McClair Proud Of Academy Record

In a recent issue of Inside United, Manchester United Academy manager Brian McClair outlined the youth system's objectives - to prepare players for the first team at Old Trafford or at least in football elsewhere...

How would you assess the recent success of United's youth system?
We are in the third generation of youth development since Sir Alex came down here from Scotland. He reinvigorated the policy that was started by Sir Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy. Going back all the way to then, they understood the possibility of developing your own young players. Sir Alex did that and had unbelievable success with it. What we’re delighted with, and I’m sure Sir Alex would be the first to say it, is the number of players who have come through that system over the last 20-odd years who have earned and are still earning a living in football. So we think, as a school of football, we’re right up there with any Academy. I’m fairly confident we have more people earning a living from the game than anyone else, in terms of the pure numbers.

Is it important that youngsters who come through the system have a career in the game, even if it's away from United?
Yes, because, when you start looking at six- and seven-year-old boys locally, and signing them on at eight, you have to be confident when you say to them and their parents that a certain number of them will do that. You don’t know at eight which ones they are because things change all the way along the pathway but we know, because of the results and end productivity, that a number will progress. If everything maps out, if they want to put the work in and the time, then they will earn a living as a professional footballer. All these players that have come through, a lot of them have been involved since they were pre-Academy age at development centres.

Would you agree with your colleague Paul McGuinness that fun needs to be part of a player's development?
Fun is the operative word. Everybody should have fun all the way through to the first team. Even then, they should have fun even if, ultimately, winning is the key and the priority. It’s a sport and being part of it should be fun – that’s crucial for me from whatever age, be it five years old or just outside the first team. Everybody who is involved, the coaching staff and the players, should be enjoying it because it’s a wonderful industry to be involved in and playing is only a small part of your life. It should be the most enjoyable part of your life if you love playing football. If you want to do something else afterwards or if you’re still involved in the game, it’s never as good as playing.

Some players appear to be late developers at the moment – is the game changing in that respect?
Well, players are playing for longer now like Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand for example. They are tending to play for longer and squad sizes have changed. You’re still looking to say is there a pathway and certainly, at this club, this pathway is for a five-year-old to eventually get into the Manchester United team.

If you look at the 2011 FA Youth Cup team, many players from that generation are really progressing, aren’t they?
At present there are two elements to what we are trying to do. One is to produce players for Manchester United – that’s our global mission. We want to develop them as human beings. Secondly, we are confident that at the time they get to those ages, if they choose that’s what they want, they will get a career in the game. So players that you could say have failed here because they’re not playing in the first team, are nonetheless having a great life for themselves at other football clubs. That gives you satisfaction too. All of us are involved in playing a little part, but the player makes himself. Nobody can make a player – no doubt about it – but you’re able to give him the platform to get to those places.

What are your thoughts on the new Under-19 UEFA Youth League?
It's fine. In terms of the age-group format, it’s something we could consider in England – to change to January birthdays [rather than have the age cut-off in the summer]. We currently have two distinct squads at United – Warren Joyce’s Under-21s and Paul McGuinness’s Under-18s - whereas some of the other clubs have a single group for the Under-19 Youth League that work together all the time. Our Youth League squad [coached by Nicky Butt] work together sometimes but not consistently day in and day out, and doing the same thing.

In the past you’ve advocated youth teams playing in festivals, with clubs competing at one training ground - is that something you'd still like to see?
There are all sort of discussions about what a youth team's programme of games should consist of. Does it necessarily have to be 11 versus 11 from September until the end of May? Nobody has really sat down for long enough and discussed what the needs of the player are. We need to have people who are like-minded and get them involved in the debate and discussion. We are always looking to see what the best thing is for football, and where Manchester United fits into that.