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Manchester United might be going through their fair share of struggles at the moment but their status as one of the most prestigious clubs in football is firmly sealed. In addition to winning a record 20 titles, 3 Champions League titles and 12 FA Cups, Manchester United have a host of titles to their name that have earned them a global fan following.
The side has seen many rebuilds over the decades, from the legendary Busby Babes to the equally fabled Class of 92 who have all played their part in getting the club to where it is today. From marauding forwards, including Denis Law, Sir Bobby Charlton and Eric Cantona to flying wingers, in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and George Best – attacking is in Manchester United’s DNA.
Not to forget the defensive bedrocks in the form of Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, upon whom numerous title defenses have been built in the years gone by.
All in all, the club have had countless iconic players grace the Theatre Of Dreams. And while numerous players have become famous and even infamous the moment they pulled on that fabled red shirt, there have been a few who bided their time at the club, but whose name may not ring a bell amongst the Old Trafford faithful.
Who are these players? You’re about to find out in this list of 5 players who you didn’t know played for Manchester United.
#5 Fraizer Campbell
Fraizer Campbell has been with a number of clubs in his eventful career, but few know that he began his career with Manchester United, who signed him up at the tender age of 10. The youngster took no time in finding his feet at Old Trafford and netted 14 goals in 22 appearances for the youth side.
Campbell was loaned to United’s Belgian partner club Royal Antwerp for the 2006-07 season. He continued his prolific form, netting 24 goals in all competitions, which earned him the name Super Campbell.
Another loan, this time with Championship side Hull City, soon followed. Campbell maintained his scoring form which helped his temporary side win the play-offs. A final loan with Tottenham followed, which was part of the deal that brought Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford, after which he was permanently sold to Sunderland.
Campbell, who now plays for Championship side Huddersfield, has had a mixed bag of a career ever since. While he could never quite make the cut in the Premier League, his form in the Championship has been proficient, with the second tier of football probably best suited to the Englishman.
#4 Robbie Brady
Brady joined Manchester United’s academy as a 16-year-old. While he joined the side relatively late in his young career, he took no time in finding his feet with the club.
The Irishman’s fine form for the reserves was rewarded with a first-team outing against Newcastle United in the League Cup. This would turn out to be Brady’s only first-team appearance in United colors as he was loaned out to Hull City soon after. He spent two fulfilling seasons in the Championship before joining Hull City permanently in 2013.
The 29-year-old is now part of Burnley, having gained around five years of Premier League experience while being a regular starter for his country.
#3 Joshua King
The Norwegian has established himself as a reliable Premier League player, but few know that he began life in England with Manchester United. The youngster was extremely prolific for United’s youth sides before joining Preston North End on loan.
He showed plenty of promise at Preston but was abruptly recalled by his parent club after the sacking of Preston boss Darren Ferguson, the son of Sir Alex. A series of further loan moves to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers followed before Blackburn secured King’s signature on a permanent basis in 2013.
King’s time at Blackburn was rather lukewarm, with the player securing a switch to newly-promoted Bournemouth in 2015, which is where he truly came into his own as a player.
The 29-year-old scored regularly for Bournemouth in the Premier League, so much so that there was even talk of him rejoining boyhood club Manchester United before his move to Everton this February put an end to that speculation.
#2 Michael Keane
Michael has been extremely solid for Everton and is a full-fledged England international. What many people don’t know is that he was once on Manchester United’s books along with his twin brother Will.
Keane joined United as a 16-year-old, having trained with the club alongside his brother since the age of 11. The youngster excelled with the youth sides and was even part of their famed 2011 FA Youth Cup winning squad, which Keane helped them lift shortly after signing his first professional contract.
Keane continued to grow from strength to strength and was even the recipient of the prestigious Denzil Haroun Player of the Year award in 2012. Keane was loaned out to Leicester and Derby before going on loan to Burnley after performing poorly for United in the 4-0 horror show against MK Dons in August 2014.
The 28-year-old’s move was made permanent in 2015, where he grew from strength to strength, helping his team win the Championship in 2016 while also earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Keane moved to Everton for a fee of £25 million in 2017, where he established himself as a key player and will most likely be an important individual for England during Euro 2020. Perhaps this was one player Manchester United should have held on to considering their current struggles in the defensive department.
#1 Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley is a Liverpool legend and absolutely adored by the Anfield faithful, who voted him as one of the 100 players who shook the Kop. What they might not know, however, is that he once turned out in the colors of Manchester United.
But the fact will be of little consequence to them considering he helped Liverpool lift 2 First Division titles, 1 FA Cup and 3 Community Shields instead of their rivals. After an extremely prolific season for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Beardsley was signed by Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson in 1982.
Beardsley’s time in Manchester would be largely forgettable, with the Englishman making a solitary appearance for the Red Devils in the League Cup before being shipped back to the Whitecaps after just a year.
His second stint in Canada would be rather brief as boyhood club Newcastle United opted to resign him, which turned out to be a masterstroke. Beardsley began firing on all cylinders on his return to Tyneside.
Prolific stints at Liverpool and Everton followed, with Beardsley viewed as an icon by all three clubs – proving that United’s decision to let him go was extremely foolish.
