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| Sir Matt Busby with Roger Byrne and Duncan Edwards |
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
Manchester United All-Time Team
Manchester United Greatest All-Time Team under Sir Alex
Manchester United Greatest All-Time Team under Sir Busby
Manchester United All-Time team for British isles (excluding England)
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for Manchester United's English players. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
Even before the arrival Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, Manchester United was the most popular club in England, despite not being the most successful side. The Busby Babe created a lot of excitement for English football and then, the Munich air disaster turned the Red Devils into a team that everyone with a heart to follow. By the late 1960's, the Trinity of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best represented three parts of the United Kingdom. They appealed to the fans from Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. In 1968, Manchester United became the first English side to win the European Cup. After the formation of the Premiership, they became the most successful club in English domestic football overtaking Liverpool for winning the most number of league titles.
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| Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson |
Team
GK: Alex Stepney
Alex Stepney played with Millwall between 1963 and 1966 before joining Chelsea. He only played one game in London and was sold to Manchester United in 1966 to replace Harry Greg who was injured during the Munich Disaster. Stepney helped the Red Devils to win the 1968 European Cup. He played with them until 1978 when he left for the NASL. His international career was limited to a single cap, but he traveled to the 1970 World Cup Finals as a backup.
GK: Jimmy Rimmer
Jimmy Rimmer is considered to be the greatest Aston Villa goalkeeper. He won two European Cup medals: 1968 with Manchester United and 1982 with Aston Villa. He was Alex Stepney's understudy in the 1968 Final. In 1982, he only played 9 minutes before getting an injury. He played 3 seasons with Arsenal, where he was their player of the year in 1975. He was capped once in 1976.
GK: Gary Bailey
Gary Bailey started his career with Wits University in Johannesburg. He paid his own fare to Manchester for a trial with Manchester United.
He established himself as United goalkeeper in the late 1970s. He won FA Cup medals in 1983 and 1985. He later played with Kaizer Chiefs, before retiring in 1990. For England, he was only capped twice due to playing at the same time as Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence.
RB: Gary Neville
Along with his brother Philip, David Beckham, Paul Scoles, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt, Gary Neville captained the Manchester United academy team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1991. They all became fixtures for the senior team throughout the 1990's. Gary Neville remained the team until 2011 and was the second, longest serving player. For England, he was the most capped rightback in history. He had a totyal of 85 caps.
RB: Mike Duxbury
Mike Duxbury began his career as a right back with Everton, but he signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1975. He made his Manchester United debut in 1980. In 1990, he left United for Blackburn Rovers. He later played for Bradford City and for Golden FC in Hong Kong before retiring in 1994. Duxbury was capped 10 times by England, making his debut in November 1983 and earning his last cap in October 1984.
CB: Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand became the youngest defender to play for the Three Lions at the time in 1997. He played 81 times for England between 1997 and 2011, and was a member of three World Cup squads. At one point, he was the most expensive British footballer and also broke the world's record transfer fees for a defender twice. He played over 300 games for Manchester United. He won the Champions' League with Manchester United in 2008. He also played for Leeds United, West Ham and QPR.
GK: Alex Stepney
Alex Stepney played with Millwall between 1963 and 1966 before joining Chelsea. He only played one game in London and was sold to Manchester United in 1966 to replace Harry Greg who was injured during the Munich Disaster. Stepney helped the Red Devils to win the 1968 European Cup. He played with them until 1978 when he left for the NASL. His international career was limited to a single cap, but he traveled to the 1970 World Cup Finals as a backup.
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| Alex Stepney |
Jimmy Rimmer is considered to be the greatest Aston Villa goalkeeper. He won two European Cup medals: 1968 with Manchester United and 1982 with Aston Villa. He was Alex Stepney's understudy in the 1968 Final. In 1982, he only played 9 minutes before getting an injury. He played 3 seasons with Arsenal, where he was their player of the year in 1975. He was capped once in 1976.
