Harry Maguire is a renowned Manchester United defender born on March 5, 1993, in Sheffield, England.
The England defender has been branded recently as a flop following his fall in the defense area and errors committed leading to own goals.
Nevertheless, despite the negative comments directed at Harry Maguire, futballnews presents some compelling evidence that solidifies his status as a phenomenal defender.
Here are some facts every football fan needs to know about Manchester United’s ‘flop’ Harry Maguire:
Maguire’s current club and country
The 30-year-old currently plays as a central defender for both Manchester United and the England national team.
His height
Standing at a height of 6 ft 4 inch (1.94 m), Maguire is no doubt one of the prominent figures in the world of football.
Harry Maguire’s club career
Sheffield United
Maguire began his football journey at Sheffield United, where he joined the club’s youth academy at the young age of 11.
Displaying immense talent and dedication, he progressed through the club’s youth system and eventually made his senior debut in 2011.
Throughout his time at Sheffield, Maguire proved to be an indispensable asset and was consistently recognized for his outstanding performances.
He was voted the club’s Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons, undoubtedly highlighting his immense skill and contribution to the team.
Three back-to-back Player of the Season awards
Harry’s talent was evident from his early years at Sheffield United. In his debut senior season with the club in 2011, he received both the “Player of the Year” and “Young Player of the Year” awards, showcasing his impressive abilities and contributing to their promotion push.
Additionally, he was recognized as a member of BBC Match of the Day magazine’s 2011-12 League One Team of the Year.
This outstanding performance continued as Maguire moved forward in his career.
Over the next two seasons, he continued to excel as a ball-playing center-back, earning the prestigious title of “Player of the season” from his club for both years.
Hull City & Leicester City
In 2014, Maguire made the switch to Hull City before joining Leicester City in the summer of 2017 on a five-year contract worth £17 million.
Immediately making an impact, he became a crucial player for the team and played a key role in their successful run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in his debut season with the Foxes.
Manchester United
He secured a lucrative transfer to Manchester United in 2019 thanks to his exceptional displays in the Premier League.
In no time, he established himself as a crucial figure in the team and was bestowed with the prestigious title of Manchester United’s Player of the Year during his debut season.
Demonstrating his leadership abilities, Maguire was named the captain of Manchester United for the 2020/21 season.
Having participated in 179 matches for Manchester United, the Sheffield-born player has also represented England in 61 matches.
Maguire Played every single minute for United in the 2019-20 season
Maguire quickly established himself as one of the most important players of the Red Devils squad following his signing in 2019. He was named the captain of the club instantly by then manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, citing his leadership skills.
The English defender played every single minute of United’s 38-game campaign in the 2019-20 season, becoming the first outfield player to do so for the club since 1995.
Maguire excelled at multiple sports while growing up
While growing up, Manchester United captain and England international Maguire participated in a wide range of sports, not solely focusing on football until his teenage years.
Among these sports, he engaged in cross country, which he attributes to developing his stamina.
Rugby also played a part in his upbringing, aiding in his bravery, agility, and ability to maneuver past opponents.
Additionally, Maguire dabbled into hockey, which contributed to his vision and passing skills on the football field.
Football runs in his family
Notably, football runs in Harry Maguire’s family.
Both of his brothers, Joe and Laurence, are also involved in the sport. Laurence currently plays for Chesterfield in the National League, while Joe competes for Gainsborough Trinity in the Northern Premier League.
Harry’s flops and own goals
According to statistics, the English defender has a total of two own goals in his career.
In addition to the recent one against Scotland, he also scored one against his Premier League club, Manchester United.
The incident happened during a match against Everton in the Premier League, marking Maguire’s first own goal in the league.
The England player also accidentally started to celebrate his own goal as seen in the clip below.
It’s worth mentioning that Maguire has scored one own goal and has a record of conceding 6 goals after failing to stop his opponent. On the other hand, he has scored 7 goals for Manchester United.
Furthermore, in a recent heritage match against Scotland, England’s defender Harry Maguire conceded yet another own goal, with England leading 2-0 at halftime.
Additionally, the 30-year-old has made three direct goal-conceding errors in his career so far.
Since 2010, Maguire has become the fourth player from Manchester United to unintentionally score a goal for the opposing team, following in the footsteps of Nikola Jovanović, Jonny Evans, and Gary Neville.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that own goals are rare occurrences and should not diminish a player’s overall contribution to the team’s triumphs.
His philanthropic endeavors
In addition to his football skills, Maguire is renowned for his philanthropic endeavors, actively participating in various charitable initiatives throughout his career.
He has also been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, fearlessly discussing his own struggles with anxiety and depression.
Maguire’s physical prowess, dominance in the air, and exceptional leadership abilities have endeared him to fans at both the club and international level, solidifying his status as a beloved player.
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