Next, discover how Kobbie Mainoo rose to prominence as Manchester United’s key figure

Kobbie Mainoo has unquestionably displayed his prowess in football. Additionally, throughout this season, the 19-year-old has demonstrated a remarkable knack for timing, particularly on significant occasions, Bongdalu showcasing his elite instincts.

Describing Mainoo’s maiden Premier League goal as a ‘late winner’ barely captures its essence. It arrived in the 97th minute, as he skillfully navigated past three Wolves defenders and expertly curled the ball into the bottom corner, securing a thrilling 4-3 triumph at Molineux.

Mainoo’s inaugural senior goal at Old Trafford was truly remarkable as well. There’s no finer introduction to your home crowd than smashing a shot into the top corner against Liverpool, your fiercest rivals.

In a season where Manchester United desperately needed a surprise victory over local rivals Manchester City to finish on a positive note, it was Mainoo who rose to the occasion, scoring the decisive goal at Wembley.

Mainoo is well acquainted with the national stadium, having already earned the accolade of player of the match during his debut for England in March. Any remaining uncertainties have been dispelled during Euro 2024.

Amongst a midfield featuring talents like Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden, Mainoo has emerged as the linchpin for England in Germany. Not even Trent Alexander-Arnold or Conor Gallagher are getting a look-in anymore.

At just a teenager, Mainoo has swiftly progressed from U18s football to becoming indispensable for both club and country within a year. He seems unfazed by any stage, showcasing his talent and maturity beyond his years, hailing from Stockport.

Sky Sports delves into Mainoo’s past through interviews with those who witnessed his ascent, tracing a journey that appears destined for the pinnacle of success.

He effortlessly glided through matches

While most of us had to wait until Mainoo reached his late teens to witness his talent, Steve Vare, Mainoo’s initial coach at Cheadle and Gatley, just south of Manchester, witnessed it firsthand from the beginning.

He was clearly an exceptional child right from the start,” remarked Vare to Sky Sports. “Even at such a young age, it was evident from the moment he arrived.

Mainoo was raised in the neighboring town of Cheadle Hulme and became part of Cheadle and Gatley at the young age of four.

I was impressed by his strength and wiry build,” Vare recalls. “He possessed a remarkably powerful shot for someone so young.

He had this incredible power – scoring goals from all angles. He could pull off moves that kids his age rarely could.

It didn’t take long for Vare to realize that Mainoo required unique attention.

He used to require a special warm-up routine just for Kobbie, as everything else seemed too effortless,” he clarifies.

“We used to have to instruct him, ‘you’re only allowed to score with your weaker foot,’ ‘limit yourself to two touches of the ball,’ or ‘you must pass to a teammate instead of scoring.”

“He never complained; he simply thrived on challenges.”

Vare’s recollection of a moment similar to Mainoo’s stunning winner against Wolves in February, where he deftly maneuvered past multiple opponents and scored a composed finish from outside the box in the game’s final moments, might surprise those who recall a comparable feat over a decade ago.

“He was simply unstoppable, constantly maneuvering past defenders and netting numerous goals,” he recalls.

“He effortlessly breezed through matches.”

He is Man UTD’s so year, it was natural choice

By the time Mainoo turned six, he was prepared to explore new challenges. Vare elaborated, “At the end of every session, his father Felix and I would discuss how we could further push his limits.”

I reached the stage where I told Felix, “Kobbie is prepared to join a professional academy.”

That would happen eventually. However, initially, Mainoo transitioned to Failsworth Dynamos, located northwest of Manchester. Ian Kelly, Mainoo’s coach at the new club, remembers that some adjustment was needed early on Thapcamtv.

“According to Kelly from The Athletic earlier this season, he was full of tricks and skill, always taking on opponents. However, it took him some time to grasp the nuances of playing within a team.”

However, within a few months, Mainoo had bounced back, actively participating as a forward for Failsworth, and maintaining the promising form he initially displayed at Cheadle and Gatley.

“From the moment he joined us,” Kelly remarked, “I knew it wouldn’t bother him.”

At just six years old, news of the remarkably talented youngster from Cheadle Hulme had already circulated throughout Manchester, capturing the interest of both United and City alike.

Paul Newton, who coached Mainoo at Cheadle and Gatley, also held a coaching and scouting role at City, focusing on their youth teams. He made sure the club recognized Mainoo’s skills and potential during his time there.

Mainoo had honed his skills in City’s academy, yet his involvement with the Man Utd Foundation also flourished. Dermot Clarke, a scout for United, recognized his potential and extended an invitation to join their academy. This pivotal moment left Mainoo and his family with a crucial decision to contemplate.

City might have been poised to clinch their inaugural Premier League trophy in 2011, yet United held an ace up their sleeve.

“Being a Manchester United supporter,” Vare remarks, “it was likely the obvious decision.”

In his youth, he played as a center forward

Gaining entry into the Manchester United academy, renowned for producing the Busby Babes and the Class of ’92, is a significant achievement.

However, among the multitude of youngsters who pass through the ranks of a club as vast as United’s, only a select few will have the combination of talent, determination, and luck needed to become professional footballers. Even fewer will go on to advance to the United first team.

That alone underscores Mainoo’s technical and mental abilities—attributes that were evident to Nick Cox, United’s academy director.

“All of our boys show promise, but Kobbie clearly possesses certain qualities that encourage us to keep developing his talent,” he tells Sky Sports.

“As time went on, it became evident that he had the potential to eventually play for our first team.”