GK: Gary Bailey
Gary Bailey started his career with Wits University in Johannesburg. He paid his own fare to Manchester for a trial with Manchester United.
He established himself as United goalkeeper in the late 1970s. He won FA Cup medals in 1983 and 1985. He later played with Kaizer Chiefs, before retiring in 1990. For England, he was only capped twice due to playing at the same time as Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence.
RB: Gary Neville
Along with his brother Philip, David Beckham, Paul Scoles, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt, Gary Neville captained the Manchester United academy team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1991. They all became fixtures for the senior team throughout the 1990's. Gary Neville remained the team until 2011 and was the second, longest serving player. For England, he was the most capped rightback in history. He had a totyal of 85 caps.
RB: Mike Duxbury
Mike Duxbury began his career as a right back with Everton, but he signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1975. He made his Manchester United debut in 1980. In 1990, he left United for Blackburn Rovers. He later played for Bradford City and for Golden FC in Hong Kong before retiring in 1994. Duxbury was capped 10 times by England, making his debut in November 1983 and earning his last cap in October 1984.
CB: Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand became the youngest defender to play for the Three Lions at the time in 1997. He played 81 times for England between 1997 and 2011, and was a member of three World Cup squads. At one point, he was the most expensive British footballer and also broke the world's record transfer fees for a defender twice. He played over 300 games for Manchester United. He won the Champions' League with Manchester United in 2008. He also played for Leeds United, West Ham and QPR.
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| Rio Ferdinand |
CB: Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce played for Gillingham and Norwich before joining Manchester United in 1987, where he would play until 1996. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, he won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one Football League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. He also became the first English player of the 20th century to captain a team to the Double. Despite his success with his club, he was never selected to play for England.
CB: Gary Pallister
Gary Pallister played for Middlesbrough before he moved to Manchester United in 1989. His transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs. By the time of his departure from Old Trafford after nine years, he was the only player to have collected winner's medals in all of the club's successes under Alex Ferguson's management. He was capped 22 times.
CB: Bill Foulkes
Bill Foulkes was a one club man. He played for Manchester United in the Busby Babes teams of the 1950s, and also in the 1960s. For Manchester United, he played 688 games which places him at number 4 on the all-time list of appearances. He scored a total of 9 goals in his 18 seasons at United and helped the club win four First Division titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup. He was capped three times for England in 1954–55. He was a part of the 1968 European Cup winning team. He was capped once by England.
LB: Roger Byrne
Roger Byrne was the captain of the Busby Babes from the 1955–56 season onwards. With Manchester United, he won the league title in 1952, 1956 and 1957. Between 1954 and 1957, he earned 33 caps with England while playing in every England's fixtures in that period, a record for England. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 28 in the Munich Air Disaster. Even more than 60 years after his death, he is still regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest captains.
LB: John Aston Sr
John Aston Sr's made his debut for Manchester United in 1946. He was a one club player. He played in the 1948 FA Cup Final triumph over Blackpool at Wembley Stadium. He left the club in 1954 after scoring 30 goals in 284 appearances.He won 17 England caps between 1948 and 1950, all at left-back, and featured in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. His son John Aston Jr also played for Manchester United.
DM: Nobby Stiles
Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign. Stiles played the majority of his club career for Manchester United, spending eleven years at Old Trafford. He won the European Cup in 1968. After retirement, he was famously known for the youth coach for Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholas, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt.
CM: Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick started his career with West Ham where he played for 5 seasons. He then went to Tottenham Hotspurs for 2 more seasons before moving to Manchester United in 2006. He played there until 2018. At Old Trafford, he won every major trophy for club football, including the Champions' League Title in 2008. He was only one of two Englishmen to have done that. At the international level, he played 34 times for England between 2001 and 2015. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2006 and 2010.
CM: Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson was at one point the most expensive British player when he joined Manchester United from West Bromwich Albion in 1981. He is considered to be one of England's best ever box-to-box midfielders. He earned 90 caps for England. He went to three World Cup Finals, but he only played a major role in 1982. He was injured in both World Cup Finals in 1986 and 1990. He spent 13 years with Manchester United, winning the Cup Winners' Cup for the season 1990–91.
