With an iconic history and long list of Legends produced, it is a tough task to choose only 11 players combined, But here we are with our take on the All-Time Manchester United XI.
A glimpse of Man United All-Time Best XI
Goalkeeper- Peter Schmeichel
With a rich experience of 22 years in professional football, this Danish goalkeeper was with Manchester United for almost 8 years. After helping his country Denmark win the 1992 European Championship, he helped ManU lift five league titles.
He had the famous ability to cover the goal with his signature “Star Jump” saves. A tall, solid and physically intimidating goalie he had a wide frame and a long-range as well as outstanding reflexes. He was also exceptionally quick and flexible for a player of his height.
Schmeichel joined Man Utd after playing with Brøndby in 1991 for £ 505,000, an amount which Sir Alex Ferguson later called, the “Bargain of the century”! He was also one of the few goalkeepers, to score 11 goals in his careers.
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In fact, in a 2001 Reuters public poll, he was chosen as the greatest goalkeeper ever by football fans all around the globe. While playing his last match with Manchester United, he captained the team to glory in 1999 Champions League finals vs Bayern Munich achieving an iconic treble.
Right Back- Gary Neville
This right-back joined Manchester United at a tender age of 16, but as an apprentice right after leaving school and moreover captained the youth side to FA Youth Cup victory in his very first season in 1991.
Despite not being the most talented or gifted player, he was very reliable as he had a unique positional sense, high stamina, good work-ethic and a traditional full-back mindset which enabled him to succeed as a right back.
He is considered to be one of the finest right-backs in the Premier League history, helping the team bag over 20 trophies while playing with Man Utd.
After a career lasting more than two decades, Neville is the most capped right-back for team England with 85 caps. This tactical footballer was also known for his rapport with his ex-teammate and legend David Beckham down the right flank.
Left Back- Denis Irwin
Known for his penalties and free-kicks, he holds the record of joint-most successful Irish footballer in history with 19 trophies to his name.
The Irishman was even twice voted on to the Premier League Team of The Year and once to the Premier League Team of the Decade! (1992-2002).
He was considered to be the most dependable defender of his team who was capable of playing on either of the flanks and when Sir Alex Ferguson himself expressed that Irwin will be the first player on his All-time Man Utd XI, you just cannot keep him out!
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In a 12 year long career at the Old Trafford, he earned 296 Premier League caps and won 7 Premier League titles along with two FA Cups and a Champions League.
Centre Back- Rio Ferdinand
Considered to be the classiest defenders of all time, this English footballer was twice transferred at record fees. With a perfect build for the position, he was voted 6 times onto the Premier League Team of the Year!
Replete with strong aerial ability, superb tackling, exceptional speed and confidence on the ball, he had a continental style of play. The former-Hammers player was one of England’s most dependable centre backs ever.
Lately, in 2016, he was also voted into the English Football Hall of Fame. In Ferdinand’s 12 year stint at United, he won six Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League once.
Centre-Back- Nemanja Vidic
After being a part of the ‘Famous Four’ in the Serbian national team and playing two seasons for Spartak Moscow, Vidic was finally signed for Man Utd in 2005 with a transfer fee of £ 7 million.
He was also considered by many to be the perfect complement for his teammate and the best partnership with centre back Rio Ferdinand. The Serb also captained United for a brief period from 2011 to 2014.
Vidic was twice voted as the Premier League Player of The Season ( being the first defender to receive this honor) and also four times Premier League Team of The Year.
Central Midfielder- Roy Keane
One of the most fearless and hardest tacklers in the game, Keane is the one who shares the most successful Irish player in the history honour with Denis Irwin.
He was voted five times onto the Premier League Team of The Year and also onto the Professional Footballers’ Association Team of the Century in 2007.
This Irishman also captained the team for five seasons, from 1998 to 2003 out of which the team won four titles! Even though being considered an underdog his fans respect him for his leadership skills and determination towards the sport.
During his tenure with the Red Devils, he won 7 English League titles and Champions League once.
