List of Manchester United F.C. players
This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Manchester United F.C. and/or Newton Heath F.C. Generally, this means players that have made 100 or more appearances (including appearances as a substitute) in first-class matches for the club. However, some players who have played fewer matches but have made significant contributions to the club's history are also included (e.g. Liam Whelan).
For a list of all Manchester United players, major or minor, with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Manchester United F.C. players. For the current Manchester United first-team squad, see the First-team squad section of the Manchester United F.C. article.
Players are listed according to the date of their first team debut for the club. Appearances and goals are for first-team competitive matches only; wartime matches are excluded.
List of players
David Beckham made 394 appearances for Manchester United between 1992 and 2003.
- Table headers
- Apps — Number of games played as a starter
- Sub — Number of games played as a substitute
- Total — Total number of games played, both as a starter and as a substitute
| GK | Goalkeeper | RB | Right back | RM | Right midfielder | RW | Right winger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | Central back | LB | Left back | LM | Left midfielder | LW | Left winger |
| DF | Defender | FB | Fullback | MF | Midfielder | W | Winger |
| FW | Forward | HB | Half back | CM | Central midfielder | ||
Statistics correct as of match played 6 December 2008
| Name | Nationality | Position | Manchester United career |
Appearances | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps (Sub) | Total | |||||
| Alf Farman |  |
FW | 1889–1895 | 121 (0) | 121 | 53 |
| Willie Stewart |  |
HB | 1890–1895 | 149 (0) | 149 | 23 |
| Bob Donaldson | |
FW | 1892–1897 | 147 (0) | 147 | 66 |
| Fred Erentz | |
LB | 1892–1902 | 303 (0) | 303 | 9 |
| Joe Cassidy | |
FW | 1893, 1895–1900 |
167 (0) | 167 | 99 |
| James McNaught | |
HB | 1893–1898 | 157 (0) | 157 | 12 |
| Dick Smith | |
FW/LW | 1894–1898, 1900–1901 |
100 (0) | 100 | 37 |
| Walter Cartwright | |
HB | 1895–1905 | 257 (0) | 257 | 8 |
| Harry Stafford | |
RB | 1896–1903 | 200 (0) | 200 | 1 |
| William Bryant | |
FW | 1896–1900 | 127 (0) | 127 | 33 |
| Frank Barrett | |
GK | 1896–1900 | 132 (0) | 132 | 0 |
| Billy Morgan | |
HB | 1897–1903 | 152 (0) | 152 | 7 |
| Billy Griffiths | |
HB | 1899–1905 | 175 (0) | 175 | 30 |
| Alf Schofield | |
FW | 1900–1907 | 179 (0) | 179 | 35 |
| Vince Hayes | |
RB | 1901–1907, 1908–1910 |
128 (0) | 128 | 2 |
| Jack Peddie | |
FW | 1902–1903, 1904–1907 |
121 (0) | 121 | 58 |
| Alex Downie | |
HB | 1902–1909 | 191 (0) | 191 | 14 |
| Alex Bell | |
HB | 1903–1913 | 309 (0) | 309 | 10 |
| Bob Bonthron | |
RB | 1903–1907 | 134 (0) | 134 | 3 |
| Harry Moger | |
GK | 1903–1912 | 266 (0) | 266 | 0 |
| Dick Duckworth | |
HB | 1903–1915 | 254 (0) | 254 | 11 |
| Charlie Roberts | |
HB | 1904–1913 | 302 (0) | 302 | 23 |
| Dick Holden | |
RB | 1905–1914 | 117 (0) | 117 | 0 |
