There has been a shake-up within the Manchester United academy, which brings the return of Adam Lawrence to Carrington just seven months after he left Manchester United.
It was a real disappointment when Adam Lawrence announced his Manchester United departure, on the back of another great season as lead coach of the U18s.
Lawrence was immediately snapped up by Newcastle, who appointed the 40-year-old as their U21 lead coach.
But the move was short-lived for Lawrence.
This was because Lawrence stepped down from his Newcastle role earlier in January, at a time which, in hindsight, must have been with knowledge of this role as Travis Binnion stepped up to the first team coaching staff to work with Michael Carrick.
Now, Lawrence is confirmed to be returning to United, and it is exactly what he deserves at the perfect time for the Red Devils.
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Manchester United celebrate winning league.
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Lawrence taking up the U21 head coach role, even if only for the next few months, represents a promotion, one which he has absolutely earned after those two stunning seasons leading the U18s.
In those two campaigns, Lawrence won 40 of 48 U18 Premier League games, losing just three.
Adam Lawrence, former Man Utd U18s head coach
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Particularly impressive was United’s U18s winning the treble under Lawrence in 2023/24.
Such performances saw Lawrence improving youth players massively, with the current U21 side packed with many of the players involved in those U18 triumphs, as it sits top of the league.
Lawrence was always an excellent coach and left for a bigger role, which was U21 football with Newcastle, but he seems to have dropped everything to return to United to take charge of the U21s, which he completely deserves.
Carrick is currently a favourite to get the job, which could see Binnion kept in the first team, which gives Lawrence the chance to earn this role permanently.
Importantly, the players love Lawrence.
Publicly, Chido Obi has spoken lyrically of Lawrence’s impact as a coach, and this could be huge for the U21s at a time when United need to revive the link between academy and first-team after some of the comments under Ruben Amorim.
Lawrence had the U18s as the clear best in the league both years of his reign, with Darren Fletcher not quite reaching these heights with a younger squad.
This is also a massive chance for Lawrence to prove he belongs at the club, with the footballing knowledge and style of play to even be involved in the first team if asked.
So it may have taken Lawrence leaving to get it, but he deserves his place as U21s head coach right now.
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Jayce Fitzgerald walking out for Manchester United.
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Lawrence gives Manchester United a real chance of winning the Premier League 2
This season marks the 10-year point since United last won the Premier League 2, but the 2025/26 season has the Red Devils top, with Lawrence simply needing to get things over the line.
United are two points clear at the top with nine games left to play in the league, and also with the chance to win the Premier League International Cup as the Red Devils are in the knockout stage.
So things are looking good, with a very strong group of players, most of whom Lawrence knows really well, such as Gabriele Biancheri, Shea Lacey, the Fletcher twins, James Scanlon and Obi.
If any head coach was able to come in to inspire an academy side to win a title, Lawrence is that guy.
But this shouldn’t be temporary. His return should be permanent, and like Carrick, interim could very easily be scratched from this record.
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