The Daily Mail has looked at the greatest football teams of all time, with one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides coming second to the 1970 World Cup winning side (Felix, Brito, Piazza, Carlos Alberto, Everaldo, Clodoaldo, Gerson, Jairzinho, Tostao, Pele, Rivelino)
46 Manchester United (1994)
Schmeichel, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Kanchelskis, Keane, Ince, Giggs, Hughes, Cantona
English champions and FA Cup
Eric Cantona was bringing the good times back to United, while the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Ince and Ryan Giggs were emerging as heroes.
26 Manchester United (1968)
Stepney, Brennan, Dunne, Foulkes, Sadler, Crerand, Stiles, Charlton, Aston, Best, Kidd
European Cup winners
United beat Benfica at Wembley on a emotional night to win their first European Cup, with Bobby Charlton scoring twice, and George Best and Brian Kidd one each. Charlton cried into manager Sir Matt Busy’s arms ten years after the Munich disaster.
22 Manchester United (2008)
Van der Sar, Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez
English Champions, European Cup winners
Sir Alex Ferguson said he believes the United of 2008 to be the finest of his reign, and they certainly thrilled lovers of the game with some brilliant performances on the way to the league title, and a memorable European Cup final win over Chelsea in Moscow.
21 Manchester United (1958)
Gregg, Foulkes, Colman, Byrne, Jones, J Blanchflower, Scanlon, Charlton, Taylor, Edwards, Viollet
European Cup semi-finalists
United’s magical Busby Babes had already won two league titles and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1958 before eight of their players were killed in the Munich air crash. It remains one of football’s darkest ever days.
2 Manchester United (1999)
Schmeichel, Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole
Champions League winners, English league champions, FA Cup winners
Reached new heights with their fantastic Treble-winning achievement. The closing moments of that night in Barcelona turned a rather drab European Cup final into arguably the most dramatic of all time – and made legends of Sir Alex Ferguson’s XI.
Man Utd News 24/7
Not a bad team to come second to. I’m sure the treble team would have won the world cup if they could have played in it though. Easy.
Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Yorke, Cole
classic !
@phillyb
of course club football is more powerful.
the players play together almost whole year.
Lol, yeh was tongue in cheek.
thats cool and all that united are there a good few times and the top when it comes to club teams but
46 Manchester United (1994)
46, your having a laugh this team was unreal
What a team that treble team was!
GHTT you are right.The 94 team was unreal.
I watched the last 5 minutes of the 99 CL Final the other night… couldn’t wipe the smile off my face… that team gets number two without even considering Ole and Teddy! what an amazing team…
Amazing United teams. Although it bugs me a bit that they couldn’t mention Ole or Teddy.
I agree, the ’94 team was something else…So electric on the break, and solid at the back…All round great exciting team…Should be higher i believe…..
Its still extraordinary to think we did it: The Treble. As we’ve seen twice over the past two years the slightest mistake, by your own team, by a ref, and it could all be over. The games from March onwards come with such speed that you have to be on top of everything 24/7 to win the big three and the team of ’99 somehow managed it. Will it ever be done again..?
United4eva, I hope in Sir Alex’s time we do it once more.
For me there was something really special about the 1999 united team. It had everything
Schmeichel, Best Keeper in the world at that time
Neville – Solid! Rarely made a mistake! & Him and becks were nearly telepathic at times
Stam – The best center half i have ever seen! – I cried when Sir Alex Sold Him
Johnsen unfortunite with injuries But real quality! Complmented Stam Well
Irwin – Never remember him having a bad game! If he was 7 outa 10 it was a bad game for him! usually 8s and 9s
Beckham – No Pace But Killer pass and freekicks! Crossing the best i have ever seen
Keane – My Hero! A God. Best Centeral Midfielder i have ever seen! If any team had 10 keanes there would be nothing they wouldnt win! Although Might always finish the match with 9 or 8 men but along with a couple of goals and a clean sheet so cant complain!
Scholes The best Footballing brain and technical ability on the ball i have ever seen. Well with my own eyes!
Giggs – Pace, Dribble Dribble Pace! Quality!
Yorke, Cole – In their own right not World Class! I would say both were great players! Real Quality! But together they complimented each other well! – A world class partnership that i dont think i will ever see again!
Love to hear everyones views on my take!
