Goalkeeper
1
Lavelanet (France) 26/06/71
5ft11 (180cm)
12st 08lbs (80kgs)
13/08/2000
Fabien started his football career with Toulouse FC and played for them for three years (1989-1992). He
then left to play for Olympique Marseille and helped them win the European Cup in his first season.
He joined Monaco in 1995 and later won the French League Championship in 1997. The next season
he was part of the team that put Man Utd out of the Champions League. Barthez was the inspirational
goalkeeper for France during the World Cup in 1998 and helped them win it. He won another French
League Championship Trophy with Monaco in 1999/2000. He joined United on the 31st May 2000 and
played for France in the European Championships as a United player. He was a key player in the
final of the European Championships and France won 2-1 against Italy. United paid £7.8 million for
Fabien, the British record fee for a goalkeeper. Since his arrival at United, he has played very well and
has been compared to Peter Schmeichel because he also makes his presence known to the players.
Goalkeeper 17 Oldenzaal (Holland) 24/03/63 6ft3 (190cm) 13st 03lbs (84kgs) 21/09/1996
Raimond was bought by United in July 1996 as a second-choice goalkeeper to Peter Schmeichel.
His previous club was Vitesse Arnhem, and in total he played around 350 games for various clubs
in Holland. He brought his experience and skill with him to Old Trafford and showed it to United's
youth team goalkeepers when he had a spell as goalkeeping coach. He thought his chance for
regular first team games was near when Peter Schmeichel announced that he was going to retire,
however United bought Mark Bosnich in as first choice goalkeeper and Raimond was on the subs
bench yet again. But not many goalkeepers even those who get regular first team games in other
teams would have the medal collection Raimond has. His collection includes an F.A Cup medal(1998/1999),
Champions League winner's medal(1998/1999) and the Premiership winner's medal(1999/2000)
Defender 24 Manchester (England) 13/10/79 6ft1 (185cm) 11st 11lbs (75kgs) 04/05/1998
Wes was signed as a trainee after leaving school in July 1996 and was signed as a professional
just four months later in November 1996 which just shows how much United wanted him. He is a
former student at the F.A School of Excellence, and in his first year at Old Trafford he won the
Youth F.A Cup and a Lancashire League Division One medal. His first appearance in the first team
was against Leeds when David May was substituted. A few seasons later he was constantly playing
first team football when Denis Irwin had a spell with re-occurring injuries. He showed a lot of potential
and maturity and hopes to gain a regular first team place this season after a knee injury which
ended his hopes for last season before they even started. Wes was an international player at the under
18 and under 21 level and received his first cap for the senior England team against Hungary.
Defender 3 Cork (Rep.Ireland) 31/10/65 5ft8 (173cm) 10st 10lbs (68kgs) 18/08/1990
Alex Ferguson bought Denis in the summer of 1990 for a fee of £625,000, a mere fee especially
compared to today's standards. He is currently the longest serving United player, and has an
impressive collection of medals that include European Cup Winner's Cup medal, five premiership
medals, two F.A Cup medals and a Champion's League medal. He retired from International football
for the Republic of Ireland in January 2000. Denis has played at all levels for the Republic of
Ireland; schoolboy, youth, under 21 and full international.
Defender 5 Sandefjord (Norway) 10/06/69 6ft3 (191cm) 13st 02lbs (83.4kgs) 17/08/1996
Ronny was bought from Besiktas for £1.5 million in the summer of 1996. He was bought
as a replacement for Steve Bruce who had just left on a free transfer, and he played quite
frequently through injuries to Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin. His league debut was against
Wimbledon on the first day of the season (1996/1997). He has played for teams such as
Stokke, Eik Tonsberg, Lyn Oslo and Lillestrom (all in Norway) as well as Besiktas (Turkey).
He is a very versatile player as well as skilful and displayed this when he played in midfield
when Roy Keane was injured for most of the season. He can also play centre-half or full-back.
He won his first medal (ever) in 1997 when United won the Premiership. He hopes to get
regular first team football this season since he spent all last season with a serious knee injury.
Defender 2 Bury (England) 08/02/75 5ft11 (180cm) 11st 07lbs (73kgs) 16/09/1992
Gary joined United in 1991 as a schoolboy, and signed as a professional eighteen months later
in January 1993. He made his first senior appearance for United in the UEFA Cup in September
1992 against Torpedo Moscow. Gary became a regular first team player in the 1994/1995 season
and replaced the injured Paul Parker. The following season he collected a medal for winning the
Premiership. He was picked for England's Euro'96 squad that summer by Terry Venables. In 1997
he picked up another Premiership League medal. He was also picked by Glenn Hoddle to be in the
England squad for the World Cup in 1998 and played three out of their four games. In the historical
season when United did the "Treble", Gary picked up all three medals. Last season he also got a
Premiership medal bringing his total Premiership medals to four. Gary can also play centre-half as well
as wing-back.
