Maguire goes from England fan to World Cup in two years
Harry Maguire is preparing to go to the World Cup just two years after travelling to watch England as a fan, so it is little wonder the defender can scarcely believe his “remarkable” rise.
Gareth Southgate’s squad is littered with players that have made unorthodox journeys up the ranks, from former non-league players Jamie Vardy and Nick Pope to the many loan moves captain Harry Kane went on before making it big.
Maguire’s ascent has been striking in a different way.
The 25-year-old went to England’s Euro 2016 group match against Slovakia as a fan after helping Hull seal promotion through the Sky Bet Championship play-offs and is now bound for Russia to take part in the World Cup.
“It was a great occasion for myself to go over there and see them play live and the atmosphere,” Maguire said of the 0-0 draw in St Etienne.
“The fans out there - the incredible atmosphere, the passion that they show.
“Obviously I picked the Slovakia game... I wish I’d picked the game before against Wales, which would have been a bit more interesting.
“But they managed to get the job done. It was a great atmosphere, it was great to experience it.”
Among those with him in France for a trip he will “never forget” were brothers Laurence and Joe, who play for Chesterfield and Gainsborough Trinity respectively.
They are set to join him in Russia and Maguire joked that he has got to get his hands on lot of tickets after an ascent he could never have imagined two years ago.