Even from a young age on the field, he displayed the same skills he showcases today. His control over the ball is exceptional; he handles it with remarkable finesse and mastery.

His early promise as an athlete is now realized in his formidable presence as a powerful and explosive player.

Since childhood, we anticipated its arrival, knowing it was only a matter of time.

Mainoo hadn’t been controlling the midfield since he was young. “When he was younger, he played as a center-forward and scored plenty of goals,” Cox disclosed.

I’ve watched him play in various attacking roles. Around the ages of 15 or 16, he primarily operated as an attacking midfielder.

United wasn’t Mainoo’s sole focus. He also remained committed to Shots, a grassroots club where Paul Newton, who had previously coached Mainoo at Cheadle and Gatley, continued to mentor him.

While Kobbie Mainoo is now a well-known figure across Europe, Shots has been home to several other notable names as well. Players such as Kai Rooney, Jacey Carrick, Ben Aguero, Roman Walker, and Tyler and Jack Fletcher have all come through the club.

In 2017, Mainoo demonstrated his talent for making a mark when he secured the decisive goal that led Shots to victory in the North West Junior Champions League. Newton, who had pursued this title for ten years, acknowledged Mainoo’s pivotal contribution in achieving this long-sought goal.

He exuded an excess of comfort, almost as if he had settled in too deeply

Mainoo’s coaches quickly recognized more than just his technical prowess during his formative years. What stood out consistently was his composed demeanor, a trait that left a lasting impression on everyone who collaborated with him.

Vare recalls, “One thing that immediately impressed me about Kobbie, even when he was young, was his serene demeanor and his ability to absorb everything around him.”

“That’s one of his greatest strengths. He appears unfazed by any situation.”

Cox echoes a similar sentiment, noting, “His character and personality were perhaps his most remarkable qualities.”

“Off the field, Kobbie has always maintained a humble, relaxed demeanor, perhaps even tending towards quietness.”

“While others faced setbacks, Mainoo’s seamless advancement through United’s age groups culminated in his debut in the UEFA Youth League at the age of 16.”

The pinnacle arrived at Old Trafford in May 2022, as United triumphed over Nottingham Forest with a 3-1 victory in the FA Youth Cup final. Alejandro Garnacho’s brace secured the win as United celebrated lifting the trophy in front of a crowd exceeding 67,000 fans.

In that very month, Mainoo inked a professional deal with United. After eleven years of training with the club, he was now poised to break into the first team.

However, despite Mainoo’s cool and collected demeanor, Erik ten Hag believed there were areas where he could still improve. The manager thought Mainoo might be slightly too relaxed at times.

“I noticed him very soon,” Ten Hag explained, having joined United in the summer of 2022.

“I felt he was too comfortable playing in the U21s. He needs to assert himself more and be more dominant,” remarked the coach.

He made his debut for the first team against Charlton in the Carabao Cup in January 2023, and subsequently made brief appearances in both the FA Cup and Premier League.

Mainoo was set to join Ten Hag’s squad for the 2023/24 season, but those plans were put on hold when he sustained an ankle injury during United’s pre-season tour of the USA. The injury would keep him sidelined for a significant portion of the campaign.

For the first time, circumstances were working against Mainoo. However, his opportunity was on the horizon.

He is special boy

Mainoo, accustomed to being in the spotlight, found himself overshadowed once more when Garnacho seized attention in the FA Youth Cup final two seasons ago and repeated the feat at Goodison Park last November.

At 18 years old, Mainoo received his first Premier League start from Ten Hag against Everton. All focus was on the academy graduate, until Garnacho stole the spotlight with a memorable goal in just the third minute.

Nevertheless, United secured a 3-0 victory, and Ten Hag was thoroughly impressed by Mainoo. Despite never starting a top-flight game before, he was sidelined only twice for the rest of the season.

Gareth Southgate was similarly persuaded. Within just five months of his initial Premier League appearance, Mainoo bypassed the U21s and earned his first cap for the senior England team against Brazil. The spotlight, however, was stolen by 17-year-old Endrick, who scored the decisive goal.

Not to be overshadowed, Mainoo asserted himself as the standout performer just three days later, earning the player of the match award in his debut international start as England held Belgium to a 2-2 draw during the last camp before the Euros squad announcement. Once more, Mainoo’s sense of timing proved impeccable.

Less than a fortnight later, he scored that memorable goal against Liverpool. Less than sixty days after that, he secured the winning goal against City – the club he had rejected over ten years earlier.

Cox undoubtedly takes pride in Mainoo’s ascent, having first noticed the young local talent when he was just 11 years old. However, it’s not only Mainoo’s on-field achievements that have captured his attention.

Cox notes, “While I’ve been impressed by his on-field accomplishments, I’ve been equally impressed by his handling of the media and ability to manage the spotlight.”

“He has maintained his composure while revealing the familiar side of his personality that we’ve known since he was a young boy.”

However, for midfielders at United, particularly those rising through the academy ranks, there are few accolades more significant than being praised by the likes of Xavi and Zinedine Zidane, two legends who themselves were considered the best of their generation.

After seeing Mainoo’s decisive performance in the FA Cup final, Paul Scholes posted on social media: “I’ve seen a few comparisons between myself and this young lad lately… don’t bother. He’s ten times the player I was at 19.”

“I admire his ball reception, calm demeanor, awareness of his surroundings, and, of course, his knack for scoring crucial goals in important matches. This young man is truly exceptional.”