United View: Manchester United’s leadership transition marks a new era for the club.

Harry Maguire took to social media to announce that he would be stepping down as the captain of Manchester United, following a decision from Erik Ten Hag.

Maguire was appointed captaincy back in 2020 by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following his £80 million move from Leicester City. But with limited game time under Erik Ten Hag, it became apparent that the manager favoured other defenders over Maguire.

The England international started the first two games of the previous campaign against Brighton and Brentford but then only went on to start a further six games in the Premier League. Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw were all chosen ahead of Maguire in central defence.

In his online post, Maguire said he was ‘extremely disappointed’ with the decision but will continue ‘give my all every time I wear the shirt.’ And although he may not like the choice, it may be in the best interest of him and the club.

Despite admirably wanting to fight for his place at the club, with the European Championships taking place in 2024, Maguire will need to be playing regular football. Whether that can happen at United is yet to be seen.

The decision may not surprise many, but it once again shows the authority of Ten Hag. Who aims to build a leadership collective and guide Manchester United into a new era. And if he is to do that, he needs a captain that will be starting most of the games.

With Maguire stepping down, Bruno Fernandes is the logical choice for the vacant captaincy role. The current vice-captain regularly took up the armband in the absence of Maguire last season and has been key to United since joining from Sporting Lisbon back in 2020.

While the Portuguese playmaker still has room for improvement, such as managing his emotions on the pitch, there is no doubting his commitment to the club. Making 59 appearances last season, scoring 14 and assisting 15.

So, with Fernandes likely to assume the captaincy, the question is who will become the new vice-captain? Well, there are several worthy candidates including, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford.

Rashford is set to sign a new five-year deal, keeping him at the club until he is 29 years old. And despite being younger than the other names mentioned, he has shown himself as an excellent role model both on and off the pitch.

However, Ten Hag may prioritize experience, making Varane an attractive choice. Not only has he achieved great success at club level, but his ability to stay out of trouble also makes him a stronger contender. Unlike Casemiro who is prone to suspension. But then again, so was Roy Keane.

Ultimately the decision will reflect Ten Hag’s vision for a team of leaders which will hopefully rub off onto the young players. And this change in leadership symbolises the manager's authoritative presence at the club, as he looks to implement a winning mentality throughout the team.

The club is renowned for its captains, whether that be Keane, Bryan Robson, Wayne Rooney or Nemanja Vidic. Men who epitomised everything Manchester United has stood for and acted on behalf of the manager.

And although Harry Maguire’s time as captain may be done, it’s now time for others to step up and help guide the team back to success. It could be the start of a new era at Manchester United, characterised by a group of influential figures.

This change in leadership is another bold but correct call for Erik Ten Hag. And although his team’s captaincy may be changing, his authority continues to be unquestioned as the manager of Manchester United.