Get to know our FA Youth Cup finalists

RADEK VITEK

Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

A highly-driven Czech Republic goalkeeper who joined United in 2020 from Sigma Olomouc in his homeland. Vitek has been a key part of the Under-18s run to the FA Youth Cup final, playing every game in full and making several impressive saves.

The imposing shot-stopper was also United’s number one in the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League campaign, which ended in a quarter-final defeat on penalties to Borussia Dortmund. Vitek managed one save during the shoot-out, but United’s takers were thwarted more often.

Radek will soon begin to enjoy more regular appearances for the Under-23s after playing in April’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford. With a proactive style at crosses and good reflexes - shown off by an excellent double-save in the league against Stoke City U18s and an impressive performance against Atalanta U18s - Vitek has represented his country at various youth levels, most recently with the U19s.

ERIC HANBURY

Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 0

The Hague-born Hanbury signed a scholarship at United in 2021 and enjoyed a variety of experiences over the following season, marking his U18s debut with a clean sheet against Leeds in August. He then spent time on a work experience loan with Bradford City, playing games for the Bantams’ U19s while still training at United. Hanbury helped Bradford to become EFL Youth Alliance North East champions.

TOM WOOSTER

Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 0

Yorkshire-born goalkeeper who joined from Barnsley in 2021, Wooster was named Academy Player of the Season in his last season at his former club, and spent the 2021/22 campaign playing for United’s U18s. Like Hanbury, Wooster also spent time on a work experience loan with Bradford City as they became EFL Youth Alliance North East champions.

RHYS BENNETT

Position: Centre-back
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 3

The team's captain who joined the club at a young age and grew up in Denton, Manchester. The centre-back made his U18s debut in the 2020/21 season opener against Blackburn Rovers. In the 2021/22 campaign, he has worn the armband in United’s run to the FA Youth Cup final, leading the side from the back.

The well-grounded Bennett is relishing every opportunity to play at the Theatre of Dreams.

“Coming up through the ranks at United, it’s obviously a dream to play at Old Trafford,” he said. “It’s just an amazing feeling to step out on the pitch and give it our all. It’s an unbelievable experience. I can’t take it for granted. You don’t know how many times you’re going to step out at Old Trafford. Every single time you do you’ve got to just embrace it, go and give your all and hopefully keep working hard to play as many games at Old Trafford as possible. I love it every time I step out.”

TYLER FREDRICSON

Position: Centre-back
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

2005-born England Under-17 international who rarely puts a foot wrong in defence.

The centre-back, who grew up in south Manchester, has started every one of United U18s’ FA Youth Cup games in the run to the 2021/22 final against Nottingham Forest.

LOUIS JACKSON

Position: Centre-back
Age: 16
FA Youth Cup apps: 2

A promising Scottish youth international set for a bigger role in the 2022/23 season.

Jackson started United’s first two games of the FA Youth Cup in 2021/22, against Scunthorpe United and Reading. After impressing in both fixtures, he’ll no doubt enjoy more involvement next season, having been at United for more than a decade.

Formerly an England youth international, the 2005-born centre-back now proudly represents Scotland’s Under-17s side.

WILLY KAMBWALA

Position: Centre-back
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 0

Signed from Sochaux on transfer deadline day in October 2020.

After captaining France Under-16s, the central defender arrived with a big reputation for his quality and leadership skills. He made an impressive debut in a convincing victory over Derby County Under-18s, displaying speed and intelligence. However, an injury lay-off followed before he returned in 2021/22, also making his UEFA Youth League bow in the home game against Villarreal.

Kambwala has needed time to recover from several frustrating injury problems, and will look to stay fit and kick on in the 2022/23 campaign.

SONNY ALJOFREE

Position: Centre-back
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 1

Plymouth-born defender who has risen through the ranks at United. Aljofree scored his first Under-18s goal against Everton in January, being a regular starter for Travis Binnion’s side all throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

MARC JURADO

Position: Right-back
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Spanish right-back signed from Barcelona in 2020. The enterprising and attacking Sabadell-born youngster had some adaptation time in England before getting regular appearances. He scored on his Under-18s debut in a friendly against West Brom and enjoyed his first taste of league action as a substitute against Derby County. Marc signed a professional contract at United in April 2021.

