With a bulging trophy cabinet which includes 20 Premier League titles, 11 FA Cups and 3 European titles, Manchester United are English football’s most successful outfit. One particular characteristic of all of United’s trophy winning sides has been the leadership of an inspirational captain, being handed the coveted armband at Old Trafford is a tremendous honour and from Roger Byrne to Nemanja Vidic has been worn by many great players throughout the decades.
Here are my top 5 skippers in United’s history.
5. Harry Stafford
Harry Stafford is not on this list for his contributions to Manchester United on the field but his actions off of it – saving our great club. Stafford was the captain of Newton Heath in 1901 when the team was in financial turmoil and faced a winding up order. Stafford had the idea of using his St Bernard dog, Major, to raise money for the club and while doing so his dog ran off and eventually found its way to a rich businessman, John Henry Davies, who owned a successful brewery in Manchester. When he traced the dog’s owner, Stafford told Davies about the financial position of Newton Heath. The two men became friends and decided to make a takeover bid for the club. Stafford himself is said to have contributed £200 to the takeover and to further help the club, Stafford requested that he be reinstated as an amateur player to take himself off the wage bill.
Without Harry Stafford there may have never been a Manchester United.
4 Roger Byrne
Several of the Busby Babes were legendary, meaning to captain that side you had to be a exceptional player and leader, that man was Roger Byrne. Playing as a left back, which is a testament to his ability considering he was predominantly right footed, as well as often filling the position that is now known as the sweeper role Byrne is one of Manchester United greatest ever defenders. At a time when full-backs were mainly expected only to stay back and defend, Byrne frequently made forward runs and joined his team’s attacks. Byrne was not the most astute of defenders – his tackling was circumspect and his aerial ability was at best average. In fact, Byrne disliked tackling and considered it as a last option, rather depending to rely on his pace to retrieve the ball. Instead He maintained that the full backs should bide their time, backing away from the winger and placing themselves between the ball and the goal.
Above all else, though, he is on this list for his exceptional leadership skills. As a captain he possessed the ability to inspire his team and drag them over the line. A dynamo of energy, Byrne inspired his team mates also to give more than 100% and that translated to results on the field. He was a born leader and even though he was only 28 when he died – one of the eight taken by the Munich air crash he is one of United’s greatest ever Captains.
3. Sir Bobby Charlton
Skippering United from 1968 to 1973 Sir Bobby was the man who wore the armband during United’s first ever European Success against Benfica in 1968. As well as captaining the team to success Charlton also captained the side during difficult periods battling against relegation rather than fighting for trophies. Whatever the situation though Sir Bobby always embodied the spirit and tradition of the club, skill, hard work, determination and humility. In many ways, Sir Bobby is the keeper of the United tradition,still involved at the club, sitting on the Board of Directors and acting as a universal ambassador of the club. At the age of 73, Sir Bobby Charlton is still showcasing the many leadership qualities now that made his such a great United captain.
2. Roy Keane
The irresitable driving force of the Manchester United midfield for over ten years, captain for eight of those, Roy Keane has to feature on any list of United’s greatest captains. You only have to look at Captain Fantastics’ perfomance against Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi in the 1999 Champions League semi-final to see why. Dragging his side back from 2-0 down Keane completely dominated the opposition Midfield that consisted of Edgar Davids, Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane and only got better after he had been booked knowing that he would miss the final.
Keane embodied the never-say-die attitude that the club drives on; he epitomized the unwavering spirit and desire to succeed that Manchester United stands for. He was a player who would not think twice before giving body, heart and soul to the club. Although his reign as Captain is marred by his eventual bust up with Sir Alex thanks to a MUTV interview given by Keane, that was never shown, criticising the performance of certain United players after a 4-1 defeat to Middlesborough. United fans will always regard Keane as one of their greatest ever captains thanks to his undying passion towards the club.
1. Bryan Robson
Captain Marvel, Robson is widely conidered to be United’s greatest ever Captain – and who am I to disagree ? The talismanic midfielder joined United in 1981 for a then Bristish record £1.5 million fee. Robson was a beacon of hope for United in their wilderness years. As arch rival Liverpool also went through their most successful period, in Captain Marvel Old Trafford had a leader who could elicit belief that they could return to the top. A true midfield general, Robson had an incredible engine and seemed to cover every single blade of grass during a match. He was also handy in a tackle, had a range of passing and most importantly had a nack for scoring vital goals – Robson hit the back of the net 99 times in his 461 appearnces for the club.
Sir Alex Ferguson himself sums up why Robson was such an exceptional captain and player – “There is no denying that on the park Robson had far more impact than any one player…At Old Trafford he carried an aura about him and it was understandable when I arrived, there was a feeling around the club that winning or losing largely depended on whether or not he was playing.”
He was the man United turned to in times of trouble and more often than not as all great captains should, he stepped up to the mark. United have had many great captains, but there has only been one Captain Marvel.
Comments.
Loading comments…