Eric Harrison passed away on Wednesday night
Legendary Manchester United youth coach Eric Harrison, widely credited as the man responsible for developing the ‘Class of 92’, has died aged 81.
Harrison passed away peacefully on Wednesday night with his family by his side after being diagnosed with mixed dementia four years ago.
Once a lower league player himself, Harrison began his career in coaching in 1981 before moving to Manchester United in 1986 to work as part of Alex Ferguson’s backroom staff.
In 1992 he led the Manchester United youth team to the FA Youth Cup trophy with Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Robbie Savage, Simon Davies and Keith Gillespie all part of his side.
The following year, Neville, Beckham, Savage and Gillespie were joined by Paul Scholes and Phil Neville in the team that lost the final against Leeds but he once again claimed the trophy in 1995 with only Phil Neville, his captain, remaining.
Harrison spent 27 years at Old Trafford and was awarded an MBE in 2017. Gary Neville paid tribute to his former manager on Twitter, stating “We’ve lost our mentor, our coach and the man who made us.”
“He taught us how to play, how to never give up, how important it was to win your individual battles and what we needed to do to play for Manchester United Football Club. Eric we owe you everything.”
https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1095948392805658624
David Beckham also paid an emotional tribute on his Instagram, signing off the caption ‘love from Gary, Phil, Ryan, Paul, Nicky and David’.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt2szFLhlvi/
