In 2018-19, Manchester United slumped to a  sixth-placed Premier League finish, conceding  
In 2018-19, Manchester United slumped to a  sixth-placed Premier League finish, conceding  

more goals all of the teams above them, but also  Wolves, Everton and Leciester City directly below.
more goals all of the teams above them, but also  Wolves, Everton and Leciester City directly below.

In response, the club spent the summer trying  to improve their defence. And to do so,  
In response, the club spent the summer trying  to improve their defence. And to do so,  

they made Harry Maguire the most expensive  centre-back in the history of British football.  
they made Harry Maguire the most expensive  centre-back in the history of British football.  

Four years later, Maguire is no longer an  automatic starter at the club and is the subject  
Four years later, Maguire is no longer an  automatic starter at the club and is the subject  

of frequent social media mockery. So, what happened?  
of frequent social media mockery. So, what happened?  

On a superficial level, it’s  possible to chart Maguire’s waning  
On a superficial level, it’s  possible to chart Maguire’s waning  

status through his declining appearances. In his first season he started all 38 Premier  
status through his declining appearances. In his first season he started all 38 Premier  

League games. In his second, 34. In his third,  during which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked  
League games. In his second, 34. In his third,  during which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked  

and replaced by Ralf Rangnick he began 28. And, most recently, in Erik ten Hag’s first  
and replaced by Ralf Rangnick he began 28. And, most recently, in Erik ten Hag’s first  

season at the club, he made just eight  starts and eight substitute appearances.  
season at the club, he made just eight  starts and eight substitute appearances.  

Maguire is club captain at Manchester United  and has a contract which runs at least until  
Maguire is club captain at Manchester United  and has a contract which runs at least until  

the summer of 2025 and on wages of around  190,000/week, and yet his value to the  
the summer of 2025 and on wages of around  190,000/week, and yet his value to the  

club is clearly diminishing. To add a layer of confusion,  
club is clearly diminishing. To add a layer of confusion,  

Maguire has retained his place in the  English national team during this period,  
Maguire has retained his place in the  English national team during this period,  

for whom his performances have been much higher. What’s the problem at Manchester United, then?  
for whom his performances have been much higher. What’s the problem at Manchester United, then?  

The big contrast is a lack of stability.  For England, he’s played under the same  
The big contrast is a lack of stability.  For England, he’s played under the same  

coaching staff continuously, enjoyed the very  public support of head-coach Gareth Southgate  
coaching staff continuously, enjoyed the very  public support of head-coach Gareth Southgate  

and more often than not, played alongside John  Stones, who is also one of his close friends.  
and more often than not, played alongside John  Stones, who is also one of his close friends.  

At club level, it’s different. He joined  Manchester United at a time when they were  
At club level, it’s different. He joined  Manchester United at a time when they were  

in a state of transition, both in the sense  of style and personnel. Between 2019 and the  
in a state of transition, both in the sense  of style and personnel. Between 2019 and the  

present day he has played under three different  coaches, each with their own tactical imperatives,  
present day he has played under three different  coaches, each with their own tactical imperatives,  

and alongside a changing cast of teammates. It’s been challenging.  
and alongside a changing cast of teammates. It’s been challenging.  

The Athletic’s Adam Crafton reported that  upon arriving back at the club in 2021,  
The Athletic’s Adam Crafton reported that  upon arriving back at the club in 2021,  

“Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality  overwhelmed many of those who  
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality  overwhelmed many of those who  

had previously been growing in prominence at  United”. Naturally, that would include Maguire.  
had previously been growing in prominence at  United”. Naturally, that would include Maguire.  

In addition to which, The Athletic also  revealed that during Ralf Rangnick’s reign,  
In addition to which, The Athletic also  revealed that during Ralf Rangnick’s reign,  

“Ronaldo made clear to the German… that he  would prefer the team did not include Maguire.”  
“Ronaldo made clear to the German… that he  would prefer the team did not include Maguire.”  

Clearly, the atmosphere at the club has  changed several times since Maguire joined,  
Clearly, the atmosphere at the club has  changed several times since Maguire joined,  

as have the voices in dressing room. Not that it has always been easy away from  
as have the voices in dressing room. Not that it has always been easy away from  

the pitch. In the summer of 2020, during a family  holiday to Mykonos, Maguire and his brother spent  
the pitch. In the summer of 2020, during a family  holiday to Mykonos, Maguire and his brother spent  

two nights in police custody and were later found  guilty in court of offences including attempted  
two nights in police custody and were later found  guilty in court of offences including attempted  

bribery, repeated bodily harm and violence against  public employees. He was given a suspended prison  
bribery, repeated bodily harm and violence against  public employees. He was given a suspended prison  

sentence but has always denied all charges. Nevertheless, the saga was hardly ideal  
sentence but has always denied all charges. Nevertheless, the saga was hardly ideal  

preparation for his second  season at Manchester United.  
preparation for his second  season at Manchester United.  

But the bigger issues have been technical  and, in time, confidence-based.  
But the bigger issues have been technical  and, in time, confidence-based.  

According to The Athletic’s Carl Anka, Maguire  is at his best when operating in his favoured,  
According to The Athletic’s Carl Anka, Maguire  is at his best when operating in his favoured,  

left-side centre-back position. “During his first year, his aggressive  
left-side centre-back position. “During his first year, his aggressive  

man marking style meant he dominated his  1v1 duels on the ground and in the air.”  
man marking style meant he dominated his  1v1 duels on the ground and in the air.”  

