Paul McShane has bid farewell to Manchester United as he steps into a new coaching role.
The Irishman is joining up with former United keeper Lee Grant as a part of Grant’s backroom staff at Huddersfield Town.
Huddersfield announced the addition of McShane as an assistant coach last month shortly after Grant was handed his first managerial position.
Bidding farewell
The academy coach took to Instagram to say his goodbyes with the caption “The time has come were I must fly the nest from Man Utd once again.”
“To be apart of this incredible club is indescribable & to have served my apprentice as a player and now as a coach is something I am truly grateful for.”
“A big thanks goes to all the coaches and staff members who have helped me along my journey. I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career & getting back into the senior game. Until next time.”
Impact as a coach
The 39 year old’s departure marks the end of a four year spell as a part of United’s academy coaching staff.
Originally returning to the club in the summer of 2021, McShane’s announcement came as surprise to fans as United introduced an innovative player-coach role to the u21s setup.
A position which has since been filled by Tom Huddlestone and currently Tommy Rowe, McShane took on the role of Mark Dempsey’s assistant while also occasionally stepping onto the field to provide a calming influence at the back.
The role proved successful with McShane parting his wisdom on the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Alvaro Carreras, and Anthony Elanga, all of whom have successfully stepped up to the highest level from that u21s group.
After hanging up his boots as a player, McShane took up roles as an assistant with the u18s before setting as the lead coach for the u15s for the past two years.
United’s u15s saw great success under the former Ireland international player, lifting the Floodlit Cup this past season after defeating Manchester City in the North finals and then blew past Chelsea in the final with a 3-1 win.
Amongst the players coached by McShane were Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai, who scored a brace in the aforementioned cup-winning match against Chelsea.
Playing career
McShane’s connection to United isn’t only that of a coach but also as an academy player himself.
Coming to England as a teenager for trials, the centre-back impressed enough for United to sign him as a 16 year old from St. Joseph’s Boys in Dublin.
Making his way through the ranks, he was named on the bench for an away trip to Fenerbahce by Alex Ferguson in 2004 but ultimately never made a first team appearance for United before departing the club after a successful loan at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Just as within his playing career, McShane now departs the club in search of breaking into senior football.
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Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
