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Manchester United have had a number of illustrious players over the years in the form of the Busby Babes and the Class of 92. These home grown players helped the club to numerous laurels and will never be forgotten by the Old Trafford faithful.Besides the homegrown players and players from the British Isles,there have been many who were an integral part of the club for quite some time. Here are 5 foreign players who carved a niche for themselves at the Theatre Of Dreams.Honourable mentions: Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, Dwight Yorke
#5 Jaap Stam
Sir Alex Ferguson made Stam the most expensive defender in the world when he paid £10.6 million for the Dutchman’s services back in 1998 from Eredivisie club PSV. Stam repaid his manager's faith in him and soon evolved into one of the best centre-backs on the planet. The defender became a key part of the United set up helping them win six trophies including the famous treble in 1999.
The bald centre back became a fan favourite at Old Trafford and the supporters continuously chanted “Get Past Him If You Can” in the Dutchman’s honour. Stam was another player who’s United career ended too soon due to a disagreement with Sir Alex. The Scot was miffed with Stam after the defender made comments about opposing players and how he signed for Manchester United without PSV's permission in his autobiography Head To Head.
Stam was subsequently sold to Italian club Lazio for an enormous £16.5 million but Sir Alex stated that selling Stam was one of his biggest errors as a manager. Nevertheless Stam will go down as one of United’s greatest ever defenders.
#4 Ruud Van Nistelrooy
It took Sir Alex Ferguson a year to capture Ruud Van Nistelrooy but the Dutchman showed everyone that he was worth the wait. The striker fired 36 goals in all competitions – fully justifying his £19 million fee. Van Nistelrooy continued his scorching form into the next season hitting 44 goals including three hat-tricks and won his first Premier League in the process.
The striker also achieved success on the personal front and won numerous awards like the Champions League Most Valuable striker, Sir Matt Busby Player Of the Year for two consecutive seasons, UEFA Club Forward of the Year and the PFA Player of the Year and is the third highest scorer in the Champions Leagues history with 56 goals.
Van Nistelrooy’s time at Manchester United ended prematurely after a rift with Sir Alex Ferguson but he left the fans with many fond memories of his time at Old Trafford. The striker manager to hit an astonishing 150 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils and remains the club’s all time European top scorer with 38 goals.
#3 Peter Schmeichel
The Great Dane was signed by United from Danish club Brondby for a paltry sum of £505,000 in 1991, which was described as the “bargain of the century” by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Schmeichel kept 22 clean sheets in the 1992-1993 season and helped United win their first League title in 26 years along with being voted as the World’s Best Goalkeeper for two consecutive years. The Dane pulled off some of the most remarkable saves seen, and commanded his penalty box very well.
The goalkeeper won 15 trophies at United before he left United for Sporting Lisbon in 1999. Schmeichel’s last game in a United shirt was in the memorable Champions League final match against Bayern Munich where his team performed one of the most dramatic comebacks in the competitions history. That victory helped them win the Treble in 1999- truly a fairytale ending for the great keeper.
Such was Schmeichel’s impact at United that it took the club 6 years and 10 goalkeepers before he could be replaced effectively. A list of United’s best foreign players cannot be complete without Schmeichel - who was truly a keeper who could fly.
#2 Eric Cantona
Manchester United fans still have fond memories of the maverick Frenchman and continue to chant his name at Old Trafford. In 1992 Manchester United desperately needed a striker as Mark Hughes and Brian McClair weren’t playing their best football. A chance phone call from Leeds United chairman Bill Fotherby led Sir Alex to sign Cantona from Leeds for a sum of £1.2 million. Cantona hit the ground running and managed to score 11 goals in his 1st season at the club, which helped cement his status as one of the most lethal strikers in the newly formed Premier League.
King Eric, who also wore the famous number 7 shirt for the Red Devils, fired United to four Premier League titles in 5 years and won the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful in the process. Cantona was not only known for his lethal finishing but also his ability to create chances for his teammates and find space to score goals from the most unexpected of positions.
The only disadvantage with the striker was his hot temper ( Remember that famous kung-fu kick?) , which earned him an eight month ban from football and almost caused him to quit Manchester United.
In spite of his misgivings it was Cantona who gave the club its first taste of major success under Sir Alex, who considers the Frenchman one of his greatest signings.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
In the summer of 2003, during a match against Sporting Lisbon, Sir Alex Ferguson saw a Portuguese teenager toy with the Manchester United players as if they were amateurs. A couple of months later the boy, who answered to the name Cristiano Ronaldo, was signed by Manchester United for a sum of £12.24 million and the rest as they say was history.
Ronaldo, now wearing the legendary number 7 shirt, scored his first goal from a beautiful free-kick against Portsmouth, very similar to David Beckham, who wore the no.7 shirt before Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger won everything possible at Manchester United and scored a remarkable 118 goals for the club including 42 in the 2007-08 season alone.
The 28-year-old left United for Real Madrid in 2009 in a deal worth £80 million, which made him the most expensive player in the world. He is still held in the highest regard by United fans who hope he will make a return to the Theatre Of Dreams one day. Thanks for the memories Ronny!
