A stellar frontman of Manchester United and the England national team, Marcus Rashford inspires awe both on and off the field. Below is a story about how he worked his way to the football stratosphere and what qualities make him stand out as a forward and a personality.
Marcus’s path to recognition was not at all sunshine and rainbows, which makes his accomplishments all the more valuable and his story all the more inspiring. In addition to his exceptional natural ability, behind his success is a lot of hard work and persistence.
The Man United striker has earned love and respect from not only the Red Devils fandom and the Premier League followers but also the global soccer community. The player’s dramatic evolution, with enough challenges and steps backwards, has left no one indifferent.
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Rashford’s Journey from Debut to Leadership
Started at a local amateur club at the age of five, Marcus was spotted and enrolled in the Manchester United academy for young talents two years later. After impressive performances in the club’s youth teams, Rashford began to frequent the senior team’s training sessions.
He debuted on the first-team roster in a 2016 UEFA Europa League match. Taking the field to replace his injured teammates, the soccer prodigy scored a sensational brace and contributed to the win. Marcus’s tremendous journey went on, securing his leadership on the senior squad.
Here are just a few events where the brilliant forward was indispensable for the Red Devils.
| 📅 Date | ⚽ Event | 🏆 Result for Man Utd |
| March 20, 2016 | The Manchester derby | First away victory in the league since 2012 |
| May 21, 2016 | The FA Cup final | 12th winning title |
| February 26, 2017 | The EFL Cup final | 5th silverware |
| May 24, 2017 | The UEFA Europa League final | First and only win so far |
| December 6, 2017 | Match against CSKA Moscow | Champions League knockout phase qualification |
| March 6, 2019 | Game against Paris Saint-Germaine | Advancing to the Champions League quarter-final |
| January 12, 2021 | Match against Burnley | Topping the league table for the first time since the 2012-13 season |
Despite phenomenal successes and achievements, the bright striker hasn’t always performed smoothly and consistently. Occasionally, Marcus was out of shape and had a poor goal-scoring run. Moreover, he was forced to miss most of the 2021-22 season due to multiple injuries.
The Ten Hag Effect: A New Beginning
A new phase in Rashford’s career began with Erik Ten Hag’s appointment as Man United manager towards the end of the 2021-22 season. After taking the side under his tutelage, Ten Hag revealed the player’s versatility and let him shine as both a centre forward and left winger.
On October 30, 2022, the day before his 25th birthday, Marcus scored his 100th goal for United in a 1-0 win over West Ham. On January 14, 2023, he reenacted his Manchester derby feat, bagging the winning goal. Later that year, he contributed to lifting the team’s 6th EFL Cup.
With his 2022-23 season rebirth, Rashford has become a more stable, mature, and effective player by picking up his pace, sharpening attacks, and developing his goal-scoring knack.
Rashford’s Versatility and Skills on the Pitch
Versatility is one of the greatest assets of the forward, as he’s able to make a strong performance in the centre and on the wing. An amazingly fast pace is Marcus’s other great quality, which enables him to move around the pitch with lightning speed, eluding opponents.
Rashford is a technically versed player who has perfected essential football skills such as dribbling and finishing. In addition to technique, he’s been constantly honing his physique.
Cognitive Growth and Tactical Intelligence
The formidable attacker has progressed throughout his career, manifesting his strides on the field. Growing his cognitive abilities and tactical prowess, he’s learned to analyse in-depth, identify goal-scoring opportunities, and make the right decisions to launch efficient attacks.
The forward, recognised as the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League top scorer, is an expert at finding the net. So he’s often trusted to take free kicks and penalties, which he does with flying colours.
Rashford’s Impact Off the Pitch
Marcus Rashford’s road to the stars was one of hardship. The future football celebrity was born into a financially insecure household with a single parent and four more siblings. His mother and older brothers worked really hard to provide for the family and make his career possible.
As a big name, Rashford started utilising his influence to fight what he had himself been through, namely child poverty and hunger. During the 2020 pandemic, he united his efforts with the UK charity FareShare, providing over 4 million free meals to needy children nationwide.
The same year, Marcus’s petition secured a year’s funding to support low-income families. More of his campaigns address social benefits, literacy, and other issues in disadvantaged communities. His momentous philanthropic and athletic exploits earned him such honours as:
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
- Honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester.
- Special Recognition at the 2020 Pride of Britain Awards.
- The FIFA Foundation Award 2020.
- Man United Players’ Player of the Year 2022-23.
- The Guardian Footballer of the Year 2020.
- The Professional Footballers’ Association Merit Award 2020.
The renowned forward, who rose to the top young, has become a role model for many youth footballers and athletes. Moreover, he’s a prime example of a modest man with a big heart and responsibility who always remembers where he comes from and helps those in need.
The Making of a Global Football Star
Playing for the national team, the attacker has gained global fame and recognition. He was crucial for the team’s World Cup 2018 and 2022 performances, culminating in the quarter-finals. At the 2022 World Cup, he scored one of the fastest goals in history as a substitute.
Marcus has been included in England’s preliminary roster for the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship. As for his fate and relationship with United, the club has extended his contract until 2028. So, we should expect more goals from the powerhouse striker for the Red Devils.
Conclusion
A Man Utd academy graduate, Rashford has lived up to the expectations of scouts and coaches by becoming the first team’s new leader and one of the best forwards globally. Importantly, he has used his platform to pursue good deeds and make a positive difference in the world.