| Jack Picken | |
FW | 1905–1911 | 122 (0) | 122 | 46 |
| George Wall | |
LW | 1906–1915 | 319 (0) | 319 | 100 |
| Billy Meredith |  |
RW | 1907–1921 | 335 (0) | 335 | 36 |
| Sandy Turnbull | |
FW | 1907–1915 | 247 (0) | 247 | 101 |
| George Stacey | |
LB | 1907–1915 | 270 (0) | 270 | 9 |
| Harold Halse | |
FW | 1908–1912 | 125 (0) | 125 | 56 |
| Arthur Whalley | |
HB | 1909–1920 | 106 (0) | 106 | 6 |
| Enoch West | |
FW | 1910–1916 | 181 (0) | 181 | 80 |
| Robert Beale | |
GK | 1912–1919 | 112 (0) | 112 | 0 |
| Jack Mew | |
GK | 1912–1926 | 199 (0) | 199 | 0 |
| Lal Hilditch | |
HB | 1919–1932 | 322 (0) | 322 | 7 |
| Jack Silcock | |
LB | 1919–1934 | 449 (0) | 449 | 2 |
| Joe Spence | |
FW | 1919–1933 | 510 (0) | 510 | 168 |
| Charlie Moore | |
RB | 1919–1921, 1922–31 |
328 (0) | 328 | 0 |
| John Grimwood | |
HB | 1919–1927 | 205 (0) | 205 | 8 |
| Teddy Partridge | |
FW | 1920–1929 | 160 (0) | 160 | 18 |
| Alf Steward | |
GK | 1920–1932 | 326 (0) | 326 | 0 |
| Ray Bennion | |
HB | 1921–1932 | 301 (0) | 301 | 3 |
| Arthur Lochhead | |
FW | 1921–1925 | 153 (0) | 153 | 50 |
| Harry Thomas | |
FW | 1922–1931 | 135 (0) | 135 | 13 |
| Frank Barson | |
HB | 1922–1928 | 152 (0) | 152 | 4 |
| Frank Mann | |
HB | 1923–1930 | 197 (0) | 197 | 5 |
| Frank McPherson | |
LW | 1923–1928 | 175 (0) | 175 | 52 |
| Tom Jones | |
FB | 1924–1937 | 200 (0) | 200 | 0 |
| Jimmy Hanson | |
FW | 1924–1931 | 147 (0) | 147 | 52 |
| Jack Wilson | |
HB | 1926–1932 | 140 (0) | 140 | 3 |
| Hugh McLenahan | |
HB | 1928–1937 | 116 (0) | 116 | 12 |
| Harry Rowley | |
FW | 1928–1932, 1934–1937 |
180 (0) | 180 | 55 |
| Tom Reid | |
FW | 1929–1933 | 101 (0) | 101 | 67 |
| George McLachlan | |
FW | 1929–1933 | 116 (0) | 116 | 4 |
| Jack Mellor | |
HB | 1930–1937 | 122 (0) | 122 | 0 |
| Tom Manley | |
HB | 1930–1939 | 195 (0) | 195 | 41 |
| George Vose | |
HB | 1933–1939 | 209 (0) | 209 | 1 |
| Jack Griffiths | |
LB | 1934–1944 | 173 (0) | 173 | 1 |
| Bill McKay | |
HB | 1934–1940 | 182 (0) | 182 | 15 |
| George Mutch | |
FW | 1934–1937 | 120 (0) | 120 | 49 |
| Thomas Bamford | |
FW | 1934–1938 | 109 (0) | 109 | 57 |
| Billy Bryant | |
FW | 1934–1939 | 157 (0) | 157 | 42 |
| James Brown | |
HB | 1935–1939 | 110 (0) | 110 | 1 |
| Johnny Carey |  |
FB | 1937–1953 | 344 (0) | 344 | 17 |
| Jack Rowley | |
FW | 1937–1955 | 424 (0) | 424 | 211 |
| Stan Pearson | |
FW | 1937–1954 | 343 (0) | 343 | 148 |
| Jack Warner | |
HB | 1938–1950 | 116 (0) | 115 | 2 |
| John Aston, Sr. | |
LB | 1946–1954 | 284 (0) | 284 | 30 |
| Allenby Chilton | |
HB | 1946–1955 | 391 (0) | 391 | 3 |
| Henry Cockburn | |
HB | 1946–1954 | 275 (0) | 275 | 4 |
| Jack Crompton | |
GK | 1946–1956 | 212 (0) | 212 | 0 |
| Jimmy Delaney | |
RW | 1946–1950 | 184 (0) | 184 | 28 |
| Billy McGlen | |
HB | 1946–1952 | 122 (0) | 122 | 2 |
| Charlie Mitten | |
LW | 1946–1952 | 162 (0) | 162 | 61 |
| John Downie | |
FW | 1949–1953 | 116 (0) | 116 | 37 |
| Ray Wood | |
GK | 1949–1958 | 208 (0) | 208 | 0 |
| Don Gibson | |
HB | 1950–1955 | 115 (0) | 115 | 0 |
| Mark Jones | |
