Harry Maguire is Manchester United’s ‘spiritual leader’, insists Ian Ladyman, as he hails the club’s former captain on It’s All Kicking Off following this season’s renaissance, saying: ‘If I needed a new heart, I’d want his!’

Ian Ladyman has described Harry Maguire as Manchester United’s ‘spiritual leader’ and lumped praise on the defender for his resolve fighting his way back into Erik ten Hag‘s side on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast. 

The defender was stripped of the captain’s armband by the Dutch manager over the summer with the club seemingly intent to move on the player they purchased in 2019. 

But amid a slew of squad injuries, Maguire was able to fight for a spot in the starting XI and has become a regular fixture under Ten Hag this season, distinguishing himself in United’s backline during a difficult campaign. 

Briefly set back by injury in December, Maguire returned to action against West Ham at the start of the month before helping Man United snatch a 2-1 victory against rivals for Europe Aston Villa at Villa Park. 

Both Mail Sport’s Football Editor Ladyman and his podcast co-host Chris Sutton were keen to stress not only how important Maguire has been for United this season, but how resilient the player has been forced to be against a backdrop of criticism for past performances. 

Harry Maguire has proved himself to be unbelievably resilient in the face of waves of criticism

The 30-year-old was stripped of the captain’s armband by Erik ten Hag over the summer and seemed fated for sale

Uneven performances for both Man United and England could have forced complaints, but the international has since proved doubters wrong

Describing him as ‘football’s renaissance man’, Ladyman added that if he ‘ever needed a heart transplant’, the former club captain’s would be first on his list. 

‘That bloke, what he’s been through football-wise, and the way he’s come back – to the level that he’s come back at – deserves all the praise in the world,’ Ladyman said.  ‘Those two at the back, Maguire and (Andre) Onana, I thought really got United through (against Villa). 

‘And if they are, to surprise the world, and finish in the top four this season, they’re gonna need a bit more of that.’

Sutton added that his co-host had ‘nailed’ the description of the defender, before continuing: ‘I can’t remember a player who’s taken as much of a kicking and he just keeps getting up, when he gets the opportunity into the team. 

‘He’s so, so reliable. I think everybody thought his days were numbered at Manchester United. I did. And yet he keeps proving people wrong time and time again.’

Ladyman was quick to add that Maguire had also been short on complaints under constant scrutiny. 

‘He’s never ever moaned about it publicly,’ he said. ‘No idea what he said privately or what’s gone through his head – I can imagine. 

‘But publicly, he’s never moaned about it. 

‘I was at Hampden Park last autumn when he had that awful night, lampooned by Scottish fans, scores an own goal, comes out afterwards and stands there and talks about it. And it’s not the first time he’s done it after England duty. 

‘Answers the questions, talks about the difficulties he’s faced, never ever moaned about it. I just think he has shown extraordinary resolve in the last year, two years. 

‘He’s come back. He’s proved a manager who wanted to sell him wrong.

Ian Ladyman believes that Maguire’s performances for his club and attitude make him a ‘spiritual leader’ at Old Trafford

But the It’s All Kicking Off podcast co-host does not think he should take the armband off current captain Bruno Fernandes

‘I know he doesn’t wear that captain’s armband anymore – Bruno Fernandes has got that. But a captain’s armband is only a piece of cotton at the end of the day. And the spiritual leader of that football team, when he plays, when he’s fit, is Harry Maguire, as far as I’m concerned.’

When probed as to whether he though Maguire deserved to re-take the armband from the Portugal international, Ladyman rejected the idea, wondering if it had ‘weighed him down a bit’.  

‘Maybe he was finding it too much when he was in poor form to be captain as well,’ Ladyman added. 

‘Let the guy play, pick him every week while he’s fit and let him play because at the moment he’s Manchester United’s best defender.’