For the first time in 48 years, England’s national team has no Manchester United players, putting Erik ten Hag under immense pressure
England’s national team, under interim coach Lee Carsley, has just announced its squad for the upcoming international matches, and notably, this is the first time since 1976 that no Manchester United player has been included. This event is not only historic but also puts Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in a difficult position, as the club is currently facing significant struggles.
For nearly half a century, at least one Manchester United player has been a regular presence in the England squad. During the club’s golden era in the 1990s, key players like David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt formed the backbone of the team. More recently, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford were frequently called up. Notably, young talent Kobbie Mainoo had impressed during EURO 2024.
However, this time around, Mainoo had to withdraw due to injury, Maguire picked up a knock in a match against Aston Villa, and Rashford has not been called up since March. As a result, Manchester United players are completely absent from the national team squad.
Ironically, in the match against Greece, two players who graduated from Manchester United’s academy but no longer play for the club were named as substitutes by Carsley: Angel Gomes, who left United in 2020 and now plays for Lille, and Dean Henderson, who is currently Crystal Palace’s first-choice goalkeeper.
This situation reflects Manchester United’s decline under Erik ten Hag, as the club no longer has the same influence on the England national team as it once did.