Jurado has since become one of the most consistent performers in Travis Binnion’s U18s side, starting the vast majority of the 2021/22 league fixtures. He has also played a key role in runs to the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals and FA Youth Cup final, starting every game in both of those competitions.

Binnion has given the 18-year-old a couple of opportunities to play in a new midfield role at the back-end of the recent season, and Jurado has also worn the captain’s armband. Up in the U23s, he made eight appearances over the course of the season, the majority of those coming in October and November 2021.

SAM MURRAY

Position: Left-back
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

An attacking full-back who joined from Huddersfield Town at U15 level. Murray was left without a club when the Terriers closed down their Academy, but was quickly picked up by United, for whom he’s become a consistent performer in the U18s. Playing in all of the side’s games in the run to the final, no player has made more appearances for that age group this season.

LOGAN PYE

Position: Left-back
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 2

England youth international full-back who joined United from Sunderland in 2020. Pye arrived at Carrington alongside Black Cats colleague and striker Joe Hugill and made his debut for the club in the U18s’ 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Cliff. He soon made an U21s bow in an EFL Trophy match at Rochdale.

An injury restricted Pye’s game time after signing a professional contract in July 2021, but he made two appearances in the run to the final.

DAN GORE

Position: Midfielder
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Tenacious and skilled attacking midfielder for United and England. Gore has represented his country at Under-18s level and has enjoyed a productive and exciting 2021/22 season. The former Burnley player made an impression as a schoolboy when he scored a bullet header in a 2020/21 FA Youth Cup win over Salford City.

KOBBIE MAINOO

Position: Midfielder
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Creatively outstanding Stockport-born midfielder. Mainoo joined Travis Binnion’s Under-18s squad in 2021 and has excelled throughout the season, showing off excellent vision and technical ability in the middle of the park.

A graduate of Cheadle & Gatley junior football club, Mainoo scored twice in United’s run to the 2022 FA Youth Cup final, heading home at Old Trafford against Everton after a smart finish away at Reading in the fourth round. He was part of the U17s team that travelled to Dallas, Texas to take part in the Adidas Generation Cup in April 2022 and has enjoyed a couple of chances in Neil Wood’s U23s team.

MAXIMILLIAN OYEDELE

Position: Midfielder
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Versatile Salford-born Poland Under-18 international. Oyedele is adept in defence but has primarily played as a midfielder in the U18s during the 2021/22 season. With physicality, good feet and an eye for goal, few have played more regularly for Travis Binnion’s young Reds.

The highlight of his season came in the form of a third-round FA Youth Cup strike against Scunthorpe United. Oyedele has progressed through the ranks at United having enjoyed casual ‘samba football’ sessions as a young kid at The Cliff.

OMARI FORSON

Position: Midfielder
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 2

Creative midfielder who broke into the Under-18s set-up as a schoolboy, gaining valuable experience in the league and FA Youth Cup. Indeed, he came off the bench of each of the Reds' ties during the run to the 2021 semi-finals before the prestigious tournament was unfortunately curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When it restarted, United were beaten by Chelsea in the semi-final at St. George’s Park. Forson spent the early part of his youth career in London with West Ham United and Tottenham.

ISAK HANSEN-AAROEN

Position: Midfielder
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 4

Played senior football as a young teen with Tromso in Norway. A talented passer and flair player with a tenacious streak, Hansen-Aaroen has proved a semi-regular goalscorer at Under-18s level. Despite his tender years, the Norwegian midfielder had already represented Tromso's senior side in the OBOS Ligaen in July 2020.

It meant getting an outing in the Papa John's Trophy tie against Rochdale's first-team was nothing too new for him, and he scored his penalty in the shoot-out victory. Isak got off the mark for the U18s with a clever solo goal at Middlesbrough. His game time was split between the U18s and U23s over the 2021/22 season, making 11 appearances for Neil Wood’s elder age group.

