When the word clutch is mentioned when referring to an athlete, who comes to mind? Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard, Adam Vinatieri, David Ortiz, Didier Drogba, and Novak Djokovic could. Someone should be added to this conversation, though, and that someone is Harry Maguire himself. Yes, in terms of career achievement, Maguire does not scratch the surface of these other sports legends. But if we are talking purely about clutch performances and contributions, Harry Maguire has created a genuine case for himself to be recognized as one of the last-minute greats.
If you’re not familiar with soccer, you probably would not understand the bewildering nature of this claim. Harry Maguire has been, to say it lightly, the laughing stock of English football. As a Manchester United supporter, yes, I know, I’ve heard it all. He was signed to the club in 2019 for £80 million, a world record for a defender at the time. He has not lived up to the price tag whatsoever and is consistently inconsistent in his performances. He’ll put in a solid match, keeping a clean sheet, and then follow it up with two howlers in the next game. Maguire is not a bad player, though, as he has been integral to England’s solid tournament runs in the past 5 years. But his block-headed figure and goofy ethos that fans have built up over the years have turned his public image into a joke.
Even with this, my statement remains grounded. Two weekends ago, he scored probably the most important goal of his career in an away win against United’s rivals, Liverpool. This was their first win at Anfield since 2016, and Maguire’s goal served as the winner in a 2-1 win. Additionally, it occurred with 6 minutes remaining in the match. This was not an irregular feat, though, as five of his last six goals have come at the end of matches to either tie or win the game. As a defender, he does not score often, but when it matters, he always seems to come through. Funnily enough, all of these goals have been headers off crosses, so clearly he has been putting that square-shaped cranium to use. All jokes aside, though, he has been on the receiving end of far too much hate in his time in Manchester. We seem to forget he’s been capped for the club 174 times and his country, England, 64 times. An impressive feat for any player. His adversity has been something I’ve admired. It would be easy for him to crumble under this scrutiny, but he has done the opposite, putting in memorable performances for Manchester United with the pride of a lion. His story serves as a lesson in strong character, reminding us that the belief you instill in yourself can propel you towards your goals, despite what others say.
