Man United fans are baffled by Lee Grant's new role, it's shocked everyone

Manchester United fans have been left baffled by the role former player Lee Grant has been occupying.

Grant, formerly of Stoke City and Burnley, was a reserve goalkeeper at United for four seasons and made two appearances.

He transitioned into a goalkeeping coach and once went viral for acting as fourth official and holding up the subs board during a 3-1 win over Newcastle

He retired in May last year but immediately took up a role in the coaching set-up at Ipswich Town, linking up with former United coach Kieran McKenna in his first managerial position.

Ipswich have just secured promotion back to the Championship after a four-year stay, scoring a ridiculous 99 goals - the most in England's top four leagues.

But incredibly, Grant isn't coaching the 'keepers. His position is listed as a "first-team coach" but he has been placing a focus on the forwards at Ipswich. - something which has confused a lot of fans.

One wrote: "Wtf, this is crazy."

A second tweeted: "From GK to Teaching ST how to score."

A third was left in disbelief, writing: "He never is? That has to be a lie

Another user commented: How did he turn to a forward coach? He was a goalie."

A fifth felt that the switch made sense because of the experience Grant had racked up, saying: "Showing the forwards all the weaknesses a goalie has so in the match they can beat them!! Genius tactic."

Grant, who has a LMA Diploma in Football Management and is close to receiving his UEFA Pro Licence, discussed his change in role in February this year and the expertise he can provide.

"On the outside it probably looks a bit of a strange one for a keeper to be coaching strikers, but it certainly doesn't feel like that for me and I hope it doesn't for the players," he told the official Premier League website.

"I spent a long time working on how to stop the ball going into the net which gave me insights I can pass on to the forwards to help them combat keepers' mindsets.

lipping things around and thinking about it from the opposite angle does make a lot of sense.

"I'd like to see more and more goalkeepers realising they've got the potential to go on and do things outside of the realm they exist in. I believe we have plenty to offer as outfield coaches.

"A lot of goalkeepers have that leadership gene where they love to coach, manage, drive and really push people on. I've always enjoyed that sort of role and for a long while I've been interested in management."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy, Sky Sports & Ipswich Town

Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Ipswich Town, Fan Reactions

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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