Marcus Rashford has been utilising his personal football coach over the international break as the Manchester United star looks to bounce back after a difficult 12 months.
The United striker has had a rocky start to the season, failing to provide any goals or assists in three Premier League matches so far. It follows a disappointing campaign last time around which saw the forward miss out on a Euro 2024 spot with England.
The Red Devils have won just one game so far this campaign, losing 2-1 in the last minute to Brighton and also falling to a 3-0 defeat against rivals Liverpool.
Rashford has started all three matches, and while he has enjoyed some bright moments, criticism is starting to mount as his best form continues to elude him.
However, Rashford has been diligently training outside of team sessions in private under the guidance of his personal coach who used to play for the United ccademy, in a bid to rediscover his best form and scoring touch after again being snubbed by England for the latest international break.
But who exactly is this footballing expert that Rashford has been training with and what other stars work with him? Here, Manchester Evening News bring you the lowdown.
Who is Ryan Hopper?
Ryan Hopper is a private football coach who trains some of United’s biggest stars, including academy graduate Rashford.
Hopper was part of the United academy from the ages of six to 14 and went on to play professional football for Accrington Stanley in League Two as a teenager.
The former footballer, now 30, had a loan spell at Droylsden and made 33 appearances for seventh-tier side Mossley. These days, Hopper is a private football coach to the stars, earning respect from top players.
Known as ‘RH’ on social media, he has been seen coaching Rashford throughout the summer and into the 2024/25 Premier League season.
What other footballers utilise Hopper’s services?
Hopper provides private coaching to numerous professional footballers in and around Manchester, including some of Rashford’s United colleagues.
His clientele includes Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and ex-United winger Anthony Elanga, who currently plays for Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Ella Toone, who stars for the United Women’s team, also trains with Hopper and has been seen preparing intensively for the start of the Women’s Premier League on Friday, September 20.
In addition to established professionals, Hopper works with elite academy prospects, such as Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai. The 14-year-old is part of United’s academy and has been featured on Hopper’s Instagram page striking the ball in a manner that fans say resembles his father.
Other academy talents like Manchester City’s Jaden Heskey and United’s Dan Gore have been seen on the coach’s social media page as well.
What type of training does Rashford do with Hopper?
Rashford has taken to Instagram to display his diverse exercise regimen under the guidance of Hopper, with snippets ranging from gym-based strength and conditioning to shooting practice on the pitch.
With the caption “Raw material”, the 26-year-old is shown perfecting his long-range shooting, practising turns, and working on his passing alongside Hopper in a recent video.
Rashford didn’t stop at football drills; he also shared glimpses into his boxing sessions, footwork exercises, and plyometric training aimed at boosting his stamina and overall fitness.