Central Midfielder- Paul Scholes
The midfielder made his entry into United in 1994 straight after winning a FA Youth Cup in 1993. In the very next year, he also claimed his first title tallying 10 league goals. This infamous yellow card receiver has scored 150 goals in 718 appearances for United!
An accurate passer, power shooter and a crunch tackler, he had this rare calmness and ability to retain possession under pressure. He has a record of third-most appearances made in United club history.
The Ginger Prince has won 11 English League titles which is the highest for any Englishman. Scholes is also the third-highest capped player in the history of the club.
His best campaign till date was of 2002-03 where he netted 14 goals claiming his sixth title.
Left Winger- Ryan Giggs
This English footballer is the only player to share the honor with Sir Alex Ferguson of the highest Premier League titles in the club’s history. The completely one-club man had a god-like status amongst the Red Devils fans and is the most decorated premier league player ever.
After winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups his name was considered to be synonymous with the most successful football era.
In an astonishing 25 years long career, the legend had built a galore of records for Manchester United – Most Premier League appearances (632), staggering most Premier League wins (434), most consecutive Premier League seasons played in (21) and many more.
This Welshman was considered to be the perfect fit for the position of a left-winger with all the speed, agility and stamina he displayed on-field and hence became eternal for his famous goal against Arsenal in 1999 FA Cup semi-finals.
Right Winger- Cristiano Ronaldo
Who can forget the iconic Red Devil free-kicks? The only player who could beat a legend like David Beckham for this place has to be Cristiano.
In his legendary career, he has spent six years at Manchester United. Yet he has been able to achieve feats like no other player during his short stint at the side as a winger. He was Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Cup Player of the Year in 2008.
Among his long list of achievements include, getting voted as Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year twice, in 2007 and 2008. Ronaldo also won a clean sweep of domestic trophies while at his tenure at United which included Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Manchester United won three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2009, mainly due to the contribution of No. 7’s sixty-six Premier League goals! The superstar went on to spread his charm and succeed at Real Madrid and Juventus and is considered as amongst the greatest players to play the game, if not the greatest!
Forward- Eric Cantona
Considered to be one of the greatest forwards of all times and amongst best Man Utd players ever, this French player was an ordeal for the backline of any team.
He has won a league championship in 7 of his last 8 full seasons. Moreover, he was also voted as Overseas Premier League Player of the Decade in 2003.
After not winning a title for 25 years, United finally saw a sigh of relief coming with Cantona entering the team. It so happened that when Eric retired Man Utd had already won four out of five championships in all of which he played a vital role.
Cantona was also inducted into the inaugural English Football Hall Of Fame in 2002.
Forward- Wayne Rooney
Manchester United without Rooney, just can’t be imagined. Known as the best goal-scorer for United, this Englishman was the most sought after prospect, when United signed him as a teenager from Everton in 2004.
From his great partnership with Ronaldo to his match-winning goals, he just lightened the Old Trafford.
Starting a career at Manchester United with a hat-trick on debut is exactly what footballers dream of, and Rooney did exactly the same! This hat-trick was just the very beginning of the creation of history as United was seeing its all-time leading goal scorer playing with 253 goals in 559 games.
These goals by Rooney led Man Utd winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, The Champions League and the Europa League!
Manager – Sir Alex Ferguson
The Manager of the Manchester United All-Time XI is the one and only, Sir Alex Ferguson who is considered as one of the greatest managers in the world ever.
He played an instrumental role in building the iconic Red Devils team and acquiring aplenty of Silverware. During his 26 years with Manchester United, the knighted Sir Ferguson won a mind-boggling 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.
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Some Notable Mentions who were not part of the All-time XI :
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Edwin van der Sar.
Defenders: Patrice Evra, Gary Pallister, Antonio Valencia, Jaap Stam
Midfielders: David Beckham, Bobby Charlton, Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba.
Strikers: George Best, Roger Byrne, Andy Cole, Robin van Persie.
Manchester United is the Most Valuable English Football Club in the world (According to Forbes 2019 list), the Most supported English Football Club in the world (According to Business Insider) and one of the most successful clubs in the world in terms of trophies won.
