MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 01:42:29| >> :120:4304:4304:

Harry Maguire in focus as he nears world-record Manchester United move

Harry Maguire in focus as he nears world-record Manchester United move
© Reuters
The defender is set to make an £80million switch to Old Trafford.

Harry Maguire is set to become the world's most expensive defender with an £80million move to Manchester United from Leicester.

Here, PA looks at the 26-year-old England international's background.

Career summary

Maguire began his career with hometown Sheffield United
Maguire began his career with hometown Sheffield United (Nick Potts/PA)

Maguire began his career with hometown Sheffield United, where he came through the youth ranks and made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in 2011. He was the Blades' player of the season in 2013 and 2014 and named in the PFA League One team of the year three years in succession. He joined Premier League Hull for £2.5m in 2014 but had a loan spell at Wigan before establishing himself at the Tigers. He moved on to Leicester in a £17m deal in summer 2017. He made his England debut the following season before going on to impress at the 2018 World Cup.

Family background

Maguire's brother Laurence plays for Chesterfield
Maguire's brother Laurence plays for Chesterfield (Tim Goode/PA)

Maguire hails from a strong footballing family. Younger brother Laurence, 22, plays for Chesterfield, who are currently in the National League, while older brother Joe, 27, has had a solid non-league career. He now plays for Gainsborough Trinity after spells with Ilkeston, Nuneaton, Boston and Buxton. Both Laurence and Joe are also defenders. The trio's sister, Daisy, has also played the sport for Handsworth Parramore Ladies and Sheffield United.

Personal life

Maguire is engaged to long-term girlfriend Fern Hawkins. The pair have been together for eight years and their first child, Lillie Saint Maguire, was born on April 3 this year, exactly nine months after England beat Colombia on penalties at the World Cup. It was after that last-16 victory in Moscow that Maguire was famously pictured talking to Hawkins in the stand. After Maguire then scored in the quarter-final win over Sweden, the picture went viral, becoming a meme with people adding their own captions. Team-mate Kyle Walker was one of the chief instigators, writing: "Yeah so a good header doesn't hurt. I mean the moment you head it proper, you feel it's a good one. Know what I mean love?" but the man himself also joined in. "Can you ask the neighbours to put the bins out on Monday? We're not going home just yet," Maguire wrote.

Football fan

Maguire, whose first name is actually Jacob and is known by his middle name, showed his talent for other sports during his time at St Mary's Catholic High School in Chesterfield. He was notably good at athletics, running cross country, 800 metres and throwing the discus, while he also played rugby. Football has obviously been his first love, however, as a player and a fan. He attended Euro 2016 as a supporter with friends. Just two years after sharing photos of himself in the stands in France, he was starring on the field in the World Cup in Russia.

Role models

Maguire admired John Terry and Rio Ferdinand
Maguire admired John Terry and Rio Ferdinand (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Maguire was inspired by England centre-backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand as he first made his way in the game. "They were the best partnership around when I was growing up," he said in an interview. The chance to work under former Manchester United centre-half Steve Bruce was later one of the key factors in his move to Hull. "I knew what a great career he had," Maguire said. Despite having these heroes, and size and strength that ideally suit the role of centre-half, Maguire actually played in midfield as a junior. It was then he honed some of the ball-playing skills that are now evident in the way he brings the ball out from the back.

ID:366806: cacheID:366806:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:15049:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Harry Maguire in action for Leicester City on July 23, 2019
Read Next:
Man Utd 'reach £80m Harry Maguire agreement'
>
Read more about Harry Maguire Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!