The onlookers included a couple of battle-scarred centre-halves, each wrapped up against the Manchester cold. Indeed, Harry Maguire, his snood pulled up high over his face, seemed better protected than Steve Bruce, the manager who signed him for Hull in 2014. It is probably safe to say that, back then, even Bruce did not envisage Maguire becoming one of his successors as Manchester United captain.
The role can bring particular prestige in cup finals. Bruce skippered United in the 1994 FA Cup final, when Chelsea were beaten and the double secured, but Bryan Robson was the club captain who did not make the matchday 14. Two years later, he had the opposite experience: Bruce was the old warrior omitted as the armband was worn by Eric Cantona.
