Harry Maguire Biography: Childhood, career and achievements

Since 2019, Harry Maguire has been a mainstay in the Manchester United first team. His time at Old Trafford has been mixed. During good times, he was the club captain and regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League and in the England team. In bad times, however, some wanted him to leave United due to inconsistency. Nevertheless, Maguire has persevered and managed to keep his place in the United team through the tough times when several voices just wished him to be discarded. 

Childhood

Born in March 1993 in Sheffield, Maguire was raised in the village of Mosborough. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School in Spinkhill and later went to St Mary’s Catholic High School. He has two brothers - Joe and Laurence. 

Career

Harry Maguire began his journey in professional football at Sheffield United, his hometown club, where he progressed through the youth ranks. Between the ages of 7 and 16, he played as a central midfielder in the club's academy before transitioning into a central defender — the position in which he would later thrive. In 2014, Maguire earned a move to Premier League side Hull City. During the 2014–15 season, he struggled for regular playing time, but after Hull were relegated to the Championship, he started featuring more consistently. He played a key role in helping the club secure promotion back to the Premier League.

The 2016–17 season proved to be a defining one in Maguire’s career. Despite Hull City finishing 18th and facing relegation, Maguire stood out with his performances. His commanding displays at the back caught the attention of several top-flight clubs. In 2017, he transferred to Leicester City, a team that had recently won the Premier League title. At the Foxes, Maguire continued his impressive form and cemented his place in the England national team. By the time of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he had become one of the first names on manager Gareth Southgate’s team sheet. 

Maguire starred for England during the 2018 World Cup, helping the team reach the semi-finals and finish in fourth place. His performances attracted widespread attention, but he remained with Leicester for the 2018–19 season.

In 2019, Maguire made a high-profile move to Manchester United, where he has played ever since.

Achievements

• Maguire was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2011–2014) during his time at Sheffield United.
• He won Sheffield United's Young Player of the Year in 2011–12, and went on to claim the Player of the Year award for three successive seasons.
• At Hull City, he was awarded both the Fans' Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season.
• At Leicester City, Maguire was named Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season in 2017–18.
• While he has not yet won a Player of the Season award at Manchester United, he was:
  • Premier League Player of the Month in November 2023
  • Included in the Europa League Squad of the Season (2020–21)
  • Named in the UEFA Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament, following England’s runner-up finish after losing the final on penalties to Italy.