Mason Greenwood

Mason Will John Greenwood (born 1 October 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.

Mason Greenwood
Greenwood playing for Manchester United U18s in 2017
Personal information
Full name Mason Will John Greenwood[1]
Date of birth (2001-10-01) 1 October 2001[2]
Place of birth Bradford, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward[4]
Club information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 11
Youth career
2007–2018 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Manchester United 50 (11)
National team‡
2015 England U15 1 (0)
2017–2018 England U17 6 (1)
2018– England U18 5 (1)
2019– England U21 4 (1)
2020– England 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:51, 2 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:27, 5 September 2020 (UTC)

Greenwood made his first start for Manchester United in September 2019 in a UEFA Europa League match against Astana, in which he scored becoming the club's youngest ever goalscorer in European competition at the age of 17 years, 353 days.

Greenwood made his debut for England under-21 in the qualifying for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior international debut in September 2020.

Club career

Early career

Greenwood joined Manchester United at the age of six, playing at the club's development school in Halifax.[5] After progressing through the academy ranks, he joined up with the Under-18 squad for the 2017–18 season, despite being eligible for the Under-16s, and finished as top scorer of the U18 Premier League North with 17 goals in 21 games.[6] In May 2018, Greenwood was named Player of the Tournament as the youth side won the ICGT Trophy in the Netherlands.[7]

In July 2018, Greenwood travelled with the first team on their pre-season tour of the United States.[8] On 20 July, he made his non-competitive debut as a 76th-minute substitute for Luke Shaw in a 1–1 draw against Club America.[9] He also featured in a 0–0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes three days later.[10] On 2 October, Greenwood signed his first professional contract with the club.[11] In December, he was selected by José Mourinho to train with the first team ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Valencia.[12]

On 6 March 2019, under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Greenwood made his competitive debut as an 87th-minute substitute for Ashley Young in a 3–1 win against Paris Saint Germain in the UEFA Champions League.[13] At the age of 17 years and 156 days, he became the second youngest player to represent the club in a European competition (only behind Norman Whiteside) and the youngest ever in the Champions League era.[14] Four days later, he made his Premier League debut from the bench in a 2–0 defeat to Arsenal to become one of the club's youngest league debutants.[15][16]

On 7 May, Greenwood was named Premier League 2 Player of the Month for April.[17] At the end of the season, Greenwood received the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, given each year to the best player in the club's youth teams.[18]

On 12 May, the final day of the season, Greenwood made his first senior start for the club in a 2–0 defeat to Cardiff City.[19]

2019–20 season: First team breakthrough

On 17 July 2019, Greenwood scored his first senior goal for Manchester United in a 4–0 pre-season victory against Leeds United,[20] and followed it up with a second in United's following friendly against Inter Milan.[21] He began the season making substitute appearances in each of United's first four league matches,[22][23][24][25] before starting their Europa League opener against Kazakhstani side Astana on 19 September; he scored the only goal of the game to become the club's youngest ever goalscorer in European competition at the age of 17 years, 353 days.[26] He then scored a week later in United's League Cup tie against Rochdale.[27] On 29 October, Greenwood scored a late winner for the Manchester United under 21 side in an EFL Trophy match against Doncaster Rovers.[28] On 7 November, Greenwood scored and assisted Martial, in United's 3–0 win over Partizan Belgrade, qualifying them for the knockout stages of the competition.[29] On 24 November, Greenwood scored his first league goal in a 3–3 draw with Sheffield United.[30] On 12 December, Greenwood scored a brace and won a penalty in the final game of the Europa League group stage against AZ Alkmaar. Manchester United won the game 4–0 and finished top of their group.[31] He scored the equalising goal against Everton on 15 December.[32]

On 11 January 2020, after failing to score in 3 consecutive matches, Greenwood scored once in a 4–0 demolition of Norwich City.[33] Fifteen days later, he scored his first FA Cup goal as United washed away Tranmere Rovers 6–0.[34] Greenwood scored again four weeks later, in a 3–0 league win against Watford.[35] On 12 March, he scored his fifth European goal during a 5–0 win over LASK of Austria; becoming the first teenager to score at least 5 goals in a single European season for United.[36]

After a three-month suspension of football caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Greenwood has played in all six of United's matches as of 9 July 2020. He failed to score in the first three, but he delivered a total of four goals in the next three, including a brace in a 5–2 crushing of Bournemouth on 4 July.[37] After that, he scored against Aston Villa; making him only the fourth player aged below 19 to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances and the first since Francis Jeffers did so for Everton in 1999.[38]

2020–21 season

On 28 October 2020, Greenwood scored his first career UEFA Champions League goal in a 5–0 win over RB Leipzig; the goal came from his first ever shot in the competition.[39] On 5 December 2020, he scored his first league goal of the season in a 3–1 away win against West Ham United.[40]

International career

Greenwood has represented the England under-17 team making six appearances in 2017–18 and was part of the squad in the Algarve Tournament in Portugal.[41]

