🚨 It's release day!
📕 The Men Who Made Manchester United is out now
📹 A couple of minutes below on what's in my first book and why it's especially relevant this week after the news on Ratcliffe & MUFC ⬇️
Available on Waterstones (incl. Manchester shops), Amazon & elsewhere.
Teden Mengi trained with the Manchester United first team today.
He's a really good prospect and I'd expect Solskjaer will give him some kind of appearance before the season ends.
I've written about him a few times. But here's something from the December issue of
@UWSmag
.
Ethan Wheatley has become the 250 graduate of Manchester United’s world-famous Academy.
A landmark statistic which brings others to attention: ~20,000 combined appearances over a century, 440 trophies won, born in 20 different countries.
What it’s really about is the moments…
Advice and encouragement from Angel Gomes, dreams of playing like Nani and an already blossoming friendship with Kobbie Mainoo...
It was a real pleasure to chat with United's new no.15 Leny Yoro. Get a sense of the player and the person in his signing interview ⬇️
Manchester United sent out a nice ‘care package’ last week to the people who work for the club, from academy scouts to hospitality staff.
The package had a couple of gifts from club sponsors (including face masks), a recipe to try from the Head Chef and tips on well-being.
This has got to be a turning point for football in this country. We have to push for changes to regulation, fan ownership, cheaper ticket prices to bring the younger generation into the game and everything else supporters groups have called for over the last decade.
🚨 Some news...
I've written a book!
The Men Who Made Manchester United tells the incredible, untold story of the eight pioneers who built and rebuilt
#mufc
before Sir Matt Busby.
"‘A fine book with incredible attention to detail." -
@AndyMitten
Solskjær arrived at Carrington and gave receptionist Kath a box of Norwegian chocolates. The kind of touch that Fergie was loved for and got everyone on his side. Love it.
(Also one thing many who worked at Utd were frustrated at Jose for the lack of)
United worked very hard to sign Hansen-Aaroen ahead of Liverpool, Everton, Juventus and Bayern Munich. The club travelled to his home in northern Norway. The family were touched by the effort, by Christmas cards and by calls from Solskjaer to the family home.
OTD in 2014: Manchester United won the Milk Cup, renamed to
@SuperCupNI
.
Marcus Rashford, Dean Henderson and Axel Tuanzebe were all in the squad for that tournament.
The trio have since played 445 games of senior football.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen, 19, has left MUFC to join Werder Bremen.
Arrived in 2020 in a summer of high-profile youth transfers incl. Garnacho (65 apps), Kambwala (4), Jurado (left to Espanyol), Vitek (Accrington Stanley, loan), Hugill (Burton, loan) & McNeill (U21s).
Some context ⬇️
🏆Manchester United’s U18s will celebrate their *three* trophies at half-time tonight at Old Trafford.
Captain & matchgoing Red Finley McAllister says this was motivation for yesterday’s national final: “We said before, we’re not going out there [just] with two. We want three.”
Bienvenue à Manchester
@Leny_Yoro
An exciting signing for United and a pleasure to see another young player enjoy the thrill of putting that red shirt on for the first time.
Full interview 🔜⏳
Manchester United’s U21s beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford in front of an impressive crowd. Nearly 15,000 in attendance, including a few hundred from Merseyside.
As always with youth games here, plenty of great stories off the pitch as well as on it…
“Born in Bradford, trained at Carrington, kicked about in Moss Side.”
I spoke to the people who’ve watched Mason Greenwood for years.
This is how Manchester United nurtured a two-footed mercurial talent, for
@IndyFootball
.
Teden Mengi trained with the Manchester United first team today.
He's a really good prospect and I'd expect Solskjaer will give him some kind of appearance before the season ends.
I've written about him a few times. But here's something from the December issue of
@UWSmag
.
Phil Foden makes his UEFA Champions League debut for Manchester City as a substitute on the same night that Ryan Sessegnon scores a hat-trick on his 50th appearance for Fulham.
Both English 17-year-olds.
We been given a green light to build a new all-purpose home at Mersey bank. The facilities will be 2nd to none within the area providing high end training facilities and changing rooms, please feel free to celebrate our news
@MENnewsdesk
@MarcusRashford
@WesBrown24
@Southsidemag
Manchester United U23s marked the 64th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster by welcoming members of the club’s U13s side to lay wreaths at Saturday’s fixture against West Ham.
Here’s the story of how the Academy teaches young footballers about Munich...
There will be 16 academy graduates in Manchester United's squad vs Astana on Thursday night. 10 of those are yet to make their debut for the club.
