Darren Fletcher amassed 342 appearances for Manchester United and earned 80 caps for Scotland.
Regardless of who Manchester United appoints as caretaker manager until the season’s end, Darren Fletcher has emerged as a significant beneficiary of the recent upheaval at Old Trafford.
Fletcher transitioned from his role as United’s under-18s coach to assume responsibilities in place of Ruben Amorim for the fixtures against Burnley and Brighton.
The former Manchester United and Scotland midfielder maintains he is focused solely on the present and remains unconcerned about future developments.
However, Fletcher has reportedly made a remarkably positive impression on key decision-makers within Manchester United.
This development perhaps should not come as a surprise, given the circumstances surrounding his return to the club in October 2020, which preceded his appointment to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team coaching staff in January 2021.
“I was surprised I got offered the two games because I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.
“I don’t think like that. I think about the job that I’ve got in hand, so it wasn’t something that was on my radar at all.
“But I know that I can do it and I’m comfortable doing it.
“I know the environment, and I believe in myself. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the five years I’ve been here.
“I’ve had great experiences as a player, took my time to develop and learn as a coach and other parts of things off the field, which I’m glad I’ve done because I think it’s put me in a great position now.”
Fletcher has undertaken various roles since his return to Old Trafford. He initially coached the under-16s before Solskjaer sought his expertise, citing Fletcher’s “winning mentality, commitment and hard work” as valuable assets for the culture he aimed to cultivate.
Just two months later, he was appointed Manchester United’s first technical director, underscoring the impact he was making.
According to a senior United figure at the time, that brief period served as a “good advert” for Fletcher, allowing officials to gain a deeper appreciation of his “intelligence.”
They reportedly observed firsthand what they considered to be crucial qualities – ambition, a robust work ethic, and a desire for knowledge.
These qualities were viewed as components of the elusive DNA that United had been seeking and, indeed, continues to seek following Amorim’s departure.
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One anecdote from that period involves a game at Liverpool, which occurred two weeks after Fletcher joined Solskjaer’s team.
Fletcher entered the directors’ area before the game for the first time, and “everyone just thronged around him.”
“He kept the room listening to his stories for 15 minutes,” a source who was present recounted.
“Humble” is a word frequently used to describe Fletcher during that time.
Notably, Fletcher himself referenced this trait when discussing the young players in United’s academy on Friday.
Following Jason Wilcox’s arrival at the club in the spring of 2024, Fletcher transitioned back to a first-team coaching role under Erik ten Hag. However, Amorim reportedly decided that he did not require Fletcher’s services, a decision that many perceive as a misstep.
Fletcher subsequently assumed the under-18s role, waiting until his twin sons, Jack and Tyler, had progressed beyond that age group before taking over in the summer.
Although not one of the most prominent stars during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, the revered Scottish manager admired his fellow countryman for his understated approach to his work.
Some observers believe that Fletcher’s absence due to suspension after being sent off in the semi-final against Arsenal was a contributing factor in Manchester United’s defeat by Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final, when they struggled to counter the metronomic passing style of Pep Guardiola’s team.
Fletcher, who also has younger twin daughters in addition to Jack and Tyler, who were both integrated into the first-team squad by Amorim in recent weeks, is reportedly at ease with whatever the future holds.
In public, the 41-year-old has stated that he is content to return to his role with the under-18s, where he has been instrumental in developing promising young talents, including England youth international JJ Gabriel and Jim Thwaites, who has garnered praise for his performances in various midfield positions.
“I’ve tried to prepare myself to be a manager,” said Fletcher.
“It is something I always thought I might be quite good at or that I’d enjoy doing and enjoy the challenge of.
“But at the same time I wanted to be really careful and make sure I was ready for when that moment came.
“It’s not something I’m desperate to do – circumstances in life dictate that, and I’ve experienced how intense it has been as a manager for less than a week. There’s not much time for much outside football.
“But if I prepare myself and the opportunity comes for me one day, I know I’ll be ready. If it doesn’t and it means staying as the under-18s coach, I’ll be more than comfortable with that as I’m going to help develop players for Manchester United.”
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Fletcher has dismissed the possibility of 15-year-old Gabriel being included in the Manchester United first-team squad for the Brighton game.
While Premier League regulations prevent Gabriel from participating in their competition because he was 14 at the start of the season, this rule does not apply to FA Cup matches.
Gabriel trained with Manchester United’s senior players under Amorim and participated in a warm-down session on Monday with those who started the draw at Leeds.
However, Fletcher, who successfully transitioned Gabriel into the false nine role at the beginning of this season with United’s under-18s, believes that it is too early for the youngster.
“JJ is a fantastic talent and I’ve enjoyed working with him immensely,” said Fletcher.
“There’s a lot of noise around him and deservedly so because he’s a really talented kid who works hard and loves his football.
“He makes fantastic decisions and has got an enthusiasm for the game that’s just amazing. I’m super excited by his talent and he has a bright future ahead of him.
“But the most important thing is that he keeps developing as he’s still got lots to learn.
“His time will come in due course, but for now it’s a little bit early I think and a lot of people would agree with me.
“But I couldn’t speak highly enough of JJ. He’s got an amazing family and amazing support around him and he’s somebody we’re delighted to have at the club.
“The world is his oyster, and he just needs to go on his journey.”
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