I’m a former Man Utd star who got abuse for how I looked – now I have a role in helping the Lionesses win the World Cup
ENGLAND star Georgia Stanway revealed she has received immense off-field support from former Manchester United player Luke Chadwick, whose influence has been critical in her recent success.
Chadwick started out at United's academy at the age of 17 and was called up to the senior team two years later but only managed 38 appearances during his five-year stint at Old Trafford.
The former midfielder retired in 2016 and has since been mentoring footballers going through a rough patch after enduring a career riddled with abuse directed at his appearance.
Chadwick tweeted three years ago: "As a young footballer the abuse I received about my appearance affected my mental health a lot.
"The feeling of embarrassment stopped me talking about how I felt.
"Although uncomfortable at times, it's so important we talk about our feelings to get through the tough times!"
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Chadwick's tenacity inspired Stanway who sought his help in 2021 when she struggled to nail down a consistent role at former club Manchester City.
The 42-year-old's guidance has helped the playmaker turn a leaf and stand out for Bayern Munich as well as England by playing a major part in Sarina Wiegman's side reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
Stanway said: "This tournament, I've spoken to him every matchday minus one and that allows me to process the information we've been given [from England's staff].
"He went through his battles as a player and I was facing my own individual battles at Manchester City.
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"He wanted to help mentor players - put them on the right path, make sure they didn't experience what he did.
"He's honestly one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and he cares for absolutely everybody.
"He's just so focused on making sure that he improves each individual."
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