Top 5 Greatest Manchester United Players in Premier League History
The top 5 Manchester United players in the Premier League Era
In this article, we’re kicking off a new series of the top five players in Premier League history, considering the best players in all the top football clubs.
Next up is Manchester United.
5. Ryan Giggs (1990-2014)
Ryan Giggs and Manchester United were a match made in heaven. Making his way to the club as part of the “Class of 92”, Giggs forged his own path and reached historic heights playing for just one club.
A consistent outlet for United, Giggs’ pace and dynamism made him a constant threat on the left-hand side and a key aspect of United’s trophy-laden years.
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is Giggs’ transition from an attacking wide player to a central midfielder where he used his vision and football IQ to prolong his career, as well as leading Manchester United to achieve their best.
Giggs ended his professional career with 168 goals and 162 assists in 963 appearances, a football record.
Giggs won 30 honours during his time playing for Manchester United, which is the most honours won by any British player. Out of all the records Giggs set during his career, I reckon that is the most untouchable of them all.
4. Eric Cantona (1992-1997)
Eric Canton is, without a doubt, the most charismatic player in Manchester United history, and perhaps in Premier League history.
As well as influencing young football fans to turn up the collars on their shirts, Cantona had a huge impact on Manchester United in the early 90s and set them on a path of glory long after his departure in 1997.
When Sir Alex Ferguson says a player can illuminate Old Trafford, that’s when you know you have something special on your hands. In his five seasons at United, Cantona won the league four times as well as two FA Cups and three Charity Shields.
It’s rare to see such an impact made in the relatively short time Cantona spent playing for Manchester United, but it wasn't just his performance on the pitch that gripped the city- it was his relentless pursuit of winning, and the utter self-belief of knowing he is the best.
In 2002 the official magazine of Manchester United, Inside United, conducted a poll that saw Eric Cantona voted United’s greatest-ever player. While he may only be fourth on my list (from 1992 onwards) it will be easy to understand once you read the rest of my list.
3. Paul Scholes (1993-2011) (2012-2013)
Perhaps the greatest technician this country has produced, Paul Scholes is a rare breed- and I don’t think we’ll see somebody with half of his talent in a long time.
Scholes was the epitome of a complete midfielder and was usually earmarked as the most important player in the United team spanning from the late 90s up until his retirement.
I don’t know if any other player has retired, come back for 18 months because their former club had injury problems, and bossed the team on their way to a league title- but that’s what Paul Scholes did.
There are certain players the media ignore for whatever reason, and it's usually those who don't get the mass media attention that are respected the most by those who matter- their opponents. Scholes was one of these players.
The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Xavi, Patrick Vieira, and countless others have heaped praise on Scholes and spoken about just how great he was.
Scholes won 11 Premier League titles, more than any other English player, and won 25 honours in total while playing for Manchester United.
2. Wayne Rooney (2004- 2017)
Wayne Rooney is the greatest goalscorer in Manchester United and England history. I do feel a little bit guilty having him second on this list- but I’m running with it!
Rooney was the original young player, bursting onto the scene with that famous goal for Everton against Arsenal, and subsequently his record-breaking move to Manchester United.
In my opinion, Rooney is the greatest player this country has produced and some say “he burnt out too quickly”.
If you played football at the highest level for 15 years from when you were 16 years old, let’s see how you would do.
I hate to reduce Rooney to just goals because he was so much more- and that’s what makes him so crazily good- but he scored double-digit goals in the Premier League 11 years in a row, which is incredible.
Rooney netted 183 Premier League goals for United (208 in total) which places him second for most goals by a player for any single club behind Sergio Aguero.
Rooney also contributed 103 assists in his Premier League career, putting him third in the all-time assist leaderboard, behind Cesc Fabregas and his former teammate Ryan Giggs.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-2009) (2021-2022)
While the peak of his career was spent at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo was just so great that he essentially had two careers in one.
With United, we saw a confident-bordering-on-cocky youngster transform into a magnificent player who was a machine every time he stepped onto the field.
Out of everyone on this list, Ronaldo is the only one to win the Ballon d’Or. This was the first of five to be won by United, following the 2007-08 Premier League and Champions League triumph.
Ronaldo was the most entertaining player in the Premier League in his first stint at United, and for me, he is the second greatest player to play in the league, behind Thierry Henry.
I hate to admit it, but when his return to United was confirmed, I was extremely jealous and excited, all at the same time.
Even as a Liverpool fan, I want to see the best players play in the Premier League, and witnessing Ronaldo return to the club where he made his name, rather than going to Manchester City, tugged at my heartstrings.
How he left, and under the darkest of clouds was a sad end to his legacy with the club.
I'm sure there will be Man United fans vehemently disagreeing with this list. You might think Ronaldo shouldn’t be first, or I shouldn’t have left out Denis Irwin, Rio Ferdinand, and many more great players.
That’s part and parcel of Manchester United being a massive club, and there are going to be people left out that don’t deserve it- but what can I do?
