Manchester United’s Greatest Premier League XI

There is no doubt that Manchester United are the most successful team in the Premier League. While the Red Devils didn’t have the greatest season last time around, they have been the most consistent side in the history of the Premier League, winning it 13 times in its relatively short history. Over the last two decades or so, not only have the Red Devils won the League on a consistent basis, they have also produced some of the finest players in the country.From Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel at the start of the Premier League to the more recent Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo or the ever-present Ryan Giggs, Manchester United have had some truly world-class players to have played for them. So picking their greatest ever Premier League XI is arguably one of the toughest tasks, when compared with other teams. Some of my decisions might be termed as contentious, while some others might be termed as nailed on certainties. In any case, here is my Manchester United Greatest Premier League XI in their traditional 4-4-2 formation.DISCLAIMER: The views expressed here are the author's and are not endorsed by Sportskeeda in any way.

#1 Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel

Signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for £530,000 in 1991, the Danish shot-stopper went onto win 10 trophies in his eight-year stint with the club, a haul which included five FA Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and one UEFA Champions League. Tall, agile and possessing almost inhuman reflexes, it is no wonder the Scot described his signature as the bargain of the century.

The Great Dane is without a doubt, not just the best keeper to have played for Manchester United, but is also the greatest keeper in the history of the Premier League. His reflex save from a John Barnes header against Newcastle United in January 1997 also earned him a “Save of the Decade Award” from the Premier League. His performances in the early 90’s was one of the main reasons why the club were so dominant as he gave the side the perfect platform on which to build their brilliant brand of attacking football.

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#2 Right back: Gary Neville

Sir Alex Ferguson called Gary Neville “the best right back of his generation”. Few can argue with his judgement as the Englishman showed that hard work and determination are key to success at the highest level. He was an integral member of the Class of 92, and went onto win 17 major trophies in his 19 years with the club. One of the few one-club men in the modern game, Neville even captained the side with distinction for six years.

Although Gary Neville was a very limited footballer in terms of what he could do, what the Englishman did show was how much passion, resolve and a will to win are often more important than any natural talent that you possess. Whether it was making crunching tackles, timing his recovery runs or whipping in a delightful cross, Neville made the most of his ability and that is why he is without a doubt, the greatest full back in the club’s illustrious history.

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#3 Centre back: Rio Ferdinand

Arguably a slightly contentious call, Rio Ferdinand only gets the nod over Jaap Stam by virtue of being there for a lot longer than the Dutchman and demonstrating his class throughout his time at the club. When was signed by Manchester United in 2002, he became the world’s most expensive defender and thanks to his displays in the subsequent decade, he was able to more than repay the club.

Vidic’s partner-in-crime, Rio is often described as a “Rolls-Royce defender” for the effortless ease with which he not only brings the ball out from the back, but also pinches it from opposing attackers. His partnership with Vidic was arguably one of the best in the Premier League, with Vidic being the brawn and the Englishman being the brains of a defence that at one time kept a Premier League record 14 consecutive clean sheets.

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#4 Centre back: Nemanja Vidic

Signed in January 2006 from Spartak Moscow, the Serbian centre half went onto to prove that signings in January aren’t always bad and expensive. Although his last three seasons with the club were plagued by injury, his first six were the stuff of legends. Not only did he win nine trophies in his first five full seasons at the club, but he was a man-mountain in defence, an impenetrable rock, who couldn’t be bullied or beaten.

Strong in the air, full-blooded in his tackles and always a threat from set-pieces, you can see why Vidic is spoken of, as one of the finest centre backs to have ever played for the club. If there was one player, one defender, who embodied the “thou shall not pass” philosophy of defending, then it was this Serbian centre half who never gave the opposition attackers an inch.

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#5 Left back: Denis Irwin

Patrice Evra’s declining form over the past 18 months meant that he loses out on the left back slot to Denis Irwin. Even without that, it is difficult to see beyond Irwin for the left back slot. After all, this is a player who has made over 500 appearances for the Red Devils including 296 Premier League appearances and has won a total of 15 major honours in his 12 years at the club.

Signed for just £625,000 from Oldham Athletic back in 1990, Irwin might just be, pound-for-pound, Ferguson’s best-ever signing. A left back, who was comfortable even on the right side, Irwin was consistency personified. Not only was he brilliant in defence, but he was also adept at taking free kicks and penalties. It says a lot that he was still the club’s first choice left-back in his mid-30’s and that sort of consistency is precisely why this Irishman from Cork, deserves his place in this side.