For anyone interested, here's a quick description of those players set to break records in Kazakhstan this week.
Goal: Liverpool 2-5 United [Hugill 71']
What a brilliant performance from Joe Hugill. 17 years old, playing an age group up. He's scored four goals.
I don't remember him missing a single chance. He's had four chances and converted all four of them. Outstanding.
Man Utd Women go *top* of the WSL table with a well-deserved and impressive win against Arsenal at home this afternoon.
A statement victory that follows an opening day draw vs Chelsea.
This was a 4th consecutive league wins for Casey Stoney's side.
I asked Ole about his plans for the kids over the next few weeks at United; Jimmy Garner, Ethan Laird, Gomes, Chong etc.
"They've been working hard. Hopefully, they keep on developing and if they get an opportunity, I'm sure they will take it."
Manchester United's continue to target players in their mid-teens. In recent years: Mejbri, Hoogewerf, Mejia, Puigmal, Chong, Bejger, Emeran & Traore.
Now...
Sky: Utd willing to pay £30m for Birmingham's Jude Ellingham (16).
Also about to sign Sunderland's Logan Pye (16).
Unashamedly increasing ticket prices from semi-final to final by 77% but willing to bow into people shitting their pants over a harmless joke in a tweet.
🗣 “It’s Willy Kambwala for MUTV - clap!”
An inspirational story. Born in DR Congo & grew up in France dreaming about playing for Manchester United. He was so set on that dream he learnt English in preparation.
Now he plays at Old Trafford where he can “feel the pitch shaking.”
Here’s Elanga’s breathtaking attempt.
I spoke to his first coach in England recently who described watching him as “pure magic”. This is pretty magical.
A magical night at Old Trafford summed up by this gem of a picture by photographer
@benduffyphoto
.
So happy for these players who have done the club proud.
Hansen-Aaroen had a close relationship with Solskjaer. When he came over for trials/training, Ole would invite him for dinner to help him settle.
Like Garnacho & Kambwala, Isak then signed for United during Covid, making it hard to settle. Bubbles, distancing etc.
The Men Who Made Manchester United is a "must-read," says
@GNev2
.
@bbcjohnmurray
kindly said: "At a time when money is king in football, this is an important insight into
#mufc
's humble beginnings with human football stories and a slice of Manchester’s social history."
🚨 It's release day!
📕 The Men Who Made Manchester United is out now
📹 A couple of minutes below on what's in my first book and why it's especially relevant this week after the news on Ratcliffe & MUFC ⬇️
Available on Waterstones (incl. Manchester shops), Amazon & elsewhere.
Brandon Williams comes on for his Manchester United debut.
He’s the club’s 232nd academy graduate.
His introduction means 50% of all players to feature for the United first team since 1938 have been from the academy. (Stats, as always, collected by
@mrmujac
.)
Walking to Old Trafford into a beautiful sunset. Fortunate to be at tonight’s game, reporting for
@VAVEL
and
@UtdWeeklyPod
.
Last time I was here for a European game, a Rashford hat trick saw off RB Leipzig. This time, it’s five years since his magical debut.
🎙Spoke to Mike Phelan last night. He praised the support of the Manchester United fans at Old Trafford.
🗣“The players respond to it. It’s going to play a vital part going forward for the club.”
👏🏼Another big piece of recognition for new TRA section in the Stretford End.
A Jack Fletcher double - the first an edge-of-the-box stunner - gives
#mufc
U21s a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Barnsley.
United trailed 2-0 at HT before Ethan Ennis' tidy 80th-minute finish. Fletcher did the rest!
There's something about August EFL Trophy fixtures for United.
Anthony Elanga (18yo, Swedish winger) has been added to
#mufc
's Europa League squad.
He moved to Manchester in his early teens and was spotted by both United and City playing for
@hattersley_fc
. A bit of background in the next couple of tweets.
“Keep being yourself. You are amazing.”
This letter from Manchester United academy staff to their young players. It’s brilliant. And really important.
Sums up the attitude instilled by a number of key figures, but especially Nick Cox and Nicky Butt.
(Pics via
@nlevett
)
Habeeb Ogunneye is in the Manchester United matchday squad for the first time tonight.
I spoke to him earlier this month. Here's what you need to know... 🧵
(📸 by Ash Donelon)
Henderson was proactive and decisive, Pogba at the heart of everything, Cavani doing what a 9 should do, Greenwood with two moments of quality off the bench.
A hugely satisfying, deserved and important win.
