 |
Since Manchester United began their great journey on the English football map, one of their core and proudest values has always been their belief in the young people - the products of their own academy. That is not a slogan, nor a PR stunt. That is the DNA, the identity, the thing that makes MU different in an increasingly industrialized football world .
For 88 years, since October 1937, United have never played a match without at least one homegrown player in the first-team squad. A remarkable record, spanning 4,321 games, and 44 major trophies - including three European Championships and 18 domestic titles. But now that glory is under threat - not by fierce competition from rivals, but by their own internal operations and decision-making.
When the traditional flame flickers
After a disastrous 2024/25 season - finishing 15th in the Premier League - MU embarked on a comprehensive overhaul. But in the process, important pieces of the long-standing tradition left one by one. Rashford went to Barcelona. Garnacho was left out of the tactical plan. Jonny Evans retired. McTominay, Greenwood, Brandon Williams are all no longer at Old Trafford.
The only name left is Kobbie Mainoo - a gem. But Mainoo is not a stable choice: last season he missed 17 games, the season before that, 21. Suppose he is injured, suspended, or simply not selected - the 88-year streak will come to a quiet halt. And the painful thing is: hardly anyone in the upper echelons of the club seems worried.
For those unfamiliar with MU, that series of records may just be old, nostalgic statistics. But for fans who witnessed Garnacho scoring against Man City in the FA Cup final, or saw the shadow of the "Class of 92" in every step of Mainoo, they understand: it is pride. It is soul. It is the answer to the question "Who is MU?".
“Young players helped United through World War II, recover from the Munich disaster and shape some of its greatest eras,” Nick Cox, the Academy director, once said. And he was right. Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, all built their empires not with expensive stars, but with “homegrown players”.
 |
Rashford left Man Utd for Barcelona. |
According to Tony Park - historian and long-time fan of MU - the number of academy players in the first team list is seriously decreasing. From an average of 6.65 people/season last year (2022/23), now only 4.51. Next season, this number could be the lowest in more than 30 years.
It’s not that United don’t have young talent. Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, and a few others are still working hard. But it’s clear they’re no longer a priority. And that doesn’t just threaten the record – it undermines the club’s core philosophy.
Park points out the deeper problem: “Selling McTominay was a mistake. Rashford is not being used properly. The academy now lacks identity. The training system is becoming too bland.”
Ruben Amorim and the Identity Problem
In that context, coach Ruben Amorim is facing a life-or-death season. He needs to bring MU back to the orbit of success - but is also inadvertently getting very close to becoming the first coach in modern history to "cut" the club's 88-year tradition.
Does he realise the importance of that? Or will he continue to favour outside signings who are “ready to use” but lack legacy?
Some fans have suggested that MU should stipulate in the coach's contract that he must use academy players in the squad. Park opposes the idea - not because tradition is not important, but because if it has to be forced, it means the system is broken from the root.
“Nobody should be in the squad just because of their background. But if the United academy can’t produce a worthy player, then the club has gone seriously wrong somewhere,” he said.
 |
Ruben Amorim faces a big problem at MU. |
Some people will say: “Modern football is a game of results. Tradition does not help you win”. But look back: many of MU’s greatest peaks are associated with the academy. If the title is the destination, then the identity is the path. MU conquered the world because they knew who they were. And they will only find the glory again if they follow that path.
No one forced Amorim to choose an academy player over someone better. But as head coach, he can make a responsible choice: rebuild the record while preserving the spirit of the club.
Because if MU is forced to choose between an instant victory and a value that lasts for nearly a century, they need to remember: championships can be repeated, but losing identity - is difficult to find again.
Source: https://znews.vn/mu-dung-truoc-buoc-ngoat-lich-su-post1573180.html
Comment (0)