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Manchester United Legends This is not intended as a definitive list of Manchester United legends, as the subjective nature of such a list means it is bound to fail. Rather it should be considered a list of great players (and managers) who have represented Manchester United in the past. Current players are not included. Your favourite Manchester United player not on the list?
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A tall commanding player, dominant in the air and with a powerful shot in either foot, strong tackling and immense stamina. Edwards signed for United in June 1952 and turned professional the following year. He made his debut on 4 April 1953 and helped United to two league titles in 1956 and 1957. He was capped by England at 18 and gained 18 caps in his short career. Duncan Edwards was tragically killed in the Munich air disaster on 21 February 1958, aged just 21. Those who saw him play believe that this Manchester United legend would have gone on to become the greatest British player ever.
Arguably an even greater Manchester United legend than Alex Ferguson, Busby spent his playing career at their two greatest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City. Appointed United manager in 1945, he led the side to second place in 1947, and they were runners-up again in 1948, 1949 and 1951, before finally lifting the title in 1952. With the side aging, Busby introduced a number of youngsters who became known as the "Busby Babes", and won the league title in 1956 and 1957. Tragically, seven of those players were to lose their lives in the Munich air disaster the following year. Busby set about building a new side around the Munich survivors and a number of notable recruits including Denis Law and George Best. This team went on to win two further titles, an FA Cup and most notably the European Cup in 1968, for which Busby earned a knighthood. The following year he retired as manager, although he had a brief spell as caretaker in 1970/71. Matt Busby died of cancer in 1994.
Charlton signed for United in 1953 and would spend the next 17 years at Old Trafford, establishing appearance and goalscoring records for both club and country. A member of the "Busby Babes" who survived the Munich air disaster, he was also a key member of the great sixties line-up featuring the classic Charlton-Best-Law axis. He won three league titles and an FA Cup with United and also captained the club to their first European triumph, the European Cup, in 1968. Charlton was a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team. He left United in 1973 and had spells with Preston North End and Waterford United before retiring. A true Manchester United legend who continues to serve the club as a director.
Arguably the most talented British footballer ever, Best was a winger with pace, balance, dribbling skills and the ability to score goals with either foot. He made his debut for United in 1963, aged just 17, and the following year won the League title. Another title followed in 1967, but perhaps his greatest achievement was the European Cup triumph in 1968, illuminated by his wonderful solo goal. Manchester United legend Best was top scorer for six consecutive seasons. In all he made 470 appearances for the club, scoring 179 goals. But his extravagant lifestyle, and problems with alcoholism curtailed his career. He left United in 1974, aged 27, and thereafter drifted between clubs, with spells in England, the U.S. and Australia. George Best died in November 2005. Over 100 000 people attended his funeral.
United signed Law from Italian club Torino in 1962 for a then record transfer fee of 115 000 pounds. In all he spent 11 years at the club making 404 appearances and scoring 237 times. As the third member of the famed Charlton-Best-Law axis, he was instrumental in United's 1965 and 1967 league triumphs, but missed the 1968 European Cup win due to injury. He left United to join rivals Manchester City in 1973, and famously scored the goal which relegated United in 1974.
A tireless midfielder with great passing, heading, and tackling ability. Robson overcame a catalogue of serious injuries during his career to establish himself as one of United's all time greats. He joined the club from West Bromwich Albion in 1981 and went on to lead the club to three FA Cups, a League Cup (although he missed the final due to injury), and the European Cup Winner's Cup. In 1992/93, the first year of the Premier League he played 15 games in United's title win to finally gain a coveted league winners medal. He left United for a player manager role at Middlesbrough in 1994.
Steve Bruce
A strong dominating center half whose partnership with Gary Pallister formed the foundation of the United side which won the title in 1993, 1994 and 1996. Bruce signed from Norwich City in 1987 and was appointed club captain in 1991. In addition to the league triumphs he helped United to 3 FA Cups (1990, 1994 and 1996 - although he didn't play in the 1996 final), the Cup Winners Cup (1991) and the League Cup (1992). Inexplicably, despite his success at club level, this Manchester United legend never won a full England cap. He is considered one of the best defenders never to have done so. He joined Birmingham City in 1996 and later moved into management.
Affectionately known as Sparky to the Old Trafford faithful, Hughes was a powerful striker with a knack for scoring spectacular goals. He joined the club in 1980 and made a scoring debut against Oxford United in the 1983/84 season. In 1985, he helped United to an FA Cup triumph over Everton. He was surprisingly sold to Barcelona in 1986, but failed to settle in Spain and after a brief spell at Bayern Munich he returned to Old Trafford in 1988. His second spell at United saw him win 2 league titles, 2 FA Cups, the League Cup and the Cup Winners Cup. The Manchester United legend joined his boyhood idols Chelsea in 1995. He went on to win 3 major trophies with the Blues before spells at Southampton, Everton and Blackburn. He had a spell as Wales national coach before moving into club management with Blackburn in 2004.
The brilliant Frenchman is often credited as being the spark behind United's resurgence in the early nineties. Joining from Leeds United where he had just won the League title, Cantona quickly established himself as a firm crowd favourite. During his five years at the club United won four league titles including two league and cup doubles (the only season in which they did not win the title was 1995, when Cantona served an extended ban for an attack on a Crystal Palace fan). Cantona retired from football in 1997, and currently works as an actor. In 2001, United fans voted this Manchester United Legend their "player of the century".
A Manchester United legend generally considered to be the greatest keeper ever to represent the club. Schmeichel signed from Bronby in 1991, for 530 000 pounds (a price later described by manager Alex Ferguson as the "bargain of the century"). He spent eight years at the club, winning 5 league titles, three FA Cups, the League Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. In 1992, he won the European Championship with Denmark, and in 1992 and 1993, he was voted "World's Best Goalkeeper". Schmeichel left United for Sporting Lisbon after the 1999 treble winning season. He later returned to England for brief spells at Aston Villa and Manchester City.
A dominating and highly combative midfielder, Keane signed from Nottingham Forest in 1993 and was club captain from 1997 until his departure in 2005. Keane's tenure coincided with the greatest period of success in United's history during which they won 7 league titles, 4 FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League. An ultra competitive player Keane was involved in a number of controversies during his United career including run-ins with the board and criticism of his fellow players. None-the-less, he remains the clubs most successful captain ever, and one of the greatest Manchester United legends. He quit United in 2005, and spent six months with Celtic, before becoming manager of Sunderland.
The most successful manager in the history of English football, Ferguson is a true Manchester United legend. He joined United from Aberdeen in 1986, but his early years were hardly distinguished and it is thought that he was on the verge of being fired in 1990. However, United won the FA Cup that year and thereafter embarked on the most successful era in the club's history - 10 league titles, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, the Cup Winners Cup and 2 UEFA Champions league trophies followed as United re-established themselves as the powerhouse of English football. There were 2 League and Cup doubles and an unprecedented League, Cup and Champions League treble. Ferguson was knighted for his services to football in 1999. Want to add a Man United player to our Legends list?If your favourite Manchester United player hasn't made it onto our list, he's your chance to make your case for inclusion. Other Visitors ContributionsClick below to see which players other visitors have added...
Christiano Ronaldo
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Duncan Edwards
Matt Busby
Bobby Charlton
George Best
Denis Law
Bryan Robson
Mark Hughes
Eric Cantona
Peter Schmeichel
Roy Keane
Alex Ferguson
