When one door closes, another opens.
And that old saying about good fortune coming to those who wait is ringing true as a Cape Town football legend is getting ready to take a top job at Manchester United.
Quinton Fortune, 42, has been named Under-23 assistant coach at Old Trafford, just months after being overlooked by Safa as assistant to Stuart Baxter at Bafana Bafana.
The ace from Kewtown worked with Baxter as South Africa failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
And South African soccer bosses blocked Baxter’s attempts to rope in the former Bafana Bafana midfielder for Afcon 2019.
But Fortune will help out another one of his former teams in Manchester United, for whom he played between 1999 and 2005.
He signed for Manchester United for a fee of £1.5 million on 1 August 1999.
Quinton Fortune has been named Under-23 assistant coach at Old Trafford.
Speaking to ManchesterUnited.com, Fortune said he is delighted to return to the club in a new role.
"As a former player, I know exactly what it takes and also what it means to play for Manchester United. I’ll be passing on all of this experience to our young players as we look to define their individual development pathways.
"I have a great relationship with Ole, whom I also worked with at Cardiff when I was assistant manager of their Under-21s, and I look forward to working with him again alongside Nicky and Neil. We will all work together in order to achieve the ultimate aim of producing players capable of performing in Manchester United’s first team." he said.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Neil Wood as lead coach of our #MUAcademy Under-23s.
Neil will be assisted by former Red Quinton Fortune in the upcoming season. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 4, 2019
The new job will be a huge responsibility for Fortune, as United look to revive their famed academy set-up after years of stagnation.
Fortune was a teammate of United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the pair have remained close ever since.
The popular South African, 42, was assistant manager of Cardiff City’s U21 side during Solskjaer’s time in charge of the first team.
And Fortune has been involved at United recently as a MUTV pundit and working as a club ambassador.
Fortune will take the reins of the U23 side, which feeds the reserves, along with Neil Wood, a former United academy player.
Quinton currently lives in the UK with his two-year-old son and second wife, who is pregnant with their second child.
Speaking to the Daily Voice on Thursday, his mom Hilda says she is very proud of her son.
“This is very exciting news for me, especially after the many losses I’ve suffered in my life,” an emotional Hilda said.
Mom, Hilda Fortune is bursting with pride. Picture supplied
“I’ve lost my husband, and a grandchild and my only daughter passed away in January. Life is now shining again for me where Quinton in concerned.
“I’m very proud of my son, it’s not anyone who gets invited to work for these big international teams.
“I miss Quinton, he was so young when he left home to pursue his dream. He always told me, one day is going to play for a big team.
“He is so humble and a really good listener, this will help him in his new job.
“I’d love for him to come back one day and give our little boys a push, because it was hard work for him to get where he is today,” said the mom of six.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za