Followers of Manchester United may have recognised William Osula’s name long before his dramatic winner for Newcastle United in the Premier League on Wednesday.
In 2014, an 11-year-old Osula won the Manchester United Soccer Schools World Skills Final. The club proudly shared an image on social media of him standing on the Old Trafford pitch, receiving his prize from club legends Bryan Robson and Gary Pallister.
More than a decade later, that post has resurfaced — but for very different reasons.
Osula struck a superb late goal to seal a 2-1 victory for Newcastle against Manchester United, completing a storyline few could have predicted when he was lifting a skills trophy in red.
From Copenhagen to the Premier League
Born in Copenhagen, Osula joined Sheffield United’s academy in 2018 and progressed through the ranks before breaking into senior football. He has also represented Denmark at Under-21 level.
Now 22, Osula moved to St James’ Park in the summer of 2024. Since joining Newcastle, he has largely been used as an impact substitute.
His winner against United was only his third Premier League goal in 30 appearances for the Magpies — with 29 of those outings coming from the bench.
A Moment Years in the Making
For Manchester United supporters, there was an added twist to the tale. The resurfaced image of a smiling young Osula at Old Trafford has circulated widely online, underlining football’s unpredictable nature.
From posing with trophies on the Theatre of Dreams pitch to silencing it as an opponent, Osula’s journey captures the full circle of the modern game — and offered Newcastle a memorable victory built on a moment of composure from a former United hopeful.
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