Sport

Man Utd legends: The best Man Utd players of all time

December 25, 2024

“This is Manchester United Football Club we’re talking about here.”

Pundits and commentators are yet to grasp the staggering decline of one of football’s grandest institutions in contemporary times. Manchester United were once a club feared by all, but constant flirtations with mediocrity in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has left former stars in a perpetual state of cognitive dissonance.

No matter how poor the product is on the field, Man Utd will forever be relevant. Only Liverpool boast a more impressive trophy cabinet among English clubs and the sheer brutishness of the dominant reign which ignited following the introduction of the Premier League left many envious, resentful and scarred.

Some of the sport’s greatest have labelled the Theatre of Dreams their home and condensing an all-time great Manchester United players list into a top 25 was incredibly tough. Nevertheless, 90min have debated fiercely while burning the midnight oil to conjure a definitive list.

De Gea was an impenetrable force in his Man Utd prime / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Hughes was an important figure at the start of the Premier League era / Ben Radford/GettyImages

Bruce is a former United captain / Getty Images/GettyImages

#mufc legend Bill Foulkes, one of the Busby Babes, sadly died on this day in 2013. He played 688 times for the Reds. pic.twitter.com/IqQOZSZVJR

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 25, 2015

Van de Sar ended his career in Manchester / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages

Vidic was a tremendous partner for Ferdinand / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Few Premier League defenders have profiled like Ferdinand / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

RVN was United’s leading marksman at the start of the 21st century / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Ronaldo was the best player in the world when he left Man Utd for Real Madrid in 2009 / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Irwin was the most reliable of left-backs / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

Neville spent the best part of two decades at United / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages

Roger Byrne, aged 28. Club captain, England international and a rock-solid defender. #flowersofmanchester pic.twitter.com/HGiT9LQpNt

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2014

Beckham became a global icon / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

Schmeichel is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time / Ben Radford/GettyImages

Rooney is United’s all-time leading scorer / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

Tommy Taylor, aged 26. Legendary striker for #mufc & England with an astounding scoring record. #flowersofmanchester pic.twitter.com/cswy1jFXcl

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2014

Keane guided United through an immensely successful period / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

The greatest Man Utd captain / Getty Images/GettyImages

Giggs was a timeless performer well into his twilight / Dean Mouhtaropoulos/GettyImages

Scholes ranks among the greatest midfielders ever / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

Everyone wanted their own Eric Cantona / Getty Images/GettyImages

Law is one of United’s greatest ever goalscorers / Keystone/GettyImages