CM: Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was one of the Busby Babes of Manchester United. He made his professional debut at the age of 16. He was the youngest player to play in the Football League First Division. He died in 1958 during the Munich Air Disaster at the age of 21. Many people considered him to be England's greatest player. He was a dominating central midfielder of his time. For the English national team, he was capped 18 times between 1955 and 1957, scoring 5 goals.
AM/CM: Paul Scholas
Paul Scholas was a member of Manchester United's Class of 1992. He spent 20 years with Manchester United's first team. He won 11 Premier League, three FA Cup and two UEFA Champions League winners medals. He earned 66 caps for England before he retired from the Three Lions in 2004. His cap total was limited because of playing the same generation with Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard. He went to two World Cup Finals and as many Euros.
AM: Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby was considered one of the greatest midfielders of all-time. He was capped 106 times by England and led England to World Cup victory in 1966. He is also England's all-time leading scorer and all-time cap leader at the time of his retirement. He was selected for four World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970). For club career, he almost played his entire career with Manchester United. He was the hero of Manchester United's the first ever European Cup trophy in 1968. He won the Ballon D'Or in 1966.
RW: Steve CoppellCB: Gary Pallister
Gary Pallister played for Middlesbrough before he moved to Manchester United in 1989. His transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs. By the time of his departure from Old Trafford after nine years, he was the only player to have collected winner's medals in all of the club's successes under Alex Ferguson's management. He was capped 22 times.
CB: Bill Foulkes
Bill Foulkes was a one club man. He played for Manchester United in the Busby Babes teams of the 1950s, and also in the 1960s. For Manchester United, he played 688 games which places him at number 4 on the all-time list of appearances. He scored a total of 9 goals in his 18 seasons at United and helped the club win four First Division titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup. He was capped three times for England in 1954–55. He was a part of the 1968 European Cup winning team. He was capped once by England.
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| Bill Foulkes |
Roger Byrne was the captain of the Busby Babes from the 1955–56 season onwards. With Manchester United, he won the league title in 1952, 1956 and 1957. Between 1954 and 1957, he earned 33 caps with England while playing in every England's fixtures in that period, a record for England. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 28 in the Munich Air Disaster. Even more than 60 years after his death, he is still regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest captains.
LB: John Aston Sr
John Aston Sr's made his debut for Manchester United in 1946. He was a one club player. He played in the 1948 FA Cup Final triumph over Blackpool at Wembley Stadium. He left the club in 1954 after scoring 30 goals in 284 appearances.He won 17 England caps between 1948 and 1950, all at left-back, and featured in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. His son John Aston Jr also played for Manchester United.
DM: Nobby Stiles
Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign. Stiles played the majority of his club career for Manchester United, spending eleven years at Old Trafford. He won the European Cup in 1968. After retirement, he was famously known for the youth coach for Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholas, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt.
CM: Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick started his career with West Ham where he played for 5 seasons. He then went to Tottenham Hotspurs for 2 more seasons before moving to Manchester United in 2006. He played there until 2018. At Old Trafford, he won every major trophy for club football, including the Champions' League Title in 2008. He was only one of two Englishmen to have done that. At the international level, he played 34 times for England between 2001 and 2015. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2006 and 2010.
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| Michael Carrick |
Bryan Robson was at one point the most expensive British player when he joined Manchester United from West Bromwich Albion in 1981. He is considered to be one of England's best ever box-to-box midfielders. He earned 90 caps for England. He went to three World Cup Finals, but he only played a major role in 1982. He was injured in both World Cup Finals in 1986 and 1990. He spent 13 years with Manchester United, winning the Cup Winners' Cup for the season 1990–91.
CM: Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was one of the Busby Babes of Manchester United. He made his professional debut at the age of 16. He was the youngest player to play in the Football League First Division. He died in 1958 during the Munich Air Disaster at the age of 21. Many people considered him to be England's greatest player. He was a dominating central midfielder of his time. For the English national team, he was capped 18 times between 1955 and 1957, scoring 5 goals.
