Greatest Player under Alex Ferguson's Manchester United management in 25 years

SunSports saluting Alex Ferguson this week as he celebrates 25 years in charge of Manchester United although his team just lost triumph to the Toon recently.

Many of the game's great and good have congratulated the United boss on his outstanding achievement, including Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.

SunSport's TOM BARCLAY puts together what he thinks is Fergie's greatest XI from all the players he has managed during his tenure, plus a seven-man bench.  Here are 6 of top world-class players ever under Sir Alex Ferguson.

• SUB WINGER: David Beckham (1993-2003)

BECKS may still be going strong at 36, but his glory years were undoubtedly spent at United.

He emerged from teenage obscurity to global mega stardom under the watchful gaze of Alex Ferguson — and some suggest the latter had a part to play with his exit to Real Madrid in 2003.

In pure footballing terms, Beckham was the master of set-pieces and crossing, but his tenacity and commitment can never be called into question as his numerous comebacks demonstrate.

Graduated from the academy 

Appearances: 399 Goals: 87

Trophies: Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, Champions League, Intercontinental Cup

• STRIKER: Eric Cantona (1992-1997)

CANTONA only spent five seasons at United but such was his impact on English football, he simply has to make Ferguson's greatest XI.

Pinched from Leeds for £1.2million, the Frenchman became an instant hit with the Old Trafford faithful, leading the team to the first ever Premier League and United's first league title since 1967.

The lasting image of Cantona was his brilliant (bordering on arrogant), collar-up celebration after scoring a wonder goal against Sunderland — you wonder if he regrets calling it a day aged 30.

Signed from: Leeds for £1.2m

Appearances: 185 Goals: 82

Trophies: Four Premier League titles, two FA Cups

• LEFT-WING: Ryan Giggs (1990-present)

GIGGS is on 885 United appearances at present, what's the betting he'll make 1,000?

The Welshman's longevity at the highest level is unprecedented in the Premier League and his equalising goal against Benfica in the Champions League this season shows he's still got it.

He has had to adapt his game over the years, but as his Player of the Year award in 2009 demonstrated, he just seems to get better with age.

Graduated from the academy

Appearances: 885 Goals: 161

Trophies: 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups, two Champions League, Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

• CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Paul Scholes (1994-2011)

THE sheer fact that Alex Ferguson has deployed Wayne Rooney in midfield recently highlights the chasm left by Scholes' retirement.

One of the most decorated players in English football history, Scholes pulled the strings in United's midfield for 17 seasons, weighing in with 150 goals including some spectacular strikes that will be cherished for years to come.

When it came to England, though, perhaps he was ahead of his time, as you feel his tiki-taka style of play was never fully utilised by his various managers on the international stage.

Graduated from the academy

Appearances: 676 Goals: 150

Trophies: 10 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions League titles, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

• SUB GOALKEEPER: Edwin van der Sar (2005-2011)

THE biggest compliment you can pay Van der Sar is that he makes you think twice about Peter Schmeichel's inclusion in Alex Ferguson greatest XI.

Dutchman Ed was surprisingly overlooked by Fergie after Schmeichel's retirement but the Scot eventually got it right, picking him up from Fulham in 2005.

His calmness and vast experience played a vital role in the Champions League success of 2008, not to mention his penalty save from Nicolas Anelka's decisive spot-kick in the final against Chelsea.

Signed from: Fulham for £2m

Appearances: 266 Goals: 0

Trophies: Four Premier League titles, League Cup, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup

• CENTRE-BACK: Rio Ferdinand (2002-present)

FERDINAND may no longer be first choice at Old Trafford, but for the last nine years he's been arguably the finest centre-back in English football.

He became the most expensive defender in the world when he signed for Leeds from West Ham for £18million in 2000, only to go and blow that fee out of the water when signing for United for £30m two years later.

Combining a grace on the ball with a unwavering physical approach, not to mention his raw pace, Ferdinand has been a key member of a side that has picked up five league titles and a Champions League trophy since the turn of the Millennium.

Signed from: Leeds for £30m

Appearances: 369 Goals: 7

Trophies: Five Premier League titles, two League Cups, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup

source: www.thesun.co.uk
Picture, www.telegraph.co.uk, www.gloryglorymanu.com

Man Utd's Edwin van der Sar to retire at end of season

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire from football at the end of this season.

The 40-year-old former Netherlands international moved to Old Trafford from Fulham in 2005.

Van der Sar has made 245 appearances for the Red Devils and helped them to win three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.

"It is now time to pay attention to my family," he told the website of his management agency.

Van der Sar admitted he had been contemplating quitting the game since his wife, Annemarie, collapsed with a brain haemorrhage in December 2009.

"I cannot really identify a time when it [the decision] happened," said the former Ajax and Juventus player. "Let's just say that it was playing on my mind from the moment Annemarie had her stroke.

"She has fought back from it. We decided on another year in England and thus to stay at Manchester United.

"But, once engaged in the season, the thought of saying goodbye started to gnaw a bit more emphatically."

Van der Sar admitted it had been a difficult decision to make, but ultimately the correct one.

It is a difficult process. After a defeat, I thought differently than after playing a few good games in a row.

"My age played no role. I am 40 years old but I still feel fit.

"And then the decision came suddenly. Do not ask me how or why, but suddenly you know. That was sufficient.

"The time has come to devote greater attention to my family - although they have never complained. Everyone in the family has indeed always had to focus on me, but we have also had a lot in return."

United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele commented that Van der Sar will go down alongside Peter Schmeichel as one of the club's greats following his decisive penalty save from Nicolas Anelka in the Champions League shootout against Chelsea in 2008.

During the 2009/10 season, he set a new Premier League record by going 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal.

He has twice been named Europe's best goalkeeper by Uefa, has made the Premier League team of the year on two occasions and was named in the team of the tournament for Euro 2008.

He began his career with Ajax in his native Netherlands and enjoyed nearly a decade of success, winning four Eredivisie titles and three Dutch cups in addition to winning the Uefa Cup in 1992 and the Champions League in 1995.

He then spent two years at Italian club Juventus before moving to Fulham in 2001, and then to United four years later.

Van der Sar called time on his international career after Euro 2008 before returning briefly to help out Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk in two 2010 World Cup qualifiers a few months later, before retiring for good with a Dutch record 130 caps to his name.

United's Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who has been at the club since 2007, recently declared his desire to succeed Van der Sar as the club's number one.

However, United have been linked to several keepers and the club signed Denmark international Anders Lindegaard from Norwegian club Aalesund in November last year while Ben Amos, 20, went on loan to Oldham until the end of the season.

source: BBC Sports