Man United Reunites with Former Youth Star 20 Years On
The Old Trafford giants have done it again – welcoming back a familiar face to their Academy setup. Tommy Rowe, a one-time prodigy at the club, has made a shock return to Manchester United more than two decades after leaving in 2003.
A stalwart midfielder, Rowe burst onto the scene at United as a teenager before venturing out to stockport County. He then made over 500 EFL appearances across various clubs, including spells with Peterborough, Wolves, and Bristol City.
The 35-year-old’s second stint with the Red Devils began during pre-season when he turned out for the under-21 side in a friendly match. The veteran impressed during his time with the team, helping them record a 1-1 draw against Arsenal and defeating Blackburn 3-0. His exploits didn’t go unnoticed, and on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Rowe will join the Academy as a player-coach.
"[Rowe’s] wealth of experience will create various unique development opportunities for our Academy players, coaching from within training sessions and driving daily standards on and off the pitch," said the club in an official statement.
Rowe takes over the role from Tom Huddlestone, who left last season to pursue a coaching career at Wigan Athletic. Current club coach, Paul McShane, will stay on in the role despite hanging up his boots in 2022.
Rowe’s reintroduction couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the under-21 team, which has seen some of its top talents shipped out on loan. Centre-back Sonny Aljofree is one notable absentee, heading to Accrington Stanley for the upcoming season after signing an extended contract with United.
"This is a great chance for me to step out of my comfort zone, take on a new challenge, and play regular first-team football," Aljofree told Accrington Stanley’s website.
For United, Rowe’s addition is a shrewd move that could inject much-needed leadership and stability into the under-21 team. Here’s to seeing what he can achieve in his second stint with the club.
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