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Ryan "Speedy" Giggs
Birthplace: Cardiff
29/11/1973- Position: Midfield - Squad Number: 11 - Debut: March 1991
- International Caps: 51 Goals: 8
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Ryan Giggs
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Paul "Gentleman" Scholes
Birthplace: Manchester 16/11/74 - Position:
Forward - Squad No: 18 - Debut: September 1994 - International Caps: 59 - Goals: 13
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Paul Scholes
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Cristiano "Magician" Ronaldo
Birthplace: Madeira, Portugal 05/02/85 - Position:
Winger - International caps: 33 - Goals: 12
Cristiano
Ronaldo burst onto the Old Trafford scene with a memorable debut against Bolton
Wanderers in August 2003. The Portuguese international had earlier signed for
United in a deal worth £12.24million.
Madeira-born Ronaldo began his career at Nacional before moving to fellow Super
Liga team Sporting; his first match for the Portuguese giants came at the tender
age of seventeen in September 2002. He went on to make 25 appearances during the
2002/03 season, scoring three goals; but more significantly he caught the eye of
the United scouts who had been closely monitoring his progress. And after
watching him cap a dazzling display with a goal during United's pre-season
friendly with Sporting, Sir Alex Ferguson decided to make his move.
"After we played Sporting the lads in the dressing room talked about Ronaldo
constantly," revealed the Boss. "And on the plane back from the game they urged
me to sign him - that's how highly they rated him.”
Following his impressive debut for the Reds, Ronaldo chalked up a further 39
appearances during the 2003/04 campaign, scoring eight goals including the
opener in United's FA Cup final victory over Millwall. He was also named the Sir
Matt Busby Player of the Year at the end of his first season. Ronaldo - a former
Portuguese junior international – has enjoyed similar success at international
level and was one of the major successes of Euro 2004 despite finding himself on
the losing side in the final as Greece snatched a dramatic victory from the
grasp of the home nation. The 2004/05 season saw the Reds winger continue with
his progress in acclimatising to the rigures of the English game and many
pundits remarked on his growing maturity. Despite ending the campaign
trophy-less, Ronaldo’s silky dribbling skills and pace provided the Old Trafford
faithful with numerous moments of excitement throughout the season. Ronny was
castigated for his part in Rooney's sending off in England's World Cup
(2006) Q/F against Portugal but he has since overcome the abuse and starred in
United's start to the new season. In the 2006/07 Ronny has been a revelation in
United's surge to the top of the league and has scored 16 goals so far. He is
now considered to be the best player in the world and has matured into a potent
force.
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Michael "Silencer" Carrick
Birthplace:
North Shields, England 28/07/81 - Position: Midfield
Michael
Carrick is a classy and composed midfielder, equally at home on the ball as he
is trying to win it back or break up attacks. Carrick began his career with
Wallsend Boys Club – the same club that produced Alan Shearer and Peter
Beardsley – before beginning his professional career at West Ham’s prestigious
youth academy in 1998. Alongside Joe Cole, Carrick played a starring role in the
9-0 demolition of Coventry City in the 1999 FA Youth Cup final, contributing two
goals of his own. In the 1999/2000 campaign Carrick was loaned out to Swindon
Town. The following season saw him loaned out again, this time to Birmingham
City. His exploits for the Blues during 2000/01 earned him a PFA Young Player of
the Season nomination, although he eventually lost out to Liverpool’s Steven
Gerrard. Carrick spent much of 2002/03 sidelined with injury before West Ham
were relegated at the end of the season. Rather than join the exodus that
accounted for team-mates Joe Cole, Fredi Kanoute and Jermain Defoe, Carrick
stayed with West Ham during their first season back in Division One, where they
narrowly missed out on a return to the Premiership in the play off final. But,
seeking to resurrect his Premiership career, Carrick moved to Tottenham in 2004
for £2.75m. Since then Carrick has blossomed. His range of passing and vision
make him a valuable addition to any midfield. Under the tutelage of Sir Alex
Ferguson and the United first team staff, his talents can mature further still.
Having accumulated 14 caps for the England Under21 squad, Carrick received his
first senior England cap in 2001. Aged 19, he was a half-time substitute in the
4-0 win over Mexico at Derby County’s Pride Park stadium. He was a part of
England’s 2006 World Cup squad and showed he could perform on the highest stage
with a composed display in the win over Ecuador, where he was assigned the
holding role. At United he has taken over Roy Keane’s No.16 shirt. He is of a
different stock to the talismanic former Reds skipper. But his guile, passing
range and ability to retain possession will make him an asset to Sir Alex
Ferguson’s midfield. Michael has proved to be a steady influence in midfield
allowing Ronaldo, Scholes and Giggs to get forward more often.
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Owen "Bulldog" Hargreaves
Birthplace:
Calgary, Canada - Position: Midfield
In his own words, it was
“possibly the longest-running transfer saga” in football. But after a several
months of prolonged pursuit, United finally signed Owen Hargreaves from Bayern
Munich in May 2007. The Canadian-born, England international midfielder’s stock
has risen dramatically in the past year. During the World Cup, one newspaper
reported that he was “a shock £7million target” for Sir Alex. His eventual fee
was closer to £17million when the transfer finally went through, and Hargreaves
had become one of European football’s most highly-thought of defensive
midfielders. Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, where his parents moved from
England in the early eighties, Owen left for Germany aged 16 to join Bayern
Munich. After earning his stripes in their youth ranks, a 19-year-old Hargreaves
made the step up to first-team football in August 2000 in what was a highly
successful season as Bayern claimed the Bundesliga title and Champions League
crown. In the semi final against Real Madrid Hargreaves showed he could hold his
own against Madrid's "galacticos", and remains one of only two English players
to win the European Cup with a non-English club - the other being Steve
McManaman. The following season saw Hargreaves establish himself as a regular
and key member of Bayern's first-team and witnessed his breakthrough at
international level. Hargreaves was eligible for any one of the home nations, as
well as Canada, and, had he delayed his decision, Germany under residency rules.