On 30 August 2019, Greenwood was included in the England under-21 squad for the first time[42] and made his debut as a 59th-minute substitute during the 3–2 win against Turkey on 6 September 2019 in qualifying for the 2021 European Under-21 Championship.[43] On 19 November 2019, Greenwood scored his first goal for the U21s; equalising against The Netherlands in a match which England ultimately lost 2–1.[44]

On 25 August 2020, Greenwood was named in the England senior squad for the first time.[45] He made his debut on 5 September in a 1–0 away win over Iceland in a 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A match, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute.[46]

On 7 September 2020, Greenwood, along with England teammate Phil Foden, was withdrawn from the England squad after breaking coronavirus quarantine guidelines in Iceland.[47]

Style of play

Greenwood began his career as a midfielder but gradually evolved into a centre forward.[6] He often plays on the right flank for Manchester United, as well as moving more centrally to occupy as a second striker when the ball is fed into the penalty area. During his early career, several of his goals have seen him dropping a shoulder or chopping the ball to get it on to his left foot before scoring. He also often reverses his shot by aiming low for the near post from the right of the box.[48]

In May 2018, former Manchester United player Clayton Blackmore said: "He's great on the ball and very good with both feet. He's the first person I've seen that takes penalties and free-kicks with his wrong foot. I've never come across anyone like that!"[49] In March 2019, former academy coach Mark Senior said: "People says he's like the new Robin van Persie but I don't know. I think he's his own man. I've not seen another player like him. His style means his pace is deceptive because he is absolutely rapid."[5]

In July 2019, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær praised Greenwood during their pre-season tour, saying: "He can play all of the front-three positions, or across the front four, as he can play number 10, number seven, number 11 and number nine. He's a natural footballer with his left foot, coming in, but he's got two feet and can play anywhere along the front. He's just a natural. When he takes a penalty with his right, then takes a penalty with his left, free-kicks with his left, free-kicks with his right. He is almost what you'd call 50:50, maybe 51:49 left-footed."[50]

Personal life

Greenwood was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire[51] and raised in the Wibsey area of the city.[52] He is of Jamaican descent.[53] His family have a background in sports; his sister, Ashton, is a track athlete.[52]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 February 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2018–19[54] Premier League 3000001[lower-alpha 1]0—40
2019–20[55] Premier League 311051419[lower-alpha 2]5—4917
2020–21[56] Premier League 16121315[lower-alpha 1]1—264
Total 50117272156—7921
Manchester United U21 2019–20[55] ————1[lower-alpha 3]111
Career total 50117272156118022
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance in EFL Trophy

International
As of match played 5 September 2020[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England 202010
Total10

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. "M. Greenwood: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  3. "Mason Greenwood: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  4. "Mason Greenwood". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  5. O'Toole, Dan (7 March 2019). "The inside story on the making of Mason Greenwood at Manchester United". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  6. "Mason Greenwood". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. Marshall, Adam (21 May 2018). "Youngsters win ICGT Trophy in the Netherlands". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  8. Luckhurst, Samuel (18 July 2018). "Manchester United pre season tour squad revealed". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  9. Thompson, Gemma (20 July 2018). "Tour 2018 Match Report: United 1 Club America 1". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  10. Thompson, Gemma (23 July 2018). "Tour 2018 Report: San Jose Earthquakes 0 United 0". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  11. Marshall, Adam (2 October 2018). "Mason Greenwood signs professional contract at Man Utd". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  12. Marshall, Adam (11 December 2018). "Youngsters train with Jose's squad". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  13. Hafez, Shamoon (6 March 2019). "Paris Saint Germain 1–3 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  14. Smith, Peter (7 March 2019). "Manchester United stun PSG: The stats behind incredible Champions League win". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  15. Johnston, Neil (10 March 2019). "Arsenal 2–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
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  19. "Cardiff mark top-flight departure with victory at Manchester United". The Guardian. 12 May 2019.
  20. Stone, Simon (17 July 2019). "Man Utd 4–0 Leeds: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side comfortably win friendly in Australia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  21. Froggatt, Mark (20 July 2019). "Greenwood scores again as United beat Inter". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  22. Stone, Simon (11 August 2019). "Manchester United 4–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  23. Stone, Simon (19 August 2019). "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  24. Stone, Simon (24 August 2019). "Manchester United 1–2 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
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  29. Stone, Simon (7 November 2019). "Manchester United 3–0 Partizan Belgrade: Hosts qualify for Europa League last 32". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  30. Fisher, Ben (24 November 2019). "Sheffield United 3–3 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian.
  31. Stone, Simon (12 December 2019). "Manchester United 4–0 AZ". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  32. Stone, Simon (15 December 2019). "Man United 1–1 Everton: Mason Greenwood secures draw for Red Devils at Old Trafford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  33. Hafez, Shamoon (11 January 2020). "Manchester United 4–0 Norwich City: Marcus Rashford scores twice on 200th appearance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  34. Stone, Simon (26 January 2020). "Tranmere 0–6 Manchester United: Reds' fans voice anger during FA Cup win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  35. Stone, Simon (23 February 2020). "Manchester United 3–0 Watford: Fernandes scores first goal as Utd go fifth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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  • Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
  • Profile at the Football Association website
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