The wall in the Gym of MU Academy at Carrington probably needs to be decorated. On it is currently hanging pictures of Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Both Tom Heaton also appeared. At the time of decoration, all 4 were members of the first team of MU. Currently, technically, 3 people are still staying, but most likely Heaton will be the only one who remains after this summer.
In the main building, there are old and present photos of players from the Academy. Dean Henderson is one of the recent prominent faces – a successful story from MU Academy, though unsuccessful in this club itself.
Director of the Academy is about to leave the office, Nick Cox, who celebrated Henderson's excellent performance in the FA Cup final on X. Henderson was the number one goalkeeper from MU's first academy since the Gary Walsh. However, the opportunity for a talent from the Academy to become the official goalkeeper in the first team is always rarer than any other position.
Cox always admits the goalkeeper is a conundrum. Need enough quantity to practice, compete and ready for the first team, so the youth teams must have at least 6 goalkeepers. MU welcomed the emergency offer from the clubs, like Henderson was called to go to the emergency goalkeeper for the 2016 Stockport County in 2016 – for the first time he played a professional field.
The image of Henderson can still inspire the current young goalkeepers. He won the FA Cup, will play in the European Cup next season, and are rumored to be the number one position in England of Jordan Pickford.
“We are always proud to see our boys have a brilliant career elsewhere,” Cox shared. “If you just look at the fact that anyone can play in MU, then we will all disappointed.”
The work of the COX at MU is now completed and he will be moved as a technical director for Everton later this year. “Nick has made great contributions to MU over the past 9 years,” MU Sports Director Jason Wilcox said.
“I knew his ability before coming here and really liked to work with. The recognition and development of excellent young talents is always one of the top priorities of the club, and we are grateful to the solid foundations that Nick has built so that we can continue to develop.”
In 2019, the time Henderson became the Premier League player in the Sheffield United shirt, also when the COX was appointed as the head of the MU Academy. Nicky Butt then took on the role of the head of the first team development. Both contribute important to the revival of one of the most core parts at Old Trafford.
During the post -Sir Alex Ferguson years, the MU Academy was neglected. After Brian McClair left in 2015, the club did not have a head of the Academy working full time for a year. Instead, this role is part -time by the club's secretary John Alexander and John Murtough – who later took control of sports director in 2021.
In January 2016, the U18 MU team was overwhelmed by Chelsea 5-1 in the context of Chelsea's youth team dominating FA Youth Cup. A month before Marcus Rashford had a spectacular one's debut, coach Louis Van Gaal directly watched him play at Altrincham.
The U18 team that year still undergo a series of 12 consecutive losses. In the same year, the U14 MU team was destroyed by the Man City youth team with a score of 9-0. In Northern Ireland, the public stirred up when MU did not attend the 2015 Milk Cup – a prestigious teen tournament that used to be their favorite playground.
The reputation of the MU Academy was maintained mainly thanks to the shine at the first level of Rashford and Jesse Lingard – who scored in the FA Cup 2016 finals. Van Gaal gave the opportunity to launch 12 players from the Academy, but most of them were not really deserved or too unexpected. Paddy Mcnair and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson used to have impressive short stages, creating the feeling that the Academy is working well but in reality.
It was not until Nicky Butt returned to MU to lead the Academy in February 2016, everything that really flourished. He started a strong recruitment in the summer with contracts such as Tahith Chong, Lee O'Connor, Nishan Burkart, Joshua Bohui and Millen Baars. Although none of these became the first pillar, it was a clear statement about the new orientation.
The most notable addition of 2016 was Kieran McKenna – who was brought back from the Tottenham Academy to train the U18 team. McKenna took over a talented player like Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood or James Garner – who later helped the U18 team top the Northern Group in the Premier League U18 season 2017/18.
After Jose Mourinho went to the first team coaching committee of 2018, some players thought that McKenna was like a strict teacher. But success at Ipswich Town later showed that he was completely brave to lead the mature players. McKenna's feelings and attention were evident when he supported Gomes – when he was 16 years old – overcome the suspense in a live television interview with MuTV at the final awards ceremony.
Mourinho was disappointed with some U21 players who were relegated in 2018. During Mourinho's last season trip, names like Greenwood, Garner and Gomes were put into the squad as a gradual blood change.
COX has strongly promoted the recruitment of international young players for MU Academy. Hannibal Mejbri was recruited from Monaco for £ 9 million in 2019, a year before MU “raided” on Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico to bring Marc Jurado, Alvaro Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho.
According to COX, the strengthening of European players does not stem from the consequences of Brexit. Jurado, Fernandez and Garnacho are simply three Spanish talents suitable for the gaps at the Academy to support the first team – he affirmed that.
Fernandez is another successful story of the MU Academy, although he eventually can't squeeze into the first team. Meanwhile, Garnacho's career in the Red Devils seems to end early after 5 years, but he will still be remembered with two decisive goals in the FA Youth Cup and FA Cup finals.
