[11] Carroll faced stiff competition against Fabien Barthez at United but won a Premier League winners' medal in the 2002–03 season.

[12][13] Carroll received yet more competition for the 2003–04 season, when Manchester United signed American goalkeeper Tim Howard after Barthez left to join Marseille.

[17] He was released by Manchester United on 27 May 2005 after his contract expired;[18] he refused to sign a new deal after the club failed to assure him that he would be first choice for the next season.

However, a back injury sustained in a game against Fulham on 23 January 2006 left him needing surgery,[20] and he was sidelined for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, including the FA Cup Final against Liverpool.

[23] Carroll signed for Rangers on a one-year contract on 7 July 2007,[24] initially as cover for Allan McGregor but also to challenge for a starting place.

[26] Carroll was allowed permission to talk with Derby and personal terms were agreed, but the deal hinged on Rangers signing a replacement goalkeeper.

After over a week with little progress, Derby County called off the move,[27] but when Carroll offered to pay the loan fee so Rangers could sign Sunderland keeper Darren Ward, the deal was revived.

Carroll hoped to join Derby on loan for the rest of the 2007–08 season but the move was again held up by Rangers as they refused to release his registration until they found another keeper.

[28] He signed a three-year contract with the club on 21 January 2008,[29] and made his debut in a Premier League match against Birmingham City on 2 February 2008.

Carroll started the 2008–09 season as the club's first choice goalkeeper, but after getting sent off in a 2–1 victory at Norwich City he lost his place and was restricted to making appearances in cup competitions.

[31] In November 2010, Carroll announced his decision to leave Odense BK in order to return to Britain to be closer to his family.

[35] In July 2011, Carroll joined Preston North End on trial and played in a 7–1 friendly victory at Kendal Town.

[40] Despite struggling for fitness and form in pre-season,[41] Carroll appeared 16 times for the club, putting in some impressive performances, which made him highly regarded in Greece.

[42] His first appearance was against Rubin Kazan in Moscow in the first match for the round of 32, in the Europa League, coming on as a late substitute after Balázs Megyeri conceded a penalty and was given a red card.

[43] In the return leg, Carroll put in a performance considered legendary by the fans, after producing a string of saves in whilst carrying a visible hamstring injury.

Carroll lost his place in the side to Megyeri in January, being relegated to cup appearances as Olympiacos won the double for a second consecutive season.

Following his departure from Greek Superleague champions, Olympiacos, Carroll signed a one-year contract with Football League One side Notts County on 4 August 2014.

[45] On 15 November 2014, less than 24 hours after playing an international for Northern Ireland in Bucharest, Romania, Carroll kept a clean sheet as Notts County won 1–0 away at Coventry City.

[51] For many years, Carroll fought a losing battle to be Northern Ireland's first-choice keeper to the experienced Maik Taylor.