ETHAN ENNIS

Position: Winger
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 2

Runcorn-born former Liverpool Academy prospect who joined United in the summer of 2021. The forward made his Reds debut in the away match against Leeds United in August.

After a settling-in period, Ennis burst into brilliant goalscoring form at the end of the 2021/22 season, making the edge-of-the-box curling finish his speciality and earning several Goal of the Month nominations. That form included a double against his former club which sparked a run of nine goals in 10 games.

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

Position: Winger
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Exciting winger who signed from Atletico Madrid in 2020. A lively front-runner, who had an enviable goals record in his homeland, he has appeared mostly on the left-hand side of attack since breaking into the U18s team.

He made his debut as a substitute in the mini-Manchester derby in October 2020, and scored his first goal against Everton. Garnacho has enjoyed prolific goalscoring form in the 2021/22 season, with notable performances in the Under-18s' FA Youth Cup run. The Madrid-born winger scored twice in the quarter-final against Leicester City at Old Trafford, having also netted in games against Everton and Scunthorpe United at the Theatre of Dreams. He also played a key role in helping the Under-19s to the UEFA Youth League last-16.

Alejandro has represented Spain at youth levels, but is also eligible to play for Argentina, the country of his mother's birth. In March 2022, he received a call-up to Argentina's preliminary squad for their FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador.

On 28 April 2022, Garnacho made his senior debut for the Reds when he came on as an injury-time substitute, replacing Anthony Elanga, in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League.

SAM MATHER

Position: Winger
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Salford-born Red who plays on the wing. Mather fulfilled a dream by scoring twice at Old Trafford in the Under-18s’ run to the FA Youth Cup final, finding the net against Scunthorpe United and Everton.

An England youth international at U18 level, Mather made an U21s United debut in August 2021 in the EFL Trophy. He has been a key part of the Youth Cup side as well as a regular member of the UEFA Youth League team, contributing plenty of assists in both competitions.

CHARLIE MCNEILL

Position: Striker
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 5

Striker who left the club as a schoolboy but returned from Manchester City in the summer of 2020. A prolific scorer throughout his time with the Blues’ Academy, he wasted little time finding the net with United, his boyhood club. McNeill claimed a brace on his debut against Derby County and has kept up the goalscoring form throughout the 2021/22 season.

Five goals in the run to the FA Youth Cup final put McNeill at the top of our scoring charts in that competition, alongside Alejandro Garnacho. McNeill has also enjoyed semi-regular appearances at U21 and U23 level, playing in the EFL Trophy and Premier League 2.

JOE HUGILL

Position: Striker
Age: 18
FA Youth Cup apps: 1

A summer 2020 arrival at United from Sunderland. Hugill made an instant impression at United, being quickly integrated into the Under-23s side and taking to it like a duck to water, despite his young age. That followed a two-goal debut in victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Cliff.

A tireless work rate rewarded the English forward with a prolific goalscoring record in Neil Wood’s U23s team, marked by a four-goal haul against Liverpool in Premier League 2. That saw Hugill become only the second Red from available post-War records to score so many times for the club in a single game against the Merseysiders. Steve James was the first.

After finishing on 10 goals in 11 starts (plus seven appearances as substitute) for the Under-23s, and six in six at U18s level, he was rewarded with promotion to training with the first-team squad in the 2021 close season.

A couple of injuries, including one picked up while on work experience loan at Forest Green Rovers, reduced Hugill’s game time in the 2021/22 campaign. The youngster soon got back into the swing of things with a run of five goals in five games in March 2022.

MANNI NORKETT

Position: Striker
Age: 17
FA Youth Cup apps: 2

Nottingham-born forward with an eye for goal and an excellent work rate. Norkett enjoyed a work experience loan at Gainsborough Trinity during the 2021/22 season, and has enjoyed a good goalscoring record in the Under-18s.

He made his U21s debut for United against Sunderland in the EFL Trophy in October 2021, and has played a couple of times since for the U23s.