The United manager has decided to take the captain’s armband away from the England defender.

Harry Maguire has been stripped of the Manchester United captaincy by the club’s manager Erik ten Hag.

The news was broken by Maguire in a post on his social media on Sunday. “After discussions with the manager today, he has informed me he is changing captain,” he said.

“He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.”

Maguire was formally handed the club captaincy in January 2020 by the former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

After arriving at Old Trafford from Leicester City in the summer of 2019 Maguire had already captained United on 12 occasions before the position was made official when Ashley Young left for Inter Milan.

“He’s come in and everything tells me he is a leader,” Solskjaer said. “He’s part of a group that we’ve had, that have been leading this young group.”

It was a surprising, possibly premature appointment, but Maguire would grow into the role and helped lead United to a top four finish in 2020, and a runner-up finish and the Europa League final in 2021.

It was in the subsequent 2021-22 season when both Maguire’s and United’s form significantly declined that his captaincy was first called into serious question.

As United suffered their worst ever season in the Premier League Maguire often cut a desolate figure and was unable to inspire his team-mates.

In the aftermath of United losing 5-0 to Liverpool at Old Trafford in October 2021 Maguire attracted criticism for telling a television interviewer, “I’m here because I have to be here,” which many thought was unbecoming of a United captain.

Maguire began last season as United captain, but Ten Hag quickly dropped him from his starting line-up and handed the armband to Bruno Fernandes.

Over the course of the season Maguire was unable to reclaim his place in the side, starting only eight league games, as Lisando Martinez and Raphael Varane formed an impressive partnership in the centre of defence.

He started the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on the substitute’s bench in February this year, but was brought on with two minutes remaining so he could lift the trophy with the team captain Bruno Fernandes.

Ten Hag has decided to end the uncomfortable position where Maguire has remained the club captain with Fernandes the team captain.

It has not yet been confirmed who will replace Maguire on a permanent basis, but it is likely to be Fernandes.

“I wanted to say a massive thank you to the Manchester United fans for all their brilliant support whilst I’ve been wearing the armband,” Maguire said in his post.

“Since the day I took on the role, three and half years ago, it’s been a huge privilege to lead Manchester United and one of the proudest moments of my career to date. It’s one of the greatest honours in club football.”

“I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful, on and off the field. I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support.”

Maguire’s future at United also remains in doubt and it is understood the club would be open to accepting an offer for him this summer.