Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reserved special praise for the man he made club captain during his tenure at Manchester United.
The Norweigan boss signed Harry Maguire in August 2019, making him the most expensive defender in world football when he swapped the King Power Stadium for Old Trafford in an £80 million deal.
His time as a Red has been nothing short of tumultuous; he’s often come under fire for his performances and been heavily criticised and ridiculed by rival fans, as well as United supporters – or at least that’s what they claim to be.
While Maguire has, at times, struggled to maintain consistent form, he has proven his worth in numerous seasons, making it no surprise that Gareth Southgate maintains such trust in him when it comes to England duty.
After a campaign spent watching on from the substitutes’ bench in 2022/2023 (he made eight Premier League starts in total), followed by a summer in which he was stripped of the captaincy and expected to leave United, he has taken his chances this season with both hands.
Injuries to Erik ten Hag’s backline meant that Maguire was catapulted into the starting 11 early on in the term and he has since kickstarted an admirable resurgence, becoming an undeniable stalwart for United and the manager’s first-choice centre-half.
The 30-year-old also provided a crucial goal in the Reds’ Champions League home clash vs Copenhagen – inspiring their only win in the group stage thus far.
Solskjaer lauds Maguire
When asked about his former player’s revival, Solskjaer told Nettavisen: “I think he has dealt with it in a fantastic way. It has not been easy. I have kept in touch with him and I have nothing but praise for the guy.
“He has been in it. It’s not easy to leave Manchester United because you know there’s a downturn almost everywhere you go. You get paid for your efforts when you are that type, when you are a good footballer and show that you have a heart for the club,
“I guess he has gradually learned who to listen to. I am very happy that Harry in particular shows what kind of player he is, but not least what kind of type and person he is. That’s why I made him captain. We in Norway call it ‘hell wood’.”
