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Since the evolution of football as a sport, English champions Manchester United have made their name as one of the most famous and successful clubs around the globe. From the golden ages to the calamitous dark winds that have blown in and out of the club, Old Trafford has endured it all.
The lush green home of the champions is a well-known fortress in Europe. Many great players have entered through those reddish tunnels and have bowed out as absolute legends. While these giants have stamped their authorities in the shelves of history, their exploits have helped The 'Theatre of Dreams' gain a reputation as a fearsome venue for the adversaries.
Manchester United has been home to some of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game. Out of the countless legends to have donned the famous red shirt of Manchester, here are some of the midfielders who have remained as a bedrock to United's glittering history throughout the ages.
#10: Duncan Edwards
A player who could have been an unparalleled legend, but fell prey to his profane destiny, remains an unfulfilled promise. No tightest corner at the Theatre of Dreams will ever forget the sheer elegance of Big Dunc and his monumental playing style. The most shining jewel that Manchester United flaunted during the Busby Years, Edwards will always remain a sad, yet a beautiful enigma of the doomed Babes.
To tell the truth, Duncan Edwards was as if born to be the omnipotent force on a football pitch. Albeit he is remembered as a defensive midfielder, it was a crime to limit him to a single position. The world had never seen and shall never see a better versatile player than the boy from Black County.
Edwards displayed his protean style of play when he once played as a striker in the first half and later slotted in for an injured defender in the second. Apparently, the great Sir Bobby Charlton was quoted saying that Duncan made the others feel like pygmies on the pitch. If it hadn't been for the disaster, Pele would have had a worthy competitor in Edwards.
In his short five-year spell, Duncan Edwards notched 21 goals in 177 appearances, winning 4 trophies for the club. In recent times, Sir Bobby stated that Phil Jones reminded him starkly of the English midfielder. Mysterious, isn't it? The fact that Jones was born on the same date Duncan Edwards passed away?
#9: Ji Sung Park
The midfielder must have been the first nuclear-powered South Korean in history, in the sense that he rushed about the pitch at the speed of an electron.
Ji Sung Park arrived as a relatively unknown player at Old Trafford in 2005 as a £4million signing from PSV Eindhoven. The first Asian to captain Manchester United, Park was a pivotal versatile midfielder in Alex Ferguson's Champions League winning squad.
The South Korean displayed his knack of adapting on multiple occasions for the Red Devils. He was notably used as a winger in a 4-3-3 format in Manchester United's 2-0 Champions League final loss to Barcelona in Rome. His terrific work rate and pace in defence, as well as attack, earned him rave reviews for his performances.
Park was also equally effective in the centre of the park, thanks to his work-rate and defensive abilities. Italian pass master Andrea Pirlo, who quoted his admiration above, accepted his failure in getting past the dynamic South-Korean, who marked him in United's famous 4-0 win over AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2009. Park was equally tough to handle for Pirlo when he faced PSV Eindhoven.
JI Sung Park made 205 appearances, scoring 27 goals for Manchester United. He won 13 trophies in his glorious seven-year spell from 2005 to 2012, including a UEFA Champions League title in the 2007/08 season.
#8: Paul Ince
A dynamic tough-tackling midfielder, Paul Ince was one of those players who proved to be the pillar in United's road to glory after dark times at Old Trafford. Albeit he left Old Trafford before United hit their peak, Ince is always summoned up as a legend, being the first black skipper to ply his trade for the Red Devils.
Alex Ferguson was quick to snap up the midfielder in a £1.35 million deal after spotting him at West Ham United in 1989. A hard tackler and a top-class ball winner, Ince was a vital player in the absence of United skipper Bryan Robson. He formed a stellar partnership with midfielder Neil Webb in the center of the park at Old Trafford.
But, the Englishman left for Inter Milan following an infamous feud with Sir Alex Ferguson. Though his departure allowed the youngsters to make their mark, Ince will always be remembered as a saviour in United's formative years.
Paul Ince netted 29 goals in 281 appearances in his six-year spell at the Theatre of Dreams. He amassed a total of 10 total trophies, before departing for Inter Milan in 1995.
#7: Nicky Butt
If there was any trouble, you could look to your right or left and Nicky would be there to sort it out!
Very few of all the people who saw the midfielder with gold hair would disagree to the fact that he was a perfect successor to Irishman Roy Keane. Paul Scholes has been perfect in describing the crucial attribute that made Nicky Butt one of the most revered players in the history of United.
