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Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

HE was England’s hero in the 2018 World Cup before securing an £80million move to Manchester United a year later.

But Harry Maguire could’ve traded it all in to be an accountant, according to his former teacher.

Harry Maguire was an England hero at the World Cup
Fearless defender Maguire’s performances secured an £80m move to Man Utd

The burly 6’4″ defender was a revelation at World Cup 2018 for the Three Lions, and has since been an ever-present as Man Utd captain.

But when he was a kid he was a numbers whizz.

Maguire, 25, attended St Mary’s Catholic High School in Chesterfield, where he excelled with his studies.

“He was a remarkable pupil who always came in and worked very hard,” Sue Cain, Deputy Headteacher at the school, told the Derbyshire Times.

“He was never in any trouble and he had such a good attitude. He did everything you asked him to do and he never questioned why. He was a popular lad.”

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The brainy Man Utd centre half ended up scoring high grades in his exams, including Maths, which is where Cain believed he had a future.

“He got A* and A grades in his GCSEs,” she revealed.

“I think he would have gone on to study business or maths and probably have been an accountant.”

In the end, the Sheffield-born revelation chose football, even though he excelled at cross-country running, rugby and table tennis as a pupil.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

A keen runner as a kid, Harry Maguire, left, shone at school sports day
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Maguire, second row first from the right, was a brain box at school
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Harry and his brother Laurence recently returned to their old school to talk to the pupils

His former PE teacher, Martin McKee said he was destined to become a footballer.

“He could really dominate a game from central midfield,” McKee divulged.

“He had an aura about him. He could dribble around everyone if he wanted to.”

Level-headed Maguire might’ve left school 10-years ago, but he’s still very much part of their fabric.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Sporty Maguire launches a shot put during sports practice
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Maguire’s presented with a house award
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Harry and Laurence are joined by their sister Daisy, who also attends St Mary’s Catholic High School

He returns regularly, giving talks to the boys about his experiences and recently presented his former teachers with a signed shirt.

It’s the same school where his 21-year-old brother Laurence, just released by Chesterfield, attended. Their sister, Daisy, 18, is still a pupil there too.

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Proving that sport is very much in the Maguire family, their eldest son Joe, 26, plays for Buxton FC in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

But it’s Harry who’s earning all the plaudits and he’s had to work hard to get where he is today.

As a youngster he looked up to the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, knowing that he had to work hard on his distribution to be taken seriously in the modern game.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

On his last trip to the school, Maguire presented a signed shirt to former PE teacher, Martin McKee and Deputy Headteacher, Sue Cain
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
As a teenager, Maguire starred for boyhood club Sheffield United
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
At The Blades, Maguire won their Player of the Season award three years in a row
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Kids at St Mary’s Catholic High School ask Maguire to sign autographs

He fulfilled a childhood dream by playing for Sheffield United, where he came through their youth system.

In his first full season, he helped the Blades into the playoffs as they attempted to gain promotion from League One.

A heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the final to Huddersfield Town in 2012 dampened the spirits slightly.

But Maguire’s contribution was well-received, and he was named both their Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year during a remarkable nine months.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Soon, Maguire was playing in the Premier League with Hull City
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Maguire scored his first Premier League goal against Middlesbrough

For the next two years, he was crowned Player of the Year as his star continued to grow.

In 2014, Steve Bruce, recognising a decent centre half when he saw one, decided to splash £2.5m on the promising talent.

That’s where Maguire continued the trend of excelling when he was presented with tougher challenges.

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In 2016, he made his Premier League debut with Hull City – becoming a regular when Marco Silva took charge.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Goals from headers has become Maguire’s trademark
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Maguire puts England 1-0 up against Sweden with a bullet header

It was a tumultuous season for The Tigers, who in the end were relegated, but for Maguire, personally, it was another landmark.

Showing his leadership qualities, he captained the East Yorkshire side to victory against Middlesbrough in April 2017 in a 4-2 win.

He also scored his first Premier League goal – a bullet header – something that’s becoming a trademark.

Leicester City secured Maguire’s services in 2017 for £12m, potentially rising to £17m with add-ons.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Leicester City shelled out £12m for Maguire’s services
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Maguire starred for Leicester before joining Man Utd

Maguire instantly became a hero on the pitch at Leicester, his heart and desire earning him the Players’ Player of the Season, as well as Fans’ Player of the Year.

His commitment to the cause – Maguire played every minute of the 2017-18 campaign – was adored by his supporters.

But Maguire took another step up when he joined Man Utd for £80m in 2019.

, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Fern Hawkins is Harry Maguire’s stunning wife
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Every inch a Wag, Hawkins shares snaps of her glamorous life on social media

Off the pitch, Maguire keeps his personal life, well, personal.

He does have the glamorous Wag in tow, the beautiful Fern Hawkins – a physiotherapy graduate – who he married last week.

The pair regularly pose for loved-up selfies on social media, but Maguire is normally one to shun the limelight and glitzy life.

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, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer

Hawkins cheered on Maguire from the stands at World Cup 2018
, Harry Maguire: How England’s World Cup hero could’ve been an accountant instead of a Premier League footballer
Despite sharing some snaps on social media, Maguire does like to keep his private life personal

After all, we’re talking about a man who once reported for England duty with two carrier bags full of his stuff that trended on Twitter. That picture got him a rollicking from his mum.

“I’ve seen the picture on Twitter with the bags. It was just full of boots and shin pads and dirty stuff which I’ll give the kit man,” he said at the time.

“I’ll try and get some better luggage in future. My mum mentioned it. She sent me a text later on saying ‘what’s with the bags?’”

Whether or not he does go straight to Louis Vuitton and invest in a pricey kit-bag is another story. But it’s hard to imagine that his fame will turn this modest lad into a showbiz wannabe.

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