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Manchester United U14s coach, Neil Harris, tells us what it takes to make it in football

September 16, 2025

🚀 Help us reach 20k subscribers by hitting the subscribe button and joining our growing community dedicated to youth football development!

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Manchester United U14s coach, Neil Harris, tells us what it takes to make it in football

About this episode

In this episode, we sit down with Neil Harris, a highly experienced academy coach with over 20 years at Manchester United. Neil has been instrumental in shaping the journeys of countless young players (such as Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and more!) and brings a wealth of insight into what it really takes to progress through one of the most competitive youth systems in the world.

Together, we explore the inner workings of elite academies, the qualities top clubs look for in young talent, and how families can best support aspiring footballers through the highs and lows of academy life.

In this episode

  • The key attributes that separate good players from great prospects.
  • What it’s really like inside a Premier League academy.
  • Advice for parents navigating the emotional and practical challenges of youth football.

This conversation is full of first-hand experiences and practical advice for anyone involved in the journey of a young footballer.

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