HB | 1950–1958 | 121 (0) | 121 | 1 |
| Johnny Berry | |
RW | 1951–1958 | 276 (0) | 276 | 45 |
| Jackie Blanchflower |  |
HB | 1951–1958 | 117 (0) | 117 | 27 |
| Roger Byrne | |
LB | 1951–1958 | 280 (0) | 280 | 20 |
| David Pegg | |
LW | 1952–1958 | 150 (0) | 150 | 28 |
| Bill Foulkes | |
HB/RB | 1952–1970 | 685 (3) | 688 | 9 |
| Tommy Taylor | |
FW | 1953–1958 | 191 (0) | 191 | 131 |
| Liam Whelan | |
FW | 1953–1958 | 98 (0) | 98 | 52 |
| Duncan Edwards | |
HB | 1953–1958 | 177 (0) | 177 | 21 |
| Dennis Viollet | |
FW | 1953–1962 | 293 (0) | 293 | 179 |
| Freddie Goodwin | |
HB | 1954–1960 | 107 (0) | 107 | 8 |
| Albert Scanlon | |
LW | 1954–1960 | 127 (0) | 127 | 35 |
| Eddie Colman | |
HB | 1955–1958 | 108 (0) | 108 | 2 |
| Ronnie Cope | |
HB | 1956–1961 | 106 (0) | 106 | 2 |
| Bobby Charlton | |
FW | 1956–1973 | 756 (2) | 758 | 249 |
| David Gaskell | |
GK | 1956–1967 | 119 (0) | 119 | 0 |
| Harry Gregg | |
GK | 1957–1966 | 247 (0) | 247 | 0 |
| Shay Brennan | |
RB | 1958–1970 | 358 (1) | 359 | 6 |
| Albert Quixall | |
FW | 1958–1963 | 183 (0) | 183 | 56 |
| Johnny Giles | |
CM | 1959–1963 | 115 (0) | 115 | 13 |
| Nobby Stiles | |
HB | 1959–1971 | 394 (0) | 394 | 19 |
| Maurice Setters | |
HB | 1960–1964 | 194 (0) | 194 | 14 |
| Tony Dunne | |
FB | 1960–1973 | 534 (1) | 535 | 2 |
| Noel Cantwell | |
LB | 1960–1967 | 146 (0) | 146 | 8 |
| David Herd | |
FW | 1961–1968 | 264 (1) | 265 | 145 |
| Denis Law | |
FW | 1962–1973 | 398 (6) | 404 | 237 |
| David Sadler | |
Various | 1962–1973 | 328 (7) | 335 | 27 |
| Pat Crerand | |
HB | 1963–1971 | 397 (0) | 397 | 15 |
| George Best | |
FW/W | 1963–1974 | 470 (0) | 470 | 179 |
| John Connelly | |
FW | 1964–1966 | 112 (1) | 113 | 35 |
| John Fitzpatrick | |
RB | 1965–1973 | 141 (6) | 147 | 10 |
| John Aston, Jr. | |
LW | 1965–1972 | 166 (21) | 187 | 27 |
| Alex Stepney | |
GK | 1966–1979 | 539 (0) | 539 | 2 |
| Brian Kidd | |
FW | 1967–1974 | 257 (9) | 266 | 70 |
| Francis Burns | |
LB | 1967–1972 | 143 (13) | 156 | 7 |
| Willie Morgan | |
RW | 1968–1975 | 293 (3) | 296 | 34 |
| Steve James | |
HB | 1968–1975 | 160 (1) | 161 | 4 |
| Sammy McIlroy | |
CM | 1971–1982 | 391 (28) | 419 | 71 |
| Martin Buchan | |
CB | 1972–1983 | 456 (0) | 456 | 4 |
| David McCreery | |
MF | 1972–1979 | 57 (53) | 110 | 8 |
| Alex Forsyth | |
RB | 1973–1978 | 116 (3) | 119 | 5 |
| Lou Macari | |
MF/FW | 1973–1984 | 374 (27) | 401 | 97 |
| Gerry Daly | |
CM | 1973–1977 | 137 (5) | 142 | 32 |
| Brian Greenhoff | |
CB | 1973–1979 | 268 (3) | 271 | 17 |
| Stewart Houston | |
LB | 1974–1980 | 248 (2) | 250 | 16 |
| Stuart Pearson | |
FW | 1974–1979 | 179 (1) | 180 | 66 |
| Arthur Albiston | |
LB | 1974–1988 | 467 (18) | 485 | 7 |
| Steve Coppell | |
RW | 1975–1983 | 393 (3) | 396 | 70 |
| Jimmy Nicholl | |
RB | 1975–1982 | 235 (13) | 248 | 6 |
| Gordon Hill | |
LW | 1975–1978 | 133 (1) | 134 | 51 |
| Jimmy Greenhoff | |
FW | 1976–1980 | 119 (4) | 123 | 36 |
| Ashley Grimes | |
LB | 1977–1983 | 77 (30) | 107 | 11 |
| Joe Jordan | |
FW | 1978–1981 | 125 (1) | 126 | 41 |
| Gordon McQueen | |