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| Duncan Edwards |
Paul Scholas was a member of Manchester United's Class of 1992. He spent 20 years with Manchester United's first team. He won 11 Premier League, three FA Cup and two UEFA Champions League winners medals. He earned 66 caps for England before he retired from the Three Lions in 2004. His cap total was limited because of playing the same generation with Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard. He went to two World Cup Finals and as many Euros.
AM: Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby was considered one of the greatest midfielders of all-time. He was capped 106 times by England and led England to World Cup victory in 1966. He is also England's all-time leading scorer and all-time cap leader at the time of his retirement. He was selected for four World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970). For club career, he almost played his entire career with Manchester United. He was the hero of Manchester United's the first ever European Cup trophy in 1968. He won the Ballon D'Or in 1966.
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| Sir Bobby |
Steve Coppell played for Tranmere Rovers while he studied for a degree in economic history at the University of Liverpool. In 1975, he joined Manchester United. He helped the club to win promotion that year. From 1977 to 1983, he earned 42 caps for England. He represented England in the Euro 1980. He also played in the 1982 World Cup Finals, despite suffering from an injury. He retired in 1983 at the age of 28 as a Manchester United player.
RW: David Beckham
Beckham is the greatest ever icon to play the game. He started his career with Manchester United where he was a part of the famous team that won the 1992 FA Youth Cup. For the senior side, he won 6 Premiership titles and the 1999 Champions' League. In 2003, he joined Real Madrid for the well-publicized "Galacticos" signing. In 2007, he moved to LA Galaxy, where he kickstarted a soccer fever in the United States. For England, he earned 115 caps and was a key part of the national team throughout his career.
LW: George Wall
Wall started his career with Boldon Royal Rovers and played for Whitburn and Jarrow before joining Barnsley in 1903. In 1906, he transferred to Manchester United and helped them win the 1908 and 1911 league titles, as well as the 1909 FA Cup. He left the club in 1915 because of World War I and joined Oldham Athletic after the war in 1919. He later played for Hamilton Academical, Rochdale Ashton National and Manchester Ship Canal. Wall also won seven caps for England, scoring two goals
RW/LW: Lee Sharpe
Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988. He played a key part in United's success in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1990–91. However, injuries and the emerge of Ryan Giggs limited his career with Manchester United. He later played left back and right wing for them. He left Manchester United in 1996 and never found stardom. Sharpe was capped eight times by England between 1991 and 1993.
FW: Wayne Rooney
In 2002, Rooney made his debut as a 16 years old with Everton. Less than a year later, he became England's youngest international when he played against Australia. He made his big tournament debut at Euro 2004. He scored 4 goals and named as a member of the tournament's best XI. At the time of writing, he is England's key player for every major tournament since Euro 2004. As for Manchester United, he has won 5 Preimer League titles. In 2008, he formed a partnership with Cristano Ronaldo and won the Champions' League.
ST: Dennis Viollet
Dennis Viollet came through the junior ranks at Manchester United and turned professional in 1950. His first game for the club came against arch-rivals Newcastle United on 11 April 1953. He was a striker, along with Tommy Taylor for the Busby Babes of the 1950s. He was a survivor of the Munich air disaster. He played twice for England, debuting in 1960 against Hungary.
ST: Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor was one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster. He was 8 days past his 26th birthday. He started with Barnley and moved to Manchester United in 1953. For England, he was seen as the perfect eventual replacement for the ageing Nat Lofthouse in the England side. In all, he played 19 times for England, scoring 16 goals. He managed two hat-tricks for the England team.
ST: Jack Rowley
Jack Rowley mainly remembered for a 17-year spell with Manchester United. He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific goalscoring and explosive shooting, scoring 211 goals in 424 appearances for United between 1937 and 1954. He is one of only four players in the history of Manchester United to score over 200 goals for the club. He was also capped six times for England scoring six goals, four of which came against Northern Ireland in 1949.
