Harry Maguire could have been an accountant

MANCHESTER UNITED star Harry Maguire may have had a difficult campaign, but at least he's got the support of his new boss.

The Red Devils captain, 29, has struggled for form - like may of his team mates to be fair - in what was a dismal campaign for the 20-time league champions.

But despite some inconsistent performances, incoming Dutch boss Erik ten Hag has backed the England star to come good.

"Next season is a different season," ten Hag revealed in a press conference.

"He's done a great job, and he's a great player.

"He's achieved a lot with his contribution to Manchester United so I'm looking forward to working with him."

Maguire has enjoyed a remarkable rise. The burly 6ft 4in defender was a revelation at Leicester City and one of the first names on the team sheet for England, but when he was a kid he was a numbers whizz.

Maguire attended St Mary's Catholic High School in Chesterfield, where he excelled with his studies.

“He was a remarkable pupil who always came in and worked very hard," Sue Cain, deputy headteacher at the school told the Derbyshire Times.

"He was never in any trouble and he had such a good attitude. He did everything you asked him to do and he never questioned why. He was a popular lad."

The brainy centre half ended up scoring high grades in his exams, including in maths which is where Cain believed he had a future.

“He got A* and A grades in his GCSEs," she revealed.

"I think he would have gone on to study business or maths and probably have been an accountant."

In the end, the Sheffield-born star chose football, even though he showed promise at cross-country running, rugby and table tennis as a pupil.

His former PE teacher, Martin McKee said he was destined to become a footballer.

“He could really dominate a game from central midfield," he divulged.

"He had an aura about him. He could dribble around everyone if he wanted to."

FAMILY AFFAIR

Level-headed Maguire might've left the school over 10 years ago, but he's still very much part of their fabric.

He returns regularly, giving talks to the boys about his experiences and presented his former teachers with a signed shirt.

It's the same school his brother Laurence, who plays for Chesterfield, attended. Their sister, Daisy was also taught at St Mary's.

Football in the Maguire clan is a family trait. Another brother Joe, 26, currently plays for Tranmere Rovers.

But it's Harry who's earned all the plaudits and he's had to work hard to get where he is today.

As a youngster he looked up to the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, knowing that he had to work hard on his distribution to be taken seriously in the modern game.

HE ACHIEVED HIS DREAM

He fulfilled a childhood dream by playing for Sheffield United, where he came through their youth system.

In his first full season, he helped the Blades into the playoffs as they attempted to gain promotion from League One.

A heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the final to Huddersfield Town in 2012 dampened his spirits slightly.

However, Maguire's contribution was well-received, and he was named both their Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year during a remarkable nine month spell.

For the next two years, he was crowned Player of the Year as his star continued to grow.

PREMIER LEAGUE REGULAR

In 2014, Steve Bruce, a commanding centre half in his day, decided to splash £2.5m on the promising talent.

That's where Maguire continued a trend of rising to a tougher challenge.

In 2016, he made his Premier League debut with Hull City - becoming a regular when Marco Silva took charge.

It was a tumultuous season for The Tigers, who in the end were relegated, but for Maguire, personally, it was another landmark.

Showing his leadership qualities, he captained the East Yorkshire side to victory against Middlesbrough in April 2017 in a 4-2 win.

He also scored his first Premier League goal - a bullet header - that's become something of a trademark.

In 2017, Leicester City secured Maguire's services for £17m, which had some experts in the game questioning his transfer fee.

But Maguire instantly became a hero on the pitch with the Foxes. His heart and desire earning him the Players' Player of the Season, as well as Fans' Player of the Year in his first season.

His commitment to the cause - Maguire played every minute of the 2017-18 campaign - was adored by his supporters.

HE'S NOT VERY SHOWBIZ

Off the pitch, Maguire lives his personal life privately.

He does have a glamorous Wag in tow, the beautiful Fern Hawkins - a physiotherapy graduate - who rose to fame after she was seen cheering him on in Russia from the stands.

The pair regularly pose for loved-up selfies on social media, but Maguire is normally one to shun the limelight and glitzy life.

In 2019, they became parents for the first time - and Maguire shared a snap of his daughter Lillie Saint on Instagram.

A year later they added Piper Rose to their family.

In early May, Maguire and Hawkins finally said their 'I do's' at a low-key Crewe Registry Office ceremony, but plan on having a more romantic ceremony in a chateau in France this summer.

But don't be fooled into thinking he's all glitz and glamour. After all, we're talking about a man who once reported for England duty with two carrier bags full of his stuff that trended on Twitter. That picture got him a rollicking from his mum.

“I've seen the picture on Twitter with the bags. It was just full of boots and shin pads and dirty stuff which I'll give the kit man," he said at the time.

“I'll try and get some better luggage in future. My mum mentioned it. She sent me a text later on saying 'what's with the bags?'"

Should he move to Old Trafford, he can certainly ask Paul Pogba for some luggage advice.

However, it's hard to imagine modest 'slab-head' being affected by a big-money transfer to start splashing the cash on designer luggage.