History of Marcus Rashford in Timeline

Marcus Rashford is an English professional footballer renowned for his role as a forward. He currently plays for Manchester United and the England national team. Beyond his athletic achievements, Rashford is also recognized for his activism, particularly his efforts to combat child poverty in the UK, which led to significant government policy changes and earned him widespread admiration. His contributions extend beyond the football pitch, establishing him as a prominent public figure.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1987: Aston Villa Relegation

On 16 April 2016, Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game against Aston Villa, who were subsequently relegated for the first time since 1987.

October 1997: Marcus Rashford Born

Marcus Rashford was born in October 1997.

Others born on this day/year

1998: Attended Ashton-on-Mersey School

In 1998, Marcus Rashford attended Ashton-on-Mersey School, where Manchester United sends their academy players.

1998: Scoring Against Barcelona

On 16 February 2023, Rashford became the third United player – after Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke in 1998 – to score against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

1999: Rashford's hat-trick

In October 2020, Rashford scored his first United hat-trick. It was the second hat-trick ever scored by a United substitute, following manager Solskjær in the Premier League in 1999.

2012: Manchester United under-15 squad

In 2012, Marcus Rashford was part of the Manchester United under-15 squad which finished second in the 23rd annual Marveld tournament.

2012: First United player since Robin van Persie

In May 2023, Rashford scored his 30th goal of the season, the first United player to reach the milestone since Robin van Persie in the 2012–13 season. At the end of the season, he was voted as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year.

2012: Team won Manchester derby

On 20 March 2016, Marcus Rashford team had its first away league win over Manchester City since 2012.

2012: First time since 2012-13 season

On January 12, 2021, Rashford assisted a goal against Burnley which resulted in United being top of the table for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

2013: Trained with United's first team

During the 2013–14 season, Marcus Rashford trained with Manchester United's first team under the management of David Moyes for the first time at age 16.

2014: Named Best Prospect

In 2014, Marcus Rashford was named by The Guardian as Manchester United's best prospect in the 2014 Next Generation.

2014: First Since Robin van Persie

In October 2020, Rashford became the first United player to score a Champions League hat-trick since Robin van Persie in 2014.

2015: Praised by Nicky Butt

In 2015, Marcus Rashford's performances for the Manchester United Under-19s were praised by manager Nicky Butt in the UEFA Youth League group stage match. He scored six goals in 11 games in the Under-18's Premier League, as well as three goals in the Youth League.

February 2016: First-Team and European Debut

In February 2016, 18-year-old Marcus Rashford made his first-team debut for Manchester United, scoring twice against Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League.

February 2016: Loan Bid from Crewe Alexandra Rejected

In February 2016, League One club Crewe Alexandra made a loan bid for Marcus Rashford, but the temporary transfer was rejected by Reserves manager Warren Joyce.

February 2016: UEFA Europa League Debut and Premier League Debut

On 25 February 2016, Marcus Rashford debuted for Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League against Midtjylland, scoring two goals. Three days later, he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal, scoring twice and providing an assist in a 3–2 victory.

March 2016: Manchester Derby Goal

On 20 March 2016, Marcus Rashford scored the only goal in the Manchester derby, becoming the youngest scorer in the fixture in the Premier League era.

April 2016: Hodgson's squad selection

In April 2016, England manager Roy Hodgson initially deemed it "unlikely" that Rashford would be included in his tournament squad, but on 16 May, he named him in his preliminary 26-man squad for the tournament.

May 2016: England Debut

In May 2016, Marcus Rashford scored on his England debut, becoming the youngest English player to score in his first senior international match.

May 2016: Debut for England

On 27 May 2016, the 18-year-old Rashford made his debut for England wearing the number nine shirt, starting a warm-up match against Australia at the Stadium of Light and scoring the opening goal of a 2–1 win after three minutes.

August 2016: Called up to England Under-21 Team

In August 2016, despite having already made his senior debut earlier in the year, Rashford was called up to the England under-21 team for the first time for a fixture in September against Norway under-21s.

August 2016: First Goal of the Season

On 27 August 2016, Marcus Rashford scored his first goal of the season against Hull City in injury time.

September 2016: Omission from the England Squad

In September 2016, new England manager Sam Allardyce told Rashford he would not be called up to his first squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Slovakia, citing his lack of playing time in the early stages of the season.

December 2016: First United player since Ibrahimović to win the award

In January 2019, Rashford became the first United player since Ibrahimović in December 2016 to win the Premier League Player of the Month award.

2016: Senior Squad and New Manager

For the 2016–17 season, Marcus Rashford was given the number 19 shirt by new manager José Mourinho, marking his place as part of the senior squad.

January 2017: FA Cup Brace Against Reading

On 7 January 2017, Marcus Rashford scored two goals in the FA Cup against Reading.

February 2017: EFL Cup Victory

On 26 February 2017, Marcus Rashford won his third trophy in the EFL Cup final, with Manchester United defeating Southampton 3-2.

August 2017: UEFA Super Cup and First Goal

In August 2017, Marcus Rashford made an appearance in the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid. He then scored his first goal of the season on 26 August against Leicester City.