And, while Maguire has never been especially  quick, his instinct for pushing out of the  
And, while Maguire has never been especially  quick, his instinct for pushing out of the  

defensive line to make an early tackle  disguised that flaw. In addition to which,  
defensive line to make an early tackle  disguised that flaw. In addition to which,  

playing from the left also suited his  ball-carrying abilities and when in possession,  
playing from the left also suited his  ball-carrying abilities and when in possession,  

allowed him to protect the ball with his  left shoulder as he moved up the field.  
allowed him to protect the ball with his  left shoulder as he moved up the field.  

It also helped Manchester United compensate for  their ball-progression issues in midfield, and the  
It also helped Manchester United compensate for  their ball-progression issues in midfield, and the  

conservative pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred. But the trajectory of his United career seemed  
conservative pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred. But the trajectory of his United career seemed  

to change for good in the Autumn of 2021.  He was dispossessed deep in his own half  
to change for good in the Autumn of 2021.  He was dispossessed deep in his own half  

for the first goal in a 4-2 loss to  Leicester City. The following week,  
for the first goal in a 4-2 loss to  Leicester City. The following week,  

he was culpable for three separate goals in a  5-0 humiliation to Liverpool at Old Trafford.  
he was culpable for three separate goals in a  5-0 humiliation to Liverpool at Old Trafford.  

It became a vicious cycle. Manchester United were tactically dysfunctional  
It became a vicious cycle. Manchester United were tactically dysfunctional  

and often outnumbered in midfield and during  counter-attacking situations. Consequently,  
and often outnumbered in midfield and during  counter-attacking situations. Consequently,  

Maguire often became overwhelmed. His confidence  dropped and with it, his sense of timing in  
Maguire often became overwhelmed. His confidence  dropped and with it, his sense of timing in  

tackles deteriorated and never really recovered. The difference in Maguire, then, hasn’t been his  
tackles deteriorated and never really recovered. The difference in Maguire, then, hasn’t been his  

playstyle, which has always been proactive,  but the timing of his actions. As if to make  
playstyle, which has always been proactive,  but the timing of his actions. As if to make  

the point, he ended that dreadful 2021 run  of games by being sent-off in a 4-1 defeat  
the point, he ended that dreadful 2021 run  of games by being sent-off in a 4-1 defeat  

to Watford for a badly-timed tackle, in what  would be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s last game.  
to Watford for a badly-timed tackle, in what  would be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s last game.  

Adding to the issue is the fact that a return  to his favourite left-side centre-back role  
Adding to the issue is the fact that a return  to his favourite left-side centre-back role  

seems unlikely. Current head-coach Erik ten  Hag prefers his centre-backs to play on the  
seems unlikely. Current head-coach Erik ten  Hag prefers his centre-backs to play on the  

side of their dominant foot, believing that it  helps them receive the ball and presents better  
side of their dominant foot, believing that it  helps them receive the ball and presents better  

passing angles- both crucial to a manager  who wants to build up play from the back.  
passing angles- both crucial to a manager  who wants to build up play from the back.  

But ten Hag prefers centre-backs who are  strong at defending the outside channel in  
But ten Hag prefers centre-backs who are  strong at defending the outside channel in  

their position. When it comes to right-footed  defenders, stopping an opponent running past  
their position. When it comes to right-footed  defenders, stopping an opponent running past  

them on the wide channel requires them to step  their dominant foot across their body. Equally,  
them on the wide channel requires them to step  their dominant foot across their body. Equally,  

when defending backwards with players  in the channel, a right-side dominant  
when defending backwards with players  in the channel, a right-side dominant  

defender will often try to hook the ball  away with the outside of their right foot,  
defender will often try to hook the ball  away with the outside of their right foot,  

which is a much more difficult action. This season, ten Hag has pointed to both as  
which is a much more difficult action. This season, ten Hag has pointed to both as  

reasons for playing Maguire on the right-hand  side of defence. And he actually began the  
reasons for playing Maguire on the right-hand  side of defence. And he actually began the  

season as a first-choice, playing alongside  Lisandro Martinez. That was in spite of ten  
season as a first-choice, playing alongside  Lisandro Martinez. That was in spite of ten  

Hag’s insistence on a higher defensive line which  further exposed Maguire’s lack of acceleration.
Hag’s insistence on a higher defensive line which  further exposed Maguire’s lack of acceleration.

Poor performances against Brighton  and Brentford cost him his place,  
Poor performances against Brighton  and Brentford cost him his place,  

and despite injuries to Martinez and  Raphael Varane, he wouldn’t regain it.  
and despite injuries to Martinez and  Raphael Varane, he wouldn’t regain it.  

Timing issues and positional awkwardness remain  traits of his game. A disastrous Europa League  
Timing issues and positional awkwardness remain  traits of his game. A disastrous Europa League  

performance against Sevilla might have been the  season’s low point, but nine yellow cards in 27  
performance against Sevilla might have been the  season’s low point, but nine yellow cards in 27  

all-competition appearances describe a player  clearly ill at ease and short on self-belief.
all-competition appearances describe a player  clearly ill at ease and short on self-belief.

Behind Martinez and Lindelof on the right,  and Martinez and even Luke Shaw on the left,  
Behind Martinez and Lindelof on the right,  and Martinez and even Luke Shaw on the left,  

he now finds himself – because of form and  his head-coach’s tactical preferences - as a  
he now finds himself – because of form and  his head-coach’s tactical preferences - as a  

third-choice in both centre-back positions. From there, it’s difficult to see how  
third-choice in both centre-back positions. From there, it’s difficult to see how  

Harry Maguire can regain his  reputation at Manchester United.
Harry Maguire can regain his  reputation at Manchester United.