AN ENGLAND legend’s teacher said he knew the footballer would be a star since he was 11 years old – and he will bring it home tonight.
The Manchester United youngster was brought to Germany as Gareth Southgate’s backup, but has since emerged as the Three Lions’ key boy at Euro 2024.
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Kobbie Mainoo has become a star for the team since his first competitive match in England v Slovakia.
Now, his high school physical education teacher, Ryan Maindment, has praised the player for showing skills “miles ahead” of his peers from a young age.
Maidment, assistant headteacher at St James’ RC High School in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, told Daily Mail he taught the seventh-grade football star.
“He was a great personality and a really nice boy,” he said.
“It was clear he was a very good footballer and was at Manchester United at the time.”
Maidment recalled how Mainoo, a “well-mannered… cheeky guy”, threw himself into every football match and every sport available.
“He was a big part of the football team. He was big for his age group,” he continued.
“When it came to football, in class or on the school team, you could see his mind working like you can see now.
“He was way ahead in terms of field vision, he knew where he was on the field in relation to the space around him and where the ball was.”
The impressed teacher praised his former student for having the “vision to command the game” and “creativity” on the pitch – which put him “two or three steps ahead”.
He described a match during which Mainoo’s “power and dexterity” saw him launch the ball into the net from 30 metres.
In a video previously shared by the Manchester United club, Mainoo said: “I think I was a good student. I did well in school and got my grades and everything.
“I was (like) any other student, but I played football after school.”
England vs Netherlands standings
ENGLAND reached the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute goal in a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands.
It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?
SunSport’s Tom Barclay ruled Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.
Jordan Pickford: 7
Bigger goalkeepers may have been stronger on Xavi Simons’ first goal – although that was hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.
Kyle Walker: 7
Looked fresh after some heavy-handed displays and bombed at times in the first half despite his role on the right of the back three. The last attack on Cody Gakpo was accurate.
John’s Stones: 7
Strong in possession of the ball. He appears to have benefited from regular game time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in recent months.
Marc Guehi: 6
He returned to the team after a suspension prevented him from playing against Switzerland. He had the unenviable task of setting up big man Wout Weghorst after the break.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling proficiently. Less impact after the break, he had a goal disallowed for offside and received a yellow card.
Declan rice: 6
He lost possession of the ball with Simons’ first goal, but grew in the game, cleaning up when necessary. Bad pass when Kane was free midway through the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo: 8
He was the youngest England player to play in a major tournament semi-final, at 19 years and 82 days, and went on a rampage in the first half. Big breakthroughs, vital attacks and his interaction with Foden was a joy.
Kieran Trippier: 6
We all already know he’s playing out of position, so again he was limited attackingly and reliable defensively. Replaced at half-time by the more natural Shaw.
Phil Foden: 7
The first 45 minutes were by far their best half of the tournament. I thought he had scored when his shot was deflected by Denzel Dumfries and hit the post with a crunch. But he was then surprisingly replaced.
Jude Bellingham: 5
Back to the place where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact in his old stomping ground. Fortunately, he wasn’t the one who was replaced.
Harry Kane: 6
He won and dispatched the penalty to become the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. He looked more mobile initially, but was still very tired after the break and was withdrawn.
SUBS
Luke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6
It felt safe for a man who had been away for so long.
Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN
Surprisingly, given Ivan Toney’s endorsement as a replacement striker as Southgate looked for more pace at the back. Brilliant finish from the corner to win the game – you couldn’t ask for more from him.
Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7
He had his big chance in the final minutes, but shot horribly wide – but then set up Watkins for his wonderful winner.
Gareth Southgate: 8
His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped them win there, and here his team finally played some great football in the first half. The team collapsed again as the game progressed and you feared the worst – but it has to be said that his decision to sign Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.
Mainoo transferred to Ashton at Mersey High School in Sale after a year.
The school provides the educational element of the club’s student scholarship program.
United’s Academy boss Nick Cox explained how unusual it was for the program to sign a player as young as Mainoo.
He said: “Around that age we had a hunch, as best we could, that he would definitely become a youth team player and a young professional.”
Family support
KOBBIE MAINOO shared a photo of his beaming mother after helping lead England to the Euro 2024 final.
The Manchester United youngster was brought to Germany as Gareth Southgate’s backup but has emerged as the Three Lions’ key boy this summer.
At just 19 years and 82 days old, Mainoo became the youngest player to play in a major tournament semi-final for the Three Lions.
And the Red Devils ace didn’t crack under pressure as he was the driving force in midfield that saw England defeat the Netherlands 2-1.
To share his excitement at reaching his first major international final, Mainoo posted a heartfelt carousel on Instagram of his family watching him proudly from the stands of the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on Wednesday night.
Mainoo only made his England debut against Belgium at Wembley in March but immediately looked at home.
A bit like Adam Wharton, Mainoo was apparently selected in England’s 26-man squad mainly to learn what it’s like to take part in a major tournament and perhaps make a few appearances off the bench.
He was effectively Southgate’s third choice to partner Declan Rice in midfield, but once given the chance he became a key player and started the semi-final.
Mainoo’s first Premier League start was just eight months ago and the season saw him pick up an FA Cup winner’s medal at the age of 19, in which he was man of the match in the final against Man City.
For him, winning Euro 2024 a few months later would be extraordinary.
When is the Euro 2024 final?
- The Euro 2024 final will take place on Sunday, July 14.
- Kick-off will be at 8pm BST.
- The Olympiastadion Berlin will be the host.
What TV channel will the Euro 2024 final be broadcast on and can it be streamed live for FREE?
The Euro 2024 final will be broadcast live on BBC One and ITV1.
All European Championship games were broadcast on the BBC or ITV during the tournament.
You can stream the final live for FREE on BBC iPlayer or ITVX.
Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.
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