Absolutely agree with your ratings Trevor. Will there ever be a better balanced midfield in Becks, Keano, Scholesy and Giggsy? I seriously doubt it. Back four were excellent like you say Irwin “Mr Dependable” I love seeing him on MUTV he really amuses me for some reason but what a fullback and what a shot/freekick he had. Johnsen is surprising really as I think he was under rated but he could really play as well, great on the ball.
Yorkie and Cole together were outstanding. Been a couple of games on MUTV from that season this week where Yorkie gets a hat trick or two. Think it was at Filbert Street one of em. Anyway great “team” but I really do like the 94 one. Will we see a better one under Sir Alex? Quite possibly the way things are going but back in 94 we were not accustemed to these sorts of teams and successes at United so that one really stands out for me.
It is amazing to think how many absolute quality teams Sir Alex has “assembled”
if we had a midfield like the 99 one, it would be a dream.perfect for a 4-4-2.
I totally agree that the 94 side should be higher,i was only 7 then but i still remember them as one of the best United sides i’ve ever seen. The class of 99 was of course on of a kind,i get goose bumps and shivers whenever i watch the final against Bayern or Giggsy’s amazing run against Arsenal even if i think that our finest performance from that season was the 2nd leg against Juventus.Now,i never thought it was possible but is this side actually BETTER than the 99 side? I know it might sound stupid but:
1) Sir Alex has always said that the only way to measure a club greatness is by judging their results in European football
2) We made the semi in 97 against Dortmund and the quarter final against Monaco in 98,we won in 99 and then we got knocked out in 00 e 01 n only reached the semi again in 02.
3)This team has already achieved a semifinal in 07,has won last year of course and we’ve given ourselves a great chance of be in another final,which would be the first back to back European final in the history of the club.
4)Of course let’s not forget the domestic titles,champions in 97-99-00-01 with the FA Cup in 99,but so far we have 2, possibly 3 titles in a row,a Carling Cup and a FA Cup final.
So,what do you think?I still think that the 99 was a better one than this,but the difference isn’t huge for sure
What players would u say were the starting 11 this season? Its really hard to say especially with the midfield: Ronaldo, Carrick, Park, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs… I sure dont know
That night in Barcelona gives me goosebumps. What a game, what a night. I celebrated as fuck!
Team of 94
I did rate the team of 94 i thought it had more flair and speed. Kanchelskis and Giggs on both flanks. Hughes the Target man & Cantona doing his thing
This is where the 99 team is better.
Yorke and Cole as a partnership was better than Huges and Cantona – Although if you compare each individualy ie as yorke against hughes – Id pick hughes —- Cole Against Cantona id obviously pick cantona!! But As partners cole and yorke for me go down as one of the best strike forces i ever had seen!
Wingers! well giggs is in both teams! So kanchelskis against Becks! For me i like something differnt I like players in the team complimenting each other! Kanchelskis was simular to giggs ( get the ball get to the biline and cross!) although very very fast! For me my preference would be becks – Why? We already had giggs running up and down the left like lightning! Becks crossing and Assists were top notch! Free kicks Say no more! Also his ability to defend and high workrate! Kanchelskis was not great defending had a simular ronaldo sickniess in that department at times!
In defence i couldnt knock pally and bruce they were awsome. so the only change i would make would be nevile for parker! Parker was quick but a bit light and not as competant as Nevile. Parker made more mistakes, didnt have the partnership with Kanchelskis that Nev had with becks! Etc
In honesty i do remember the 94 team more fondly. It is a strong memory of that era when we played Norwich!! We scored 3 or 4 goals that day and were absolutly stunning. All with speed. Giggs and Kanchelskis tore them appart. Their keeper didnt even know what hit him!
Gman – I think that has been fergies problem!!! Hence why he swaps and changes.
Without doubt i think giggs and scholes on their day are the best we have! Trouble is they are unable to play every game!
I RECKON THIS CURRENT SIDE IS UP THERE WITH THE 99 TEAM PURELY BECAUSE OF WHAT WEVE ACHIEVED / ACHIEVING IN EUROPE. QUICK NOTE ANYONE WATCHING BARCA vs REAL SHITRID .? IVE JUST SEEN PIQUE SCORE BARCAS 6th GOAL NOW THAT IS QUITE A TEAM ,THEY PLAY SOME BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL,HOPEFULLY THEY CAN KNOCK OUT THE RENT BOYZ NEXT WEEK
Barca scare the shit outa me! Why??? Because they are all on top form!
WE need to up it a gear to beat them in the final!
hello am from Ghana and am really dieing for the team i really everything about man united.Man United is going to beat Barcelona by 3 goals to 1.