September 2017: Rashford's First Competitive Goal

On 4 September 2017, Rashford scored his first competitive goal for the senior team, with the winning goal in England's 2–1 win over Slovakia in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.

October 2017: Golden Boy Award Nomination

In October 2017, Marcus Rashford came third in the 2017 Golden Boy award behind Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

March 2018: Goals Against Liverpool

On 10 March 2018, Marcus Rashford scored both goals in a 2–1 win over rivals Liverpool on his first Premier League start of the year.

June 2018: Warm-up Match Against Costa Rica

In June 2018, Rashford scored the opening goal of England's final warm-up match against Costa Rica on 7 June.

September 2018: Red Card Against Burnley

On 2 September 2018, Marcus Rashford was sent off in a 2–0 win over Burnley after clashing heads with Phil Bardsley. On 29 September he scored his first goal of the season in a 3-1 loss to West Ham United.

September 2018: UEFA Nations League Opener

On 8 September 2018, Rashford scored at Wembley in England's UEFA Nations League opener against Spain, which they lost 2–1. Three days later, Rashford also scored in a 1–0 friendly win over Switzerland at the King Power Stadium.

December 2018: Rashford's assists and goals in December 2018

In December 2018, Marcus Rashford provided assists in a 2–2 draw with Southampton on 1 December, and in a 4-1 victory against Fulham, he scored against Cardiff City on 22 December in Manchester United's first match under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and against Bournemouth on 30 December, also assisting Paul Pogba's first goal. Solskjær praised Rashford's performance during the beginning of his reign.

2018: FIFA World Cup Appearance

In 2018, Marcus Rashford represented England at the FIFA World Cup.

January 2019: Rashford's Achievements in January 2019

In January 2019, Rashford scored against Tottenham Hotspur on 13 January, marking his first time scoring in three successive league games. On 20 January, he made his 150th appearance for the club against Brighton & Hove Albion. On 2 February, Rashford was announced as Manchester United's Player of the Month for January 2019, and won United's goal of the month for his strike against Tottenham. On 3 February, he made his 100th league appearance for the club against Leicester City. Rashford won his first Premier League Player of the Month title.

March 2019: Rashford's Penalty and Goal in March 2019

In March 2019, Rashford scored from his first competitive penalty for the club against Paris Saint-Germain on 6 March. On 30 March, Rashford scored the opening goal against Watford in United's first victory with Solskjær as permanent manager.

June 2019: Nations League Semi-Final

In June 2019, during the Nations League semi-final, Rashford scored the opening goal of the game against the Netherlands, however England lost 3–1 in extra time.

July 2019: Rashford's New Contract in July 2019

On 1 July 2019, Rashford signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until June 2023. He also scored a brace in a 4-0 win over Chelsea.

October 2019: Goal in Euro 2020 Qualification

In October 2019, Rashford scored his first goal in England's qualification campaign for Euro 2020 in a 6–0 away victory over Bulgaria on 14 October.

2019: Rashford's performance in 2019

In 2019, during United's first match on 2 January, Rashford assisted their first goal from a free kick and scored the second in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United. Pundit Gary Neville praised Rashford for playing beyond his potential.

2019: Record Broken

In the 2019-20 season, Marcus Rashford's record as United's youngest ever scorer in European competition was broken by Mason Greenwood.

January 2020: Rashford's Injury in January 2020

On 19 January 2020, Rashford suffered a double stress fracture to the back in a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which put him out of action for several months. He also played his 200th game for the club.

March 2020: Season Halt Due to COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020

In March 2020, the Premier League suspended the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rashford was announced fit to play following the return to football. On 4 July, he scored his first goal since the restart against Bournemouth. On 16 July, he scored against Crystal Palace, equalling his tally in the two previous seasons combined.

April 2020: Signs with Roc Nation

In April 2020, Rashford signed with Jay-Z's entertainment agency, Roc Nation, due to his charity work.

July 2020: Honorary Doctorate from University of Manchester

In July 2020, Rashford received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester for his work to end child poverty, becoming the youngest person to receive the honor.

September 2020: Rashford's First Goal of the Season in September 2020

In September 2020, Rashford scored his first goal of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 September.

October 2020: Rashford Questions Universal Credit Increase

In October 2020, Rashford questioned Rishi Sunak about a permanent £20 increase in Universal Credit, concerned about families "counting down the days" to its reversal. Rashford's team told The Times that the £1,040 annual increase was the "missing piece" in their strategy.

November 2020: Recognition at Pride of Britain Awards and Powerlist Inclusion

In November 2020, Rashford won the Special Recognition award at the Pride of Britain Awards for his campaign against child food poverty. In November 2020 he was also included in the 2020 edition of the Powerlist of the 100 most influential Black Britons, for both his sporting achievements and his activism.

November 2020: Government Funding for Food and Household Bills

In November 2020, the government announced it would provide nearly £400m over 12 months to support food and household bills for poor families due to Rashford's campaign. Also in November 2020, Alex Ferguson and Michael Moritz pledged to double donations to Rashford's Christmas fundraising appeal with The Times, which raised over £2.7 million by January.

