Without a doubt the greatest manager in Manchester United‘s history, Sir Alex Ferguson won countless trophies and accolades at Old Trafford in a career spanning more than a quarter century. Helping him to achieve such incredible success were a litany of the greatest stars in club history – some of whom either retired as all-time greats or continue to play as best in the history of football.
From stars of the 1980s like Bryan Robson to the stars of the 90s like David Beckham to the star of today like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, ‘Fergie’ has had more than any manager’s fair share of stars who became legends under his watch.
Here is a ranking of the 10 greatest Man United legends to play for Sir Alex Ferguson:
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10. Bryan Robson
Though the 80’s were a much less successful time in Ferguson’s tenure than future decades, Robson was one of Man United’s brightest stars.
9. Peter Schmeichel
The greatest goalkeeper in Man United history? Certainly the greatest in Ferguson’s tenure.
8. David Beckham
Though their success together is almost unmatched, the messy divorce between Beckham and Ferguson ultimately pushes him down on the list of Fergie’s greatest players.
7. Roy Keane
Keane knew how to raise the bar of his teammates more than almost any other in club history – and continues to do so as an assistant for Ireland.
6. Eric Cantona
Though Cantona’s time with Ferguson was short compared to some of the other legends on this list, his dominance at forward led the club to four EPL titles in five seasons.
5. Wayne Rooney
Some thought Fergie was crazy for paying a record-breaking fee for a 19-year-old kid from Everton. A decade later, Rooney’s doubters are now the crazy ones.
4. Gary Neville
The legendary ‘one club man’ made over 600 appearances for Man United and one of the best defenders in the world for nearly 20 years.
3. Paul Scholes
Not many players earn the awe of Cristiano Ronaldo or Xavi, but Scholes was a special kind of player for Fergie.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
With his production at Real Madrid in the years since he left Ferguson behind, one has to wonder what kind of team Man United would be right now if he had stayed. His 2008 season was the greatest single year of any player in the club’s history.
1. Ryan Giggs
The smartest, most consistent and possibly most dominant midfielder of Ferguson’s era, Giggs is in a class of his own and can make an argument for being the greatest player in Man United’s history.