Manchester United have confirmed Darren Fletcher’s appointment as lead coach for the Under-18s team.
United say that Fletcher has started his new role with immediate effect, overseeing the young players’ pre-season preparations which began with a training camp at adidas headquarters in Germany.
They also secured a 8-2 win over QPR in a friendly at Carrington over the weekend.
The 41-year-old former midfielder, who spent 20 years at United after coming through the academy, returned as a youth-team coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and became the club’s first technical director in March 2021.
However, Fletcher vacated that role when Ineos brought in Jason Wilcox as technical director in April last year.
It’s understood that he has considered senior academy roles in the past but was reluctant to be involved with teams that might include his sons Jack and Tyler, who are both over 18 now.
Darren Fletcher will be the lead coach of Manchester United’s Under-18s team next season
Fletcher won five Premier League titles playing with United alongside the Champions League
Fletcher spoke of his excitement to work in young player development upon taking his new job
He became part of the football leadership team working with the men’s first-team and academy.
‘I am really excited to take on this new role and increase my responsibility to directly develop our young players,’ said Fletcher, who won the Champions League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup at United.
‘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.’
Fletcher, who holds his UEFA A licence, spent last season working closely with Ruben Amorim and the first team and he operated as a conduit to help get academy players into training groups and matchday squads.
He has ambitions of one day becoming a manager in his own right and the Under-18 role, which was previously held by Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, is seen as a great opportunity to cut his teeth in a prestigious role.
This new role represents Fletcher’s first opportunity to lead a team and add to his coaching CV.
