On the 19th of May 2013, Manchester United’s most successful manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired from football management.

Fergie has been the best gaffer to grace the Premier League, with the Scotsman winning thirteen English top flight titles. His success lasted until the end as he secured his last title in his last season!

Throughout his time at Old Trafford, Sir Alex managed some brilliant world class talent. He also bossed some iffy players that didn’t hit the heights at United.

In his final game, Man United drew 5-5 with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns (Match Report – Sky Sports). ironically Romelu Lukaku, who has just left United himself, scored a hat-trick for the opposition that day.

Looking at that final starting eleven, a lot of those were players that didn’t realise their full potential at Man United.

So where are they now?

ANDERS LINDEGAARD

It’s strange to think that the Danish keeper fought tooth and nail for the number one jersey with David De Gea when the Spaniard first joined Man Utd.

Fast forward to the present day and De Gea is still United’s starting goalkeeper and one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, while has just joined Swedish side Helsingborg IF.

After losing his fight with De Gea, the Danish keeper left for West Brom in 2015 but he couldn’t win a spot in their team either. He would then have a spell in the Championship with Preston North End.

Anders finished his stint in England as the number four choice at Burnley. This summer he signed a two year deal with Helsingborg (Tipsbaldet), playing under one time United striker Henrik Larsson.

ANTONIO VALENCIA

The Ecuadorian winger joined Man Utd in 2019 and played at Old Trafford for ten years.

A big part of that was that he was industrious and would eventually fall back into the right-back position further down the role. Would often get up and down the line, working hard in getting the ball back and providing assists for teammates.

Would eventually become club captain in his final season but then had injury issues and couldn’t regain his place in the starting line-up.

Valencia left The Red Devils after playing 339 times for United and winning six major trophies with the club. Joined Ecuadorian side LDU Quito this summer.

ALEXANDER BÜTTNER

The Dutch left-back is one of those players that you forgot played for Man United. He joined as an understudy to Patrice Evra and always looked pretty raw in a United jersey.

In the end he only stayed at Old Trafford for two years, playing just thirteen league games before leaving for Dynamo Moscow. He couldn’t sustain his early promise there and spent a time on loan at Anderlecht before rejoining his first club Vitesse.

The left-sided fullback is now thirty years old and has still to reach 200 league appearances. In fact the Dutchman hasn’t played in 20 league games or more since his first stint at Vitesse in 2011-12.

JONNY EVANS

The Northern Ireland international worked his way through the youth ranks at United before making his senior debut for the club in 2007.

In the seasons after that he was a player that would come in if either Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand was missing from the starting line-up. He ended up making his most league appearances for The Red Devils during Fergie’s last term in charge. He would win three Premier League titles with the Manchester giants.

Left United in 2015 after Louis van Gaal clearly didn’t fancy him. He then impressed during his three years before joining Leicester City last year.

Is a smart pacy centre-back, who has the ability to pass the ball out of defence. Was probably unlucky that Ferguson retired when he did.

PHIL JONES

A player that’s still at the club but also a player that’s not reached his full potential at Man United.

Made his most appearances as a youngster during his debut year at United playing under Sir Alex and that was in the 2011-12 season. Joined from Blackburn Rovers for a reported £16.5m fee, with Fergie admiring the player’s commitment and leadership skills.

Unfortunately for Phil, injuries have always seemed to hamper him when he finally seems to find any form.

He’s fast becoming a caricature of himself, known more for his gurning faces rather than his tackles.

As I said, he’s still at Man Utd but is struggling to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this term with the Norwegian preferring Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

MICHAEL CARRICK

Carrick won numerous trophies with Manchester United, including the Champions League in 2008.

The midfielder was a classy operator who made things tick in the engine room. Was a player that was consistently selected, even after Fergie’s retirement. He could also play as a makeshift centre-half when required.

He became club captain in 2017 after Wayne Rooney’s departure. Michael retired as a player in 2018 after giving twelve years of service.

The former English international is now a first team coach at Old Trafford, working under current gaffer Solskjaer.

ANDERSON

The Brazilian was meant to be a superstar in the making when he joined from Porto for €30m in 2007.

Was meant to be a sublime number ten but the attacking midfielder never seemed to really get going at United.

Fergie didn’t have the best of times when working with Brazilian midfielders with Kleberson and Fabio Rochemback also failing to shine.

Anderson was technically good and had an eye for a pass but he had injury problems and often looked too heavy.

Stayed on at Man United for eight years and made 181 appearances and scoring just nine times. Went back to Brazil and played with Internacional and Coritiba. Last summer Anderson joined Turkish second tier side Adana Demirspor.

A player that just didn’t reach his potential.

TOM CLEVERLY

Tom was a young midfielder that came up through the ranks at Man United. He went out on various loan deals but did manage to break into the United senior side for Sir Alex’s last season in charge.

Kept his place within the squad during David Moyes tenure but then dropped out of the first team picture and ended up moving to Everton.

Has since joined Watford but missed a chunk of last season due to an achilles tendon injury.

A player that was always a decent back-up but not one that was really going to command a starting place in a Man United eleven. Will play with fellow former United graduate Danny Welbeck this season.

SHINJI KAGAWA

Shinji probably became the Asian Juan Sebastien Veron at Man United and that’s not a compliment. In that regard he was great in a foreign league but couldn’t do the same in England.

I don’t think it was really the player’s fault as much as managers struggled to find his best position. He would get crowded out by Wayne Rooney. Kagawa just didn’t get too much of a chance to shine in the number ten role.

The Japanese star lasted just two seasons at Old Trafford before returning to Borussia Dortmund.

Returned to form in Germany until injury struck and he was sold to Spanish second division side Real Zaragoza this summer!

ROBIN VAN PERSIE

Was the last superstar signing of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, arriving from Arsenal in 2012. He repaid Fergie’s faith in him by scoring twenty-six league goals in his maiden season as a Red Devil.

The gifted striker played a huge part in helping Fergie secure that last Premier League title. He bagged a wonderful hat-trick against Aston Villa in April 2013 in the game that confirmed the title that year!

The player was deeply disappointed by Ferguson’s decision to retire, as stated by teammate Rio Ferdinand:

‘The person it hit more than anyone was Robin. He’d come the year before, tasted that success and wanted more.’

‘Visually you could see it hit him harder than anyone else at the time.’

Via The Telegraph

Van Persie was never as prolific under Moyes or Van Gaal and left three years after signing for United. Injuries once again hampered his career, although he left with a healthy scoring record of 58 goals in 105 appearances.

The ageing attacker then had two seasons in Turkey with Fenerbahce before ending his career this summer after a second spell with first club Feyenoord. Robin is now a pundit with BT Sport.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

Fergie loved the Mexican and the striker enjoyed four full seasons at the club.

The striker would come alive in the penalty area and was a lover of a patcher’s finish. Ferguson seemed to treat the forward like Solskjaer and use him as a super-sub.

Wasn’t given the same game time under Moyes or Van Gaal, as those two coaches didn’t seem to appreciate the need to reliable squad players.

Had a loan spell at Real Madrid before being a prolific goalscorer for Bayer Leverkusen.

Is back in the Premier League with West Ham United and has bagged a goal this term.

Posted on August 22nd, 2019 by scott
Filed under: Article