20. Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001-2006)
One of the most prolific strikers to play for United, Dutchman van Nistelrooy’s goal-scoring exploits earned him 11th place in the club’s all-time top scorers list. And that was in just five seasons – a decade at the club with a similar games-to-goals ratio would have seen him comfortably top that chart.
Van Nistelrooy started life as a central midfield but was moved up front by his first professional club, Den Bosch. He then spent a year at Heerenveen before three at PSV Eindhoven, where he scored a ridiculous 62 goals in 67 matches. Fast, strong and with an opportunist’s eye for the goal, he was a lethal finisher.
19. Bill Foulkes (1950-1970)
Foulkes was the archetypal stopper; a big, rugged man who played at the centre of defence and for who the phrase ‘none shall pass’ might have been coined. Fourth on the all-time appearances record with 688, he was discovered at 18 playing for Whiston Boys’ Club.
Born in St Helens, both his father and grandfather had played rugby league for their hometown club. Not convinced he was good enough to play football professionally, Foulkes continued to work part-time as a miner, only stopping after winning his first (and ironically only) England cap.
Powerful in the air and solid on the ground, Foulkes was a fitness fanatic who worked hard on his game but remained resolutely low profile throughout his 20-year career.
18. Denis Irwin (1990-2002)
Vying with Roger Byrne for the title of United’s best left-back, Irwin might have been an understated player, but his team certainly appreciated the value he brought to the side.
Winner of seven league titles, together with three FA Cups, a League Cup, a Champions League and a Cup Winners’ Cup, Irwin boasts an impressive haul of trophies.
He made a huge impact playing for Oldham Athletic, helping the team reach the final of the League Cup and semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1990. United somehow acquired him for only £625,000, an absolute steal for a man who would go on to make 368 appearances.
17. Tommy Taylor (1953-1958)
How good might Taylor have become? It’s impossible to say for certain, but in his 191 games for United he scored 131 goals, and for England he scored 16 goals in 19 games.
As Taylor was only 26 when he died at Munich, he could easily have played another four or five years at the highest level, and if he had maintained a similar strike rate he would have been the club’s all-time leading scorer.
A big, physically imposing man, Taylor had a bullet header and a physical approach that – like many of the best strikers – intimidated defenders. A Barnsley boy, Taylor was wanted by many of the big clubs, but Matt Busby got him in March 1953 for the sum of £29,999.
16. Roger Byrne (1951-1958)
Byrne was naturally right-sided, but his work rate and footballing intelligence in terms of positioning was such that he could play in a number of different positions, including wing-half and outside left.
But it was as a left-back that he made his name with United – and England. United scout Joe Armstrong saw something in him, and he was offered first amateur, and soon after, professional terms. He had charisma and leadership potential, and the Busby Babes would follow their team captain wherever he asked them to go.
In the ensuing seven seasons he played 245 times for the club. He also played 33 consecutive matches for his country, appearing in every England fixture from his first call-up against Scotland in April 1954 to the 4-0 win over France in November 1957.
15. Gary Neville (1992-2011)
Neville was United through and through, from his days as a youngster on the terraces to his one-club professional career with 400 appearances. A tenacious right-back, Neville was recognised for his hard work and his professionalism, with his lack of natural flair occasionally leading observers to overlook his consistency and solid dependability.
He ploughed the furrow up and down the right flank for years, often giving his friend Beckham room to manoeuvre. He did the same for England, winning 85 caps and being described by Ferguson as the “best English right-back of his generation”.
A commanding presence on and off the pitch, Neville was a born leader and the sort of player fans of opposing teams love to hate. It’s a measure of his tactical ability that a decade after his retirement he is now recognised as one of the most astute analysts of the game in media.
14. David Beckham (1993-2003)
Fittingly, Becks sits right in front of Neville, as he did so many times for United and England. In more recent times it seems to have become acceptable to be overly critical of Beckham – whether for his fashion sense, celebrity wife or good looks.
But make no mistake, Beckham was a very serious footballer, a relentless trainer who supplemented his god-given skill at striking a dead ball – from corners and free kicks – with a range of passing and crossing that had few equals.
His career took off after he scored from his own half against Wimbledon in August 1996. He earned 115 England caps.
11. Rio Ferdinand (2002-2014)
We perhaps underrated Rio when he was at the club; everyone acknowledged his speed and skill, his positional sense was superb, his timing immaculate and his discipline impeccable.
But still there was a sense that he was just doing what good defenders do, mopping up at the back and giving the defence an air of solidity, possibly because he seemed more European in style than English, being comfortable in possession and calm about playing out from the back, either through distribution or his own running.
But he very rarely made a mistake in his prime years, and when he did he had the speed to make a recovery tackle. Ferdinand went to the West Ham youth academy then into the first team there before moving to Leeds United in November 2000.
Two seasons later he joined United for a fee of £30 million. He’s now recognised as one of the all-time great defenders for club (over 300 appearances) and country (81 caps).
12. Roy Keane (1993-2005)
Every top club needs a Keane, a midfield enforcer who won’t shy away from confrontations and breaks up opposition attacks by fair means or foul. Keane certainly wasn’t averse to fouls, and his fierce temper was never far from erupting, but he was an essential player for United.
Born in a suburb of Cork, Keane started his career at semi-professional club Cobh Ramblers before being spotted by Nottingham Forest, who he represented for three seasons.
Upon Forest’s relegation, Keane activated a break clause in his contract; he was all set to sign for Blackburn Rovers until a last-minute swoop by Ferguson saw him go to Old Trafford for a record £3.75 million. Keane could never stay away from controversy for long, but his blood and thunder approach remained popular.
11. Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-2009, 2021-2022)
The best player to have played for United, the sole reason he doesn’t feature higher up is that most of his best years were played elsewhere. One of the fastest men in football, Ronaldo can dribble and perform a huge array of tricks at speed, in particular a bewildering number of step overs.
He’s also strong in the air, boasting a hang time that appears to defy gravity. CR7 has always been a showman, leading to accusations of arrogance, but he’s won the league and cup in England, Spain and Italy.
Records include most appearances (182) and most goals (140) in the Champions League, most goals in the European Championship (14) and most international goals (115) and international appearances for a major nation (184).
