Bruno Fernandes has always led by example at Manchester United and the Portuguese playmaker would make an excellent manager.
This season, Bruno Fernandes is chasing the Premier League assist record and is a frontrunner to win the Player of the Season.
Ineos are desperate to keep Fernandes beyond this season and, at 31 years old, he still has plenty of football to play.
But as he approaches the twilight years of his career, Bruno Fernandes will have one eye on his future, and it seems that he could soon find himself on the sidelines as a coach or manager.
Bruno Fernandes during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Bruno Fernandes has begun coaching courses amid Man Utd dream
Back in 2021, Fernandes spoke about his ambitions to become a manager – and ideally – the United boss.
“I’m trying to enjoy the football, you know. I think I want to be a coach. Honestly, I would like to be a coach,” Fernandes told MUTV.
“I don’t know which team I would like to manage. Of course, the biggest team if I can manage Manchester United, I will be happy. I can leave now just some words so if people see this, if I’m a manager in the future, the fans can make some pressure to bring me as a coach!
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“But I think I would like to be a coach in the future. I’m not sure but for what I feel for football, for the feeling I have, I think I have to continue to be inside of football because my whole life is about this. So I think, in the future, it needs to be with football too.”
According to The Athletic, Fernandes has already undergone his UEFA B diploma, which he did alongside United teammates Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic.
Fernandes clearly has a passion for coaching, and United fans have seen that frequently on the pitch with the Portuguese maestro never afraid to pull his teammates to offer advice and instruction.
What does Bruno Fernandes have to do in 2026 to challenge for the Ballon d’Or?
Win the World Cup? Win the Premier League POTY? Break the assist record?
Bruno Fernandes Ballon d'Or Talking points graphic.
Credit: Getty Images.
Sir Alex Ferguson encouraged Man Utd players to coach
Fernandes is not the only member of United’s first-team squad who has jumped into their coaching qualifications.
Harry Maguire has started his coaching badges, doing them alongside Jonny Evans – who is now putting them to good use as part of Michael Carrick’s backroom staff.
READ MORE: What Bruno Fernandes has been doing with Man Utd academy players at Carrington says it all
As per the Daily Mail, Sir Alex Ferguson always encouraged his players to take coaching courses during afternoons at Carrington.
Fernandes and Maguire, the captain and vice captain of the Red Devils, have taken up Ferguson’s advice.
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