Harry Maguire has revealed that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has stripped him of the club captaincy. Maguire was appointed captain by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2020, following his £80 million transfer from Leicester City.
Expressing his disappointment, the England center-back stated that he will continue to give his utmost effort while wearing the United shirt. Maguire, who made eight Premier League starts last season, has been linked with a potential move to West Ham.
Manchester United confirmed that Ten Hag will announce a new captain after informing the players. However, the official announcement is not expected until Thursday, when the team arrives in New York for their pre-season tour.
The club expressed gratitude to Maguire for his contributions as captain over the past three and a half years. During the 2022-23 season, Maguire played in 31 out of 62 matches across all competitions. In his absence, Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes took on the captain’s armband.
Maguire’s contract with Manchester United runs until 2025. Taking to social media, he shared the news and thanked the fans for their support during his time as captain. Maguire also acknowledged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for initially entrusting him with the captaincy and wished the new captain success.
Last season, Maguire faced competition from Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in central defense. Additionally, Victor Lindelof filled in when Martinez was injured, while left-back Luke Shaw also played as a center-back on several occasions under Ten Hag’s management.