CB | 1978–1985 | 229 (0) | 229 | 26 |
| Gary Bailey | |
GK | 1978–1987 | 375 (0) | 375 | 0 |
| Mickey Thomas | |
LW | 1978–1981 | 110 (0) | 110 | 15 |
| Kevin Moran | |
CB | 1979–1988 | 284 (5) | 289 | 24 |
| Ray Wilkins | |
CM | 1979–1984 | 191 (3) | 194 | 10 |
| Mike Duxbury | |
RB | 1980–1990 | 345 (33) | 378 | 7 |
| John Gidman | |
RB | 1981–1986 | 116 (4) | 120 | 4 |
| Frank Stapleton | |
FW | 1981–1987 | 267 (21) | 288 | 78 |
| Remi Moses | |
CM | 1981–1988 | 188 (11) | 199 | 12 |
| Bryan Robson | |
CM | 1981–1994 | 437 (24) | 461 | 99 |
| Norman Whiteside | |
FW/CM | 1982–1989 | 256 (18) | 274 | 67 |
| Paul McGrath | |
CB | 1982–1989 | 192 (7) | 199 | 16 |
| Mark Hughes | |
FW | 1983–1986, 1988–1995 |
453 (14) | 467 | 163 |
| Graeme Hogg | |
CB | 1984–1988 | 108 (2) | 110 | 1 |
| Clayton Blackmore | |
Various | 1984–1994 | 201 (44) | 245 | 26 |
| Jesper Olsen |  |
LW | 1984–1988 | 149 (27) | 176 | 24 |
| Gordon Strachan | |
RM | 1984–1989 | 195 (6) | 201 | 38 |
| Peter Davenport | |
FW | 1986–1988 | 83 (23) | 106 | 26 |
| Brian McClair | |
FW | 1987–1998 | 398 (73) | 471 | 127 |
| Steve Bruce | |
CB | 1987–1996 | 411 (3) | 414 | 51 |
| Lee Martin | |
LB | 1988–1994 | 84 (25) | 109 | 2 |
| Lee Sharpe | |
LW | 1988–1996 | 213 (50) | 263 | 36 |
| Mal Donaghy | |
CB/LB | 1988–1992 | 98 (21) | 119 | 0 |
| Mike Phelan | |
Various | 1989–1994 | 127 (19) | 146 | 3 |
| Neil Webb | |
CM | 1989–1992 | 105 (5) | 110 | 11 |
| Gary Pallister | |
CB | 1989–1998 | 433 (4) | 437 | 15 |
| Paul Ince | |
CM | 1989–1995 | 276 (5) | 281 | 29 |
| Denis Irwin | |
FB | 1990–2002 | 511 (18) | 529 | 33 |
| Ryan Giggs | |
LW | 1991– | 678 (97) | 775 | 146 |
| Andrei Kanchelskis |  /  |
RW | 1991–1995 | 132 (29) | 161 | 36 |
| Paul Parker | |
RB | 1991–1996 | 137 (9) | 146 | 2 |
| Peter Schmeichel | |
GK | 1991–1999 | 398 (0) | 398 | 1 |
| Gary Neville | |
RB | 1992– | 524 (29) | 553 | 7 |
| David Beckham | |
RM | 1992–2003 | 356 (38) | 394 | 85 |
| Nicky Butt | |
CM | 1992–2004 | 307 (79) | 386 | 26 |
| Eric Cantona |  |
FW | 1992–1997 | 184 (1) | 185 | 82 |
| Roy Keane | |
CM | 1993–2005 | 458 (22) | 480 | 51 |
| David May | |
CB | 1994–2003 | 98 (20) | 118 | 8 |
| Paul Scholes | |
CM | 1994– | 481 (97) | 578 | 139 |
| Andrew Cole | |
FW | 1995–2001 | 231 (44) | 275 | 121 |
| Philip Neville | |
Various | 1995–2005 | 301 (85) | 386 | 8 |
| Ronny Johnsen |  |
CB/CM | 1996–2002 | 131 (19) | 150 | 9 |
| Ole Gunnar Solskjær | |
FW | 1996–2007 | 216 (150) | 366 | 126 |
| Teddy Sheringham | |
FW | 1997–2001 | 101 (52) | 153 | 46 |
| Henning Berg | |
CB | 1997–2000 | 81 (22) | 103 | 3 |
| Wes Brown | |
RB/CB | 1998– | 277 (38) | 315 | 4 |
| Jaap Stam |  |
CB | 1998–2001 | 125 (2) | 127 | 1 |
| Dwight Yorke |  |
FW | 1998–2002 | 120 (32) | 152 | 66 |
| Quinton Fortune |  |
LW/LB | 1999–2006 | 88 (38) | 126 | 11 |
| Mikaël Silvestre | |
LB/CB | 1999–2008 | 326 (35) | 361 | 10 |
| John O'Shea | |
Various | 1999– | 226 (80) | 306 | 12 |
| Fabien Barthez | |
GK | 2000–2004 | 139 (0) | 139 | 0 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | |
