Both Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson made some iconic signings at Old Trafford, but who makes it into GOAL's top 10?
Perhaps no club in the world is more famed for its production of homegrown talent than Manchester United.
From the Busby Babes to the Class of 92 – fantastic teams have been built on players who have come up through the ranks at Old Trafford.
But success at United has also been built on their ability to exploit the transfer market. Even Sir Matt Busby signed the best striker of his day in Tommy Taylor from Barnsley to spearhead his Babes.
Sir Alex Ferguson repeatedly broke transfer records to sign the very best – from Roy Keane to Rio Ferdinand.
The bar to entry is extremely high to make the top 10 of all time – so who were the best of the best?
Getty ImagesDenis Law
It takes a special player to be adored on both sides of Manchester – and Law was certainly that.
Nicknamed 'The King' by United fans, the British-record £115,000 signing from Torino paid back every penny of that fee and more during his time at Old Trafford.
Part of Sir Matt Busby’s ‘Holy Trinity’ alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, he terrorised defences home and abroad in the red of United.
He scored 237 goals in 404 appearances and has two statues erected in his honour at the Theatre of Dreams.
Law cruelly missed out on the 1968 European Cup final due to injury – but his role in Busby’s second great team will never be forgotten.
United fans even forgive him for his back-heeled goal for City at Old Trafford to relegate the Red Devils in 1974.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesBryan Robson
For so long, 'Captain Marvel' was the beacon of hope for despondent United fans.
During their years in the wilderness, it was Bryan Robson who carried the hopes of the club on his shoulders.
The ultimate swashbuckling midfielder, he would crash into tackles one minute and score from 25 yards the next.
He was well past his best by time Sir Alex Ferguson put together his first title-winning side in 1993 – but it was fitting that he could be part of United’s return to the summit of English football for the first time in 26 years.
Robson deserved to have so much more success – but without the £1.5 million signing from West Brom during those fallow years, things could have been so much worse.
Getty ImagesEric Cantona
Is he United’s greatest ever signing? There is a strong argument to say he is.
Eric Cantona was the catalyst and the inspiration for Ferguson’s first great side. To add to that, he was an absolute bargain at £1.2m – and also robbed bitter rivals Leeds United of their best player.
After leading Leeds to the title – at United’s expense – in 1992, Cantona headed to Old Trafford and kicked off a period of unprecedented success.
He won the title and then the double in his first two seasons, and though he was banned for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan the following year, he then returned to lead United to another double, while also inspiring a new generation, which included David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
In Cantona’s five seasons at Old Trafford, he won four league titles. The only time they weren’t crowned league champions was when he was banned.
A true icon.
Getty ImagesPeter Schmeichel
An absolute bargain at £550,000 – Peter Schmeichel remains the benchmark for United goalkeepers.
He would even be a strong contender for the finest keeper in the history of the game. Schmeichel changed the way the position is played, with his volleyball-inspired moves allowing him to pull off the most spectacular of saves.
His enormous throw became a key feature of United’s attacks – particularly when bowling the ball out to Ryan Giggs or Andrei Kanchelskis on the wings.
He won it all at United and bowed out in perfect style by captaining them to victory in the Champions League in 1999 to complete an unprecedented treble.