By 90min | Created at 2024-12-25 03:34:15 | Updated at 2024-12-25 16:37:01
13 hours ago
"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
24. Mark Hughes
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
22. Bill Foulkes
#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, 2015Van de Sar ended his career in Manchester / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages
20. Nemanja Vidic
Vidic was a tremendous partner for Ferdinand / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
Few Premier League defenders have profiled like Ferdinand / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages
18. Ruud van Nistelrooy
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
16. Denis Irwin
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
14. Roger Byrne
Roger Byrne, aged 28. Club captain, England international and a rock-solid defender. #flowersofmanchester pic.twitter.com/HGiT9LQpNt
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2014Beckham became a global icon / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
12. Peter Schmeichel
Schmeichel is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time / Ben Radford/GettyImages
Rooney is United's all-time leading scorer / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages
10. Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor, aged 26. Legendary striker for #mufc & England with an astounding scoring record. #flowersofmanchester pic.twitter.com/cswy1jFXcl
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 6, 2014Keane guided United through an immensely successful period / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
8. Bryan Robson
The greatest Man Utd captain / Getty Images/GettyImages
Giggs was a timeless performer well into his twilight / Dean Mouhtaropoulos/GettyImages
6. Paul Scholes
Scholes ranks among the greatest midfielders ever / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages
Everyone wanted their own Eric Cantona / Getty Images/GettyImages
4. Denis Law
Law is one of United's greatest ever goalscorers / Keystone/GettyImages
2. George Best
Best was a magician with the ball at his feet / Evening Standard/GettyImages
Sir Bobby Charlton presented with the Balon d’Or at Old Trafford (1967) #MUFC pic.twitter.com/YfsKobrNP1
— 🇾🇪 (@ManUtdHeritage) April 8, 2022
