England's World Cup hero Harry Maguire could have become accountant, former teacher reveals

England's new World Cup hero Harry Maguire has fast become one of the country's most reliable defenders following a series of impressive performances in Russia.

But his former teachers say the 25-year-old could easily have spent the summer crunching numbers instead of making crunching tackles.

The Three Lions star showed promise for maths and business along with football and rugby, which may have paved the way for a career in accountancy if sport didn't work out for him.

Sue Cain, deputy headteacher at St Mary's Catholic High School, in Chesterfield, told the Derbyshire Times: "He was a remarkable pupil who always came in and worked very hard.

"He was never in any trouble and he had such a good attitude.

“He was very capable academically - he got A* and A grades in his GCSEs. I think he would have gone on to study business or maths and probably have been an accountant.”

Maguire rose above Sweden's backline from an Ashley Young corner to score his and England's first goal in their quarter final triumph on Saturday.

His goal and towering performance capped the meteoric rise of the 25-year-old, who travelled to Slovakia two years ago to watch England's ill-fated Euro 2016 campaign as a fan.

Following a big-money move to former Leicester City last summer, Maguire's emergence as a Premier League and England star has surprised his former PE teacher.

Martin McKee told The Guardian: "In all honesty at 15 or 16 I thought Harry had the opportunity to possibly make a living playing football but never thought he’d play in the Premier League.

"When he first joined us at 11 you could see he was one of our good players, he stood out. But did I look at him and think he’d be playing in a World Cup quarter-final? Absolutely not.”

Growing up in Mosborough, South Yorkshire, not far from fellow England defenders John Stones (Barnsley) and Kyle Walker (Sharrow), Maguire was instilled with a competitiveness from childhood.

His older brothers Laurence and Joe also forged careers as professional footballers.

In an interview with The Times in May, Maguire said: “I was incredibly competitive, growing up with two brothers, we’d argue and play against each other in the garden continuously.

"If we have a competition, I want to beat them."

Maguire has undoubtedly become a key part of Gareth Southgate's success in steering England to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 with hopes rising of securing a place in the final for only the second time ever.

Lindsay Skoll, 47, Britain's deputy ambassador to Russia and the most senior diplomat responsible for the UK response to the World Cup, admitted she was besotted Maguire.

Ms Skoll, a mother to one daughter and two stepchildren, said: “I love Harry Haguire,” she said, “There is something about him. There’s something a bit boyish. He was absolutely charming when I met him. He gets on the pitch and he’s sensational.”

Ms Skoll met the players at a training session in Repino at the start of the tournament. The footballers met with disadvantaged children as part of the British Embassy's charitable work in Russia.

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On Mumsnet, Maguire, among others, has attracted attention from middle-class mothers who posted on the site.

"Just all seem like lovely boys," posted 'elmo 1980' singling out Maguire, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling for praise.