2020: UEFA European Championship Appearance

In 2020, Marcus Rashford appeared in the UEFA European Championship final where England finished as runners-up to Italy.

2020: Rashford's Euro 2020 and Surgery

In April 2021, it was reported that Rashford had not played a game completely pain-free in two years. Following the conclusion of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, Rashford had surgery and was ruled out until October.

2020: Contract Extension

On 30 May 2016, Marcus Rashford signed a new contract with Manchester United that would keep him at the club until 2020, with an option to extend for a further year.

January 2021: Rashford Assisted Goal Against Burnley

In January 2021, Rashford assisted a goal for Paul Pogba against Burnley on 12 January, resulting in United being top of the table for the first time since the 2012–13 season.

January 2021: Rashford Highlights Unacceptable Food Packages

In January 2021, Rashford used his Twitter to highlight "unacceptable" food packages from supplier Chartwells. After a conversation, Johnson was pressured to review the situation. During Prime Minister's Questions on January 13, Johnson credited Rashford as more effective opposition than Keir Starmer.

January 2021: Awards and Recognition

In January 2021, Rashford was awarded The Guardian Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association's (FWA) Tribute Award, recognising his remarkable achievements and exceptional honesty.

April 2021: Launch of Recipes and Online Video Lessons

In April 2021, Rashford and chef Tom Kerridge launched recipes and online video lessons on Instagram and recipe cards in supermarkets, schools, and food banks. The purpose was to provide cheap, simple recipes like spaghetti bolognese and fish finger sandwiches so that people could cook at home and avoid going to bed hungry.

April 2021: Award from National Education Union

In April 2021, Rashford received an award from the National Education Union for his campaigning work for free school meals.

April 2021: Launch of Book Club

In April 2021, Rashford's book club, in partnership with Macmillan Publishers, was formally launched with the intention of freely distributing 50,000 books to vulnerable and underprivileged children.

June 2021: Captained England for the First Time

On 6 June 2021, Rashford captained England for the first time, converting a penalty in a 1–0 win against Romania.

July 2021: Euro 2020 Final

In the final against Italy on 11 July 2021, Rashford was brought on as a substitute in the final minutes of extra time and was chosen to take the team's third penalty during the subsequent shoot-out but his effort hit the post and went wide, and Italy went on to win the tournament after saving two more penalties. After the loss, Rashford was subjected to racially abusive messages on social media, and a street mural honouring him in Withington was vandalised.

October 2021: Honorary Doctorate Ceremony and Universal Credit Withdrawal

In October 2021, Rashford attended the honorary doctorate ceremony (delayed due to COVID-19). Dame Nancy Rothwell praised his community sense. In his speech, he noted it was bittersweet, as it was the day after the government withdrew the £20/week Universal Credit increase introduced in April 2020.

October 2021: Rashford's Return and Goalscoring

In October 2021, Rashford returned to training on 11 October, and scored in a 4–2 loss to Leicester.

November 2021: Withdrawal from England Squad

In November 2021, after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, Rashford returned to the England squad for World Cup qualification games against Albania and San Marino, before being forced to withdraw due to illness.

January 2022: Rashford's Winner against West Ham

On 22 January 2022, Rashford scored a 93rd-minute winner against West Ham United, becoming the player with the most last-minute winners in Premier League history.

March 2022: Omission From England Squad

Due to a drop in form for United during the 2021–22 season, Rashford was not called up to the England squad for March 2022 friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

October 2022: Rashford's 100th Goal for United

On 30 October 2022, Rashford scored his 100th United goal in a 1–0 win against West Ham, becoming the 22nd player to reach the figure for United.

2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup

Despite not appearing for England since the final of the European Championships, Rashford was named in Southgate's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In England's opening game of the group stage, a 6–2 win over Iran, Rashford came on as a second-half substitute and scored within a minute of coming on, making the score 5–1. In England's final group game, Rashford scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Wales to qualify for the knockout stage.

2022: FIFA World Cup Appearance

In 2022, Marcus Rashford represented England at the FIFA World Cup.

January 2023: Rashford's Goal in Manchester Derby

On 14 January 2023, Rashford scored the winning goal in United's 2–1 comeback win in the Manchester derby.

June 2023: Contract end date

Rashford signed a contract on July 1 2019, keeping him at the club until June 2023.

July 2023: Rashford Signed New Contract

On 18 July 2023, Rashford signed a new contract with Manchester United until 2028.

January 2024: Missed FA Cup Game

In January 2024, Rashford missed an FA Cup game against Newport County after calling in sick, which was dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter. He also won the FA Cup for the second time.

October 2024: Dismissal of Ten Hag

Ten Hag was dismissed by United on 29 October 2024.

December 2024: Rashford expressed readiness for new challenge

In December 2024, Rashford told the media that he was ready for a new challenge. For the rest of December 2024, Rashford was omitted from most of United's match squads, missing over ten games.

2024: Rashford loaned out to Aston Villa

In February 2025, Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

January 2025: Rashford's absence from United's squad

In January 2025, Rashford was omitted from most of United's match squads and Amorim stated that he did not want to select "a player who doesn't give the maximum every day".