Jaap Staam brought a solidity to the Manchester United defence that helped the club win the Treble in 1999. Photograph: Dave Kendall/PA
Peter Schmeichel
He cost £560,000 in 1991 and therefore ranks among the great bargains. The Dane reinstalled a stability to
Manchester United that let them prosper. For much of the time when United regained the title in 1993 he appeared invincible. There was a personality in proportion to his imposing physique that deterred forwards who were already aware of the shot-stopping excellence.
Gary Neville
He may not have been stirring in his advances on the flank, but the right-back could deliver a good cross from distance and thus took a little of the defenders' attention from David Beckham. The combativeness of Neville may have rankled with opposition fans, but it was a factor in United's control of that period.
Rio Ferdinand
There is an inevitable poignancy about a centre-back now succumbing to wear and tear, but for much of his time with the club he has been a mobile defender who could glide across the turf to halt attacks. In days gone by he might have been a sweeper and his all-round play assisted United in building from the back.
Jaap Stam
It was no accident that the advent of the centre-half coincided with a spree of trophies that included the Champions League. His outspoken nature was a cause of trouble and he was moved on to Lazio, but he made an impression that will not be forgotten.
Denis Irwin
As with Neville, the full-back was reliable as a defender and also knew how to take some opponents away from Ryan Giggs. In addition there was a composure in his delivery of free-kicks and the Irishman was trustworthy, too, from the penalty spot. That dependability counterbalanced the verve in United ranks.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Although David Beckham deserves great credit for achieving so much with a relatively narrow repertoire, the Portuguese was devastating and made his individualism count. The seasons from 2006-07 to 2008-09 saw him score a total of 66 league goals as United won three titles in a row. There was also the prize of the Champions League in 2008, where he scored in the final before missing a penalty in the shoot-out.
Roy Keane
He would typically be described as combative, but he was also a stabilising presence in midfield. His command and control were essential in United lineups where the flair and attacking intent would otherwise have caused a certain brittleness. There was range to his talent, too, as was demonstrated by half a dozen Champions League goals in the 1999-2000 campaign.
Paul Scholes
Few players have such a blend of imagination and determination. The competitiveness could go too far when he launched into dangerous and inept tackles, but, regrettable though it was, that was also a sign of his allegiance to the club. His superb timing made him an implausible if frequent scorer as a seemingly slight figure got into pockets of space despite the fact that defenders knew he was coming.
Ryan Giggs
An attacker who hopes for a long and glorious career has to be able to adapt. That task must be hard for a player who probably took his searing pace for granted as a young footballer. Giggs had the intelligence and readiness to add more variety to his play so that there were and still are hints of the playmaker about the Welshman.
Eric Cantona
It is difficult to think of Old Trafford as a place for featureless footballers, but Cantona, following the transfer from Leeds United for £1.2m, brought a particularly memorable showmanship to the club, as well as volatility that could lead to a red card and an attack on a fan at Crystal Palace. The element of surprise was more often found in the performances and, in his time, the winning of the league came to seem part of the natural order.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
There was nothing cunning or unexpected about the purchase of the Dutchman. The forward cost over £19m from PSV Eindhoven in the spring of 2001. His five seasons at United amounted to a prolonged vindication of that fee. A striker with the build of a target man and the mind of a poacher scored 150 goals.
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