Former Manchester United academy graduate Danny Simpson has hailed the club’s youth set-up for ensuring that prospects stay on top of their education.
Danny Simpson made eight senior appearances for Manchester United after graduating from the academy.
Although Simpson’s career highlight came when he won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, he made his top-flight debut for the Red Devils against Wigan Athletic in 2007. The right-back created an assist for Wayne Rooney in his short cameo that day.
Simpson was also sent on loan by United to five different clubs, including Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle. He joined Newcastle permanently in 2010 before spending three years at St. James’ Park.
Danny Simpson celebrates as a Manchester United player in 2008.
Photo by Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Danny Simpson credits Man Utd academy for honourable approach to education
Simpson came through at United when there was plenty of competition for a place at right-back.
Gary Neville and Wes Brown were Sir Alex Ferguson’s primary options, but the Scot trusted Simpson in three Champions League matches in 2007/08 as United went on to win a third European Cup.
Although Simpson didn’t become a regular at United, he speaks highly of the time he spent in the academy before being handed his first professional contract in 2006.
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Simpson hails United’s academy for how they treat schooling and education, by keeping track of each player’s development. He adds that if players are not keeping up standards at school, they cannot play.
“You can’t get in trouble at school,” Simpson told the United By Association podcast.
“That’s one thing with United, I always remember if you messed up at school, United made sure that the school told them.
“Dave Bushell, and then he’d make sure if you’ve been naughty that week then on the Saturday you didn’t play.
“So it made us all be good in school because we wanted to play.
“So all those little things when you when you look back now in school and you think ‘wow’.
“That’s kind of who United are, they’re already trying to make you behave and have certain standards.”
Knowing how the Red Devils treat the schooling of youngsters, it could persuade more parents of talented footballers to pick United over rival clubs who chase the country’s best talents.
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Gary Neville negotiated Danny Simpson’s Man Utd contract
Simpson was previously thought to be a future United star.
He studied Neville’s game at right-back before asking his senior teammate if he would negotiate his contract at United rather than hire an agent.
It proved to be a smart move as Ferguson didn’t tend to enjoy dealing with agents.
Speaking to talkSPORT in 2024, Simpson said: “Gary Neville actually negotiated my contract with Fergie.
“As a young kid, when you’re starting to knock on the door and get around the first team, you’re scared that you’re going to annoy him.
“He’d go, ‘I want to give you a new contract,’ and you’d say to him, ‘My agent will see you.’
“You were scared to say that. Whereas now it’s the first thing you say.
“I’m thinking, ‘If I say that, he’s going to bin me off.’ So I spoke to Gaz and Gaz was like, ‘I’ll go see him for you.’
“It was me, Gaz and Sir Alex in the room.
“I didn’t really know what to do. So I’m just sat there in the middle.
“He (Neville) actually got me more money, to be fair. He actually didn’t [ask for a cut].
“The Gaz that you see now is always that Gaz.”
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