieved from the transfer list and got a good run in the first team.

Carey was deemed surplus to requirements following the arrival of Martin O'Neill as manager and former club Wrexham wasted no time in re-signing their former talisman.