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#3 Jaap Stam
Though Jaap Stam spent just three seasons at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, he left a long-lasting impression. He joined the club in 1998 as the world's most expensive defender then (£15.3 million) and played a defining role in the club's treble run in 1999.
Stam won the Premier League title in all three of the seasons in England before being sold to Lazio in 2001 following a fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson. The manager once admitted that selling the Dutch defender was one of the biggest disappointments of his United career.
"When I think of disappointments, obviously Jaap Stam was always a disappointment to me, I made a bad decision there," Sir Alex Ferguson said in 2013.
Stam made 127 appearances for United across competitions, and despite his no-nonsense style of defending, he wasn't sent off even once in his tenure.
#2 Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand joined Manchester United in 2002 from rivals Leeds United in a deal worth €46 million. The transfer made him the then-most expensive British player and the most expensive defender in the world. Ferdinand did fulfill the promise that Sir Alex Ferguson and the club showed in him when they shelled out such a big amount for a defender.
In 12 seasons with the club, Ferdinand made 455 appearances, winning the Premier League six times, one Champions League in 2008 and three League Cups. He captained Manchester United in their Champions League final win over Chelsea in 2008.
Ferdinand formed a formidable defensive partnership with Nemanja Vidic, and grew into one of the best defenders in the world under Sir Alex Ferguson.
#1 Steve Bruce
At the top of the pile of the greatest defenders to have played under Sir Alex Ferguson is Steve Bruce. The centre-back was a crucial part of the Manchester United side that kick-started the club's domination in English football.
Bruce was one of Sir Alex Ferguson's earliest signings, joining the club in 1987. He soon became a constant feature in the Manchester United back-line, and even had a knack for scoring goals. In 414 appearances for the club, he scored 51 goals.
Bruce's two late goals in a 1992-93 Premier League encounter against Sheffield United tilted the title race in Manchester United's favor. It acted as the foundation for the team that didn't look back for over a decade, dominating English football like no other.