Honorable Mention
Beckham is the greatest ever icon to play the game. He started his career with Manchester United where he was a part of the famous team that won the 1992 FA Youth Cup. For the senior side, he won 6 Premiership titles and the 1999 Champions' League. In 2003, he joined Real Madrid for the well-publicized "Galacticos" signing. In 2007, he moved to LA Galaxy, where he kickstarted a soccer fever in the United States. For England, he earned 115 caps and was a key part of the national team throughout his career.
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| David Beckham |
Wall started his career with Boldon Royal Rovers and played for Whitburn and Jarrow before joining Barnsley in 1903. In 1906, he transferred to Manchester United and helped them win the 1908 and 1911 league titles, as well as the 1909 FA Cup. He left the club in 1915 because of World War I and joined Oldham Athletic after the war in 1919. He later played for Hamilton Academical, Rochdale Ashton National and Manchester Ship Canal. Wall also won seven caps for England, scoring two goals
RW/LW: Lee Sharpe
Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988. He played a key part in United's success in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1990–91. However, injuries and the emerge of Ryan Giggs limited his career with Manchester United. He later played left back and right wing for them. He left Manchester United in 1996 and never found stardom. Sharpe was capped eight times by England between 1991 and 1993.
FW: Wayne Rooney
In 2002, Rooney made his debut as a 16 years old with Everton. Less than a year later, he became England's youngest international when he played against Australia. He made his big tournament debut at Euro 2004. He scored 4 goals and named as a member of the tournament's best XI. At the time of writing, he is England's key player for every major tournament since Euro 2004. As for Manchester United, he has won 5 Preimer League titles. In 2008, he formed a partnership with Cristano Ronaldo and won the Champions' League.
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| Wayne Rooney |
Dennis Viollet came through the junior ranks at Manchester United and turned professional in 1950. His first game for the club came against arch-rivals Newcastle United on 11 April 1953. He was a striker, along with Tommy Taylor for the Busby Babes of the 1950s. He was a survivor of the Munich air disaster. He played twice for England, debuting in 1960 against Hungary.
ST: Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor was one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster. He was 8 days past his 26th birthday. He started with Barnley and moved to Manchester United in 1953. For England, he was seen as the perfect eventual replacement for the ageing Nat Lofthouse in the England side. In all, he played 19 times for England, scoring 16 goals. He managed two hat-tricks for the England team.
ST: Jack Rowley
Jack Rowley mainly remembered for a 17-year spell with Manchester United. He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific goalscoring and explosive shooting, scoring 211 goals in 424 appearances for United between 1937 and 1954. He is one of only four players in the history of Manchester United to score over 200 goals for the club. He was also capped six times for England scoring six goals, four of which came against Northern Ireland in 1949.
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| Jack Rowley |
Reg Allen, Jack Crompton, Ray Wood, Wes Brown, Charlie Roberts, Allenby Chilton, Reg Allen, Jack Crompton, Ray Wood, Charlie Moore, Viv Anderson, Allenby Chilton, David Sadler, Phil Neville, Mark Jones, Nicky Butt, Paul Ince, Frank Barson, David Pegg, Albert Scanlon, Eddie Colman, Joe Spence, Johnny Berry, Charlie Mitten, Stan Pearson, Stuart Pearson, Stan Pearson, Brian Kidd, Teddy Sheringham , Andy Cole.
Squad Explanation
-- I redid this team in May, 2024. No chance was actually made.
-- Ten English players made my all-time Manchester United team. They are Alex Stepney, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Bill Foulkes, Rio Ferdinard, Sir Bobby Charlton, Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards, Bryan Robson and Paul Scholas. So they are automatioc selections.
-- Manchester United won their first European Cup in 1968. Bobby Charlton, Alex Stepney, Bill Foulkes, Nobby Stiles and the backgoalkeeper Jack Rimmer made this all-time team.
