Saiyed Karim
Manchester United is arguably the most famous football club on the planet, and in their 143-year history, the Red Devils have produced some of the greatest footballers ever to grace the game. Here are some of the most accomplished individuals ever to wear the famous red shirts:
Duncan Edwards
There have been some phenomenal players to turn out for United over the years, but none had the range of physical and technical skills with which Duncan Edwards was blessed. He had the strength and size to dominate in defence, dazzling ball skills and an eye for goal. At the age of 21, he had the world at his feet, but his story was ended cruelly by the Munich disaster in 1958, one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the game.
Bobby Charlton
A United legend, Bobby Charlton has the distinction of playing in two great United sides: The Busby Babes of the mid-late 1950s and the dominant team of the 1960s. A survivor of Munich, Charlton became a talismanic figure at United, his vigorous running, astute passing and devastating long-range shooting captured the imagination of fans all over the world. In 17 years at the club, he saw it all, won the European Cup and established himself as a United institution.
George Best
Arguably the most naturally gifted player ever to don the red shirt, George Best arrived in Manchester as a shy teenager, but in a short space of time, he established himself among the elite talents in European football. His mazy dribbling skills, intuitive showmanship and prolific goal scoring endeared him to fans everywhere. He was instrumental in helping United to win the European Cup for the first time in 1968. Health problems curtailed his career, but he has left us with many joyous football memories.
Bryan Robson
Best known by England fans for his rampaging runs into the penalty area and his knack of scoring crucial goals, Bryan Robson was more than just an energetic tough tackling midfielder. His range of skills was phenomenal. Following his move to United, he became the rock on which the team was built. He led the team to two FA Cup wins in the 1980s and formed an integral part of the early 90s side that established United’s Premier League dominance, before he left the club in 1994.
Roy Keane
Arriving at Old Trafford in 1993, Roy Keane eventually took on the mantle of leader on the pitch and over the space of 13 years was an ever-present rock in the United midfield. Underrated technically, Keane was a reliable and steadfast player, leading by example, fighting tirelessly and showing up on the big occasions when men of lesser character might have wilted. Keane was a driving force behind the Ferguson-led Manchester United dominance of the period, occurring when the UK was experiencing a bookie boom. Accessibility, acceptability and leisure spending saw considerable increases throughout the nineties and early noughties. All of the best football sportsbooks were keen on Keane, and he featured prominently in fan betting – and still does to this day, with many bookmakers refusing to take further bets earlier this year on his appointment as Celtic manager. In his time as a player at United, he won seven Premier League titles, but his most famous contribution was arguably his incredible performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final, when he dragged United to the final with a display of astonishing resilience and skill.
Eric Cantona
In the early 1990s, Sir Alex Ferguson had put together a team that was strong, fast, resilient and competitive, but they weren’t a dominant force in English football at the start of the Premier League era. That changed with the arrival of Eric Cantona from Leeds United in 1992. The enigmatic French genius added flair, astonishing creative skills and a combative attitude to the solid team that United had become, lifting them to another level, and winning four league titles in his five seasons at the club.
Ryan Giggs
An all-time great of world football, Ryan Giggs combined compelling skill and technique with a remarkable longevity. From 1990 to 2014, Giggs entertained United fans with his Best-like skills and eye for goal. He was a fixture on the United team throughout their glory period, winning 13 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League titles. Among his many achievements is the record for most United appearances at 963, and the record for most Premier League assists.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Without a doubt the most famous United player ever and footballer to ever grace any football pitch. Ronaldo was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2003 as a teenager, and in his first spell at the club, he became a legend, forming, along with Wayne Rooney, one of the most dynamic forward partnerships in the club’s history. He won nine trophies in six years before moving on to Real Madrid and then Juventus establishing himself as one of football’s all-time greats. This summer he opened what is likely to be the final chapter of his playing career, by returning to Old Trafford where he has been welcomed like a hero by United fans all over the world.
