Darren Fletcher is in talks to change roles at Manchester United by becoming lead coach of the club’s under-18s side.
Director of football Jason Wilcox and outgoing director of academy Nick Cox offered the new position to Fletcher after Adam Lawrence, who has done the job for the last two years, chose to step away from United.
Fletcher, 41, could have stayed as a first-team coach in Ruben Amorim’s staff but he is expected to decide now is the right time to take on a lead coach role and support the club in filling a key vacancy.
Under Amorim, Fletcher assisted on sessions and offered guidance to players and analysts, whereas in this proposed new role he would, for the first time in his career, plan and pick teams in a crucial age group in United’s academy, including in the FA Youth Cup.
Fletcher, who holds the UEFA A Licence, is seen by Wilcox and Cox as a perfect fit for a position which requires a mixture of skills as players mature to an age where they are often on the cusp of senior football.
Fletcher came through United’s academy, initially joining the wider set-up aged 11 in 1995. He made his debut under Sir Alex Ferguson in the Champions League in 2003 and went on to play 342 games and scoring 24 goals for the senior team.
He won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, one Champions League, and one Club World Cup.
He recovered from ulcerative colitis to enjoy a strong end to his playing career at West Bromwich Albion, where he was named player of the year in 2016, and Stoke. He won 80 caps for Scotland, scoring five goals.
He rejoined United as a coach of the under-16s in 2020, before being promoted to the first-team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He was named technical director in March 2021, and shifted to first-team coach under Erik ten Hag with the arrival of Wilcox.
Could Fletcher become a manager in the future?
Fletcher has plans to become a manager in future and so this is a first significant step on that path. It comes with the pressure of being No 1, potentially managing a team at Old Trafford or other major stadiums in the FA Youth Cup, and added media requirements.
He has had opportunities to move into a position such as this before, but his twin sons Jack and Tyler being in the United system could have led to certain perceptions around his handling of them. Now 18, they have progressed to the under-21 age group above and he will not have a club role in their development.
At under-18s level, Fletcher will be assisted by Colin Little, 52, who has coached at United since 2009, while Travis Binnion is will offer guidance as head of player development and coaching.
Cox’s view was important in Fletcher being offered the job, which Lawrence performed superbly in his two seasons. United’s under-18s won a treble of trophies in 2024, and reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup this year, losing to eventual winners Aston Villa on penalties at Villa Park.
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