Defender 12 Bury (England) 21/01/77 5ft11 (180cm) 11st 11lbs (75kgs) 28/01/1995
Phil joined Manchester United in 5th July 1993 as a trainee, less than twelve months later he
was signed as a professional. His debut was in a Manchester derby at Maine Road in February
1995. Phil has won four Premier League medals, two F.A Cup medals and a Champion's League
medal, he also won the F.A Youth Cup in 1995 as captain. Along with his brother he was chosen
to play in the England squad for World Cup' 98, and also in Euro' 2000 he was picked for England
but unfortunately he gave away the penalty that knocked England out. Phil is the youngest united
player to ever win the Premier League and F.A Cup. Recently Alex Ferguson was chosen to pick his
team of the decade and Phil Neville was amongst the eleven.
Defender 27 Chambray-Lous- Tours (France) 09/08/77 6ft (184cm) 13st 01lbs (83kgs) 11/09/1999
Silvestre signed for Manchester United on the 10th September 1999. He primarily plays at
centre-half but can also play full-back if the need arises. United signed him from Inter Milan
who also spotted his potential. Silvestre took a while to settle into English football but still
showed signs of his skill and pace during the games he did play. He eventually became a
regular alongside Jaap Stam in central defence and played in key games both domestically
and in Europe. At just 22 he has a big future ahead of him and he's at the right club
to improve his skills and maturity.
Midfielder 7 Leytonstone (England) 02/05/75 5ft11 (180cm) 10st 08lbs (67kgs) 23/09/1992
David Beckham signed for Manchester United as a trainee on the 8th July 1991. On the 2nd April 1995,
he made his Premiership debut at Old Trafford against Leeds Utd. Beckham established himself in
1995/1996 double winning team playing mainly on the right hand side in midfield to fill the gap left
by Kanchelskis. His free-kick goals have made him a famous name, especially the half-way kick goal
against Wimbledon in the 1996/1997 season. His performances in this season won him the Young
Player of the Year nominated by fellow professionals. The next season, he won the same award
and in the same season he helped United to win the Premiership again. During World Cup' 98 he
was sent off for kicking, and a massive amount of abuse soon followed. But he proved how mature
he was and how much he loves United by sticking with them through the chants and verbal abuse
that 'so-called England fans' shouted at him when he clearly could have left and walked into the
first team of any European team.
Midfielder 8 Manchester (England) 21/01/75 5ft10 (178cm) 11st 05lbs (72kgs) 21/11/1992
Nicky Butt signed for Manchester United as a trainee in July 1991 and turned professional
in January 1993. His first team debut was against Charlton Athletic on the 21st November 1992
as he came on as a substitute for Paul Ince. In the 1994/1995 season he had a regular place
in the team, a year later he won both the F.A Cup and the Premiership with United. Nicky
Butt took Schole's place in the line-up against Bayern Munich since Scholes was suspended
with Roy Keane. By the end of the season 1999/2000 Nicky Butt had just won his fourth
Premiership medal, as well as having 2 F.A Cup medals and a European Cup medal. Nicky
Butt's playing style keeps him in the referees' notebook, but he is a good tackler and works
well with his team mates.
Midfielder 25 Cape Town (South Africa) 21/05/77 5ft11 (180cm) 11st 11lbs (75kgs) 30/08/1999
Quentin Fortune was signed by Manchester United in 1999 for £1.5 million. He is an attacking
player and has been compared to Ryan Giggs. He has won many admirers in his first season
at Old Trafford due to his style of playing and skill. Alex Ferguson has yet again bought a
good player with a lot of potential for a small fee.
Midfielder 11 Cardiff (Wales) 29/11/73 5ft11 (180cm) 10st 10lbs (68kgs) 02/03/1991
Ryan Giggs was signed as a schoolboy by Alex Ferguson who personally made the visit to
his house to secure the deal. Ryan Giggs signed as a professional in November 1990, aged
just 17. His League debut was on the 2nd March 1991, against Everton at Old Trafford when
he was brought on as a substitute for Denis Irwin. The next season, he got a regular place
on the team because Lee Sharpe was out injured. He was the youngest ever player to play
for Wales, he was 17 years and 321 days old when he played after coming on as a substitute
against West Germany. Ryan is one of the most talented players in Europe, a fast winger with
incredible ball skills, he has scored many memorable goals for United. His medal collection
includes League Championship medals 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, three F.A Cup
medals in 1994, 1996 and 1999, and the European Cup medal in 1999.