Cox persuaded Garnacho to leave Atletico to MU through Zoom calls during the blockade period by 2020, with the support of a translator from … his sub -bedroom. Cox humorously recounted the scene of two sons – then 14 and 10 years old – was arguing loudly outside because of the X box.
Mark Dempsey – the coach of the Academy was invited by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to return to MU in 2018 – once likened Garnacho like Peter Barnes, his former teammate in a short period of MU. Garnacho later took Rashford's place and was ranked in the same ranks with other famous winger of the club.
“It was not until playing 50 or 100 matches for you to start thinking that he was really mature,” Cox once said. Maybe Garnacho will stop at 144 matches and leave.
In the domestic market, MU successfully recruited Joe Hugill in 2020 despite competition from Arsenal and Tottenham. Charlie McNeill also attracted attention when leaving Man City to join MU for £ 750,000.
MU Academy has fallen behind Man City for many years, so the MCNeill deal is considered a big push. MCNeill started his career at MU Academy before being attracted by Man City in 2014. Notably, Man City even suggested to take care of MCNeill's brothers and sisters at St Buede's College.
Also in 2014, Man City opened a modern football academy named City Football Academy. MU acknowledged the current training facility in Carrington, but a new building for the first team is being built and will be completed by the end of this summer.
Two twins of Darren Fl baner – Jack and Tyler – have spent 9 years at Man City Academy before returning to MU in 2023. Both are young players, one play for him, one play for Scotland. MU thinks that Man City approaches Harrison Parker shortly after it was a “retaliation” for the Fl Ministryer.
Kobbie Mainoo – born in Stockport, an area that is “territory” of Man City – is a typical example of the revival of MU Academy. Those who understand that Mainoo believes that he will join the Green Man if the MU Academy is not Butt and the Cox reformed.
Since Brexit, MU has been forced to enhance the recruitment of domestic players due to new regulations banning British clubs signing contracts with players under 18 years old from abroad. The two brothers Fletcher, Harry Amass and Chido Obi were both in the first team. In addition, Toby Collyer and Ethan Ennis also moved from Brighton and Liverpool in 2022. MU also brought to Ayden Heaven from the Arsenal Academy for £ 1.5 million.
Cox feels regretful when Brexit makes MU unable to continue building multicultural squads. He believes that the club's philosophy is always a blend of local players and international talents. The FA Youth Cup championship in 2022 includes a Czech player, a Norwegian and two Spanish people.
Maxi Oyedele – born in Salford, currently playing for Legia Warsaw – has played in the Polish national team and is receiving much attention. Zach Baumann – from Bolton – was played for the Ukrainian youth team.
With a squad mostly British and the United Kingdom, MU won the “treble” at the level of the Academy of 2023/24. The only minus point is that unexpected defeat against Swindon Town at FA Youth Cup.
In February 2020, MU reached the semi -finals of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 8 years. It was not a special generation, and Mejbri – who had 13 appearances in the first team – the most prominent name. Even so, it was still a significant step.
A potential young squad later failed to play at the FA Youth Cup next season when MU lost 0-1 against Liverpool at Leigh Sports Village, before finding the glory in 2022. The final was held at Old Trafford set a record for the audience to the field in a Youth Cup match with 67,492 people.
Cox never wanted to win that to become the only definition of the Academy. The role of COX was so wide that he restructured the coaching staff, rebuilt the sports science team, focusing on psychological support, upgrading efficiency analysis system and developing the whole life skills program for young players.
The responsibility of the COX expands significantly over time, from the part -time role with the original nicky butt nicky. COX is also very alert when reducing the exaggeration of young players to be trained with the first team, in order to help them not delusion and understand the actual situation.
No, that doesn't mean they will become a future star. Most simply because the first team is missing due to injury, physical restoration or international obligations. Only Garnacho is an exception when the media is absent before the FA Youth Cup final because Ralf Rangnick thinks he is good enough to be at the first team.
Tyrell Warren was one of the first academy players mentioned by Mourinho when taking over MU. As Rashford's former teammate at the Academy, he is currently playing for Grimsby Town in League Two – but still a typical model of MU Academy.
In 2022, Cox attended the EFL Trophy match between MU and Barrow youth teams, along with Tony Whelan, Dave Bushell and Eamon Mulvey – the perennial pillars of the young training system at the club. Darren Fl socialcher is also present at the Holker Street.
Before the ball, Warren and Adam Temple – a former MU Academy coach – entered the VIP living room to greet the old leadership. “That is the mu quality”, the COX shared. “Because they were taught like that – returning to greet and share about their season. And you sat there, thinking that 'this is what is the child training.”
“A boy who has grown up from your training program, is now working hard, promoting the whole potential. And most importantly – he is living by football.”
Warren has now moved to Grimsby Town – a 7 -level Barrow team last season. He has not reached his limit.
