Darren Fletcher can hold his head high over one major — and personal — feat that he did during his brief spell as Manchester United interim head coach.
The 41-year-old Manchester United Under-18s head coach was drafted into the senior team’s management after Ruben Amorim was sacked as Red Devils boss.
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Darren Fletcher, Interim Head Coach of Manchester United
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The end of Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd reign allowed Darren Fletcher to lead the Red Devils for their last two matches ahead of Michael Carrick’s expected club return.
Fletcher oversaw United’s 2-2 draw against Burnley in the Premier League clash at Turf Moor last Wednesday ahead of the Red Devils’ disappointing FA Cup result.
Brighton knocked Man Utd out of the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford on Sunday evening, with the Red Devils reduced to 10 men in the 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls.
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Darren Fletcher during the FA Cup third-round match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Darren Fletcher’s handling of Jack and Tyler Fletcher put a lot of pressure on the Man Utd interim manager
Red Devils legend Michael Carrick is expected to become Manchester United caretaker boss until the end of the 2025-26 Premier League season at Old Trafford.
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Darren Fletcher’s United interim spell might be coming to an end and the Scotsman might not have the results he wanted during his two-match spell in charge so far.
However, the ex-Man Utd midfielder can walk away knowing that he appropriately managed his twin sons, Jack Fletcher and Tyler Fletcher, in the best way possible.
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Darren Fletcher is shown a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper after the FA Cup third-round match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Fletcher was asked about Jack and Tyler Fletcher and whether he would select either United youth academy product during his time in charge of the Red Devils.
Jack was on the bench for United’s 2-2 result against Burnley, while the 18-year-old was among the substitutes alongside brother Tyler for the FA Cup match on Sunday.
Fletcher did not turn to either Jack or Tyler during Man Utd’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton and the Red Devils Under-18s head coach made the right call for the match.
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Why Darren Fletcher did the ‘right thing’ by not playing Jack or Tyler Fletcher during his Man Utd spell
Fletcher was already mocked after he admitted that he asked Sir Alex Ferguson about whether or not he should have taken the Man Utd interim managerial role.
The United interim boss would only have added further fuel to the fire had he turned to either Jack or Tyler Fletcher for the Brighton or Burnley matches last week.
Fletcher would have seen his two sons easily be hit with ‘nepotism’ labels and Jack and Tyler would have had a hard time overcoming the criticism against them.
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Jack Fletcher in action for Manchester United vs Wolves.
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Instead, the former Scotland international made the ‘right’ call by leaving them on the bench in the United first-team squad during his brief interim managerial spell.
Jack and Tyler should be allowed to walk in their father’s prolific footsteps rather than see their fledgling careers cast in the shadows amid any nepotism criticism.
No matter his results during his interim United managerial spell, Fletcher’s approach to his son showed his utmost professionalism and integrity as a football coach.
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