-- From their 1999 Champions' League winning team, I have Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and David Beckham. They defined Manchester United's successes in the Preimership's era. Gary Pallister left in 1998.
-- I selected the following players from the 2008 Champions' League winning team: Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholas were selected.
-- The "Fergie's Fledglings" on this team included David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholas. All three came from the "Class of 1992". Lee Sharpe was not from the academy. When he was 17 years old, he moved to Manchester United from Torquay United. This team featured more "Busby Babes". The "Busby Babes" refers to the young and talented group of players who were part of the Manchester United football team in the 1950s, managed by Sir Matt Busby. Tragically, on February 6, 1958, the team's plane, known as the Munich Air Disaster, crashed during takeoff in Munich, Germany, while returning from a European Cup match. The crash resulted in the deaths of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players and several club staff members. The team featured Roger Byrne, Bill Foulkes, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, Tommy Taylor and Denis Viollet. Nobby Stiles joined the club in 1957 as an apprentice so he was already in Manchester when the tragedy occured.
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| David Beckahm, Gary Neville and Paul Scholas |
Goalkeepers
-- Alex Stepney established himself as the most prolific goalkeeper in Manchester United's history, amassing an impressive 539 appearances between the goalposts. In the European Cup Final, he saved a last momeent shot from Eusebio. such was the brilliance of the save that Eusebio himself stood and applauded the Englishman's heroics.
-- Jim Rimmer spent 11 seasons with Manchester United, but he was mainly Stepney's backup. He only played 34 times for Manchester United, but he was always ranked very high among goalkeepers here.
-- The third keeper was difficult to choose. Gary Bailey, Reg Allen, Jack Crompton and Ray Wood all played with each other. In the end, I chose Gary Bailey because he is the longest serving starter among the four keepers. Alf Steward and Harry Moger were also considered.
Defenders
-- Rio Ferdinand was at one point the most expensive defender when he joined Manchester United. He had lived up to his price tag. Nemanja Vidic played 9 seasons with Manchester United. The Rio-Nemanja partnership was the greatest ever for this club. Bill Foulkes survived the devastating Munich air disaster and went on to play a vital role in the club's rich history. He is inseparable from Manchester United's tale of both triumph and tragedy. The two were undisputed.
-- The last two centerbacks were also easy to choose. Together, Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister played a pivotal role in Manchester United's triumphs, including winning the inaugural Premier League title in the 1992-1993 season, as well as three consecutive league titles from 1992 to 1994. Their partnership at the heart of the defense was highly regarded and contributed significantly to the success of the club during that era. Wes Brown, Mark Jones, Charlie Roberts and Allenby Chilton also made honorable mention. Brown was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2000–01 season. He also spent 15 seasons with Manchester United.
-- Gary Neville is widely regarded as one of the greatest fullbacks in the history of Manchester United. His remarkable career at the club was defined by his loyalty, longevity, and contributions on the field. Viv Anderson spent a year with Manchester United academy, but he was released. He would become an icon with Nottingham Forest, where he won back-to-back European Cup. In 1987, he rejoined the club, but his career over here was limited. Paul Parker's initial five-year tenure at Old Trafford started on a positive note, but unfortunately, injuries plagued him regularly as the club. Instead, I took Mike Duxbury who played here between 1976 and 1990. He played mainly as a central defender, but he was a better rightback. Both Anderson and Parker were more famous player, but Duxbury had a better career here.
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| Gary Neville |
-- Phil Neville's remarkable versatility allowed him to enable him to occupy various positions throughout his career. However, it was at left-back where he found himself most frequently deployed. That position, however, was dominated by Denis Irvin. Interestingly, Irvin, a natural right-back, switched to the left-back position to accommodate Gary Neville's presence on the right side. Although Phil Neville enjoyed an 11-season tenure in Manchester United's first team, his career appeared brief in comparison to his brother's remarkable longevity with the club.
-- Charlie Moore was an old-timer fullback whom I did not know much. He played here between 1919 and 1930.
