It is not a coincidence that Manchester United have one of the best academies in world football.
Youth. Courage. Success. The three pillars to Manchester United’s heritage and it all begins at the academy.
The infamous Class of ’92 forged decades of success for the Red Devils, and putting faith in youth players is a must for each and every manager who arrives at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim boasted a great record with young players before his arrival in Manchester, and he has already put his trust in United’s youth with Tyler Fredricson becoming the 254th academy graduate.
There is no luck to United’s academy success, it stems from club tradition and brilliant coaching policies.
Manchester United training complex Carrington.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Man United black boot academy policy is ‘perfect’
There are several stories that come out of Carrington that help to explain why United’s youngsters are so successful.
For example, there is a photo of footballing legend Lionel Messi cleaning his own boots hung up in Carrington to remind young players about the importance of humility and staying grounded.
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There is also a unique ‘black boot policy’ used by United to help teach discipline to the academy players. Youth players are required to wear black boots until they make it to the first team.
United’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant Angel Gomes spoke about the policy to BBC and described it as “perfect”.
“You would play against other teams and they’d be wearing colourful boots that you wanted to wear, because your idols wore colourful boots,” Gomes said.
“But thinking about it now, it was perfect because they wanted everyone to be the same.”
Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay loved black boot policy
Gomes is not the only United academy graduate who looks back fondly on the black boot rule within the club’s youth ranks.
His former academy teammate Marcus Rashford also spoke highly about the academy policy, suggesting it helped his development.
Speaking to MEN in 2017, Rashford said: “Growing up here at United there was a black boot only policy. From being a kid here at nine years old there has always been that black boot policy.
“At the start you don’t really buy into it but by the end you learn to love it as well. Probably would always wear them if it was my choice.”
Scott McTominay also recognised the importance of the policy despite admitting he wasn’t a fan when he was younger.
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“I didn’t like the black boots but you had to do it. You had to respect the rules. I probably couldn’t tell you one player who liked wearing black boots but it was the rule for every academy player,” McTominay said, as quoted by NotTheOldFirm.
“If someone tried to come out in red boots it’s like, ‘You’re no different to any of us, so get your black boots back on until you’ve earned the right to wear coloured boots.”