MAN UTD STAR KOBBIE MAINOO'S REMARKABLE RISE TO ENGLAND SQUAD AFTER STANDING OUT AGED FOUR

Proudly wearing an England shirt while playing football as a toddler, Kobbie Mainoo is now one of England’s brightest hopes for Euro 2024 glory.

His skills on the ball were obvious from the age of four. And after he was named in boss Gareth Southgate ’s provisional 33-man squad on Tuesday, the 19-year-old talent could make his mark at the tournament in Germany next month.

His first coach, Steve Vare, told the Mirror he still recalls the first time he saw him play aged four or five. He said: “He was a wiry kid but he was strong, he was quick and he just stood out.

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“I would put all the better players on the opposing team to try and challenge him. He would weave in and out of them and just score goals.”

Born in Stockport to Ghanaian parents Felix Mainoo and Abena Herold, Manchester United star Kobbie is the youngest with two sisters, Ama and Elfia. His brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames, was on Love Island in 2019.

His mum works as a secretary at her new partner’s construction firm. Elfia now runs BlackOwned studios in Manchester which champions small businesses owned and ran by people from BAME backgrounds.

He was seven when he joined the United academy and 17 when he signed his first professional contract in 2022.

Retired England stars Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney have heaped praise on the midfielder who made his debut for England against Belgium in March.

When asked by TV crews where he started out, Kobbie proudly told them it was at the sports hall of a local high school with Cheadle and Gatley Junior Football Club.

It was a heartwarming moment for ex-coach Steve, 56, who added: “He takes it all in his stride, it’s possibly his character and the way he was brought up.”

But Kobbie’s United team-mate Marcus Rashford, 26, was left out of the 33-man list in a shock move. The squad is set to be whittled down even further before the Euros begin on June 14.

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2024-05-21T21:10:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd