Manchester United have had some astounding central midfielders throughout the club’s illustrious history.
There have been key midfielders throughout Manchester United’s history, who have certainly played a key role in the club’s success.
Whether it’s Sir Bobby Charlton, who played a key role in rebuilding the club after the Munich air disaster, or Roy Keane, the iconic Manchester United captain who was incredible during the treble-winning season, United have had some iconic midfielders.
Here are the ten best United midfielders of all time.
10 – Ji-Sung Park
Starting off this list we have a potentially controversial choice in South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park, who moved to Old Trafford from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven back in 2005.
Fans remember Park fondly due to the South Korean’s energy, desire and his uncanny knack for scoring in the big games for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Andrea Pirlo surely still has sleepless nights having to play against the South Korean midfielder as he marked the Italian out of the game throughout United’s 4-0 victory over AC Milan back in 2010.
Park made 204 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 28 goals and providing 28 assists during his time in the North West of England.
9 – Paddy Crerand
Coming in at number nine is Paddy Crerand, the former midfielder, who was part of the European Cup-winning side of 1968 and remains a regular on MUTV.
Crerand joined the Red Devils in 1963 from Glasgow Celtic and was a key part of the rebuilding of United following the devastating Munich air disaster of 1958.
During his time at United, Crerand played over 300 games for the Red Devils under Sir Matt Busby and Wilf McGuinness. Future managers, however, would view the Irishman as a problem.
Nevertheless, he had to be included in our list.
8 – Nicky Butt
When you ask United fans about the class of ’92, David Beckham and Paul Scholes are the midfielders who are remembered the most but Nicky Butt was a key part of that winning machine for Ferguson’s side.
Steve Bruce has said that Butt was the only ‘natural’ player from the class of ’92 and the Englishman deserves a spot on our list.
Butt made 385 appearances for United during his time at the club, scoring 26 times and providing 28 assists.
7 – Nobby Stiles
A Manchester lad through and through, Nobby Stiles had to be included on our list, the image of a toothless Stiles dancing on the hallowed Wembley turf after the 1966 World Cup win is an iconic one.
Stiles was a vital piece of Sir Matt Busby’s United side as he clocked in over 400 appearances for the Red Devils won two league titles and the European Cup in 1968.
A tough tackling midfielder, Stiles laid on plenty of assists for the attacking talent of the team and even contributed to 19 himself.
6 – Lou Macari
Lou Macari remained at United for 11 brilliant years and had to be included in our list.
During the early days of Macari’s career, he was a striker before Tommy Docherty moved him down to a midfielder and this greatly improved his game.
Macari would go on to make 369 United appearances before eventually turning his hand to management when he left the club in 1984.
5 – Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick moved to United from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2006 and to this day the Englishman remains one of the most underrated players in Premier League history.
A deep-lying midfielder with an incredible passing range and the know-how about where to be at the right time meant he had to be on this list.
With 464 United appearances to his, Carrick would go on to become United captain before retiring in 2018.
4 – Bryan Robson
Before Roy Keane came along from Nottingham Forest, the original captain fantastic was Englishman Bryan Robson, who was captain for 12 years at United.
Lee Sharpe hailed Robson as ‘unbelievable’ and a manager on the pitch. Robson’s goalscoring ability and his natural quality to lead by example meant he had to be on our list.
During his time at Old Trafford, the midfielder would go on to make 413 appearances, scoring 91 goals in the process.
3 – Paul Scholes
What more can be said about Paul Scholes that has not already been said? Another product of the Class of 92′ and possibly the finest midfielder of his generation.
Sir Bobby Charlton hailed Scholes as his favourite player to watch and there has been plenty of praise for the Englishman, who made 713 appearances for United and scored 153 goals.
Scholes has always been compared to Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard but the Ginger midfielder should be in a league of his own.
2 – Roy Keane
When Bryan Robson departed United, there was some concern about who would provide that leadership on the pitch for the Red Devils that Robson did so well under Ferguson.
Well, Irish icon Roy Keane certainly did that and more. During his 12-year stint at Old Trafford, Keane became the player of a generation and was influential in helping the club win the treble in 1999.
Sadly, Keane and Ferguson don’t get on anymore but the Irishman will be remembered as one of the club’s greatest ever players.
1 – Sir Bobby Charlton
Does any other United player in history encapsulate what it means to play for the Red Devils more than the iconic Englishman?
Ryan Giggs has said he was in awe of Charlton and he has to go down as possibly the face of United.
Following the Munich air disaster, Charlton was vital for the club as he helped rebuild the team. He has a stand in his name at Old Trafford due to the work he did for the club, even after his playing days.
In 697 appearances for United, he scored 234 goals and provided 18 assists. There’s no real surprise he’s top of our list.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