A graduate of the famous Manchester United youth academy, Nicky Butt was one of the ablest defenders the Manchester-based club has seen in its history.
Butt proved to be an apt replacement for the team after Paul Ince's departure in 1994. The sturdy and tenacious midfielder had attributes similar to the legendary Roy Keane, being hard as a nail in both his game and attitude on the pitch. Like the others, you could always count on Nicky Butt to be a huge influence in big games.
The Manchester-born lad was always known to deliver his best in times of need. Butt is always remembered for his superb winner versus Leeds United in 1998, slotting the ball with a turn past keeper Paul Robinson.
United were put in grave peril as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were out of action in the Champions League final against Bayer Munich in 1999. However, Butt stepped up magnificently to the occasion and put in an energetic ninety minutes as United cruised to a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Bavarians.
Butt netted 26 times in an illustrious 12-year career from 1992 to 2004, winning 15 laurels with the club. He departed to Newcastle after seeing a shortage of playing time at Old Trafford.
#6: Michael Carrick
Not only this season but every year. People do not realise the amount of work Carrick delivers until he has gone.
Thierry Henry was right up to the mark in underlining the 36-year-old's selfless contribution to the game of football. Michael Carrick joined the Red Devils in 2006 for a reported fee of £14 million.
It is a really sad thing to see a player of his quality being underrated in his own country. In contrast to the fiery midfield general Roy Keane, the six-feet-four-inch midfielder has been a calm presence in the United midfield for over a decade now. It has been bad luck on his part to see him receive the deserved recognition only in the twilight of his career with the Red Devils.
Carrick quickly slotted in as a worthy midfield partner to the legendary Paul Scholes, excelling in his holding role. After the Ginger Prince's retirement in 2013, he has served the responsibility of an able and trusted midfielder who can dictate attacking plays from the midfield.
While the Englishman is set to retire soon, England will be saying goodbye to their last midfield giant since the likes of Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard. Michael Carrick has appeared 460 times, netting 24 goals for the Red Devils since 2006. He has won 18 trophies since his move to Old Trafford and currently captains a resurgent Manchester United under Jose Mourinho.
#5: David Beckham
The best crosser of the ball I have ever seen. You would make a run and he would put the ball into your path without having to break stride. A brilliant footballer.
While Ryan Giggs may appreciate the golden boy of Manchester United, David Beckham deserves a worthy credit for never letting anyone down whenever his ability was called into question.
'Becks' is one of the first names you will encounter on a nostalgic walk down United's glorious memory lane. Establishing himself as a legend after coming through the youth ranks, Beckham has lived a fairytale football career.
As a legendary number 7 of Manchester United, we remember Beckham for the two most distinctive quirks of his game; crosses and set-pieces. At Old Trafford, it became a common sight to see the fans celebrating louder once David Beckham stepped up to take a free-kick in his trademark style. Most of his goals have come from the dead balls he sent swerving in the top corners of the net.
The former English skipper is also regarded as the king of crosses. His pin-point crossing enabled him to find teammates in the box with marvellous precision. An unbelievable cross was a hallmark of Beckham's set-piece aptness. Beckham marshalled the right midfield in Ferguson's wingless wonders, starkly different to the winger Andrei Kanchelskis whom he replaced in the line-up.
Apart from being a great player, Beckham also enjoyed his status as the most popular footballer of his generation, becoming a household name all over the world. Although his popularity did prove to be the reason for his rift with Ferguson, Beckham did leave an unforgotten legacy behind him at Old Trafford.
The Englishman won 13 trophies in a ten-year span from 1993 to 2003, scoring 85 times in 394 appearances for the English giants.
#4: Roy Keane
There wasn’t a player at United who could match Roy’s influence in my time at the club.
And that is another United great Gary Neville paying homage to the most successful captain in the history of Manchester United, Roy Keane.
Getting on the wrong side of a furious Roy Keane would probably be the last mistake of your life. For an experience, better consult Alf-Inge Haaland who will never forget that nightmare.
Roy Keane is simply courage and bravery personified. Absolutely nothing could intimidate the Irishman on and off the pitch. A born legend, inspirational leader and an undisputed bedrock of the team, one cannot ask for more in a club captain. None of his teammates had the guts to question his authority at Old Trafford.
