'Sir Alex Ferguson gave me my Man Utd debut 12 years ago - now I'm working as a postman'
In his final season at the helm Sir Alex Ferguson handed a debut to young Marnick Vermijl but the Belgian now plays in the third tier in his homeland - and combines his football with being a postman
Marnick Vermijl was given his Manchester United debut by Sir Alex Ferguson in the Scot's final year - but now finds himself working as a postman.
The Belgian started in a backline that also featured Michael Keane and Scott Wootton as the Red Devils saw off Newcastle 2-1 in the Carabao Cup - then known as the Capital One Cup in 2012. That was one of two appearances Vermijl would make for the Red Devils.
The second came in the infamous 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the same competition just under two years later as Louis van Gaal rung the changes to field an unrecognisable team. Now Vermijl is two-pronging his football commitments alongside his post round.
He plays for for Belgian club K.V.V. Thes Sport Tessenderlo, who play in the third tier of Belgian football with the 32-year-old having to hold down two jobs. Vermijl though has no regrets having fallen out of love with the professional game.
He told Voetbalprimeur: "I was fed up with professional football. You are too dependent on the trainer you have. Finding pleasure was also a big factor for me. As a postman I have to get up at four o'clock, but now I am home around noon and can pick up the children from school every day. That is a luxury."
In between his two games for the Manchester outfit the versatile defender would spend time on loan at Dutch club NEC Nijmegen. He eventually left Old Trafford for good when he made a move to Yorkshire to link up with Sheffield Wednesday.
He struggled to make his mark at Hillsborough and moved to Preston North End, initially on loan, before making the move permanent 12 months later. Vermijl was at Preston for three years before he dropped down a league to play a brief stint with Scunthorpe.
Eventually he left England and headed Dutch club MVV Maastricht, who he had previously spent time on loan at, on a permanent deal in June 2019. In July 2020, Vermijl moved to his current home, which has allowed his daily life to adopt a new look.
There have been a number of players who turned out during the Ferguson era, but ultimately didn't make the grade long-term. Lee Roche played for United against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League in 2003. He would retire at the tender age of 27 and has since plied his trade on a building site.
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