'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Defenders (part I of II)
Right Back: Gary Neville
Then: Gary Alexander Neville was a goddamn veteran by the time Rooney rolled into town having spent a good dozen years at United already. Seven years later, he retired as club captain after having represented his club a solid 602 times.
Now: The most erudite TV analyst out there, he failed as head coach of Valencia (had a record of 28 GP, 10 W, 7 D, 11 L) but hasn’t let that setback affect him one bit as he continues to cut through the rubbish and provide rare insight into the beautiful game day in and day out.
Quirky Quote: "If he was an inch taller he'd be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in - I'd check the milkman." – Sir Alex Ferguson on his trusted right back.
Centre Back: Rio Ferdinand
Then: Rio Gavin Ferdinand had arrived two years previously as the most expensive British footballer in history (at the time) and two-time most Expensive defender in the world (his earlier transfer from West Ham to Leeds had also broken the previous record). The sum is reported to be around £34 million and he delivered every penny’s worth in 12 sparkling years where he racked up 455 appearances and formed one of the league’s all-time great Centre back partnerships with Nemanja “he’ll f****ing murder ya” Vidic. A product of the West Ham academy, he’d played 158 times for them and 73 times for Leeds before the Red Devils. Oh he also appeared 81 times for England from 1997-2011
Now: He retired a year after he left United... after a rather forgetful spell at QPR... and if the body he’s been showing off recently on social media is any indication spent every spare minute in the gym. Now makes occasional public appearances as a TV analyst and, of course, for testimonials.
Quirky Video: He’d make an excellent motivational speaker if he could speak a touch more lucidly, no?
