Rashford’s rise, fall and rise again as Man Utd star turns 25

As Marcus Rashford turns 25, it’s time to look at the career of the Manchester United star so far. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the England international who has risen, fallen, and is now rising again with Erik ten Hag as his manager. If he continues at the current rate, who knows what he could achieve in the glorious game…Back in February 2016, when Louis van Gaal ruled the roost at Old Trafford, United suffered an injury crisis.With no Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial available for a Europa League clash against Danish side FC Midtjylland, the Dutchman had no choice but to look to the club’s academy to fill the void.Rashford, with the No 39 on his back, was then given the chance to prove his worth. Picked as a central striker, with Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Memphis Depay behind him, the stage was his.And the then 18-year-old didn’t disappoint, bagging a memorable brace to become the club’s latest hero and propel them through to the last-16 of the competition in the process.The Rashford fairytale was only just beginning, however.The United star would follow up his Europa League heroics with another double just a few days later, helping his side to a 3-2 victory over Arsenal in a match where Van Gaal made the headlines for falling on the touchline.Man Utd transfers: Plans for next three signings are damning on Solskjaer Marcus Rashford has evolved from a boy to a man as Man Utd star turns 25 (Image: GETTY) Casemiro set to stop Man Utd from making blockbuster January signing He would go on to score eight goals across all competitions by the end of the season, including a winner against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, while he secured silverware in the form of the FA Cup.But rather than stick with Van Gaal, who had won them the first trophy of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, the United hierarchy then opted to change things up.In case Jose Mourinho who, despite his sacking from Chelsea in December 2015, was viewed as the right man at the right time. Especially with Pep Guardiola primed to rock up at Manchester City…Mourinho believed Rashford would be better as a winger and opted to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic with him to Old Trafford, with the Sweden international then scoring an impressive 28 goals across all competitions as the club won the EFL Cup and Europa League.Rashford was promoted with a new shirt number, the No 19, and made his mark early into Mourinho’s reign with a late winner in a victory over Hull.But those thinking he wouldn’t be used by the Portuguese were wrong, with the attacker taking 53 appearances across all competitions – more than any other player on the club’s books.DON’T MISS Man Utd can complete rebuild in January with three signingsMaguire tipped to trigger Man Utd dressing room revoltTen Hag makes £40m transfer decision at Man Utd Marcus Rashford has won three trophies at Man Utd over the course of his career (Image: GETTY) Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has a problem with a ‘gift’ from the Glazers He would net 11 times across all competitions and, in the 2017/2018 campaign, bettered that by two as United finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League table.Rashford would continue to be a trustee of Mourinho’s right until the Portuguese’s sacking in December 2018, where he paid the price for a dreadful start to the campaign.And, after Mourinho, in came Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Solskjaer arrived that winter with a big smile on his face, insisting he’d do everything in his power to bring back the glory days and put youth at the forefront of his operation.The clumsy Romelu Lukaku was demoted to the bench and Rashford, along with Anthony Martial, were key players for the Norwegian as he grew accustomed to being back at his old club.Rashford really started to come on when Solskjaer was interim boss, with a penalty in a dramatic 3-1 win over PSG at the Parc des Princes producing one of the greatest nights in the club’s recent history.Want the new Man Utd shirt? Click here to buy it.  Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for Man Utd against Arsenal in 2016 (Image: GETTY)In the 2019/2020 campaign, Solskjaer’s first full one in the job, Rashford impressed with 22 goals across all competitions from 44 games – his best career stats to date.And he delivered 21 goals from 57 appearances the following season, too, helping United finish second in the table and qualify for the Champions League in back-to-back seasons.Rashford, it also has to be pointed out, served his country far more than in football during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.The player helped take on the Conservative government over free school meals and won, spent lockdown helping those less fortunate than himself and also publicly questioned Rishi Sunk, who was then Chanellor of the Exchequer, over a permanent £20 increase in Universal Credit.This led to talks with Therese Coffey, while Rashford was also recognised for his outstanding charity work. He also got involved in World Book Day in 2020, helping to judge a poetry competition.WIN A FREE ENGLAND SHIRT FOR THE WORLD CUP! Marcus Rashford helped fire Man Utd to Europa League glory under Jose Mourinho in 2017 (Image: GETTY) Marcus Rashford was devastated when Man Utd star missed a penalty for England against Italy (Image: GETTY) Marcus Rashford has a smile on his face at Man Utd once again (Image: GETTY)But Rashford, rather than let the noise, criticism and speculation get to him, then decided to spend the summer knuckling down and getting in shape.He worked on his mentality, as well as his physicality, and is now very much a player on the rise again as he turns 25.His winner against West Ham on Sunday night means he now has seven goals across all competitions, more than any other squad member at the club.He looks liberated under Ten Hag, a menacing threat at the tip of the Dutchman’s attack. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo, nor summer signing Antony, can steal the spotlight from him now.As Rashford celebrates his 25th birthday, the sky is the limit. Whisper it quietly but, if he continues at this current rate, Wayne Rooney may not stay as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in 10 years’ time. His rise again is also proof of what happens if you don’t let the demons get to you. That, out of everything, is potentially his biggest achievement.