Manchester United are set to welcome one of the “world’s leading athletic coaches” to Carrington as a “consultant” to help improve the squad’s long-standing issues with fitness and conditioning, according to the Times.
American coach Harry Marra will link up with the Red Devils to share his “vast knowledge and experience” with the fitness and sports science staff at the club.
Marra, described by The Times as possessing an “almost guru-like status” within sport, is one of the most successful coaches in the history of athletics.
The report reveals, the New York-born expert “is best known for guiding his fellow American, Ashton Eaton, to two Olympic decathlon titles in 2012 and 2016, as well as a number of other elite multi-event specialists.”
“[Marra] enjoyed huge success with Eaton, guiding him to two world records and five outdoor and indoor world titles as well as those two Olympic golds. He also coached Eaton’s wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, to an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in the heptathlon.
“The 78-year-old was named World Athletics coach of the year after the Rio Games and has also served as the speed and fitness consultant for the Major League Baseball team San Francisco Giants.”
Marra was even “ranked in the top ten track and field coaches of all time” last year, underscoring how renowned his coaching ability and fitness principles are throughout the world of athletics.
United head coach Ruben Amorim is believed to have “expressed concern” over the physical state of his squad when he arrived from Sporting CP during the last international break.
The Times reveals the Portuguese coach even “cited issues with body-fat levels among some of his stars” with this issue over poor conditioning and work rate extending back through multiple managers at Old Trafford now.
The previous incumbent of the role, Erik ten Hag, who Amorim took over from in November, was obsessed with raising the fitness levels of the United players; to, ultimately, no avail.
A source at Old Trafford states, “I don’t think under Erik the team could have done any more running in training”, despite the team often looking as short on fitness as they were on ideas. “There would be all kinds of intense running drills,” another source close to the club adds.
This lacklustre physical state was also present during Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer and Jose Mourinho’s reign. Indeed, when Ralf Rangnick – the experienced German coach credited as the ‘Godfather‘ of gegenpressen – took over from Solskjaer on an interim bases, he was said to be “shocked” by the United players’ physical condition.
Evidently, there is an issue which goes deeper than the current group of players at Old Trafford; and, perhaps, the implementation of new principles from one of the world’s leading authorities in Marra may be the antidote.
The Times contend it is common for United to “occasionally invite leading practitioners from different areas and sports to their Carrington training base for knowledge-sharing purposes and professional development.”
“This season the club have hosted a range of expert-led events covering key areas such as medical and injury management, movement mechanics, nutrition and strength training. These sessions have involved professionals from within and outside the football industry, with the aim of growing the knowledge and expertise of the United staff.”
But Marra’s legendary status within sport has piqued interest in what would otherwise be normal practice at Old Trafford. Whether the American coach will be able to help Amorim succeed where his predecessors have tried and failed, remains to be seen.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
