Former Manchester United youth coach is dead

Former Manchester United youth coach Eric Harrison is dead.

Harrison, credited with the development of United's fabled 'Class of '92', was diagnosed with dementia four years ago.

He passed away on Wednesday, with his family by his side.

A Manchester United statement on Thursday morning declared: "We are extremely saddened to report that our former youth coach Eric Harrison passed away last night.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eric's family and friends at this sad and difficult time."

United legend Gary Neville has paid his respects on social media, 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."

David Beckham also penned his own tribute: "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.

"He was always watching and always with us every time we played, I can still hear him telling me NO MORE HOLLYWOOD PASSES. I can still see him as we played on The Cliff training ground looking down on us either with a proud smile or a loud bang of his fist on the window knowing any minute he would be on his way down to probably advise me in the most polite way to stop playing those passes.

"More importantly he made us understand how to work hard and respect each other and not just on the pitch. We won’t forget the life lessons he gave us. Eric we love you and owe you everything."

Harrison's greatest successes came following the arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, with the Scot revamping the club's scouting network.

That led to the fabled class of '92, and what has widely been acknowledged as one of the greatest crops of young players to graduate into a first team simultaneously in the history of English football.

In 1992, Harrison's charges won the FA Youth Cup, with a side including Neville, Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Robbie Savage.

The following year, Neville, Beckham and Savage were joined in the side that lost to Leeds by Phil Neville and Paul Scholes.

United would again win the Youth Cup in 1995, with the younger Neville captaining the side.

The Neville brothers, Beckham, Butt, Scholes and Giggs would go on to form the backbone of United's treble-winning side in 1999.

He also mentored a host of other internationals, including Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and David Platt.