5 greatest Manchester United players of all time
Manchester United is the most successful club in English football's history and they have produced several legends of the game, over the years. With 13 Premier League wins, one European Cup and two Champions League honors, United have a glittering football record. United are known to groom talent rather than acquiring it. Here we look at the five greatest players of the club.
The Wazza of Old Trafford: Wayne Rooney
Rooney was brought to Old Trafford from Everton at the young age of 18 and began to shine from the very beginning. On his debut, Rooney scored a thunderous hat-trick against Fenerbahce in a Champions League tie. He went on to score 253 goals for United, becoming their highest ever goal-scorer. Rooney won 5 Premier Leagues and one Champions League with United.
The 1966 World Cup winner is another United legend
Bobby Charlton is, probably, Manchester United's greatest legend, having witnessed the club's darkest and brightest times from close quarters. Bobby, the second highest goal-scorer of United, was in the plane during the 1958 Munich tragedy, which claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players. He helped Matt Busby rebuild the team after the tragedy and helped them lift the European Cup, a decade later.
United's very own Ronnie: Cristiano Ronaldo
The season Beckham left United, they bought an 18-year-old Portuguese who was given Beckham's number 7 jersey. He started slow, but once he picked up pace, there was no looking back. Ronaldo scored goals after goals, netting in 118 times total, and won the Ballon d'Or in 2008. At United, CR7 bagged a Champions League, three Premier Leagues and an FA Cup.
The first footballing superstar: George Best
George Best was so popular during the sixties that he was sometimes referred to as the fifth Beatle. He is said to be football's first superstar- a path which would later be followed by the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo. Best was mesmerizing with his dribbles and goals, scoring 181 times and winning two First Division titles along with the 1968 European Cup.
The most decorated player in English football's history
The place of Ryan Giggs in the hearts of Manchester United fans is almost difficult to put into words. He joined them when he was 14 years old, and ended his career winning 13 Premier Leagues, 2 Champions Leagues, and 4 FA Cups. Giggs was a part of the FA Cup Team of the Century and the Premier League Team of the Decade.
Honorable mention: Paul Scholes
The contribution of Paul Scholes to Manchester United is unparalleled, but since this was a list of the five greatest players, we were not able to include his name. However, he remains in the hearts of United fans as a true legend of the club.
