As a great era draws to an end with the farewell to Sir Alex Ferguson, and a new chapter begins in the history of Manchester United football club, I thought I would take a moment to remember some of the greatest players to have played for the club. These are my own opinions, as I’m sure there are many other players who are more than deserving of a mention, and many other ways to organize the list. I am not going by stats, but on how talented, committed and successful the players were during their time at Old Trafford, whether it was a short stay or long. Enjoy.
20. Gary Pallister / CB / 1989-1998
Although maybe not the most heralded player, Pallister was a key part of the title winning sided at the start of the Premiership era. His partnership with Steve Bruce is one of the great centre back pairings.
19. Mark Hughes / ST / 1980-1986 1988-1995
Not the most talented player, Sparky was a born battler, a real old school centre forward who lived for nothing more than giving defenders a hard time. Another member of the successful early Premiership winning side.
18. Steve Bruce / CB / 1987-1996
Gary Pallisters partner in crime. Although probably no better of a player than Pallister, he earns a higher draw because of his famous last minute headers to win the league against Sheffield Wednesday, Fergie’s first league title with United.
17. Ruud van Nistelrooy / ST / 2001-2006
Although I said I would not go by stats, Ruuds record at Old Trafford was absolutely exceptional. He scored 95 goals in 150 games and was part of a fantastic annual race for the golden boot with Thierry Henry. He was an incredible finisher, maybe the most natural ever.
16. David Beckham / RM / 1993-2003
He maybe more well known for his media work and his female attention, but David Beckham was in fact a very talented footballer. He shot to stardom with an audacious 50 yard lob against Wimbledon in 1995 and has never looked back since, winning multiple league titles and a Champions League.
15. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer / ST / 1996-2007
Okay, perhaps there are players lower or not even on the list more deserving of a higher ranking than the baby-faced assassin, but I just don’t care. That goal in the final moments against Bayern in the Champions League final, as well as his four goals off the bench against Forest, ensures Ole’s standing alongside Old Trafford greats.
14. Denis Law / ST / 1962-1973
There is probably an argument for Denis to be higher up in this list, but unfortunately he finds himself down at 14. Part of Matt Busby’s great side of the late sixties, Law scored plenty of goals that helped the club enjoy success.
13. Gary Neville / RB / 1992-2011
Neville was part of the great era of United sides that saw his brother Phil, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes and Nicky Butt rise to stardom and have glistening careers. A true one club wonder, he was one of the most passionate Utd players ever.
12. Duncan Edwards / Wing-Half / 1953-1958
Although having never seen him play myself, the words of those who did are enough for me to place him amongst the Utd greats. His life was tragically cut short by the Munich Air Disaster when surely he would have gone on to have become a true world legend.
11. Rio Ferdinand / CB / 2002-
Rio is a truly magnificent centre-back. Until recently he was the most expensive defender ever, Man Utd having splashed out £29.1million to Leeds to secure his services. Eleven years later, he looks like a real bargain. He has won countless trophies including a Champions League success.
10. Peter Schmeichel / GK / 1991-1999
What a keeper this guy was. Even if the striker could score against him, he would have been afraid of the consequences should he have done so. Part of Fergie’s inaugural title winning side, he is also a Champions League winner.
9. Roy Keane / CM / 1993-2005
A real gritty midfield player, his duels with Patrick Vieira were legendary. Although not the most talented, his desire to win was clear, and effort second to none. It’s a shame he marred his career with several incidents, both on and off the field with his fiery temper.
8. Bryan Robson / CM / 1981-1994
Maybe he should be higher on my list. If I was born a generation earlier he probably would have been. Played throughout thick and thin, Robbo was a great captain, epitomising all that is Utd.
7. Wayne Rooney / CF / 2004-?
Despite all the recent happenings behind the scenes, Wayne is undoubtedly one of the finest talents ever seen at Old Trafford. Bought for £30million as a raw 18-year old, he has gone on to become our fourth top scorer ever, many of those goals being either top quality or vital, sometimes even both (Bicicyle kick vs Man City springs to mind). An unreal natural talent.
6. Eric Cantona / CF / 1992-1997
At this point the order became really difficult to pick. But I put Cantona at six because of his sometimes violent outbursts and lack of European silverware. An absolute genius, there is no other way to describe the enigmatic Frenchman, a scorer of many wonderful goals for Utd in his five-year spell. As the saying goes, “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”
5. Cristiano Ronaldo / RW,LW,CF / 2003-2009
Wow. Just, wow. Any player who scores 30 league goals from midfield is something quite special, and that is a tag that befits Cristiano Ronaldo. A two time World Player Of The Year winner, he has also won just about every other trophy going before securing a world record transfer of £80million to Real Madrid. He is the most gifted and exciting player I have ever seen in a Utd shirt live.
4. Paul Scholes / CM / 1993-2013
The greatest passer of all time in my book, regarded by his fellow peers such as Xavi, as the single greatest midfield player of all time. He could also hit the odd scorching volley as well. Shame about the tackling mind you… Probably my favourite United player of all time.
3. George Best / Winger / 1963-1974
A flawed genius. The ‘fifth beetle’ is regarded by many as being the greatest footballer of time. One of his admirers being Pele, who reportedly signed a ball for George with the wording; “From the Worlds second best player”. The man would run rings around anybody and everybody, a true shame that he let the party lifestyle ruin parts of a truly great career. He did manage to win a European Cup, scoring two goals against Benfica in the final.
2. Bobby Charlton / CM / 1956-1973
What a talent Sir Bobby was. He could score from 30 yards with both feet and pass over fifty yards with both feet as well. A survivor of the Air Crash, he could be classed as a Busby Babe, and the most successful one of the lot, winning a Champions League medal and a World Cup medal, along with others. He is both England and United’s top ever scorer – from midfield that is quite some achievement.
1. Ryan Giggs / LM,CM / 1990-
The greatest “one club man” ever. He first played for United at seventeen and continues to this day at almost 40, having scored a league goal in every season of the Premiership’s history. In his prime he was a truly talented winger as well. His solo effort to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi of 1998/99 is one of the greatest goals ever, and a huge part of the treble winning campaign. He danced around several Arsenal defenders having picked up a loose pass in his own half before smashing past Seaman. What a legend Giggsy is – if only he was English….
The Greatest XI Ever:
Gk: Peter Schmeichel
RB: Gary Neville
CB: Rio Ferdinand
CB: Steve Bruce
LB: Dennis Irwin
RM: George Best
CM: Paul Scholes
CM: Bobby Charlton
LM: Ryan Giggs
St: Wayne Rooney
St: Eric Cantona
Bench: Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Pallister, Duncan Edwards, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Denis Law.
That is it – my collection of the greatest players ever to pull on the famous red, black and white strip of Manchester United.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on twitter @OllieMUFCHall. Give the site a follow while you’re at it – @LastWordOnSport.
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football or with our new IRC football Chat.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? Find more info at our “Join Our Team” page.