Players from Manchester United’s U17-U21s will train and play in the south of France this weekend, including friendlies against AS Monaco and OGC Nice. Part of the wider games programme, with other age groups also overseas.
Details here:
Final fun fact of the evening: a great story on the Old Trafford benches tonight. Sam, United’s physio, was taking pictures with his opposite number at Liverpool before kick-off… his Dad!
On this night in 1958, the Busby Babes dined and drank with the players of Red Star Belgrade, creating what they hoped would be lifelong friendships.
Tommy Taylor promised Dragoslav Šekularac they'd holiday together on the Adriatic Coast that summer...
(via
@BNArchive
)
.
@ManchesterMill
report that Marcus Rashford recently made a private donation to Rockies, a Wythenshawe chicken shop opposite the house he grew up in, so they could hand out meals to kids from the nearby estates for free.
Hundreds of kids got meals after school over a few days.
Solskjaer on signing a striker on loan before the transfer deadline:
A long pause, a smile, and then:
"I’m not sure. I know that we need more goals. I know if we get Bruno over the line, we’ve got a boy who’s going to score and create. Let’s talk on Friday."
Ole’s Reds take it to City and win. Brilliant performance.
There’s a connection between fans, players and manager and this is another reminder of why Utd have the right man in charge. A brilliant week.
Mourinho confirms Valencia will stay as captain, and if he's not on the pitch then one of Smalling, Young, Herrera and Mata. Possibly Matic.
Depressing state of affairs. Many would argue more than half of those players should be sold, not be captain/vice-captain for United.
Lingard is the main fucking man. Big moments, big games, he produces.
And he's Red, born and bred.
A big fuck you to the weird section of United's support who hate him. Fantastic goal.
Manchester United's FA Youth Cup final against Nottingham Forest will be played on Wednesday 11 May (19:30 BST).
Tickets available for a quid. All proceeds going to
@MU_Foundation
.
More details here:
🟤⚪️⚫️Reds are here, Reds are there...
United fans in London for the 1909 FA Cup Final.
150 special excursion trains arrived in the capital from five past midnight right up until a couple of hours before the game.
"The red and white colours of the United predominated."
Another magical Academy night. Two years on from that special FA Youth Cup win at Old Trafford, another impressive performance and trophy, this time at Leigh.
A talented group of players. One great Ethan Wheatley goal. GK Elyh Harrison my MOTM. Outstanding distribution & saves.
Hansen-Aaroen's a really fun player to watch and opefully he does well in Germany.
Meanwhile, his departure opens up a regular spot in United's U21s team and possibly in first-team training, too. A big opportunity for someone younger.
It might be Twitter or fancams these days but this is how Manchester United fans voiced their opinions (1903):
3 letters to the editor of the MEN demanding that 'custodian' (GK) John Sutcliffe be dropped for Harry Moger from the reserves.
Have football fans ever really changed?
#PL
clubs have capped away tickets at £30. Most clubs are freezing season ticket prices.
What are the
@FA
doing? Increasing prices for the Cup final by 77% compared to the semi.
Stop such little consideration being shown towards fans. Sign the petition.
⏳Coming soon… 𝓛𝓘𝓕𝓔𝓑𝓛𝓞𝓞𝓓
Going behind the scenes at the Academy this season has been an incredible experience. A dream project for me. Now there are some special stories to be told.
The story of immense local pride for a passionate global audience.
We are proud to introduce a new documentary series that tells the tale of our world-leading Academy: Lifeblood ❤️⬇️
#MUFC
||
#MUAcademy
Fireworks flying. Motorbikes zipping through with flares. Algerians running through the streets to join in. When the fireworks pause for a moment, the drums can be heard. Ridiculous.
A couple of pieces from me in the programme for this historic fixture.
My first contributions for
@ManUtd
, where I’m fortunate to be working next season, from July. A mid-university degree placement which I’m very excited about. Thanks to all those who have made it possible.
📖 The digital edition of Saturday's official matchday programme is ready for you to enjoy!
Check it out for columns from
@CaseyStoney
and
@KatieZel
, plus an exclusive interview with
@ChristenPress
👀👉
18-year-old Ethan Laird has signed a new contract at Manchester United until 2023 (and an option for an extra year).
Talented right-back who needs to stay injury-free. So talented, in fact, that Brandon Williams was told to change to LB as he'd never get in ahead of Laird.
This lovely sky over Old Trafford has now turned darker, which means U23s midfielder Zidane Iqbal can end his Ramadan fast for today.
He’s been a stand-out performer in this PL2 match v Chelsea, which United deservedly lead 1-0 thanks to Alejandro Garnacho’s 36th-minute tap-in.
