Exclusive: Man Utd's Grace Clinton reveals WSL coach she's learned the most from

Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton has named the coach she feels she has learned the most from during her career so far.

The 21-year-old was born in Liverpool and spent the early years of her career at Everton. She made her competitive senior debut for the Toffees back in 2020 and made her first start a month later.

Her rapid development didn't go unnoticed at the Women’s Super League's (WSL) top clubs and Manchester United swooped in to sign her in 2022 on a three-year contract. Midway through her first season, having not made an appearance for the club, she was loaned out to Bristol City in the Championship where she helped them win the league and promotion back into the top flight.

That was just the first stepping stone for Clinton, however, as she spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur. There, she earned the accolade as the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year, as well as her first senior England call up and debut.

Last summer, United boss Marc Skinner finally felt Clinton was ready for regular first-team football at Leigh Sports Village and ruled out any possibility of her heading out on loan again, despite Spurs' reported desire to sign her on a permanent deal. This season, she has arguably been one of United's most influential players as they sit second in the table, ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City/

Although Clinton has thrived in a United shirt, the young midfielder has hailed Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn as one of the most influential coaches in her career so far.

"Robert Vilhamn," she told 90min for adidas, when asked which coach she'd learned the most from. "He loves [for his teams] to be in possession and loves [having] the ball.

Tune in to 90min's YouTube channel to watch our interview with Grace Clinton in full.

"I think he brought a new lease of life to Tottenham which was what they needed."

Clinton's progress has been rewarded at United as they triggered the year extension in her contract, which now keeps her at the club until at least the summer of 2026. She has settled expertly back into life up north, helped by the fact one of her closest friends at Spurs in Celin Bizet also made the move to United.

A growing trend in football over the last year has been football's 'arrival fits', where players are photographed walking into training and can showcase their personalities through what they wear. It is something United have dabbled in at times, often broadcasting player's outfits when they’re away on international duty.

It is something Clinton also enjoys and thinks is a positive thing in the game as supporters are able to get to know their favourite players off the pitch.

"I really like it," the midfielder continued. "Not only does it show the player's personality, it engages with the supporters and they want to see what we’re wearing and what our vibe is like off the pitch.

"People want to see more of the outside and not just all football sometimes. I think it's really cool."

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