ERIC "KING" CANTONA
Birthplace: Marseilles, France 24/05/66
- Position: Forward - Squad Number: 7 - Appearances: 181
Goals: 80 - Internationals: 43 - Goals: 19
Honours:
Premiership: 4 - FA Cup: 2
Eric
Cantona was
perhaps the most influential footballer in English footballer of the 1990s.
A
player of true
vision and creativity, worthy of that now, much over-used word,
"genius". His passing, innovation and influence was unrivalled, he could split a
defence with the sort of pass that only he could create. Eric had an
exhilarating array of skills, back-heels, stylish flicks, turns and lobs
combined with immaculate ball control and touch. His shooting from long-range
was superb while one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he was ice cool and clinical.
Together with a sometimes unpredictable Gallic temperament, Cantona was a
one-man football phenomenon. When Alex Ferguson acquired him from Leeds, few
knew the impact Eric would make, but a few months later it became clear that
Cantona was by far the most important player at Old Trafford. He was the final
piece of Alex Ferguson's jigsaw in creating a team to end United's 26 year wait
for a league title. Within a short while of his arrival,
such was his powerful influence that the whole United team revolved around the
mercurial Frenchman. With Cantona and United playing the most attractive
football of the 90's winning League and Cup Double in 1994 and 1996 with another
Premier League title in 1997.
full story
ROY "ENFORCER" KEANE
Birthplace:
Cork, Ireland -
10/08/1971 - Position:
Midfield - Squad Number: 16 - Debut: 07/08/1993 - Appearances (1993-2005): 480
Internationals: 66, Goals: 9 - Honours: Premiership: 5 - FA Cup: 4
- Champions League: 1
Roy
has spent a lot of time out after he recently broke his metatarsal. Roy gave a
stinging interview lambasting the players for their poor performances which
didn't go down well with the Club. It was announced on 18/11/05 that Roy would
leave the club immediately and was granted a testamonial for his 12 years
service.
After failing to get an apprenticeship with any English
League clubs, Keane began his footballing career with Cobh Ramblers before Brian
Clough took him to Nottingham Forest as an 18 year old. His League debut with
Nottingham Forest was a real baptism of fire away to Liverpool, the then
champions. At the end of his first full season Keane made an appearance in the
1991 FA Cup Final, collecting a runners up medal. His performances, however, had
not gone unnoticed by the Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton, who gave
him his first full international cap in May 1991. A season later he was again on
the losing side again at Wembley, with Nottingham Forest losing 1-0 to
Manchester United in the League Cup final.In the close season the race for Roy
Keane's signature began, with United emerging the victors paying a then club and
English record fee of £3.75 million. Whilst he has been at Manchester United,
his ball winning skills, drive, determination and late runs into the box to
score vital goals have made him an irreplaceable figure in United's midfield, so
much so that he is often compared to the ex-United player Bryan Robson. He has
helped United to win six Premier League
Championships, including two doubles in
1994 and 1996 and is currently the team captain. He also participated in the
1994 World Cup Finals and is a regular international for the Republic of
Ireland. At the end of the 1996/97 season, when Eric Cantona retired from
professional football, Keane took over the role of team captain. However less
than two months into the season Keane injured his knee and spent a frustrating
season on the sidelines. Fortunately for Manchester United, Keane fought his way
back to full fitness to lead the team out, at Wembley, in the 1998 pre season
Charity Shield. As United failed to win any silverware in his absence, Ireland
failed to qualify for the 1998 World Cup finals in France. The 1998/99 season
saw Roy Keane fully restored to fitness. As the Club reached the climax of that
unprecedented pursuit, Roy enjoyed mixed fortunes. A sending-off in the FA Cup
semi-final replay was followed by a yellow card in the Champions League
semi-final second leg against Juventus, forcing him to miss the memorable final
in Barcelona. He recovered from an ankle injury to play in the last League match
versus Tottenham and collected the Premiership Trophy. In Barcelona, despite
Keane taking no active part in the match, the fans finally got their way during
the post-match celebrations when they insisted on Roy taking his deserved bow
with the Champions League trophy in front of the massed ranks. After signing a
new deal, Keane seemed to play with a weight lifted off his shoulders, and the
captain led by example, as ever. Over the course of the season Keane found the
net a remarkable twelve times, with half of those coming in Europe. A superb
season from the skipper was recognised by both the Football Writers and the
Professional Footballers Association, who both voted him Player of the Year.
