TA reported that 41-year-old former Manchester United midfielder Fletcher is expected to coach Manchester United U18, and he is currently in talks with the club.

TA said that Manchester United technical coach Darren Fletcher is negotiating to transfer to the club's U18 echelon head coach. Previously, Adam Lawrence, who had been in the position for two years, decided to leave Manchester United.

Fletcher, 41, could have stayed in the first team coaching staff, but he expected it was time to take over as a head coach and fill the club's key vacancy. Under Ruben Amorin, Fletcher was primarily responsible for assisting in training and advising players and analysts. In his new position, he will be responsible for planning and selecting the team lineup for the first time, especially in the age group that is crucial in Manchester United's youth training system, including participating in the FA Youth Cup in England.

Football Director Jason Wilcox and outgoing youth training director Nick Cox believe that Fletcher, who has a UEFA Class A license, is perfect for this position that requires multiple skills, especially as players gradually approach the level of an adult team.

Fletcher has joined Manchester United's youth training camp since he was 11 in 1995 and made his debut in the 2003 Champions League. During his time at Manchester United, he made 342 appearances, scored 24 goals, and won five Premier League titles, a FA Cup, a League Cup, a Champions League and a Club World Cup championship. He also performed well in West Bromwich and Stoke City after recovering from ulcerative colitis, winning 80 appearances and scoring five goals.

In 2020, Fletcher returned to Manchester United as the U16 coach, and then joined the first team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In March 2021, he was appointed as technical director and became a first-team coach after Wilcox arrived.

Fletcher plans to become a head coach in the future, so this transfer is an important step towards this goal. This will bring pressure as a head coach, which may require managing the team at Old Trafford or other large stadiums and assume more media responsibilities.

In the U18 echelon, Fletcher will be assisted by 52-year-old coach Colin Little who has coached at Manchester United since 2009, while Travis Biennie will also provide guidance as player development and coaching director.