The club’s recent appointment of Jonny Evans to the youth department, following his retirement, may have gone unnoticed by many, but it was a brilliant move. Success is built on foundations. Jonny Evans can provide a foundation for youth players transitioning from the first team to the academy while also deciding where the best place to send them on loan can be from a development perspective.
There’s an importance to having two players like Evans and Darren Fletcher around the academy. Two former squad members, Evans and Darren Fletcher, who have navigated these challenges, are helping guide the next generation as United aims to regain its status as a European superpower over the next decade. Carrington has been pivotal to the success of a football club born on the belief of Youth, Courage and Success, and to get near to what came before, the new guard will need to take advice from some of the old guard that have came, saw and conquered.
Evans broke into the first team properly in January of 2008, trusted by Sir Alex Ferguson to feature in an FA Cup game and also against Chelsea in the league. The Northern Irish defender understands the measures that need to be taken when breaking into a first team like Manchester United with all the media discussions and pressure on every touch of a ball. Having someone with that level of experience working alongside the younger players, who have won Premier League titles and participated in crucial Champions League matches while also succeeding in one of the most demanding environments in the club’s history under Sir Alex Ferguson, will be invaluable; this is why INEOS deserves credit for making that decision.
Manchester United academy is the most important asset
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 25: Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The youth system needs care and affection over the coming months. The departure of Nick Cox will leave a major hole internally at Carrington. Cox played a pivotal role in transforming the youth sides into national powerhouses, and it will be challenging to replace his expertise, even though he was compelled to accept the new role he is undertaking at Everton due to its size.
Of course, Jason Wilcox, who has extensive experience in youth development from his time at Manchester City, will take on the role. of replacing Cox. There are some names already that Wilcox will no doubt have earmarked to step up and become the new Director of the Academy. Recent reports have linked United with Jim Fraser, who recently left Chelsea. Fraser has played a key role in helping to develop some of Cobham’s most renowned talents, including Levi Colwill, Conor Gallagher, and many other top players from Chelsea. A deal to bring Fraser to the club has yet to be agreed, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be a major admirer of the Englishman’s work, so he could be the one to replace Cox.
The standard must be exceptional. That has to be the motto across the board at the club when it comes to the level of knowledge from the boardroom down to the pitch. Ruben Amorim has the potential to be the best in class, as do a lot of those internally already within the academy, such as Luke Fedorenko, Travis Binnion and the likes of Mark Dempsey, Tony Whelan and Jarrad Ince and many, many more. Some of these candidates could be considered to take over from Cox, and each of them would deserve the opportunity to step into the role.
Darren Fletcher could also be considered for the role. Fletcher has experience at the first-team and academy levels, working under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Erik ten Hag, and Ruben Amorim at the club in the last few years. Given that Jonny Evans has assumed a role near akin to Fletcher in the youth setup, it may be time for the Scottish coach to assume full responsibility for the academy.
Whatever decision is made, it has to be one taken with care and affection; Carrington is the heart and soul of the football club, and Nick Cox understood that. The new Director must uphold the same principles from the moment they take office.
Yoro, Amad, Mainoo & more
manchester united v athletic club uefa europa league 2024 25 semi final second leg
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 08: Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu as they prepare to take a selfie during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford on May 08, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
On the pitch, next season also has the potential to be a fruitful one for Manchester United. The foundational elements of a competitive team are present. No club in world football right now boasts a more exciting defender than Leny Yoro under the age of 24. A profile of a player like that does not exist. Real Madrid knew this, but they let their ego get in the way of signing him before United could swoop. A club with players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro, Amad, Patrick Dorgu, and emerging talents like Diego Leon, Shea Lacey, Harry Amass, and many others will always be close to achieving success.
These are your building blocks. Build a football team around Leny Yoro. Build a squad around Kobbie Mainoo. Build a club around Amad. The foundation for success at Manchester United already exists on the field; the key now is how you manage it. Matheus Cunha is a delightful start and adds some much-needed pace and experience scoring goals for the team, as well as experience. We are close to finalising a deal for Bryan Mbeumo. Those two signings are perfect to take this United side forward. Key areas of the pitch that needed addressing were done before pre-season had begun.
A striker is next, and should United get all three done before July 7th, fans should be excited for next season. This is a team with talent. It’s a team with young players who perhaps just need a better environment to thrive in. Ruben Amorim has promised that the environment will come this season, particularly with a full pre-season, and if he comes through on his promise, the likes of Yoro, Mainoo and Amad, your building blocks, will take this team further and further towards the promised land.
Although finishing in 15th place was a sobering reminder of reality, Manchester United has hope for the future. Ayden Heaven still has to break through. Players such as Jaydan Kamason, Chido Obi, Godwill Kukonki, Amir Ibragimov, and Shea Lacey are currently developing at Carrington. Kamason and Kukonki especially are likely to get some first-team minutes next season and can be huge parts of the future of this football club.
It’s an exciting time to be a United fan despite the doom and gloom, and there are reasons to believe when looking at the landscape of next season.
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