Midfielders/Wingers
-- Duncan Edwards has been overlooked in several lists of the greatest Manchester United players as his career was tragically cut short, denying him the opportunity to fulfill his tremendous promise on the football field. However, the opinion of Sir Bobby Charlton holds significant weight, as he considers Edwards to be the greatest English player ever. In a blog dedicated to Manchester United, it is important to respect Sir Bobby's perspective, especially considering the emotional aspect involved in selecting Edwards. Bryan Robson did not have a decorated career over here, but he was voted into the PFA Team of the Century (1977-1996) in 2007.
-- Nobby Stiles was a member of Busby Babes. He was named in the PFA Team of the Century (1907–1976) in 2007.
-- Michael Carrick played over 300 games in 12 seasons with Manchester United. In his career, he was often overshadowed by other star players in the squad, but he was an unsung hero to the club. By comparison, Paul Ince's exceptional performances earned him a place in the prestigious PFA Team of the Year in three consecutive seasons: 1992–93, 1993–94, and 1994–95, during his time in the Premier League. Furthermore, he was also recognized for his contributions to the game by being included in the Domestic Team of the Decade at the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards, covering the period from 1992–93 to 2001–02. However, Ince's decision to join Liverpool FC diminished his significance to his former club. On the other hand, Carrick happened to be known as a loyal member of the club during his time here.
-- Frank Barson who played here in the 1920's was known for his hard style of play. Nicky Butt was another well-known player from the Class of 1992.
-- Bobby Charlton was an automatic choice for the team, requiring no further explanation for his inclusion. Paul Scholes, in my opinion, was frequently underrated by many. During his tenure, he often lived in the shadows of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. Similarly, with the England national team, he faced the overshadowing presence of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. However, the truth remains that Scholes was undeniably one of England's finest playmakers.
-- The right midfield/wing position has many options. Both David Beckham and Steve Coppell are known as Manchester United's all-time greats. David Beckham received many unfair criticism of him for being an pop icon rather than a footballer. Yes, he was probably overrated by the mainstream media. In truth, he was very underrated by football fans. He was by far a better footballer than most football fans considered him to be. He deserved a place in this team. Steve Coppell whose injuries kept him from greatness, but he remained a legend in Manchester. Eddie Colman, Joe Spence and Johnny Berry also deserved serious considerations.
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| Steve Coppell |
-- Lee Sharpe took the 25th spot. He was extraordinary in his peak, but his peak was very short. In the end, I took him because the team lacked left wingers. Joe Spence who is listed among the legends on official website of Manchester United and Andy Cole were also seriously considered for the last spot.
Forwards
-- Wayne Rooney is the most underrated striker in England's history. His hype as a youngster while playing for Everton might create a false expectation. At times, he carried both Manchester United and the national team, but the media has not always been kind to him. They did not appreciate his contribution. At the same time, he made some critical mistakes while playing for England. I am referring to the red card vs Portugal in 2006 and his reaction to the fans in 2010. That led to a lot of unfair criticisms. He is still the all-time leading scorer for England and Manchester United.
-- In 191 games for Manchester United, Tommy Taylor scored an impressive 131 goals. He averaged a remarkable 0.686 goals per match. Among the 22 Manchester United players who have scored 100 goals or more in all competitions, his ratio ranked number one. He was only the 15th Manchester United's all-time leading scorer because he died at the age of 26 in the Munich Disaster. His strike partner Dennis Viollet was also a must-in player. In the 1959/60 season, Dennis Viollet set an unbeaten record for Manchester United by scoring 32 goals in 36 games. This remarkable achievement is even more impressive considering it came after the tragic Munich Air Disaster of 1958, when Sir Matt Busby was rebuilding the team. Jack Rowley is one of only four players in the history of Manchester United to score over 200 goals for the club. Neither Teddy Sheringham nor Andy Cole were close to the three English forwards.
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| Dennis Viollet |
Formation
I tried to put the best eleven players on the field. Rooney on the left is very weird, I admitted. Starting George Wall or Lee Sharpe might be a more realistic formation.
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