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#6 Right winger: Cristiano Ronaldo

Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo played more on the left wing. Yes, David Beckham would’ve been the more obvious choice. But, it is hard to look beyond the two-time Ballon d’Or, when it comes to a spot on the right wing. His six years at the club, didn’t really get off to the greatest of starts, but when he finally got going, he couldn’t be stopped.

The Portuguese national could shoot, dribble, cross, provide a killer pass, in short he could do it all. He was good inside the box, wonderful outside the box, great in the air and was a threat from set-pieces, especially when he was taking them. Ronaldo was in short, the perfect attacker. It is no wonder Ferguson let the Portuguese winger be, for there are few in the world better at intimidating an opposing defender than him.

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#7 Central midfielder: Paul Scholes

Quiet, unassuming and a man of few words, if there ever was a player who simply let his feet do the talking, it was Paul Scholes. The Englishman was without a doubt, the most technically gifted midfielder of his generation and his eye for a pass is second to none. Whether it is spraying a delightful 60-yard cross-field ball, or precise slide rule pass or a delicate dink over the defence for the attacker to latch onto, Scholes could do it all.

Not only that, he had a thunderous right foot, which gave the fans some memorable goals to cheer about for decades to come. While he might not have been the greatest tackler and was clumsy whenever he tried to tackle, that was one of the few things that the Englishman could not do. After all, if you sit third on the all-time leading appearance makers and 10th on the list of all-time leading goal scorers for Manchester United, you ought to be half-decent, right?

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#8 Central midfielder: Roy Keane

Football is a team game. For all the talent individual players might have, if they don’t click together then they are unlikely to be successful. For that to happen, there must be a leader, who leads them into battle and takes every game by the scruff of its neck. Manchester United in the early 90’s had a talented bunch of players, but if there was one player who made them successful, it was Roy Keane, the club’s most-decorated captain.

Signed by the club in 1993, in what was-then a British transfer record, Roy Keane repaid the club in full and then some. If you need a example of a leader on a football pitch, you need look no further than the Irishman. A player who was ruthless in his determination to succeed and who would give it his all to ensure that his team is victorious, Keane was the player every team would want. While his aggression was criticised by some, it was precisely that which made him the player he was. If you went into war, you’d want Roy Keane on your side, for he was that sort of player.

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#9 Left winger: Ryan Giggs

What can be said about Ryan Giggs that hasn’t been said already? He is the most decorated British player of all-time. He has won a staggering 25 major honours and finished as the club’s all-time leading appearance maker with 963 games. If his pace and driblling defined his first decade as a Manchester United player, it was his intelligence and passing that was a hall mark of his play towards the end of his career.

Giggs was the embodiment of Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. When Giggs realised that he couldn’t tear down the wings like he used, instead of wilting away, he made use of his footballing brain to reinvent himself as a central midfielder. Versatile, vivacious and victorious in everything he did, it might be fair to say that Giggs might just be the club’s greatest ever player.

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#10 Striker: Wayne Rooney

Rooney might not have had the best of relationships with the fans of late, but there is no denying the fact that he has been one of the most consistent performers in a Red shirt, since he signed for the club back in 2004 as the world’s most-expensive teenager.

Currently third on the list of all-time leading goal scorers for the club, Rooney is also one of only three Manchester United players to have scored over 100 Premier League goals and is currently fourth on the list of most Premier League goals with 173.

Rooney’s record as a goal scorer is even more impressive considering the fact that he has often had to play second-fiddle during his time at the club. It is not just his goals, but his overall contribution to the game, is akin to Roy Keane in that without him, the team seems to lose a lot more than it wins.

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#11 Striker: Eric Cantona

One of the main reasons why Manchester United are where they are at the moment is thanks to Eric Cantona. For, if there was one player, who single-handedly changed the destiny of an entire football club, it was Cantona. Although “King Eric”, as he is affectionately known by the fans was only there with the club for five years, his impact is still felt to this day.

Before his arrival, the club were struggling for goals, something which cost them the League the previous year. Until he came, familiar failings were haunting, but soon after he made his debut, Cantona became an integral part of the team that won the inaugural Premier League by a whopping 10 points.

It was not just his charisma, but also the winning mentality that he brought with him that transformed the club from one that came close to winning things, to one that became perennial winners. During his five years, Cantona scored some memorable goals and helped create memories that are unlikely to be forgotten any time soon by a Red Devil.

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