The rise of Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood

11 years ago, a young Mason Greenwood got his picture taken with Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solksjaer; last night, Ole subbed him on against Everton and he finished brilliantly to help Manchester United equalise. 3 days prior, Greenwood had scored an emphatic brace against AZ Alkmaar to inspire Manchester United to a win in the Europa League.

So who is Mason Greenwood?

Born on the 1st of October 2001 in Bradford, Mason Greenwood is a lethal young forward that stands at just under 6 ft tall. Now 18, Greenwood began his footballing journey at the age of 6, playing in United's academy setup. In the 2017/18 season he broke into the U-18 team at the age of 16 and ended the campaign as the top scorer of the U-18 Premier League North, bagging 17 goals in 21 games.

Greenwood had his first experience with the first team in the pre-season tour of the 2018/19 season, featuring as a sub off the bench. A few months later, Ole handed Greenwood his competitive debut in the latter end of a Champions League win over PSG in March 2019. 4 days later, he came on as a sub against Arsenal for his Premier League debut, becoming won of the club's youngest ever debutants. At the end of the 2018/19 season, Greenwood received the Young Player of the Year award at Manchester United for his efforts within the youth leagues.

The young forward scored his first senior goal for United in a pre-season friendly against Leeds earlier this year, subsequently, he scored again in another friendly against Internazionale. Greenwood received his first senior start for Manchester United against Astana in the Europa League, in which he jinked past his defender and powerfully finished into the bottom corner, becoming United's youngest ever goalscorer in a European competition at 17 years old and 353 days. Greenwood has 6 goals already this season, with 4 in 5 games in the Europa League.

While his left foot is stronger, Greenwood possesses the ability to dribble, pass and shoot on both feet. His unique style of finishing has been likened to Robin van Persie's, together with his pace, this deadly combination of shooting and athleticism can terrorise any defence.

Mason Greenwood is an outstanding talent and he may well soon be leading the lines for Manchester United and England.








Thanks for reading! Comment down below if you agree / disagree or have any suggestions for future posts.

Please share if you enjoyed it would be appreciated greatly :)

Kevin @ Football: The Next Generation






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 5 Best Football Academies in Europe

Football academies teach the beautiful game to prospective players as young as 5 or 6. They hone and refine their natural abilities and shape them into incredible players that can really impact a match. From legends of the past to stars of today, they all started somewhere. Today we'll be looking at the 5 best football academies in Europe, analysing factors such as the quality of facilities, experience of staff and the achievements of their most famous academy graduates. 5. Sporting CP Youth Academy Based in Lisbon, the Sporting CP Youth Academy is the gateway for talented youngsters to break into the Sporting CP first team. The academy is broken down into 5 youth squads: U19s, U17s, U17s (B), U15s, U15s (B). The current academy was built in 2002, with 1 full size pitch, 4 smaller training pitches and a separate area for goalie training. It also includes study rooms and a medical center with treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, gym, showers and bedrooms. At Euro 2016, 10 Sportin
Read more

From Gloves to Glory: The Development of Young Goalkeepers in Professional Football

In the realm of professional football, the role of a goalkeeper is crucial, with their acrobatics and shot-stopping abilities often making the difference between victory and defeat. While outfield players often steal the limelight, the development of young goalkeepers is an equally important aspect of the sport.  In this article, we explore the journey of young goalkeepers in their quest for success, showcasing specific examples of their development and highlighting the key factors that contribute to their rise to the top. 1. Gianluigi Buffon The legendary Italian goalkeeper, serves as a prime example of exceptional development. Starting his career at Parma, Buffon displayed remarkable composure and shot-stopping abilities from a young age. His consistent performances earned him a move to Juventus, where he solidified his reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history. 2. Alisson Becker The rise of Alisson Becker, the Brazilian shot-stopper, is another remarkable tale of deve
Read more

The Weight of Unfulfilled Potential: The 10 Biggest Youth Transfer Flops in Football History

For any footballer, the transition from youth football to professional football is a difficult and demanding process. But for every Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there are dozens of teenage stars who simply can't handle the transition, leaving them in a precarious position of unfulfilled potential.  Here are 10 of the greatest youth flops in football history, players who showed enormous promise at youth level only to fail to live up to their expectations as professionals. 1. Freddy Adu  Signed by DC United at age 14, Adu was the subject of much hype and excitement as one of the brightest prospects in world football. However, after making a big impact at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the United States midfielder struggled to find the same form in the senior ranks. Prone to inconsistent performances, he was forced to move from club to club in search of first-team football and eventually failed to make the grade at any of the major teams he was linked to. 2. Nii Lamptey  Lamptey was s
Read more