Do not click on the hyperlinks of the squad in the below table
they do not work. Thank You
1 Peter Schmeichel 17 Raimond van der Gouw 25 Kevin Pilkington |
|||
2 Gary Neville 32 Michael Clegg |
5 Ronny Johnsen 21 Henning Berg |
6 Gary Pallister 4 David May |
3 Denis Irwin 12 Phil Neville |
7 David Beckham 28 Philip Mulryne |
8 Nicky Butt 18 Paul Scholes |
16 Roy Keane 13 Brian McClair |
11 Ryan Giggs 23 Ben Thornley |
9 Andy Cole 20 Ole Gunnar Solskjær |
10 Teddy Sheringham 14 Jordi Cruyff |
||
Biographies of all superstars playing for Manchester United including retired star eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Peter Shemicals ect.
Beckham came to the fore in spectacular style, scoring one and setting up another goal in United's European Cup game against Galatasaray last season. A good passer of the ball, Beckham was given a loan spell at Preston later in the season after the established players returned but he has a promising future.
Schmeichel helped Denmark to the 1992 European Championships a year after joining United and he has been a rock-steady presence at Old Trafford, winning two Championship medals, FA Cup and European Super Cup medals. He is fast off his line, can set up swift counter attacks with his long throws and is also prone to come forward for corners if a last-ditch goal is what United need.
Once Eric Cantona had announced his retirement from football manager Alex Ferguson knew immediately that he had to act fast to find a replacement. Ferguson's production-line of talent from the United youth scheme is impressive but there's no substitute for experience and Sheringham, who cost £3.5m from Spurs, has bags of it. He is widely regarded as one of the country's real thinkers on a football field and struck up a formidable England partnership with Alan Shearer. He likes to drop deep, lose his marker and has a range of passing skills and great awareness that mark him out as a class striker. He gets his share of goals, too, both at club and international level and he will also add a threat in the air to the United attack.
Giggs' best position is out on the left wing where he can get past defenders either by using his pace round the outside or by cutting inside. His is one of the most prodigious talents to emerge in the English game for many years and although a niggling calf injury rendered him less effective in terms of goals last season, Giggs still managed 29 games and is a regular with Wales.
A great start to the season after his £1.5m move from Molde in July. His form then began to tail off along with that of United. Undoubtedly a bargain at the price, the baby-faced hit man should develop into a high quality player alongside the great providers at United. Most striking qualities are his pace and quick feet, the latter being something which made Cantona liken him to Denis Law.
Cole's £7million move from Newcastle in January was one of the sensations of the season. The lightening-quick striker had started the season in prolific fashion at St James' Park before injury put him on the sidelines. He soon settled in at Old Trafford and set a club record with five goals in a 9-0 win over Ipswich. His long-awaited first England cap came in March against Uruguay.
A midfielder-cum-forward, Scholes scored some vital goals for United last season after Cantona and Hughes, for different reasons, were unavailable. An England Youth player, Scholes scored twice against Port Vale in the Coca-Cola Cup and three in the Premiership.
Keane is the ultimate midfielder, a great runner from deep positions with bite in the tackle and the ability to score goals. He has been used in a variety of positions but is at his best in central midfield and has won 28 caps for Ireland.
The 1994-5 season was a heady experience for the young right back who found his way into the first team at United before going on to win two England caps with a depleted England. Neville can also play at centre half and has a long throw, one of which led to Gary Pallister's equaliser against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final.
Two years the junior of brother and England international Gary, Phil is a player of a similar nature who is rated even better by some at Old Trafford. Had an extraordinary season, only his second among the seniors, last term which resulted in a call-up to the full England squad: the first time two brothers had been in the same England squad since the Charltons 30 years ago. Just one of a number of United youngsters to have shown genuine quality at the highest level, Neville Jnr can play either right back or in the middle.
A £1.2m buy from Besiktas in July 1996, Ronnie has done well this season at Old Trafford. Level-headed centre back with a good footballing brain.
Pallister joined the club for £2.3million in August 1989 and has enjoyed all the success that has followed. His height gives him an edge in the air but he is also good on the ground and has become a regular at centre half in the England team, with 18 caps.
Son of the legendary Holland international, Cruyff was signed for £1m from Barcelona after his father severed ties with the club as manager. Had minimal impact so far this season after an indifferent Euro 96, despite getting a goal in the tournament against Switzerland. Cruyff always appears as if the weight of expectation is too much but on his day he can turn and beat players as well as getting the odd goal.
Butt was another of the United youngsters whom Alex Ferguson called upon during a turbulent season. It was quite a baptism, the central midfielder coming up against players like Romario, Hagi and Stoichkov in the Champions Cup. The experience of that and appearances in the run-in to the title and the FA Cup Final will stand Butt in good stead.
Irwin, a full back, can play on either side of United's defence and is a crucial source of goals, particularly from set pieces. He also stepped in as penalty taker in Eric Cantona's absence. The Irishman, with 36 caps for his country including the 1994 World Cup finals, has been at Old Trafford for all their recent successes and is one of their lesser-sung heroes.
May switched clubs just at the wrong time as United were about to relinquish their title to Blackburn. He was used as a replacement at full back for Paul Parker but his best position is in central defence, where he is strong in the air and has the necessary pace. May was injured towards the end of the season but will challenge Steve Bruce for that centre half spot this time.
Alex Furgeson
Ferguson is one of the most successful managers of modern times, having won League Championship, Scottish and European Cup winners' Cup honours in Scotland with Aberdeen before coming to Manchester United and ending their 25-year wait for the title in 1992-93. That was followed up with the 'Double' in 1993-4 as Ferguson's team continued to produce an exciting brand of football. Double disappointment followed when they finished empty-handed last time and having lost key players like Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes the tough Glaswegian's youth policy will be put to the test.
