Thomas Hein
Manchester United is one of the greatest teams globally with an impressive track record. The team’s rich history started back in 1878 when the club was known as Newton Heath LYR F.C. The name change to Manchester United F.C. occurred in 1902, and the rest is history. Over the years, the club went on to win all the major competitions several times.
They won the Champions League three times, ranking them one of the best globally. As such, players aspire to become a part of the team, but only the best manage to stick around. The team now hosts players from all nations, but the Netherlands regularly stands out. The team has signed plenty of Dutch players, making them an essential part of its history. Here are the top of Manchester United’s Dutch signings.
1. Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar is deemed one of the best goalkeepers of all time. Alex Ferguson believes he’s one of Manchester United’s best goalkeepers. The player became a part of history because he helped ensure the team’s dominance during his time between the goalposts.
It’s safe to say the visitors of the beste online casino, as the Dutch would say, could only find low odds that anyone would put a goal in Edwin’s net. During his time in the team, the team won four Premier League titles, a Champions League title, and two League Cups. These numbers show that Edwin is most likely the top Dutch signing of Manchester United.
2. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Ruud Van Nistelrooy is right at the top with Edwin van der Sar. The player had a fantastic performance on the team. Throughout five seasons, he scored an immense number of goals. He was a crucial forward, placing a lot of certainty in the team’s scoring ability. Even though the team didn’t win as many titles as it did in Edwin’s or Jaap’s time there, his contributions to the team place him high in ranked Dutch signings in Manchester United.
Unlike Donny van de Beek, who’s struggling with game time in United, Ruud had plenty of it, allowing him to score highly. The only reason he’s not at the top is the time spent in the team. Edwin spent a whole season more, leaving him with significantly more appearances.
3. Jaap Stam
Jaap is remembered in Manchester United as one of the best defensive players they ever had. Even though he was only with the team for three seasons, he contributed immensely and helped achieve great results. During his stay in the team, they won the FA Cup, Champions League, and the League.
He had over 90 appearances for the team, and the numbers put him right at the top. Some would say that he might be the best Dutch signing, but because he was with the team for three years only, he remains one of the top signings, but not the best one.
4. Robin Van Persie
Van Persie is one of the top Dutch players to be a part of Manchester United. He’s a special player on this list because he was the last Dutch pick of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Even though he only spent three years with the team, he made significant contributions. His first year with the team was the most impressive, showing Ferguson’s excellent decision. Unfortunately, he didn’t keep up with his remarkable game, leading to his departure only three years later.
5. Daley Blind
One of the Dutch players who recently played for Manchester United is Daley Blind. His midfield skills proved very useful despite only being there for two seasons. During his stay in Manchester, the team won Europa League. After the 2017 season, the player returned to Ajax.
That was the same year when VAR was introduced, showing how technology can change traditional sports. But that’s not all, as it brought an impact on many other industries. Daley still plays for Ajax, where he has more than double appearances than in Manchester.
Concluding Thoughts
These are only the top five Dutch players that wore the color red. There are plenty more players who were a part of Machester. Some notable mentions go to Arnold Muhren, Jordi Cruyff, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, and Memphis Depay.
Still, given how popular the Ajax school is, there will likely be more players from the Netherlands who’ll join one of the greatest teams ever. If we’re to look at the history, it’s clear how important the Dutch players are for Manchester’s history.
