Kobbie Mainoo strolls into the England media conference suite at Blankenhain Castle and it is made known that he has never previously picked up a set of darts. It is not exactly a seething Goodison Park or the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul, where in late November the Manchester United midfielder made his first appearances of an extraordinary breakthrough season.
But the media are 3-0 up in the three-dart challenge against Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad and Mainoo’s opponent from the Press Association has looked the part in his warm-ups. Sixty seconds later, Mainoo has won 51-31 and taken his seat for questions, barely blinking.
Nobody likes to see a journalist go to pieces but this is a story about the composure of one man not yet out of his teens, how he has stared down challenge after challenge and without seemingly raising his pulse.
“I just try to take everything in stride,” Mainoo says, during a break in the preparations for England’s Group C tie against Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday.
“Things have been happening quite quickly but I just try to take it a game at a time, a day at a time. It’s been working for me so far.”
The next question is an obvious one but it needs to be asked. Kobbie, when did you last completely lose your shit? He smiles his easy smile. “Maybe when we won the FA Cup,” he replies. Note: that was in celebration rather than anger.
Mainoo scored what proved to be the winner that day against Manchester City and it rounded off a dream domestic season on a personal level – many of his showreel performances coming in the very biggest matches. The 19‑year-old excelled in both of United’s Premier League draws against Liverpool, scoring a wonder goal in the second at Old Trafford and, in between times, he set the tone for the FA Cup quarter-final win against the same opponents with his twinkle-toed courage.
Erik ten Hag had shown no hesitation in giving Mainoo his full league debut at Everton as the Merseyside club reeled from the announcement of their points deduction, and his assurance on the ball, especially in tight spaces, was a sign of everything to come. A highlight of United’s wild season was his stoppage-time beauty in the 4-3 win at Wolves, Sir Alex Ferguson caught on camera mouthing one word: “Mainoo.” Then there was the nerveless full England debut against Belgium in March. It convinced Southgate that he had to take him to Germany.
So here we are, Mainoo having got on in the 86th minute of England’s 1-0 win against Serbia in the opening group game on Sunday and the discussion heating up about whether Southgate ought to start him ahead of Trent Alexander‑Arnold against Denmark.
The theory is that Mainoo could provide a vital ingredient; the ability to receive the ball under pressure, make a move – maybe a shoulder drop or sharp turn – and get England up the pitch, either with a burst forward or a secure pass. It was worrying to see how the team struggled to get out in the second half against Serbia. On the other hand, does Mainoo have the positional discipline out of possession? It might not be a great thing that he plays his club football in one of the most open midfields in the league.
Mainoo is plainly a more attacking than defensive player. He talks of how he played predominantly as a striker in the United academy; he was only moved into midfield by the coach, Travis Binnion, in 2021- 22, when he helped the club to win the FA Youth Cup as a first-year scholar.
Mainoo brings up how he played futsal as a kid, which helped to finesse his touch, his love of the ball and expressing himself with it. He also names Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho as his heroes, agreeing it was a thrill to have heard the former say he should start ahead of Alexander-Arnold if or when England reach the knockout rounds.
What does Mainoo consider as his ideal position? “I think as an 8,” he says.
“I enjoy playing as an 8, attacking. I like defending, as well. I don’t mind defending. So yeah, I reckon an 8. Being an attacker when I was younger, I always enjoyed scoring goals. It’s definitely up there as one of my favourite parts of the game but I like defending. Anywhere on the pitch for England or United, I don’t mind where I play.
“The move to midfield was more because I was getting a bit frustrated playing striker. I wasn’t getting the ball a lot and I love time with the ball. So it was more natural to move back, play 10 a bit, then I played on the wing and then more recently played centre midfield.”
Mainoo rattles through a number of other subjects. He was eligible to play for Ghana and says it was “considered” but it had “always been a dream to play for England”. There must be something in the water in Stockport because it was where he and Phil Foden were raised. “We were talking about it yesterday,” Mainoo says. “We were naming all the local teams that we used to play against and Cole Palmer, as well, because he is from a similar area [in Manchester].”
The Cup final, he confirms, has been mentioned to the City players. “I might have spoken to them a couple of times on the first day back [in camp] with [John] Stonesy and Kyle Walker,” he says. “They were having a laugh and joke about it but we’re on the same team now.”
Then there is Ten Hag who, after much ado about plenty, United have decided to retain. “I am obviously happy to keep building with him,” Mainoo says. “He has won two trophies and there are more to come. It is nice to have the peace of mind that we know what manager we are going back to for pre‑season. I am so grateful to him that he put his trust in me. I can’t thank him enough.”
Mainoo, though, has been the author of his story. He has a glorious ending in mind here.