FW | 2001–2006 | 200 (19) | 219 | 150 |
| Rio Ferdinand | |
CB | 2002– | 283 (4) | 287 | 7 |
| Darren Fletcher | |
CM/RM | 2003– | 143 (46) | 189 | 12 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo |  |
W/FW | 2003– | 212 (45) | 257 | 101 |
| Louis Saha | |
FW | 2004–2008 | 76 (48) | 124 | 42 |
| Wayne Rooney | |
FW | 2004– | 188 (21) | 209 | 83 |
| Edwin van der Sar | |
GK | 2005– | 161 (0) | 161 | 0 |
| Patrice Evra | |
LB | 2006– | 105 (15) | 120 | 2 |
| Nemanja Vidić |  |
CB | 2006– | 114 (5) | 119 | 8 |
| Michael Carrick | |
CM | 2006– | 97 (16) | 113 | 10 |
Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) is Manchester United's eighth highest all-time goalscorer.
Club captains
| Dates | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1878–1882 | Unknown | |
| 1882 |  E. Thomas |
First known club captain |
| 1882–1883 | Unknown | |
| c.1883–1887 | Sam Black |
|
| c.1887–1890 | Jack Powell |
First non-English club captain |
| 1890–1892 | Unknown | |
| 1892–1893 | Joe Cassidy |
|
| 1893–1984 | Unknown | |
| c.1894 | James McNaught |
|
| 1894–1896 | Unknown | |
| c.1896–1903 | Harry Stafford |
First captain of Manchester United |
| 1903–1904 | Unknown | |
| c.1904–1905 | Jack Peddie |
|
| c.1905–1912 | Charlie Roberts |
|
| 1912–1913 | George Stacey |
|
| 1913 | Dick Duckworth |
|
| 1914 | George Hunter |
|
| 1914–1915 | Patrick O'Connell |
|
| 1915–1919 | None | No football was played during the First World War |
| 1919–1922 | Unknown | |
| c.1922–1928 | Frank Barson |
|
| c.1928–1931 | Jack Wilson |
|
| 1931–1932 | George McLachlan |
|
| 1932 | Louis Page |
|
| 1932–1935 | Unknown | |
| c.1935–1939 | Jimmy Brown |
|
| 1939–1945 | None | No football was played during the Second World War |
| 1945–1953 | Johnny Carey |
First post-war captain, and first from outside the United Kingdom |
| 1953–1954 | Stan Pearson |
|
| 1954–1955 | Allenby Chilton |
Made captain for only one season, after Johnny Carey retired |
| 1955–1958 | Roger Byrne |
Died in the 1958 Munich air disaster |
| 1958–1959 | Bill Foulkes |
|
| 1959–1960 | Dennis Viollet |
|
| 1960–1962 | Maurice Setters |
|
| 1962-1964 | Noel Cantwell |
|
| 1964–1967 | Denis Law |
|
| 1967–1973 | Bobby Charlton |
|
| 1973 | George Graham |
|
| 1973–1975 | Willie Morgan |
|
| 1975–1982 | Martin Buchan |
|
| 1982 | Ray Wilkins |
|
| 1982–1994 | Bryan Robson |
Longest-serving captain in United's history |
| 1994–1996 | Steve Bruce |
|
| 1996–1997 | Eric Cantona |
First United captain from outside the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland |
| 1997–2005 | Roy Keane |
Won more trophies than any other United captain |
| 2005–present | Gary Neville |
First club captain to be born in Greater Manchester since Roger Byrne |
References
- "Official Manchester United website". Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
- "Red11.org". Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
- "Stretford End – The Website of Dreams". Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
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