Known for his short-tempered behaviour, Keane was nonetheless a driving force in United's stellar midfield. The masterstroke he produced against Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals has gone down as one of the greatest stories to boast about in the United folklore. A dictatorial defensive midfielder, Keane had the ability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and win it on his own terms.
As good as he was with the ball, Roy Keane also managed to entertain the United supporters with his immense passion. It was a treat for the United fans to watch the Irishman raging at Arsenal's Patrick Viera, eventually getting better of the Frenchman.
Roy Keane turned out 480 times, scoring 51 goals and winning 17 trophies in a 13-year-old career with the Red Devils. Absolute legend!
#3: Bryan Robson
He’d be all over the pitch, terrorising the opposition’s defence, menacing the midfield and smacking in goals. Bryan could do anything, he was Captain Courageous, and bloomin’ hell, he would often win games on his own.
Former United great Lou Macari has quite a bag of sweet words in his basket for Bryan Robson.
It is an absolute pity to see that Captain Marvel won so much less than he actually deserved. A loyal servant in United's darkest times, Bryan Robson would become the legendary number seven with his brilliant leadership skills and match-winning abilities.
Arriving at Old Trafford after seven years with West Bromwich Albion, the midfielder was one of the very few players who was pivotal to United's rise as one of the greatest clubs in the world. Robson was a torch-bearer for the young Fergie's Fledglings, who would go on to conquer the world with their impressive displays. The great midfield enforcer was known to be equally adept in attack as well as in defence, being a commanding presence in the midfield.
In his vital thirteen-year tenure, Robson appeared 469 times, falling just one short of a century of goals. The English defensive midfielder procured 8 trophies leaving on the brink of United's golden era. A player who deserved so much more!
#2: Ryan Giggs
When I arrived (at Manchester United), he was playing. Now, 15 years after I retired, he’s still playing. It’s crazy.
A healthy and worthy tribute to the Welsh giant by the 'King' Eric Cantona.
Ryan Giggs is Mr. Manchester United. The greatest servant of Old Trafford and the crowned jewel of Fergie's Fledglings in the illustrious past of the Red Devils, the Welsh wizard kick-started his United career after being persuaded by Sir Alex to ditch rivals Manchester City and join United's youth academy.
Only 17 at that time, Giggs was a winger filled with deafening pace, providing Eric Cantona with a plethora of assists for his famous goals.
But, Giggsy's attribute of gradually adopting a different playing style over the years is the quality that should be appreciated the most. Often as the time passes, wingers tend to lose their explosive speed and become somewhat unproductive with increasing age. Yet, the Welshman has shown his pedigree, after being switched to a deep midfield role in 2009.
Giggs was equally effective as Scholes, playing in the center of the park and providing assists for attackers to score goals. No British player has won more trophies than the famous number 11. Giggsy's career numbers are elephantine, thanks to his profound longevity as a footballer.
In an illustrious career spanning over 24 years, Giggs made a whopping 963 appearances and scored 168 goals for the Red Devils. He also amassed a load of silverware in his long tenure, winning 34 trophies with the club. He is rightly down as the best player ever to don the famous red shirt.
#1: Paul Scholes
I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears.
Of all the innumerable quotes about him, Luis Figo aptly underlines Scholesy's down-to-earth and dedicated attitude to the game of football. It really seems weird that the Ginger Prince could have equally excelled as a cricketer. But thanks to the almighty, we have a beloved legend to adore at Old Trafford.
There are greats. Then there are legends. And then there is Paul Scholes. A class of his own. No wonder Zidane regretted of not being able to play with the diminutive midfielder in his career. The fact to be appreciated is that he could influence the game even after coming out of retirement at the ripe old age of 37.
Playing at the highest level for decades, the Englishman is the most beautiful ode to perfection. For years, Paul Scholes was an unparalleled creative lynchpin in the United midfield. His inch-perfect precision in long passes and ability to control the tempo of the game will remain unmatched in the years to come. Many have tried to emulate, but the grace and elegance of his deft touch has been conferred to none of them.
One regret though, is that of Scholes being manhandled in the English national team. Had they played him in his preferred central position instead of shifting him to wide left, England might as well have won a World Cup. Yet as past remains unchanged, so also is the fact that the world will never see another midfielder with the quality of Paul Scholes.
In a glorious career spanning nineteen years, the one-club legend appeared 718 times, scoring 158 goals for Manchester United. The shy genius has won 25 trophies with the club and is regarded as one of the greatest ever to grace the beautiful game.
