The countdown is on for Neil Ryan and his England team as the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ draws ever closer. The biggest-ever edition of the tournament gets under away in just over a month and, in conversation with FIFA, Ryan was crystal clear in his conviction England can compete for the title.
“I’ll always back ourselves and the players we have,” he said. “We’ve got talented players, and they’ve had some great experiences. There’s a lot of depth in the squad as well. If one player’s not available or even not performing, we’ve got another quality individual who can come in.”
England’s recent successes at senior and age-group level have provided an extra source of inspiration for Ryan’s squad.
“You see the men’s U-21s in the summer, winning the EUROs for the second time in a row. You look at the women winning the EUROs again. The Football Association is a giant organisation and on the walls in the building, you see the pictures (of the teams who have won titles)… That’s what we’re all striving for. Now it’s our turn to try to get a trophy.”
Ryan joined England’s youth programme in 2022 after 19 years at Manchester United’s world-renowned academy. The 50-year-old’s bond with United was formed even before he started working there, however. His father, Jim Ryan (pictured below), played for the club and was later part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s coaching staff during the club’s golden era.
It required a special role, then, to prise the younger Ryan away from United. What was it about England that proved too good to turn down?
“It was absolutely the challenge of it. At Manchester United, I worked with the U-11s right the way through to the U-21s, every single age group. You see some players coming through who are now performing at the highest levels, which is fantastic. For the next step, where do you go from somewhere like Manchester United? International football is the highest level you can get at each age group, and it intrigued me.
“It’s a very exciting time to be with England. Being around these young players and also the staff, who are brilliant people with brilliant minds, it does nothing but improve you, challenge you and test you. That’s what I want. That’s the type of person I am. I think anyone worth their salt is like that.”
Ryan is well-versed in what a winning environment looks like. His first ten years with United were during Ferguson’s time as boss, and he provided an insight into the culture the legendary Scot created.
“Everyone hears about the extremes, the ‘hairdryer’ and so on, but my experience is that he’s a fantastic human being who would treat people fairly and show care. Also, at the right times, he’d make sure the standards were very high. He was the standard bearer. That went right through the club, and you become part of that. It’s normal for everyone to have to work hard and never stand still. He was just an amazing guy to observe from a distance. And, from the times that I communicated with him, he’s just a great person.”
One of those occasions was when Ryan made the decision to leave United to join England.
“I spoke to him and he thought it was a fantastic opportunity for me to develop. He was also very complimentary of the work that I put in over the years. It was just amazing that someone of his stature could spend time and talk to me. It’s testament to what a great leader and person he is.”
Ryan, too, places immense value on building strong personal connections. He explained how the role of a youth coach stretches far beyond imparting tactical and technical advice.
“Young players need support in each stepping stone they go through,” he said. “It’s not an easy road. If you look at someone like Scott McTominay (who Ryan coached at Manchester United), he’s now being nominated for awards, he’s a fantastic boy and an amazing player. His development was not linear. It wasn’t like everything was hunky-dory. He had a lot of injuries, a lot of growth, a lot of setbacks, a lot of challenges. And you help them through those moments. That’s just one player, but there are loads more examples.
“Being involved in development football is very rewarding. You can really influence the players, influence their lives. Of course, we’re very privileged to be in this type of role, but it doesn’t come easy. For me, it’s a lot of work, time, dedication and sacrifice to ensure I keep on top of my game.”
Ryan’s focus is now on plotting England’s title tilt at the U-17 World Cup, where his team have been drawn in a group with Venezuela, Haiti and Egypt. He outlined the approach his England team will take at Qatar 2025.
“Dominating the opponent is what we strive to do,” he said. “We want to dictate the game with our style of play, to control games in and out of possession. We’ve had experiences over the last two years where we’ve learned some lessons – some tough lessons – but we’ve also played some fantastic football.”
England won their sole U-17 World Cup in 2017, when a squad featuring the likes of Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Marc Guehi, Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Conor Gallagher triumphed in India.
“There are so many players from that squad that have gone on to have really good careers,” said Ryan. “I worked very closely with Angel Gomes at club level. He’s done fantastically. You see Phil Foden, he’s had an amazing career since then.
“With this tournament, the players get tested at the highest level in their age group. Clubs can’t always give them that experience, but it’s something we can provide them on their journey to hopefully making the senior team.”
Indeed, while Ryan is intent on shaping a side capable of competing for global glory in Qatar, England’s collective mission remains top of mind.
“We have a team of people (throughout the association) working hard to give our players the best experiences at international level,” he said. “We want to push them to the senior team and hopefully have great careers within the game. And, ultimately, to help us win the World Cup or European Championship at senior level. That’s what our goal is, and it’s something I’m proud to be part of.”
