Man Utd coach reveals Kobbie Mainoo played as striker at youth level before Ballon d'Or winner sparked major change

Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United youth coach has revealed that a Ballon d’Or winner influenced the 19-year-old to transition from a striker to a midfielder when he was in the Red Devils’ academy.

Mainoo, 19, impressed during his breakout season under Erik ten Hag in 2023/24 – with arguably his crowning moment coming when he scored in the 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

He even started for England in the Euro 2024 final loss against Spain last summer. However, he missed several months after the tournament due to an ankle injury.

He returned to action in late October and has taken a while to find form.

But he has looked near to his best in recent weeks and scored while playing in a more advanced ‘number ten’ role in United’s 2-0 win against FCSB in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

On Sunday, he played as a ‘false nine’ during the Red Devils’ 2-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

And despite him being on the losing side, fans were still impressed by the tactical switch, with many focusing on his relentless running.

Kobbie Mainoo played in an advanced role against Crystal Palace (Credit:Getty)

Although the 19-year-old has played predominantly as a midfielder since making the step up to the senior level, he previously revealed that he was a striker during his academy days with United youth coach Neil Harris even explaining that a Ballon d’Or had an impact on the transition.

“We had Kobbie [Mainoo] at the [under]-13s and he was a centre-forward, a really talented centre-forward because he was outstanding at holding up the ball,” Harris said on The Overlap’s Breakdown.

“I remember bringing him back to centre midfield that summer and that was the season where [Luka] Modric was flying, [Mousa] Dembele was flying at Tottenham."

Of course, Modric, 39, played for Spurs 160 times and registered 17 goals and 24 assists before signing for Real Madrid in 2012.

And despite a tough first season in the Spanish capital, the Croatian will be remembered as a legend in Madrid – but he is still going strong.

The midfielder broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s and Lionel Messi’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or when he won the award in 2018.

Luka Modric in action for Real Madrid on Saturday (Credit:Getty)

"Those players who can pick up the ball, drop a shoulder," Harris added.

"It was that evolvement… I remember people at the time saying, ‘Oh, he’s a really good centre-forward, he holds the ball up, he brings people in well'."

Mainoo himself also gave his take on his change in position when speaking to England Football in May 2024.

“I played a lot as a striker as a kid,” said Mainoo.

“Until about 14, I played upfront and then I started to move backwards into an attacking midfielder and wide player and then I settled in midfield.

“I enjoyed midfield a lot. I got a lot of the ball, which is what I always wanted. I enjoyed taking people on, nutmegging people. I still do. I always wanted to dribble.”