Top 6 Duos to have played under Sir Alex Ferguson

It's been a few years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and it would be right to call him the greatest British manager of all-time. The Scottish manager won every possible trophy in his historic reign and transformed Manchester United into a world-beating, odds-defying side who would go on to rule England and Europe.

It's no secret that Sir Alex Ferguson managed some of the greats of the game and players respected him in abundance. While there have been many great players to don the famous United shirt under Fergie, there have been some classic duos to have played under the legendary Scotsman.

Here we rank down the top 6 duos who combined effectively and efficiently Under Sir Alex Ferguson.

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#6 Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Beckham

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Beckham are two of the finest players to play under Fergie

While not many people would've expected this duo to be on the list but here we are starting off with Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Beckham.

Beckham and Nistelrooy's chemistry is understandable considering the fact that one was the best crosser of the game in his time and the other was a prolific goalscorer who wouldn't let many chances go missing.

Where Beckham floated down the right wing delivering crosses for fun into the middle, Nistelrooy was there to oblige and do the needful i.e. smash it in the back of the net.

The Dutch-English connection was pretty successful as Manchester United outscored many oppositions in the early part of 21st century, courtesy of Nistelrooy's goals and Beckham's admirable crossing skills.

This winger striker association was heartily cherished and thus holds a position in this list of greatest duos to have ever played under Sir Alex Ferguson.

#5 Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes

The duo displayed decent chemistry on the pitch

Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes, a prolific duo who terrorized Premier League defenses in the early 90s. The two aforementioned names were not only known for their goalscoring abilities but their will to take Manchester United over the line.

Two dominating characters who gave it all on the field for the badge. What made Hughes and Cantona so adored was their ability to impact the overall tempo of the game.

The duo's chemistry was on show on a weekly basis. The story was quite simple and subtle-If one went in deep to retrieve the ball, the other waited right in the box to finish the job and give Manchester United the goal they've been craving for.

The two legendary forwards won a plethora of trophies together including 2 Premier League titles. Over the years there have been many successful strike partnerships in the Premier League but the iconic duo of Hughes and Cantona is still the name on many lips when talked about the greatest one.

#4 Roy Keane and Paul Scholes

Scholes and Keane enjoyed a stellar stint alongside each other in United's midfield

Possibly the greatest midfield partnership ever witnessed in the Premier League, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are two legends of the game who will be celebrated for many years to come by.

The two iconic names in the world of football complemented each other's style of play perfectly and it's no secret that Manchester United enjoyed a significant amount of success with these two in the middle.

Where Keane was a stalwart midfield general, Scholes was a genius who could pick up a pass from miles away. Where Keane was an enforcer, Scholes was a magician.

It was like a match made in heaven and United fans were delighted to see this dreamy partnership which helped the club prosper for so many years.

The two men helped the red devils win many trophies and were part of the historic treble-winning side of 1999.

#3 Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo

The duo combined perfectly during their time together

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, two names who drove Manchester United to the top of European Football. The two men came in at United as youngsters and left as legends.

It's right to say that Manchester United were at their mighty best at the helms of Sir Alex Ferguson and one thing that did set the Scotsman apart was his ability to get the best out of young starlets.

Fergie was acknowledged as the man with an eye for talent, a man who could nurture players with potential into superstars of tomorrow.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are perfect examples to describe Sir Alex Ferguson's nurturing skills. The duo combined incredibly well as Manchester United became a rampant force and reached the pinnacle of European football.

When Chelsea was flying under Jose Mourinho, it was then when the partnership between Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo developed to drive Manchester United to the top of English football once more.

Mind boggling goals, scintillating gameplay and much more, Manchester United fans were in awe of these two supreme footballers and the away teams found it pretty hard to contain the talented duo.

Together they helped Manchester United win many trophies including the club's sole FIFA Club World Cup triumph in 2008.

#2 Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic

Ferdinand and Vidic formed a rigid backline at Old Trafford

Possibly the greatest centreback pairing in the history of the Premier League, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic proved to be the backbone of United's successful period under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Fergie was known to built defenses which personified robustness and toughness. The Scottish manager relied on rock-solid defenders who would put their bodies on the line in order to fight for the prestige of the badge.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were no different as the center-back pairing proved to be a nightmare for opposition sides. What really worked well between the pair was their consistency and most importantly their love for the club.

Ferdinand and Vidic won 5 Premier League titles together and were instrumental in United's historic UEFA champions league triumph in 2008.

Vidic and Rio were probably the first names on the teamsheet under Sir Alex and it's no secret that the legendary Scotsman rested his trust in the 2 at the demanding away nights in Europe to which the duo obliged handsomely.

#1 Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole

Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole

Probably the greatest duo to have played under the legendary Scotsman is of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Yorke and Cole were the strike force which propelled United to the pinnacle of English Football.

The two strikers were like souls sent to earth just to play alongside each other. It was like the two could sense each other's position, mindset even in blindfolds.

When one scores, the other assists and vice versa, the story at Manchester United when Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were playing alongside each other.

Many critics, pundits, and fans recognize this partnership as a major factor in United's historic campaign in 1999 when the club became the first Engish side to win a treble.

Yorke and Cole combined well to help Manchester United win 3 successive Premier titles from 1998 to 2001 and were instrumental in the UEFA Champions League triumph of 1999.

All put together, there have been many successful partnerships in the premier league but that of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke is surely one of the most cherished ones.