Looking back, Louis van Gaal’s spell at the Manchester United helm wasn’t the unmitigated disaster many at Old Trafford painted it to be. The Dutchman steadied the ship after the lows of David Moyes’ tenure, guiding the club back into the Champions League before adding an FA Cup to the trophy cabinet. Yet, his reign was brought to an abrupt end, just days after Jesse Lingard’s emphatic winner at Wembley Stadium had underlined his achievements.
United’s hierarchy largely defended the decision by pointing to Van Gaal’s rigid, possession-heavy style, which they criticised as sterile and lacking the attacking verve fans had come to expect. It was a flat conclusion for a manager who had built his reputation with Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands before attempting to restore order at Old Trafford.
But perhaps a zeitgeist of that era for the Red Devils was Van Gaal’s ironclad belief in Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to be the next big thing out of the Carrington talent factory. Once viewed as an exciting young talent, he has since slipped into near obscurity - at least until the 28-year-old resurfaced as a draft pick in season two of the Baller League.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's Manchester United Career
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
Anthony Martial, the old Chevrolet-fronted kit, and the constant swing between hope and the fear that United might never be the same without Sir Alex Ferguson - 2015 was a strange time to be a Man United fan. It was one of the first periods that entire generations experienced real struggles with their football team.
Yet, even early into the English giants’ difficulties, there was a sense that it was simply a transition period, and once the post-Fergie dust settled, everything would return to the way it had been for the best part of two decades. Part of that rebuilding process, at least for a short time, was Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, who initially seemed every bit a product of a youth system that had nurtured the likes of Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
He burst onto the scene in 2015, making his debut against West Bromwich Albion by replacing Marcos Rojo for the final 15 minutes. His first senior start followed shortly after, amid a defensive injury crisis that forced Van Gaal to give youngsters a chance.
Borthwick-Jackson certainly seized the opportunity, going on to make 14 appearances in the 2015–16 campaign. “I have seen him once or twice, and I have been impressed by him,” said Van Gaal at the time, according to the Daily Mail.
“I knew Marouane Fellaini was injured, so I spoke with Warren Joyce to see who was available. I’m always talking with him or Paul McGuinness, and he said the left full-back was in good shape. I needed a left full-back because Marcos Rojo had played several games in a row, so I had to consider the workload. I put Cameron in the line-up without any fear, and I have to say he did very well.”
Borthwick-Jackson's Career After the Van Gaal Era Came To a Halt
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
It was as if Van Gaal's time at the Theatre of Dreams had been written in sand, washed away overnight once he was given the boot. Almost every trace of his tenure vanished with the arrival of Jose Mourinho, and one of the players to feel the impact was Borthwick-Jackson. He lost his place to Luke Shaw and was sent out on five different loan spells before finally leaving his boyhood club for good in 2020.
Six appearances for Wolves, followed by just a single outing for Leeds United the next season, marked the beginning of a steep decline for the 28-year-old. He found regular minutes at Scunthorpe United but later struggled at Tranmere Rovers, before making permanent moves to Oldham Athletic and Burton Albion. See his full career path below:
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's Career Statistics
Years
2015-2020
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020
2020-2021
2021-2023
2023-2024
2024
As seen in the breakdown above, the full-back also tried his hand abroad with Slask Wroclaw in Poland. But after struggling to find a place he wanted to settle long-term, he has now taken a different path, being drafted into the second season of the Baller League - an indoor six-a-side competition where former players and media personalities trade the intensity of professional football for a more laid-back spectacle.
He was drafted by YouTuber Simon Minter, known better by his online alias 'Miniminter', for M7 FC, who finished eighth last season after winning just four of their 11 games.
Reports suggest all players in the tournament will earn £400 per game. With the league set to run for 11 weeks, Borthwick-Jackson could pocket £4,400, not including the “Final Four Day,” where the top teams will compete for the title.
It’s a far cry from his Premier League days - chalk and cheese, in fact - as his first professional contract saw him earn £10,000-per-week under Van Gaal.