He did eventually settle, though, and flourish. He was key in the 2022 FA Youth Cup win, alongside Gore and Mainoo. Three really talented midfielders. As I wrote at the time in
@UWSmag
, "Mainoo may be the gem in a very good generation."
18-year-old defender Teden Mengi is in Manchester United’s squad for the UEFA Europa League.
I’ve written about him a few times but this piece below for
@UWSmag
gives you a taste of the kind of player and person he is.
Teden Mengi trained with the Manchester United first team today.
He's a really good prospect and I'd expect Solskjaer will give him some kind of appearance before the season ends.
I've written about him a few times. But here's something from the December issue of
@UWSmag
.
Included in that crowd were several Football League players who spent their formative years at United. Lads like Ashley Fletcher and Tyler Blackett. Returning to United to catch up with old teammates as part of the Academy’s burgeoning Alumni scheme.
🆕The latest Academy Weekly is available to read now on
@ManUtd
📣Includes a note from the Academy on the adapted coverage of games and news at this level.
ℹ️Plus info on Bernard & Chong, new work experience programme, Will Keane + international action.
Young United forwards Ethan Ennis and Sam Mather have signed new long-term contracts.
That and everything else you need to know in the latest Academy Weekly, including tours, EFL Trophy drama, cup draws and UEFA Youth League info⬇️
So, why is he leaving United? Reports suggest there were continued disagreements on a new contract (Jim Solbakken, agent) which partly explains why Gore/Forson have been given chances and Hansen-Aaroen has not.
#mufc
U19s will face the winner of FK Žalgiris (Lithuania) and The New Saints (Wales) in the UEFA Youth League knockouts.
The young Reds qualified by winning last season’s U18 Premier League national title.
If they progress, it’s Strømsgodset (Norway)/AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands).
Ethan loves United, scored two goals - the first a brilliant strike - in yesterday’s U18 PL Cup final, and has worked hard this season and developed well. He looked absolutely buzzing on the touchline, just like he was last night with his U18s teammates. What a week for him!
I love this photo, especially the link between Tom Heaton and 19-year-old goalkeeper Radek Vitek, not in the match day squad but getting the amazing experience of celebrating a trophy.
As I mentioned in the latest
@UtdWeeklyPod
, Heaton did the same in Moscow in 2008, aged 22.
Manchester United have 5 players aged 19 or younger on the bench for their knockout tie away to Paris Saint-Germain tonight.
Academy products Rashford, McTominay and Andreas Pereira all start.
Fantastic night for the academy, whatever the result.
@AcademyManUtd
It was an honour to speak to
#mufc
staff today about the values which defined the founding of the Academy in 1938 and continue to guide it today.
It’s a key story in The Men Who Made Manchester United 📕
Thanks for the invite
@Coxy3012
!
Details on how to order for Xmas 🎄⬇️
Fuck me. Iconic. Ole. Don’t think we’ve ever felt like this before. It’s all mad.
10 injuries. Pogba suspended. Three teenagers + McTominay/Rashford on the pitch at the end. The latter scoring the winning penalty under pressure. Unbelievable.
18-year-old GK Elyh Harrison will be presented with the U21s Player of the Year award at Old Trafford tonight.
Signed from Stevenage 2 years ago, he’s shown fantastic form across several age groups this season, showing mental strength in many ways throughout. Very well deserved.
I'm a big fan of Ethan Laird. He's a talented young right-back at Manchester United and I've written plenty about him in the past, but he's just done a brilliant half-hour interview with
@threepointstart
and
@JDSimpson98
.
Stamford Bridge is ready for the U18 Premier League national final between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Kick-off at 7pm. The game is live on MUTV.
The winner will not only be crowned English champion but also qualify for next season’s UEFA Youth League.
Hannibal Mejbri is at Molineux with the
#mufc
squad today. The Frenchman is a talented attacking midfielder who was named the U23s Player of the Year this week.
A little description of his style here, written a couple of years ago for
@MundialMag
.
In
@UWSmag
in 2023, I wrote "Gore is carbonfibre, Hansen-Aaroen can weave the highest-quality silk. His passing between the lines is excellent, in all of timing, vision and execution. Mainoo is ETH’s favourite, of that there is no doubt, but the other two have a chance at United"
It was a real honour to speak to Rasmus Højlund on the day he signed for
#mufc
.
Getting to see the genuine buzz he was getting pulling on the shirt and looking ahead to his debut was a privilege and a delight as a fan, as well as a reporter.
📹 Watch: