Man United’s top 25 players of the Premier League era: Who comes out on top? Where does Bruno Fernandes rank after joining exclusive club? And which star names miss out?
Bruno Fernandes’ starring role in Manchester United’s comeback win over Crystal Palace on Sunday put him alongside Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in an elite club of Old Trafford stars who have reached a century in both goals and assists in the Premier League era.
But where does Fernandes sit in the pantheon of Premier League greats at United, given that he has yet to win a league title after more than six years at the club?
Rating players from different periods, teams and positions is always guaranteed to spark debate among fans who will all have their favourites, so here is Daily Mail Sport’s top 25 United players since the Premier League began in 1992…
Bruno Fernandes (left) has now hit a century of both goals and assists for Manchester United
25. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
United Games: 53 United Goals: 29
The charismatic Swede’s time at Old Trafford was short-lived, but he had an excellent strike rate even though didn’t join United until he was 34.
24. Patrice Evra
Games: 379 Goals: 10
The irrepressible Frenchman won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his United career.
23. Robin van Persie
Games: 105 Goals: 58
Signed from Arsenal to turn United into champions again, and lived up to expectations immediately, as he helped Sir Alex Ferguson win the title in his final season.
22. Paul Ince
Games: 281 Goals: 28
An influential figure in Ferguson’s first title-winning squad and a big character who didn’t always see eye to eye with the manager before his departure to Inter Milan in 1995.
Paul Ince, pictured with his son Tom after winning the title in 1994, was a hugely influential figure in the early Sir Alex Ferguson glory days
21. Andrei Kanchelskis
Games: 161 Goals: 36
A flying winger and fan favourite who was a big part of Ferguson’s 1994 Double-winning team, before being offloaded with Mark Hughes and Ince the following year.
20. Nemanja Vidic
Games: 300 Goals: 21
A Serbian defender carved out of granite who was the perfect foil for Rio Ferdinand as they forged an outstanding central defensive partnership.
19. Steve Bruce
Games: 417 Goals: 52
Captained United to their first title in 26 years and lifted the trophy with Bryan Robson, who would have been in the top 10 had his best years not been behind him by the dawn of the Premier League era.
18. Gary Neville
Games: 602 Goals: 7
The England defender was a perfect fit for Ferguson, both in terms of his partnership with David Beckham down the United right and his combative approach.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Champions League-winning heroics in the Nou Camp in 1999 guarantee him a place in Old Trafford folklore
17. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Games: 366 Goals: 126
Another huge favourite whose goals and Champions League-winning heroics in the Nou Camp in 1999 guarantee him a place in Old Trafford folklore.
16. Jaap Stam
Games: 127 Goals: 1
The fearsome Dutch defender didn’t spend long enough at Old Trafford to be on the upper reaches of this list, but the fact that fans still sing about him speaks volumes.
15. Mark Hughes
Games: 473 Goals: 163
Deserves to be higher up the list for his contribution to United earlier in his career when the top flight was still the First Division, but was a still a force after the advent of the Premier League.
14. Andy Cole
Games: 275 Goals: 121
Had an excellent strike rate and a deadly partnership with Dwight Yorke that played a big part in the Treble-winning success under Ferguson.
Andy Cole was the ultimate finisher and led United to eight major honours after joining from Newcastle United
13. Edwin van der Sar
Games: 266 Goals: 0
The Dutch goalkeeper would have been a contender anyway, but his shootout save against Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final seals it.
12. Denis Irwin
Games: 529 Goals: 33
Ferguson rates the under-stated Irish defender as his best signing as United manager, and the seven-time title winner deserves his place on the list for that alone.
11. Rio Ferdinand
Games: 455 Goals: 8
A supremely gifted and stylish defender who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during his Old Trafford career.
10. Bruno Fernandes
Games: 317 Goals: 105
Right place, wrong time for the United captain – who has become a talisman for an under-achieving team and posted remarkable stats despite the relative lack of success.
Ruud van Nistelrooy buries his penalty against Arsenal to end their 49-game unbeaten streak, one of 150 goals the Dutchman scored for United
9. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Games: 219 Goals: 150
The Dutch striker was one of the most deadly finishers in the game, before a fallout with Ferguson.
8. Peter Schmeichel
Games: 398 Goals: 1
The great Dane was one of Ferguson’s greatest signings and the best goalkeeper in the world for much of the 1990s.
7. David Beckham
Games: 394 Goals: 85
The England captain was a star of United’s Treble-winning team whose personal differences with the manager cut short his time in Manchester.
Roy Keane (left) and Wayne Rooney (right) have cracked the top six of our list
6. Roy Keane
Games: 480 Goals: 51
The fiery Irishman was the driving force behind Ferguson’s success before another fallout led to his acrimonious departure in 2005.
5. Wayne Rooney
Games: 559 Goals: 253
Old Trafford’s all-time record goalscorer, who beat the previous bests set by Sir Bobby Charlton for both United and England.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Games: 346 Goals: 145
Won the Ballon d’Or at Old Trafford before joining Real Madrid, and will go down as one of the greats… despite a less memorable second spell at the club.
3. Paul Scholes
Games: 718 Goals: 155
Another graduate from United’s famed Class of ’92 and one of the most gifted players ever to wear the red shirt.
2. Ryan Giggs
Games: 963 Goals: 168
One-club man whose United career spanned all of Ferguson’s success, earning him an incredible 13 titles and two Champions Leagues among an array of honours.
It’s King Eric Cantona who tops our list of the 25 greatest Manchester United players of the Premier League era
1. Eric Cantona
Games: 185 Goals: 82
The enigmatic Frenchman comes out on top, having been the catalyst for United’s first Premier League title in 1993 and the era of dominance that followed under Ferguson that took the club back to the summit of world football.
What do you think of Chris Wheeler’s top 25? Who’s too high? Too low? And has he missed anyone? Let us know in the comments…
