MU should give the captain's armband back to Maguire

Maguire scored a golden goal at Anfield.

When United spent £80 million to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City in July 2019, it was a world record for a defender. Just six months after arriving at Old Trafford, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Maguire the captain's armband - a controversial decision but also showed the absolute faith of the coaching staff.

The captain's armband is like a shackle.

However, with glory comes pressure. The fact that a rookie player is quickly given great responsibility makes Maguire the center of scrutiny. Every small mistake of his is exaggerated, edited, and turned into a joke on social media.

He arrived at Old Trafford in a context where MU was in decline and in crisis. It was understandable that Maguire became the typical image of failure, the scapegoat for every defeat. The boos in the stands, the harsh criticism from the media seemed to be focused on one person – captain Maguire.

The 2020/22 period was the darkest period of his career. Statistics show that Maguire won twice as many duels as he lost in the 2020/21 season, but the "Red Devils" still conceded 57 goals, the most since the 1978/79 season. He was considered slow, insensitive, and unworthy of the captaincy. In 2022, when coach Erik ten Hag took over the team, Maguire was almost left out of the first team, playing only 8 Premier League matches.

Maguire came to MU with many expectations.

The climax of the disappointment came in July 2023, when Ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy – a move that was seen as a public humiliation. There was a time when it seemed he would leave MU, when West Ham United sent an offer of 30 million pounds. But instead of giving up, Maguire chose to stay and fight for his position. "I really enjoy playing for this club. I am willing to stay and fight for my place," he affirmed the steely spirit of a person who is not easily defeated.

The opportunity came when injuries and tactical changes forced Ten Hag to rotate his squad. Maguire used every minute on the pitch to prove that he was never out of the game. With his composure, command of the defense and powerful headers, he gradually regained the trust of the audience. In December 2023, Maguire was named Premier League Player of the Month, becoming the first United defender to win the title since Nemanja Vidic in 2009.

Worthy of being a leader in the Amorim era

Under coach Ruben Amorim from the 2024/25 season, Maguire has become a key factor in a system of three central defenders. Amorim appreciates his consistent performance and quiet leadership.

In an interview with MUTV , Maguire confided: "I feel like I've been in good shape for the last 18 months. It's been tough at times, but I just keep my head down and work. I know the opportunity will come - and when it comes, I have to be ready to take it." That statement is like a manifesto for a warrior's journey to recovery. And that resilience has been well rewarded.

Maguire is still resilient in the face of adversity.

On October 19, 2025, at Anfield, where MU had not won for nearly a decade, Maguire headed home the winning goal to seal a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. But more important than the goal was the way he commanded the defense in the storm of fierce attacks from the opponent, showing the mettle of a true leader. Although no longer wearing the captain's armband, Maguire is the spiritual leader of MU, the one who speaks little but does a lot, lifting up his teammates with his example and mettle.

At the moment, many fans believe that Maguire is the real captain of MU, not Bruno Fernandes. Although he is a bright star, with great influence in attack, Bruno often loses his temper when the team is in trouble - frustrated arm swings, complaints to referees or teammates have become familiar images. Bruno is the type of player who explodes when the team controls the game, but is easily shaken when the situation becomes chaotic.

On the contrary, Maguire showed the image of a true leader. He did not need to grumble in the face of adversity, but showed it by his calmness when facing pressure, and his absolute professionalism in every training session. When the team fell into a crisis of confidence, Maguire was the one who maintained the defensive spirit, the support for his young teammates.

In football, the captain's armband is not just a piece of cloth wrapped around the arm, but also a responsibility and aura to carry the whole team on the shoulders. In that aspect, Maguire deserves to be considered the number one spiritual leader of MU, a person who was once defeated but still stood up to protect the red shirt with all his dignity and resilience.

All goals of the match Liverpool 1-2 MU On the night of October 19, MU excellently defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in round 8 of the Premier League 2025/26.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-nen-trao-lai-bang-doi-truong-cho-maguire-post1595268.html