Many legends have graced the turf of Old Trafford over the years, dating back to immense players like Duncan Edwards and Georgie Best and most recently Cristiano Ronaldo. But, what is the greatest ever eleven to have played in the famous red shirt. But, what is United’s greatest ever XI?
In goal we have the one and only Peter Schmeichel. Schmeichel was part of the Treble winning side in 1999, in his final year at the club. Voted the “World’s Best Goalkeeper” in 1992 and 1993, Schmeichel’s glittering career proved he was one of the best. The signing of Schmeichel was described by Sir Alex Ferguson himself as “the buy of the century”. It actually took Ferguson and United 6 years before they found a replacement fit enough to fill the gap left by the Great Dane.
At right back we have Gary Neville. Neville was part of the Class of ’92, and he and his brother Phill grew up as United fans. Gary, has really established himself as a United legend, being apart of the treble winning squad. Neville retired from the game in 2011, and the gap left is still to yet to be filled. Neville’s last full season at United (2009/10) saw only a league cup win for United. Neville won a total of 20 trophies at United, including 8 Premier League titles.
The centre backs of the greatest XI would have to be Jaap Stam and Steve Bruce. Stam spent 3 years at Old Trafford. But his authority and presence on he pitch really showed how good he was. Stam was also part of the treble winning side in 1999. When he was controversially sold in 2001 Ferguson then described the sale of the Dutchman as an error stating, “At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit. We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre-back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake. He is still playing for Ajax at a really good level.”
Steve Bruce was a legend. He threw himself at everything and the face of the man shows exactly how tough of a defender he was. Bruce spent 9 years at United, he became the first English player of the twentieth century to captain a team to the double. Bruce scored two late goals in a win over Sheffield Wednesday which proved decisive in United winning the inaugural Premier League title, the first time the club had won the championship of English football since 1967.
At left back we have Denis Irwin. Irwin, from Ireland, spent 12 years at United. And, he could take free kicks, and was prolific from the penalty spot also. Irwin established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and 2002, including the treble in ’99. He has been regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson as, pound for pound, his greatest ever signing.
On the right wing we have arguably the greatest Man Utd player ever, Cristiano Ronaldo. Sold to Real Madrid for a world record fee at the time of £80m, Ronaldo is still a player whom United fans would love to see return to Old Trafford. Ronaldo carried United to the double in 2007/08, winning the Premier League and the Champions League. A 42 goal season for the Portuguese international was his most successful and he went on to win a Ballon d’Or at United. He scored 84 goals in the league for United. And was apart of arguably United’s greatest side since the treble winning team.
In midfield we have the duo of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. Keane was United’s captain for a long period, and hasn’t been replaced properly since he left in 2005. Keane, was a hard hitting midfielder and took no prisoners! Keane helped United achieve a sustained period of success during his twelve year tenure at the club.
Scholes and Keane’s partnership in midfielder may have been one of the greatest ever. Both were part of the treble winning side, although both players were suspended for the final. Scholes was that good, he retired after winning title no. 19. Came back and walked straight back into the United side and won title no. 20. He made his full debut for United in the 1994/95 campaign. He went on to play a key part in the club’s Treble-winning success, and has won 11 Premier League, three FA Cup and two Champions League winners medals.
Also in midfield we have Bryan Robson. Captain Marvel. He spent 13 years at United, lifting the first Premier League trophy with Steve Bruce in 1992. He again went on to win the league the season after. At United, Robson won 11 trophies which include two Premier League titles.
Ryan Giggs running down the left wing. Manchester United’s most decorated footballer. Is there more to be said? There is always a place for Ryan Giggs in a Greatest United XI. He also holds the club record for competitive appearances. During his time at United, he won 13 Premier League winner’s medals, four FA Cup winner’s medals, three League Cup winner’s medals and two Champions League winner’s medals.
Up front we have arguably United’s most prolific striker, the Dutchman, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ruud’s time at United was rather successful, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the FA Community Shield, along with winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award twice. Van Nistelrooy hit 150 goals in just 219 games for United, as well as being their all time European record goalscorer, but fell out of favour towards the end of his United career in 2006.
It was so difficult to choose one XI, so here below we have an honourable XI.
Edwin Van Der Sar – He went 1,311 minutes without conceding a club goal during the winter of the 2008/09 season.
Shay Brennan – Played right back for United during the 1968 European Cup win over Benfica
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – These two were debatably United’s best defensive partnership, who also played a key part in Van Der Sar’s clean sheet record in the 08/09 campaign.
Patrice Evra – The Frenchman who joined United from AS Monaco in January of 2006 was missed in the 2014/15 season. He won the Champions League with United and won 5 Premier League winner’s medals.
David Beckham – Is there more to be said? The name itself is already iconic at United. One of the best dead ball specialists at Old Trafford. He was part of the treble winning side in 1999 and was part of the group of players we have lost to Real Madrid, along with v.Nistelrooy, Heinze, Ronaldo, and maybe now De Gea.
Sir Bobby Charlton – A survivor of the Munich air disaster in 1958, and then he went on to win United’s first European Cup in 1968.
Duncan Edwards – He was one of the Busby Babes, the young United team formed under manager Sir Matt Busby in the mid-1950s, and one of the most promising players in the side. Edwards was one of eight players who died as a result of the Munich air disaster. Edwards was just 21 years old when he unfortunately died.
George Best – One of the greatest dribblers of all time, the playing style of Best combined pace, skill, balance, feints, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to embarrass the opposition defence.
Eric Cantona – Cantona, the King, is known as an icon at Manchester United, the fans idolise him and he really played a huge part in Manchester United’s rise to success in the 90’s.
Dennis Law – second only to Bobby Charlton in the goal scoring chat at United, Law has been nicknamed the King and the Lawman, he is the only Scottish man in history to have won the Ballon d’Or also.