Midfielder 16 Cork (Rep.Ireland) 10/08/71 5ft11 (180cm) 12st (76kgs) 07/08/1993
Roy Keane was bought by Manchester United in 1993 for £3.75 million from Nottingham Forest,
a record fee at the time. Since then his determination, personal drive, and tackling skills
have won United many games. When Cantona retired from the club in 1997, Roy Keane took
the job as captain of the team. He is often referred to as 'the engine room of the team'
because of his high work rate, and it has paid off. He has won five Premiership Trophies, three
Doubles (1994,1996,1999) and the European Cup with United and was a very influential
player in every one of them. In 1997/1998, he was injured for most of the season and it showed,
United were losing games, as well ball possession in most games. But he battled back
to 100% fitness and in the 1998/1999 season he helped United to an unprecedented 'Treble'.
Unfortunately he missed the European Cup final due to suspension, even though he knew
this in the semi-final after being yellow-carded, he still fought on to win the game and get his
team to the final. 
Midfielder 18 Salford (England) 16/11/74 5ft7 (170cm) 11st 09lbs (74kgs) 21/09/1994
Paul Scholes was signed by Manchester United as a trainee on the 8th July 1991 and turned
professional eighteen months later in January 1993. He was part of the youth team that
won the F.A Youth Cup in 1992. His league debut was against Ipswich on the 24th September
1994, where he scored both United's goals in a 3-2 defeat. In 1994/1995, he took Cantona's
place since Cantona was suspended. The following year he was part of the team that completed
the historic 'Double Double'. Paul Scholes has become an important player in United's
team and scores vital goals when United need them the most. Paul Scholes played all four games
for England in World Cup' 98 and scored in their opening match against Tunisia.
Paul Scholes is the first player since Norman Whiteside o score a competitive goal for United on
Italian soil, he scored the equalising goal against Inter Milan, a game that ended 1-1.
Forward 19 Canaan, Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago) 03/11/71 5ft9 (175cm) 12st 07lbs (79.4kgs) 22/08/1998
Dwight Yorke was signed by Manchester United in August 1998 for £12.6 million from Aston Villa.
In his first season with United, he was instrumental in the success of the 'Treble', scoring 29 goals
in total for the season as well as setting up goals for others such as Andy Cole. At the end of the
season he was named 'Player of the Year'. In his second season at United he helped them to win
the Premiership for the sixth time, he became the first player since Brian McClair to score more
than 20 goals in one campaign.
Forward 9 Nottingham (England) 15/10/71 5ft10 (178cm) 12st 04lbs (78kgs) 22/01/1995
Andy Cole was signed by Ferguson in 1995 for £6.25 million from Newcastle, a record fee at the time.
In his first season he scored 12 goals in 17 appearances, five of them from United's record win over Ipswich 9-0.
He collected both the F.A Cup medal and the League Championship medal the following season when
United completed the 'Double'. Cole was United's top goalscorer with 25 goals in 1997/1998. Cole played
some of the best football in his career when Dwight Yorke came onto the scene. They both seemed unstoppable.
In the 1999/2000 season, they both scored 45 goals between them, he scored his hundredth goal against
Wimbledon, a fantastic achievement in just six seasons. He has currently equalled Denis Law's club record of
fourteen European Cup goals, his medal collection includes four premiership medals, two F.A Cup medals
and a European Cup medal
Forward 20 Kristiansund (Norway) 26/02/73 5ft9 (174cm) 11st 09lbs (74kgs) 25/08/1996
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was signed by Manchester United in 1996 for £1.5 million from Molde FC.
He scored on his debut and ended the season with 19 goals, as well as a Premiership
League medal. When Dwight Yorke was signed, rumours were going around that Solskjaer was
going to leave, but he stayed and fought for a place in the team. He mostly came on
as a substitute but scored plenty of goals anyway, and was soon dubbed by newspapers as a
'Super-Sub'. He scored four goals against Nottingham Forest, the game ended 8-1, a new
Premiership record away win. In the European Cup final against Bayern Munich, towards the
end of the match as it looked like United's dream of claiming the prized cup was disappearing,
Solskjaer was brought on as sub, never knowing that he was the player that would end the 31
year wait for United to win the European Cup for the second time. He scored in the dying
seconds of the game that handed United the 'Treble'.
Forward Oss (Holland) 01/07/76 6ft2 (188cm) 12st 07lbs (79.4kgs)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy signed for Manchester United on the 23rd April 2001 almost a year after
his original move to Old Trafford was ruled out on medical grounds. He signed for £19 million
from PSV Eindhoven. Ruud joined PSV Eindhoven in 1998 for £4.2 million which was a record
for the club at the time. He ended his first season as top goal scorer in the Dutch League and was
voted Dutch Player of the Year by his fellow professionals. He also finished second in the European
Golden Boot Rankings. Before his injury in April last year he had scored 29 goals in 23 games for PSV
and still finished top goalscorer for the club. Ruud officially joins the club on the 1st July 2001.