Starting today, we will be coming up with a series of articles comprising of the best 11 players to have ever played for a particluar club. We kick things off with Manchester United’s greatest XI ever and picking the team was very hard.  So many legends were produced by this great club and it was a tough choice to leave out some notable names.

 

Goal Keeper : Peter  Schmeichel 

Fortunately, this was an easy  and straight forward pick. One of the greatest goal keepers to ever play the game, “The Great Dane” made 398 appearances for United (1991-99) and even netted one goal. Schmeichel was more than just a stopper of balls – he was an icon. With his titanic physique, commanding presence and brilliant reflexes he was the pillar of Manchester United for nearly a decade. In 1992 and 1993 he was voted best goalkeeper in the world, and in 1999 he captained Manchester United to a Champions League triumph.

Notable Miss Outs : Van Der Saar

 

Left Back – Roger Byrne

Manchester United’s captain for much of the 1950′s, he was set to captain England, too, in the 1958 World Cup – before the Munich air disaster claimed his life. Byrne was a leader in the field, who mastered multiple positions – from left winger to right back. But as left back he played most of his games. In addition to his leadership, he had pace, intelligence, and an incredible work ethic.

Notable Miss Outs : Patrice Evra,Dennis Irwin. 

Center back – Steve Bruce

 

Steve Bruce was never the most glamorous of centre backs compared with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Jap Stam, but he was successful and led the side to the Double in two of his three seasons as captain. Remarkably never capped by England, Bruce formed a formidable partnership in central defence with Gary Pallister, as well as providing an attacking threat, scoring a remarkable 19 goals in the 1990-91 season.

Notable Miss Outs : Bill Foulkes 

Centre Back – Nemanja Vidic

To most, Nemanja Vidic was an unknown figure when Ferguson purchased him in the summer of 2006. But his name, and his assertive no-nonsense defending style won’t be forgotten any time soon. Since his arrival, Manchester United have won four Premier Leagues and played in three different Champions League finals. How crucial a role Vidic has played in these successes is evidenced by the fact that he has twice been elected Barclays Premier League Player of the Year. An excellent achievement for a defender. He still has a huge role left to play for United in the future. He gets the nod over Ferdinand and Stam.

Notable Miss Outs : Rio Ferdinand 

Right Back : Gary Neville

Man Utd have never had world class full backs.  Weird right backs and steady left backs.  And so by default right back goes to Gary Neville.  Gary Neville can hardly be called a genius, a maestro or a rock. But his longevity and consistency can’t be overlooked. With 85 caps for England and over 100 Champions League games,he amassed a staggering 602 matches for Manchester United.

Notable Miss Outs : Duncan Edwards,Irvine

Left Winger : Ryan Giggs 

Possibly the most decorated player in the history of domestic football, with 10 League medals, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues amongst others. Ronaldo is a better player right now than Giggs has ever been. He is faster, more skilled, more dominant, has a better shot and scores much more goals. But when we look at just his time at Manchester United, Ronaldo had only one truly great season. Contrast this with Giggs, who has had twenty-one consistently good seasons. Little needs to be said about Giggs, who will always be remembered as a United legend.

Notable Miss Outs : Cristiano Ronaldo

Center Midfield :  Paul Scholes 

Scholes is one of the last of a dying breed of players who do all of their talking on the field. His strike of the ball with his right foot is possibly the most ferocious of all modern footballers, as most of the Premier League has found out the hard way. Almost as decorated as Giggs, with eight League titles, three FA Cups and two CLs.

Notable Miss Outs : Duncan Edwards,Robson

Central Attacking Midfielder : Sir Bobby Charlton 

The Greatest United Player EVER?? Probably yes. The first of the Holy Trinity. The statistics for Bobby Charlton are just unbeatable, 758′s official games played, 249 goals scored and a long, long list of individual honours (the Ballon d’Or among them), there is no question that he is the best English player in history, and he put all his talent in the service of Manchester United, for 17 long seasons.  Again, he had pace, could pass, and clearly scores goals.  Watch the old games, he always seemed to have space.

 

Right Winger – George Best

 “Maradona good, Pele better, George Best.”

Sorry folks, if you expected to see your personal favorite Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo, you will have to be disappointed. 

Georgie Best was completely two footed.  No-one knows which his natural side is.  This means the manager had the luxury of playing him on either wing and switch him in a match.

Manchester United has had its fair share of quality wingers, and none so good as George Best. By himself he dribbled past way more defenders than Beckham, Ronaldo and Giggs combined. His incredible balance and agility allowed him to run circles around opponents at will. A winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1968, he merits this place more than anyone else. David Beckham may have been a better crosser, but Best was the superior player in all other respects. Part of the Holy Trinity. 

 Notable Miss Outs : David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo

Supporting/Second Striker : Eric Cantona

Eric the King single handedly won United games and trophies with his crucial, and often genius, match-deciding goals. His technique, vision, power and speed, combined with his ability to find the net when it really mattered made Cantona the number one player at Man Utd for several years. Deservedly voted Premier League Player of the Year on two different occassasions.  

Cantona was more than just a footballer. A generation of boys in Europe grew up putting their collar up. Because Cantona did it. The man who defined style. It will take at least 2 years of brilliance from Wayne Rooney to make it to the all time team, but with the arrival of Van Persie, it looks bleak.

Notable Miss Outs : Wayne Rooney 

Striker : Denis Law

The final man of the Holy Trinity. The only Scottish player to ever win the Ballon d’Or, Denis Law is United’s best striker in history. Nobody except Bobby Charlton has scored more goals for the Red Devils than Denis Law. Indeed, Law’s goals were as crucial to the success of United in the 1960′s as anything Best and Charlton did.Had Ruud van Nistelrooy played a few more years for United, he might have won this spot.

Notable Miss Outs : Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Manager : Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby

Can’t make a call..You Decide!!

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