Keane was even more influential during season 2000/2001, leading the team to a
seventh Championship title. Roy's form helped the Republic qualify for the 2002
World Cup finals. Once out in the Far East, though, Roy caused the biggest story
of the tournament before it had even begun. Following a row with manager Mick
McCarthy, Keano was sent home in disgrace. A five-match ban and a large fine
later, Roy checked into hospital for an operation on his hip that kept him out
for the first five and a half months of the season. Roy pledged to calm down on
the pitch following his latest op, and his first few appearances after
recovering had everyone questioning whether he was finished or not. A
barn-storming end to the season, when he led United to the top of the League
against all the odds, answered everyone's questions.
full story
PETER "THE GREAT" SCHMEICHEL
Birthplace: Gladsaxe, Denmark 18th Nov 1963 . - Position: Goalkeeper - Squad Number: 1 - Debut:
17/08/1991 - Appearances (1991-1999): 392 Internationals:
129, Goals: 1 - Honours: Premiership: 5 - FA Cup: 3 - Champions
League: 1gu
Peter Schmeichel is without question the greatest Goalkeeper in the history of
Manchester United. In fact,
although comparisons over time are difficult, he could
likely be the greatest Goalkeeper of all-time. It is impossible to find a weakness or flaw in this man mountain of a player, in every department he was pure class through and through. Ultra-competitiveness, aggression and unlimited motivation made this "Great Dane" a seemingly unbreachable fortress. He began playing often as a striker but his real talent was found to be in goal. Soon Schmeichel was playing as a professional for local side Hvidøvre, but he really made his reputation when he moved to top Copenhagen side Brondby. Alex Ferguson spotted his potential and took him to Old Trafford in August 1991 for the ridiculously small sum of £500,000. The big man solved United's goalkeeping problems and the trophies soon rolled in: League Cup in 1992, Premier League in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999 plus 3 FA Cups to make three "Doubles". And, of course the crowning glory of that unforgettable Champions League victory in the 1999 Treble season. When it came to shot stopping from long-range the Great Dane was unrivalled, he was rarely ever beaten from outside the box in his whole United career. Not only that, but from close range he was the master. He decided to leave English football at the end of the 1999 season because the gruelling 60 game a season schedule at United was threatening to undermine his high standards at the age of 35. No player could ever hope to better Peter Schmeichel's departure from Manchester United. Winning the Premier League, FA Cup, captaining the side to victory in the European Cup Final and getting his hands on that famous cup. The Treble was a fairy tale end to his years of glory and a thoroughly deserved triumph for this ultimate professional. In the less intense environment of Sporting Lisbon in 2000 (his first season) he helped them win their first League title in 17 years. Schmeichel played his last International for Denmark against Slovenia in April 2001 having won a record 129 Danish caps. Then, a final twist in the tail that shocked everyone in the football world - a surprise return for Schmeichel to the Premiership with Aston Villa on a free transfer in July.
RUUD "SHARPSHOOTER" VAN NISTELROOY
Birthplace:
Oss, Holland 1st July 1976 . - Position: Forward - Squad Number: 10 - Debut:
17/08/1991 -Appearances: 219, Goals: 150 - Internationals:
54, Goals: 28 - Honours: Premiership: 1 - FA Cup: 1
The
Dutch striker plundered a century of United goals in under three seasons and
overtook Reds legend Denis Law as the Club's all-time top scorer in European
competition in November 2004.Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Ruud is the best in
Europe. His record is incredible ever since he joined Manchester United. He
is a big game player."
After spells at FC Den Bosch and Heerenveen, Ruud marked his 22nd birthday
by signing for PSV Eindhoven for £4.2 million, a record transfer between
Dutch clubs. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first League goal for
PSV against his former club in the August. By the end of October, Ruud made
his presence known when he scored a hat-trick for PSV against Sparta. He was
in such good form that, on 18th November 1998, he made his international
debut for Holland in a 1-1 draw with Germany.In two full seasons Ruud
notched 60 goals for PSV, and it was this form that first alerted United to
his potential. Such was Sir Alex's determination to secure Ruud as his most
lethal attacking weapon, that he kept in contact with the player for a year
as he recovered from a cruciate knee ligament injury.That setback came days
after Ruud had failed a medical with United in April 2000, but after an
incredible comeback the striker was fit and in goalscoring form for PSV
Eindhoven again by March 2001. He finally signed for United on April 23 that
year for £19m.Ruud netted 36 goals in his debut season, a frightening
achievement that was incredibly eclipsed in the 2002/03 season as he scored
44 times to inspire United to the Premiership title. Van Nistelrooy started
the 2003/04 season as he had finished the last, scoring twice in his first
two league games. He chalked up his 100th and 101st goals for the club
against Everton at Goodison Park on 7 February 2004, and eventually ended
the season with 28 goals as United surrendered the Premiership title to
Arsenal. Despite an injury-ravaged 2004/05 season, Ruud still managed to
notch 16 goals in 27 appearances, and even finished as top scorer in the
Champions League with eight goals. It was the third time in four seasons at
United that Ruud had topped the UEFA charts, and was all the more remarkable
as he only made seven appearances in another fruitless European campaign.
Van Nistelrooy ended the season in heartbreaking fashion as he missed a
hatful of chances to bury Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, only for the Gunners
to eventually claim the trophy on penalties. Ruud started the new season
2005/06 in good form and scored 5 of United's 7 goals in the first 6 games.
He finished the season as United's top scorer in the premiership with 21 goals
and scored 32 in all competitions. Unfortunately, towards the end of the season,
he fell out with some team mates and the manager decided to sell him to Real
Madrid. His goals to games ratio is the best of any forward in the modern era
and he is greatly missed by all United fans.
full story
These are my legends who made United great but click
on Jonathan's
LEGENDS
page
which has bio's for many more.
My thanks to him for
some of the content here.