Darren Fletcher appointed Man Utd Under-18s lead coach

Manchester United have appointed Darren Fletcher as the lead coach of their Under-18s team, effective immediately. Fletcher, who returned to the club in 2021, spent 20 years at United as a player, making over 340 appearances after graduating from the Academy. During his playing career, he won five Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup, the Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Fletcher has already begun his new role, taking charge of the Under-18s' pre-season preparations. This started with a training camp at the adidas global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and included a friendly match against Queens Park Rangers at Carrington.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Fletcher stated: "I am really excited to take on this new role and increase my responsibility to directly develop our young players. I’m looking forward to working with such a talented age-group; supporting them to reach their potential and preparing them to enjoy careers at the highest level possible."

Director of football, Jason Wilcox, endorsed the appointment: "We are delighted that Darren will lead our Under-18s group. He knows exactly what it takes to be a successful Academy graduate and has played a key role in shaping the pathway for so many of our young players in recent years. Darren’s excellent relationships across the entire staff will only increase the strong connection between the Academy and first team, further enhancing our ability to produce world-class players ready to excel at Manchester United."

Fletcher will also feature in an upcoming "Lifeblood" short film from MUTV Originals, documenting a ceremony where new academy scholars received their traditional club suits. At the event, he passionately shared his experiences as a player and the privilege of representing United at Academy level.