Marcus Rashford’s time at Manchester United seems to be nearing its end. We look back at his career, from breaking through as an academy wunderkind, to becoming the face of the club, to his tenure’s bitter end.
“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
The quote from The Dark Knight has been used plenty — perhaps too often — but with good reason. It has applied to people in every walk of life, and in the world of sports, no one is feeling it more at the moment than Marcus Rashford.
It’s been a week to forget for the (for now) Manchester United forward, which started with being dropped from the Manchester Derby to a statement saying he is ready for a new challenge. How did we get here?
The Birth of a Mancunian Star
The Manchester United academy is an incredibly important facet of the club. Carrington has produced many greats such as Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, and Mark Hughes, among many other football luminaries.
On a random Europa League Thursday night in 2016 at Old Trafford, we saw the birth of the next Carrington star. A fairy tale beginning, which saw an injury crisis lead to an 18-year-old scoring on his first ever shot as a senior footballer in front of the Stretford End. Rashford would score a brace in that game and became United’s youngest ever goal scorer in Europe at the time.
However, that was not the highlight of his week. Three days later, Rashford would announce himself on the Premier League stage in an eerily similar performance against Arsenal. He scored on his first shot and finished the match with a brace. A month later, he’d score in his Manchester Derby debut as well, which ended up as the winning goal of the match.
Although it was a season of disappointment for United, the breakthroughs of Rashford and Anthony Martial made United fans believe. They had an amazing talent in Martial, and an academy kid in Rashford to put their faith in.
No. 10
There are two numbers that are forever synonymous with Manchester United lore. The 10 and the 7. Two jerseys worn by the greats of United, and the summer of 2018 saw Rashford receive the former following the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. To Rashford, this meant everything, as it was worn by one of his idols in Wayne Rooney, and he was the first academy player to wear it since Beckham. However, in hindsight, it was also the moment the level of expectation and pressure for Rashford increased. His footballing career would never be the same.
That Night in Paris
“Mountains are there to be climbed.” That was then-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s motto heading into Paris as Manchester United were down 2-0 going into the second leg of the 2019 Champions League round of 16 tie against PSG.
A Romelu Lukaku brace gave United a 2-1 lead going into stoppage time, but the club needed to find a third to advance. A lengthy VAR review awarded United a late penalty opportunity, and who else stepped up than Manchester United’s No. 10. The boy from Wythenshawe faced the most crucial moment of his career, and in ice cold fashion he stepped up and slotted it home. On that night, the city of Manchester was at Rashford’s feet, and he felt like he was the face of United.
Becoming the Face
The 2019-20 season really saw Rashford truly blossom into the face of United. Paul Pogba was the club’s best talent, but his future was always murky. For Rashford, there was a certainty — this was the guy. Amongst the mountains of injuries surrounding United early that season, it was Rashford alongside Martial who was stepping up to the plate. That included a crucial two-game stretch which saw Rashford deliver two man-of-the-match performances against Tottenham and Manchester City to instill life in United.
That happiness was short-lived, as Rashford would face his first major injury that January, a double fracture in his back. You could say it was the injury that has led to a physical decline in Rashford, however, he didn’t miss a large amount of matches as the COVID-19 pandemic put the season on pause. Once football restarted, Rashford continued where he left off, helping lead United to Champions League football.
The 2020-21 season saw Rashford battle through more injuries, but that did not stop him from getting on the pitch. He would have a successful season with over 30 goal contributions including his first Champions League hat trick against RB Leipzig. This would be the arguable peak of Rashford’s approval rating, as the summer of 2021 changed everything.
A Shift in The Tides
The summer of 2021 was one to forget for Rashford, but for Manchester United, it was a massive summer which saw the return of the prodigal son. Cristiano Ronaldo was back in Manchester after leaving 12 years prior. Without realizing it, Rashford went from the main character to the sidekick, all while dealing with his recovery from shoulder surgery.
Rashford returned in October that season, and started well scoring in two of his first three games, but then it all went to disarray. United were struggling, Solskjaer was sacked, and in came Ralf Rangnick. Gone was the guy who helped turn Rashford into a devastating winger and always put a shoulder around him.
Life under Rangnick was not easy for Rashford, as he was never able to fit into his system and the performances became tragic. No better example than the two performances against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, which led to Rashford arguing with fans outside the stadium. At that point you felt a shift in the eyes of the fans. He was no longer universally loved, and the critics had arrived.
Many rumors of Rashford leaving began due to his diminished role in the team and it was clear there was no relationship between him and Rangnick, who although was an interim manager, looked set to stay as an advisor. For the first time, it appeared as if the hometown starboy might leave for somewhere else.
The Career Year
The summer of 2022 saw the arrival of a new manager, Erik ten Hag from Ajax. Every United fan was giddy, as for the first time they felt like they appointed the right guy for the timeline they were heading in. For Rashford, it was hope that he can go back to what life at United was like prior to Rangnick’s brief reign.
The first couple of games were terrible, but on a Monday night in August, Rashford had his “I am back” moment with the decider against Liverpool where he celebrated by picking up the corner flag and smashing it on the Old Trafford grass. That was the moment that kickstarted his season, and what a special season it was.
Rashford had helped carry United before, but never on the level we saw this season. From November to February, it felt like you were watching one of the best players in the world. From the solo goal against Burnley, the winner in the Manchester Derby, to the brace at Camp Nou, Rashford was enjoying his football again and no one was prospering from it more than ten Hag and United.
A Villain-Making Contract
All good stories must come to an end, and everything after the 2022-23 season has felt like a nightmare for Rashford. It all started with his new contract signed in July 2023, a five-year extension which saw his wages increase to £300,000 per week.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Another quote from a superhero movie that has universal applications, and specifically with Rashford. There was no more question if he was the main man anymore. He was the face of United whether he liked it or not. He was no longer the young boy who had veterans around him to protect him and let him grow. He was the veteran now. It was his club.
However, not everyone is meant to handle that level of responsibility, and it became quickly evident that Rashford was struggling. The performances became inconsistent, and the off-the-field issues began.
Off Pitch Trouble
Rashford was caught partying after a Manchester Derby loss, which drew the ire of both fans and the club. Later, a night in Belfast compounded the criticism.
The winger was spotted drinking in a Belfast nightclub, and then reported ill for training less than 48 hours later. The media witch hunt began, and it led to Rashford making an article and video with The Players Tribune where he addressed the criticism. It was not well received by the United faithful. Sports fans are quite reactionary people where in their eyes, words do not matter, but actions do.
“It’s been the inconsistency with Marcus Rashford,” said United content creator and 11-year season ticket holder Double A. “One season it’s good, the next season is terrible. He was put on a pedestal, making him out to be something he’s not. He’s not deserving of 325 (thousand pounds) a week, he’s a good player but not a world class player. Fans have become tired of seeing a player walk around the pitch. Not apologizing for his actions. It’s a collection of actions that have turned the shift.”
That “bender” in Belfast and the poor performances saw Rashford getting booed by his own fans. An academy player booed at United is unheard of, especially one with Rashford’s pedigree, but that is how toxic the relationship became.
The End Of The Road
This past week has been a sad sight as a United supporter. Right before our own eyes we saw what was once the hope of Manchester become an outcast. Articles after articles about Rashford and the upcoming divorce from United have flooded the press. Attacks on his personal life and choices have become commonplace. A player that was meant to be a lifer at the club and represent what it stands for, is seeing his reputation tarnished by the people set out to destroy him.
For United fans, we should all feel disappointed at what is happening. It was never meant to end like this, but it is the perfect example of what has been wrong at United for the past decade. An institution of toxicity.
