Manchester United has been a home to many legendary players over the decades. It is given that the club has also cultivated and groomed few of the best goalkeepers in the world. The club has had goalkeepers like David De Gea and Van der Sar who have earned fame with their extraordinary performances during their time at the club.
The Red Devils have had multiple options on the bench for goalkeepers over the years. However, the managers managed to select the best in order to dominate the football world. Living up to their name and fame, the Red Devils have tried and tested many goalkeepers in order to fill the shoes of Peter Schmeichel.
Needless to say, they were successful in identifying quality goalkeepers who helped in order to win multiple trophies over the years. The goalkeepers chosen showcased exuberance and class and did justice to their position in the team.
The top 5 goalkeepers of Manchester United are mentioned below and have been rated based on their performance at the club. The list is curated in a descending order of their rating.
5. HENRY GREGG (HARRY GREGG)
Appearances – 247
Clean Sheets – 48
Harry Gregg is one of the most iconic goalkeepers of the club not only for his performance as a keeper but also because he is highly regarded for his heroism. He survived the Munich air disaster and managed to rescue his team mates from the incident.
Gregg kick-started his career at the club in the year 1957 in a match against Leicester City. He did not have any medals to his name but managed to be voted as the best goalkeeper at the 1958 World Cup. The Irishman went on to make 247 appearances for Manchester United.
Harry Gregg was prone to many injuries that kept him on the bench for most of his time at the club. He was forced to back out from the 1963 FA Cup victory where the Red Devils defeated Leicester City. Gregg served as the goalkeeper for the club for almost 10years after which he took a transfer to Stoke City in the year 1966. He will forever remain one of the most celebrated Manchester United players of all time.
His Career at Man United:
| Cup Name | Appearances | Goals |
| League Division One | 210 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 24 | 0 |
| European Cup | 9 | 0 |
| Cup Winners Cup | 2 | 0 |
| League Cup | 2 | 0 |
4. ALEXANDER CYRIL STEPNEY (ALEX STEPNEY)
Appearances – 539
Clean Sheets – 175
Alex Stepney was a then world-record signing by Matt Busby for United when he joined the club back in the year 1966. He debuted for the club in a match against Manchester City in the same year. Stepney has made a total of 539 appearances for the club, more than any keeper till date.
The Englishman is celebrated most for his performance at the 1968 European Cup final against Benfica. Stepney became a legend after his wonderful save to deny Eusebio a goal to send the game into extra time. He was applauded on field by Eusebio as he knew Stepney had denied him a winner. This was the defining moment of Stepney’s career at the club as the fans recognised him as an icon.
Alex Stepney also managed to score two goals during his time at the club. After serving 12 years at the club, he bid farewell in the year 1979 and transferred to Dallas Tornados in the United States. Stepney will always be remembered for his astonishing hands at the goal.
His Career at Man United:
| Cup Name | Appearances | Goals |
| League Division One | 393 | 2 |
| FA Cup | 44 | 0 |
| League Division Two | 40 | 0 |
| League Cup | 35 | 0 |
| European Cup | 15 | 0 |
3. EDWIN VAN DER SAR
Appearances – 266
Clean Sheets – 135
Edwin Van der Sar is undoubtedly the most celebrated goalkeeper of the club. He made his debut for the Red Devils at the age of 35 in the year 2005. Van der Sar went on to prove that age was just a number owing to his legendary skills as a keeper. The club had finally found a replacement to fill in Peter Schmeichel’s shoes after a considerate amount of time.
Van der Sar became an icon after his astonishing performance in the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea where he saved Nicholas Anelka’s penalty. The fans aptly changed his name from Van der Sar to “Van der Save”. The Dutchman also set a record of keeping the longest number of clean sheets in the Premier League where he did not concede a single goal for 11 consecutive matches.
Edwin Van der Sar showcased rapid reflexes and impenetrable goalkeeping during his stay at the club. He was one of the very few goalkeepers who were a fan’s favourite and the fans at United loved him for his inglorious performances. Van der Sar played a total of 266 matches as a Red Devil and retired at the club in the year 2011. He will always be remembered for his class and technique over the years.
His Career at Man United:
| Cup Name | Appearances | Goals |
| Premiership | 186 | 0 |
| European Cup | 56 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 13 | 0 |
| League Cup | 5 | 0 |
| Charity Shield | 3 | 0 |
2. David De Gea Quintana
Appearances – 394 (And counting…)
Clean Sheets – 138 (And Counting…)
David De Gea is the current goalkeeper of Manchester United and has recently signed a contract to extend his stay at the club till 2023. He is by far the most popular Red Devils goalkeeper as he has a huge fan following which he earned at the club. De Gea joined the club shortly after the resignation of Van Der Sar in the year 2011 and debuted against Manchester City.
De Gea had a rather disappointing start at the club but bounced back in the 2012-13 season to prove his worth. He went on to become the first goalkeeper to win the Sir Matt Busby award for the club’s Player of the year in 2013-14. Since then, he has won the same award four more times. The Spaniard’s performance in the following years made him one of the most loved players among the fans.
David De Gea has proven to be one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary signing as he showcases his quick reflexes behind the gloves. He has played a total of 394 matches for the club till date with 138 clean sheets to his name. The keeper was only 21 when he joined the club and has evolved to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world. De Gea is an absolute fan favourite owing to his amazing anticipation skills and quick reflexes.
His Career at Man United: (Until April 2020)
| Cup Name | Appearances | Goals |
| Premiership | 304 | 0 |
| European Cup | 42 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 20 | 0 |
| League Cup | 14 | 0 |
| UEFA Cup | 10 | 0 |
Also Read – 13 Facts About David De Gea You Should Know!
1. PETER BOLESLAW SCHMEICHEL
Appearances – 398
Clean Sheets – 180
Peter Schmeichel joined the club in the year 1991 and debuted against Notts County. He is clearly the best goalkeeper that the club has had over the years. Schmeichel was one of the reasons for the club to top the tables in the 1990s. He was a beast at the goal and intimidated the opposition by his majestic height.
Schmeichel has a lot of accolades to his name during his time at the club. He played a crucial role in the 1999 FA Cup finals against Newcastle United. The Danish keeper was a part of the most successful era of the club in the Premier League. He was also called “The Great Dane Schmeichel” during his years at the club. Schmeichel redefined modern goalkeeping as he played for the Red Devils in the 1990s.
Peter Scheichel even managed to score a goal during his career at Manchester United. The Great Dane stepped into Roy Keane’s shoes and captained the side to a memorable victory in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. This win was a historic moment for the club as they completed a historic treble. Sadly, the game was also Schmeichel’s last game for the Red Devils as he took a transfer from the club. Peter Schmeichel is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper that Manchester United has had over the years and is likely to remain so for the years to come.
His Career at Man United:
| Cup Name | Appearances | Goals |
| Premiership | 252 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 41 | 0 |
| League Division One | 40 | 0 |
| European Cup | 36 | 0 |
