The homepage of MU confirmed that the former player Darren Fletcher will end the role of the first team coach to move down to lead the Red Devils U18 team from the 2025/26 season.
Flesher started his new role immediately, in charge of preparation before the team's season, starting with the training camp at the global headquarters of Adidas in HerzogenAurach, Germany, and a friendly match against QPR in Carrington.
The former captain of MU said: “I am really excited to take this new role and increase my responsibility in directly developing young players of the team. I am looking forward to working with this talented age group, supporting them to promote their full potential and prepare them to pursue their career at the highest level possible.”
Football director, Jason Wilcox said: “We are very happy that Darren will lead the U18 team. He understands what needs to become a successful academy graduate and has played an important role in shaping the career path for many of our young players in recent years.
The great relationship of Darren and all employees will only increase the close cohesion between the Academy and the first team, thereby further improving the ability to train world -class players ready to shine at Man United. “
In the U18 team, Fletting will receive support from veteran coach Colin Little, 52 – who has been working at Man United Academy since 2009. Besides, Travis Binnion – head of player development and training department – will also play a role of consulting and supporting.
Comments from Director Nick Cox plays an important role in Fl socialer nominated in this position, after Adam Lawrence has successfully completed the task in the past two seasons. Under the guidance of Lawrence, the U18 MU team won a treble in 2024 and reached the semi -finals of the FA Youth Cup last season, only lost to Aston Villa on the penalty shootout at Villa Park – the team then won the championship.
Flesher grew up from MU's training furnace, joined the Club's expansion training system since 1995 when he was only 11 years old. The former Scottish player launched the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson in the Champions League in 2003, playing a total of 342 matches and scored 24 goals for the Red Devils. In his career at Old Trafford, he won 5 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Champions League and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
After retiring in the Stoke shirt, Flesher returned to Man United as the U16 team coach by 2020 and was tried to the first team coaching committee under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In March 2021, he was appointed as a technical director, and then returned to the role of the coach of the team once Erik Ten Hag came to power and Wilcox joined the club.
At the age of 41, Fl socialcher can continue the role of the coach of the first team coach Ruben Amorim's coach but decided to lead the U18 team to contribute to the young team training system. Under the Amorim, Fletting supported the training sessions, giving professional advice to the player and the analysis team.
However, when deciding to lead the U18 team, this will be the first time in the Fl Ministryer career to be mainly responsible for developing the competition plan and choosing a squad for an important age in the academy system – including the prestigious FA Youth Cup arena.
