Premier League giants, Manchester United, have stripped Harry Maguire of his captaincy role ending weeks of speculations of rumours suggesting that manager Erik ten Hag favour a new leader for the 2023/24 season as he continues to rebuild the ruins of Old Trafford.
The Englishman on Sunday confirmed that he was informed of the change in leadership after a meeting with the club’s Dutch manager ahead of the club’s pre-season tour.
Maguire who signed for the Red Devils back in January 2020 for a record fee of £80m from Leicester City has been heavily criticised by the club’s fanbase after a series of disappointing performances since ex-manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed him the captain band five months after joining United, a decision questioned by a large number of the fanbase.
Confirming Maguire’s captaincy, Solskjaer, in an interview back in January 2020 said, “Harry is wearing the captain’s armband and will keep wearing it.
“He’s been a leader in the group. I’ve been, not surprised, but impressed by his leadership skills, so he will continue wearing the armband.
“He’s come in and everything about him tells me he’s a leader.
“He’s part of a group that we’ve had that has been leading this young group. Ashley has been, David [de Gea], Marcus [Rashford], Harry, so Harry will keep on wearing the armband.”
Ten Hag who joined the club last season stunned everyone, against popular demand, by retaining Maguire as the club’s captain; giving him an opportunity to prove his critics wrong.
Speaking at his first press conference of Tour 2022 before the friendly against Liverpool at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, Ten Hag said, “Harry Maguire is the captain.” He went further to explain his decision by saying, “I have to get to know all the players and it takes time. “But he[Maguire] has been an established captain for a few years and he has achieved a lot of success, so I don’t doubt about this issue.”
However, Maguire’s future at the club remains uncertain, having slipped down the pecking order at the heart of Ten Hag’s defensive pairing with left-back, Luke Shaw, being favoured ahead of his compatriot.
The 30-year-old’s fall from grace saw him make just eight starts in the Premier League last season and he has been linked with a move away from the club this transfer window with West Ham tipped to be one of his possible destinations.
Confirming the news, Man Utd said, “Everyone at Manchester United thanks Harry Maguire for his contribution as captain over the past three and a half years”. “The manager will announce the new captain in due course, after briefing the players”.
Reacting, Maguire penned a heartfelt appreciation message to the club’s fans on Sunday, vowing to continue fighting for the shirt as long as he remained in the club.
“After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
“So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing the armband. Since the day I took on the role, three and half years ago, it’s been a huge privilege to lead Manchester United and one of the proudest moments of my career to date. It’s one of the greatest honours in club football.
“I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful – on and off the field. I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support,” he said.
As United fans await the announcement of the club’s new captain, deputy skipper, Bruno Fernandes, appears to be a clear favourite for the role, having strapped the band in Maguire’s cameo 2022/23 season though other players like Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Casemiro are being tipped to be in contention for the captaincy role.
However, when asked about how he felt being a leader in the United dressing room, Casemiro told Placar last week, “I like having this role, yes, to be honest. Being a leader, caring, being like a father, going after things, I like to set an example, be the first to arrive, I like to play this role. The captain’s [armband] is nothing more than a symbol, but the players have the responsibility to talk to the referee, to the players – I like to be that example player.”
