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The Manchester United Red Devils are the most successful football club in England. The club traces its roots to 1878 when it was founded as the Newton Heath LYR Football Club. In 1902, the team changed its name to Manchester United and in 1910, they relocated to their current home stadium in Old Trafford in Manchester.
The Red Devils are the first English team to accomplish the “treble”, that is winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Overall Manchester United has won a total of 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups and 5 League Cups. They are also the winners of a record 21 FA Community Shields, 3 European Cups, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Winners Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 UEFA Europa League, and one Intercontinental Cup.
These titles wouldn’t have been possible without the players who represented Manchester United over the years There are too many to mention but we picked the 10 best Red Devils players of all-time.
10. Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time. Not even a rocket would have gotten past him nor could a butterfly pass the net without him catching it first. Born in Copenhagen, Schmeichel was famous for his imposing figure and his custom-made XXXL shirts. He was the IFFHS’ Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992 and 1993 and was also named as one of the Top 10 Goalkeepers of the 20th century. He was the goalkeeper of Manchester United’s 1999 UEFA Champions League squad which won the title and gave the Red Devils their much coveted “treble”. While playing for Manchester United, Schmeichel won 5 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League title, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Football League Cup, and 4 FA Shields.
9. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is the most decorated football player from England with 25 trophies including 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies. Scholes was one of the most complete midfielders of all-time and he played his entire football career with the Red Devils. He was such an accurate and controlled passer that he could hit any pass in the world. He also had excellent composure with the ball, a killer’s mentality, a great worth ethic and a keen eye for the goal. Sir Bobby Charlton once said that Scholes is “a beautiful player to watch” while Pep Guardiola said he was the “best midfielder of his generation”. Even Zinedine Zidane called him the “the toughest opponent” he’s ever faced. Scholes also played for the English National team from 1997-2004, earning a total of 66 caps while playing in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup.
8. David Beckham
David Beckham is the most popular football player the sport has ever known. But while most of us know Beckham as merely an ambassador of the sport and a cultural icon of the game, Beckham also had the most dreaded free kicks in the game and one of the most feared corner kicks in the business. Beckham had a wand of a right foot that produced countless assists from open and set plays. Becks made his Manchester United first team debut at the age of 17. He won 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and 1 UEFA Champions League with Manchester United. He is the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, France, Spain, and the United States.
7. Roy Keane
Roy Keane is the most successful Irish football player in history. He won a total of 19 major titles overall including 17 during his dozen years tenure with Manchester United. After Eric Cantona’s surprise retirement in 1997, Keane took over the captaincy and he was captain when the Red Devils won the treble in 1999. His success story with Manchester United included 7 Premier League titles, 4. FA Cups,1 UEFA Champions League, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 4 FA Shields. Keane was the FWA Football of the Year and the PFA Players Player of the Year in 2000. Off the field, he wasn’t afraid to speak his thoughts and demanded excellence from everybody around him.
6. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona was popular for his upturned collar which led to him being affectionately called “King Eric” by Red Devils’ fans. Not only was he physically strong, but he was also very technically sound and creative on the pitch. Cantona played with style, passion, and genius. Even if he played for the Red Devils in such a short period of time, he made a huge impact as he played a big role in Manchester United’s return to prominence during the 1990s. When he left, he had won 4 Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three charity shields. Cantona was the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 1994 and was the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1996.
5. Wayne Rooney
There were always doubts about his loyalty but no one can question Wayne Rooney’s abilities as a football player. His knack to find the net was incredible. Rooney isn’t just England’s top-goalscorer, he is also Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer after passing the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton. Rooney holds the Premier League record for most goals in one club and is the Premier League’s second-leading scorer of all-time. His Manchester United trophy case includes 5 Premier League championships, 3 Football League Cups, 1 FA Cup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Europa League, and 4 FA Community Shields.
4.Dennis Law
Dennis Law was more than just a goal-scoring machine. His ability to handle the ball was a spectacle to behold as he possessed the passing and dribbling of a top-level. A part of the “Manchester holy trinity”, he is the third leading goal scorer in Red Devils history behind Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton. He still holds the Manchester United record of 43 goals in a single season, which he set in 1963-64 and is the only Scottish player to win the coveted Ballon d’Or. Law helped Manchester United to two Football League First Division titles, 1 FA Cup, 1 European Cup, and 2 Charity Shields. Law was named as part of the Football League 100 Legends in 1974 and named to the PFA Team of the Century in 2007.
3. George Best
For all his abilities on the football pitch, George Best had the perfect surname. His brazenness with the football made it appear like it was glued to his shoe. He also owned the technical ability which other footballers could only dream of. He was dubbed as the “Greatest football player to ever don the green colors of Northern Ireland”. He won two Football First League Division titles, 1 European Cup and 2 Charity Shields with Manchester United. In 1968, he was the top scorer for the Football League First Division and was also the FWA Football of the Year during the same season. Best ranked 8th in the World Soccer Greatest Players of the 20th Century.
2. Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs started his career as a winger but was a regular at midfield and later in his career, was a manager in the making. In between those roles, he became the most decorated football player in history with 34 trophies won. Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, 4 Football League Club titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 UEFA Champions League titles, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup and 9 Community League Shields. Giggs played a total of 923 games in 23 seasons with Manchester United. He will forever be remembered for that goal against Arsenal which sent the Red Devils on their way to completing the 1999 treble.
1. Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby Charlton is the original Manchester United legend and his story even makes him greater as he overcame tragedy to become the greatest Red Devil of all-time. Sixteen months after his Manchester United debut, he lost 8 of his teammates in the Munich air tragedy. Despite that horrific experience, he would go on to score 249 goals in 758 games with the Red Devils. He was Manchester United’s leading goal scorer until Wayne Rooney broke his record. Despite that, the name Bobby Charlton will always be mentioned next to Manchester United. Charlton won the Ballon d’Or in 1966, the same year when he won his only World Cup. He led Manchester United to three Football League First Division titles as well as 1 FA Cup, 1 European Cup, and 4 Charity Shields. Charlton was the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1966 and was a member of the FIFA World Cup All-Star teams in 1966 and 1970.
