CREWE youth coach and former strike favourite Colin Little has been poached by Manchester United's Academy.
Little, who had been coaching the Alex's under-15s for the past three years, has been appointed assistant coach of United's under-13s side.
The move also signals the end of the 37-year-old's non-league career with Altrincham, for whom he scored 112 goals in the Blue Square Premier.
Crewe boss Dario Gradi encouraged Little, a member of the Alex's 1997 Second Division play-off winning team, to begin coaching.
Gradi said: "He's left to go to Manchester United, of all the clubs to go to, as a Manchester City fan.
"He plays seven-a-side football with Brian McClair, and they'd been after him for a while."
Little said: "Dario's kept chipping away at me to devote more time to the coaching, and while it's a step down in a way, United don't come calling every day.
"Getting a foot on the ladder was too good to miss, and leaving Alty and Crewe was the price I've had to pay."
Little, who had been coaching the Alex's under-15s for the past three years, has been appointed assistant coach of United's under-13s side.
The move also signals the end of the 37-year-old's non-league career with Altrincham, for whom he scored 112 goals in the Blue Square Premier.
Crewe boss Dario Gradi encouraged Little, a member of the Alex's 1997 Second Division play-off winning team, to begin coaching.
Gradi said: "He's left to go to Manchester United, of all the clubs to go to, as a Manchester City fan.
"He plays seven-a-side football with Brian McClair, and they'd been after him for a while."
Little said: "Dario's kept chipping away at me to devote more time to the coaching, and while it's a step down in a way, United don't come calling every day.
"Getting a foot on the ladder was too good to miss, and leaving Alty and Crewe was the price I've had to pay."