From Manchester United struggles and England criticism to a new contract: Harry Maguire explains his sense of resurgence.
COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland — As Harry Maguire took the brief stroll from the hotel at Carton House to the training pitches utilized by Manchester United during their camp in County Kildare this week, he was met with only supportive cheers from fans who were eagerly waiting behind steel barriers for photographs and autographs.
There were also words of congratulations on Tuesday morning following United’s announcement of Maguire’s new contract approximately 30 minutes before the players took to the field for their initial session in Ireland.
The prevailing sentiment among supporters is that CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have made a commendable choice in securing the 33-year-old defender’s services for at least another year, with the potential for the deal to be extended until June 2028.
Regardless of whether it is one additional year or two, the new contract signifies a remarkable turnaround for a player who is acutely aware of the challenges faced by high-profile footballers during difficult times.
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During his last visit to Ireland with United in August 2023, Maguire faced boos from certain sections of the crowd at Aviva Stadium in Dublin during a pre-season match against Athletic Club.
This incident occurred less than a month after he was relieved of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in favor of Bruno Fernandes, and about five weeks prior to what Maguire recalls as the lowest point of a challenging period in his career.
After coming on as a substitute for England against Scotland at Hampden Park in September 2023, every touch he made was met with mocking cheers from the home supporters. The situation was exacerbated by Maguire scoring an own goal, and the subsequent reaction to his performance became overwhelming for his family.
“Seeing him go through what he’s going through is not OK,” his mother, Zoe, expressed in a heartfelt Instagram post. “As a mum, witnessing the level of negative and abusive comments directed at my son is disgraceful and entirely unacceptable in any context, especially for someone who works tirelessly for club and country.”
Fast forward two-and-a-half years, and Maguire has regained favor at United, performing well and enjoying popularity once more, allowing him to finally appreciate the lighter side of the situation.
“My mum put something out,” he remarks with a smile. “I didn’t want her to, but she insisted, ‘I’m doing it! I’m not listening to you!’
“I think it reached a point where the mocking and the abuse, if you want to label it as such, became quite severe.
“When I started getting jeered while on the ball [against Scotland], I think that was probably the lowest point.”
While Hampden Park stands out as Maguire’s most challenging moment, he can trace the criticism back to a decline in form at the start of the 2021-22 season. Within a few months, he witnessed United lose the UEFA Europa League final to Villarreal on penalties, experienced further penalty disappointment with England in the UEFA European Championship final against Italy, and saw the manager who brought him to the club in 2019, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, dismissed following a poor run of results.
Maguire was sent off in Solskjaer’s final match in charge — a 4-1 defeat at Watford in November 2021 — and was part of a squad that managed to win only three of their last 14 games under the Norwegian’s successor, Ralf Rangnick.
“I was coming off the back of two significant final defeats,” Maguire recalls. “I probably didn’t handle that as well as I should have. That summer was painful, I must admit. Losing the Euros at Wembley.
“I remember returning to the England camp for the first time after that and looking around at the players, and I think Gareth [Southgate] mentioned how out of form many of the players were. A lot of lads struggled during that period following the Euros.
“As the captain of Manchester United and a central defender, you can’t afford to struggle.
“There were numerous factors that contributed to that season. Losing Ole was a significant blow. I felt a great deal of responsibility for that, as the performances leading up to Ole’s departure were not good enough.
“The latter part of the season was chaotic, to say the least. It truly was a mess. I was the captain and bore much of the blame, but it was chaotic. We were all over the place during the last six months of that season.”
However, it wasn’t solely Maguire’s fault, and even now, he remains uncertain as to why he was singled out.
“At times, I did wonder why,” he admits.
“I can understand a few poor performances and some mistakes here and there. My form dipped a bit — yes, certainly — everyone experiences that in their career.
“In the moment, I thought this is just part of the experience. This is the reality of being Manchester United captain, and I had been an £80 million defender, and all those factors accumulated.
“Social media was becoming increasingly prominent. I just thought it was normal at the time. I believed this was the result of the club’s poor performance. But looking back, it probably did go a bit too far.”
For Maguire, the shift in perception regarding him as a player occurred swiftly.
“There was a three or four-year span where I felt like I was among the best center-backs in the world,” he states. “I was definitely in that conversation. That’s how strongly I felt about my game during that time.
“I played in the World Cup [in 2018], then again in the Euros [in 2021]. I was included in the team of the tournament.
“In my first two years at Manchester United, I helped elevate them from sixth or seventh in the table to third and second. In the second year, we finished second.
“At that time, I remember thinking I just don’t understand how this has changed so rapidly.”
It reached a point in the summer of 2023 when Maguire nearly departed Old Trafford. Reflecting on it now, he believes some of the abuse — both online and in person — might have “broken” other players.
“I think there are many who would want to simply close that chapter and seek a fresh start elsewhere,” he observes. “Yes, I believe it could have affected them sooner. A lot of things don’t really faze me.
“When times are tough, everyone turns on you. But when things are going well, you also receive a lot of accolades.
“That’s part and parcel of playing for this club. As a player, I always emphasize the importance of maintaining a level of balance, even amidst the surrounding noise, because you can go from being the worst player in the world one week to being sold and replaced, with new signings coming in for your position.
“Then the following week, you’re regarded as one of the best players in your position, and everyone is praising you. I think as a player, we must strive to maintain emotional equilibrium.”
Ten Hag wanted Maguire to leave in 2023, but a deal with West Ham United did not materialize.
Fast forward a couple of years, and the club is grateful he turned down interest from Italy and Saudi Arabia to extend his contract. He has been a vital part of the resurgence under Michael Carrick, which has positioned United to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
“They informed me a couple of months ago that they wanted to make an offer, probably after Christmas,” he shares. “My agent handled most of it, but I believe there was considerable interest. My focus was on getting this club back into a competitive position.”
With his future now secure, Maguire can begin to look ahead.
His form since January has earned him a recall to the England squad for the first time in nearly two years, giving him hope of participating in a third FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
“I’m eager to go,” Maguire states. “I think it would be my last World Cup for my country, so I’m keen to participate, regardless of the role the manager envisions for me.
“Whether that’s starting or coming on to influence games late on. I still believe, even at my age, I’m arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes. I don’t think that’s up for debate.
“That can be quite effective in the latter stages of matches, whether you’re protecting a lead or attempting to turn a game around. I still think there’s a significant role I can play and contribute.”
If qualifying for the World Cup is one goal, concluding his United career with a Premier League title is another.
“We’re in a strong position this year to set ourselves up nicely for next year to compete in major competitions,” he notes. “I’m truly honored to play for this club. Being here for the next season will mark my eighth year. To have been here for eight years is a testament to my journey.
“I wouldn’t change my experiences or what I’ve gone through. It’s undoubtedly made me stronger. It’s all part of the journey.”