He plumped for England, and after several impressive Under-21 displays, he was
called into the senior squad in 2001. Initially a squad player, it took until
the 2006 World Cup in Germany for Hargreaves to truly be seen as a key man. In
fact, he was booed in their opening match of the tournament, but went on to be
named Man of the Match in the quarter final defeat to Portugal and was voted
England Player of the Year in January 2007. Not only will Hargreaves add another
dimension to United’s midfield with his determined, energetic and enthusiastic
style, the 26-year-old also has vast experience. A Champions League winner in
2001 and four-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern, Hargreaves has also
experienced two World Cups and a European Championships with England. Partnering
Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick – or indeed both – gives a well-balanced feel to
United’s engine room.
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Nani "Trickster"- Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Birthplace:
Portugal - Position: Winger
Highly rated Portuguese winger
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha ("Nani") will aim to emulate the achievements of
compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo when he starts his Old Trafford career in earnest.
Nani officially joined United in July 2007 for an undisclosed fee from Sporting
Lisbon after being tracked for some time by Sir Alex Ferguson and his scouting
staff. After making his Sporting Lisbon debut at the age of 18, Nani featured 29
times in the league for Sporting in 2006-07, scoring five times. During his time
at Sporting he also featured in the Champions League before winning the 2007
Portuguese Cup. He played for Portugal during the European Under 21 Championship
in Holland during the 2007 close season. The Cape Verde Islands born player also
earned five caps for the senior side prior to his move to United, scoring on his
debut against Denmark in September 2006. Primarily a left sided player, Nani can
also play in numerous other attacking positions. There are obvious similarities
between Ronaldo and Nani. And Nani is tipped to match the standards of 2006-07's
PFA Player of the Year. "He (Nani) is an amazing player, he's an amazing kid as
well, he works very hard and has got a big heart," said Portuguese Under 21 team
mate Ricardo Vaz Te. "He got a gift from god which is his talent obviously."
Portugal assistant coach Paulo Sousa is another who is backing Nani to be
successful in England. "Nani is very explosive and very strong. He's fast and is
going to be a great signing for United," he said. "I think that in the next five
or 10 years, he and Cristiano Ronaldo can become the best players in the world."
Nani's move to Old Trafford undoubtedly had something to do with assistant boss
Carlos Queiroz. Quieroz is credited with helping Ronaldo settle and improve his
game, and he is expected to help out Nani too. Ronaldo has also promised to help
Nani. “I really hope he has the same success as me, or even more, because he’s
got the ability to do this," he said. "He’s joining the right club to evolve as
a player and as a person.” Nani is also famed in Portugal for a trademark goal
celebration. His back flips graced the pages of the Portuguese tabloids while at
Sporting, and United fans will be looking forward to seeing such celebrations
many times during the coming seasons.
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Ji-Sung "Manic" Park
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea 25/02/81 -
Position: Midfielder - Squad No: 13 - International Caps: 55 - Goals: 5
The 24-year-old South Korea international has spent the
last two years with PSV and helped the Dutch side reach the semi-finals of this
season's Champions League and clinch the domestic league and Cup Double. Previously he
played 3 seasons with
Kyoto Purple Sanga
in Japan helping them to their best ever season
in 2002. He is also an influential player in the S. Korean team and played a big
part in them reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. His first few
games for United have been very promising. He scored his first goal in the
Carling Cup match against Birmingham which United won 3-1 on . Even though Ji-Sung
has been on the periphery of the first team he has improved and played a vital
part in United's surge towards another league title in 2006/2007. His 2
well taken goals in the home win over Bolton enabled United to stay 6 points
ahead of Chelsea with 8 games to go. Ji Sung suffered a knee injury and will be
out for a while.
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Darren "Dunc" Fletcher
Birthplace: Edinburgh 01/02/84 - Position: Midfield
- Squad Number: 24 - Debut: March 2003 - International Caps: 7 - Goals: 1
Darren
joined United as a trainee in July 2000 and turned professional in February
2001.
The Scottish midfielder made his Manchester United first team debut against FC
Basel in the Champions League on 12 March 2003, and made his second appearance
for the Reds two weeks later, again in Europe, against Deportivo La Coruna.
Fletcher was an integral part of United's 2003 Summer tour of the USA. The
Edinburgh-born midfielder came on as a substitute against Celtic, Club Americas
and Juventus - the latter of which he partnered Roy Keane in the centre of
United's midfield. And in the Reds' final game of their USA Tour, Sir Alex
Ferguson handed Fletch a starting place against Barcelona. A creative central
midfield player, Fletcher has represented Scotland at Youth and Under-21 level,
before finally earning his first full Scottish cap against Norway in Oslo on 20
August 2003. He came off the bench in the second half to make his much-awaited
full international debut. Darren played in 20 odd games in 02/03 and has
established himself in the senior squad for the 04/05 season. Darren has proved
to be an adequate squad member and has scored the odd vital goal to win matches,
especially in 2006/07.
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