11. Ryan Giggs

keys: manchester united | Ryan Giggs| Midfielder | Ryan Giggs profile | Ryan Giggs photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	29 Nov 1973
Birthplace:	Cardiff, Wales
Position:	Midfielder
Appearances:	736
Joined United:	09 Jul 1990
United Debut:	02 Mar 1991 v Everton (H)
International	Wales

Ryan Giggs is the club’s most decorated player with 18 major honours, yet he might never have graced Old Trafford had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s intervention.

Cardiff-born Giggs was attending Manchester City's School of Excellence in his early teens, but Sir Alex made a personal visit to his house on his 14th birthday and Ryan jumped at the chance to sign for his boyhood club.

He turned professional at United in November 1990. He made his League debut in the old Division One against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 as a substitute for Denis Irwin. The following season his first

League start proved a memorable occasion, scoring his first ever United goal (albeit via a deflection) in a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Injury to Lee Sharpe enabled Giggs to pin down a regular place at the start of the 1991/92 campaign, thanks to his mesmerising dribbling skills and blistering pace. His first trophy arrived in April 1992 as United beat Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final, and the following season saw Giggs claim the first of his record nine Premiership winners’ medals.

His impressive trophy haul also contains European Cup, European Super Cup and Inter-Continental Cup winners’ medals, while he has played a part in four of Sir Alex Ferguson's five FA Cup triumphs. The prestigious cup competition will forever be synonymous with the Reds winger after his superb solo effort in the semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park in April 1999.

Ryan celebrated 10 years at Old Trafford with a testimonial match against Celtic in 2001/02. A year later he bagged his 100th career goal in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and became only the second ever player to play 700 games for United when he helped the Reds to a dramatic 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in March 2007. The

club's all-time appearance record holder is Sir Bobby Charlton (759) and Giggs is well on the way to surpassing that figure.

The Welsh captain played an integral role in United's 2006/07 title-winning season and was lauded by players and pundits alike. It was a record ninth triumph for Giggs and it edged him ahead of previous record holder Alan Hansen, who scooped eight titles during his Liverpool days.

Having retired from international football in June 2007 with 64 caps and 12 goals, Giggs was promptly honoured again - this time with an OBE as he was included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to football. The United winger signed a contract extension in October 2007 which will keep him at the club until at least June 2009.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

Touchline ban for Sir Alex

The FA have handed Sir Alex Ferguson a two-match touchline ban and a £5,000 fine for his outburst towards referee Mark Clattenburg.

The United manager will have to watch the Reds' matches against West Ham and Birmingham City from the stands as a result of the ruling.

Sir Alex had earlier admitted the charge for comments he made to Clattenburg at half-time during United's defeat at Bolton last month.

A statement from the FA read: "At a Regulatory Commission hearing yesterday, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was given a two-match touchline ban, starting on Friday 28 December. He was also fined £5,000.

"As he did not request a personal hearing, the case was dealt with on the basis of written statements and video footage."

source: http://www.manutd.com

Scholesy on schedule

Paul Scholes' recovery from a knee operation is on schedule and, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, the midfielder will be able to resume full training in six weeks.

The veteran star has been out of action since suffering cartilage damage ahead of United's Champions League trip to face Dynamo Kyiv.

"He went to see the specialist last week," revealed Sir Alex. "He's going to start straightforward running next week.

"All being well, he'll be back in full training with us in six weeks' time."

If Sir Alex's timeline proves accurate, Scholes could be available for selection when Portsmouth visit Old Trafford on Wednesday, 30 January.

10. Wayne Rooney

keys: manchester united | Wayne Rooney | Striker | Wayne Rooney profile | Wayne Rooney photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	24 Oct 1985
Birthplace:	Croxteth
Position:	Striker
Appearances:	161
Joined United:	31 Aug 2004
United Debut:	28 Sep 2004 v Fenerbahce (H)
International	England

Wayne Rooney is a player in a hurry. He burst onto the Old Trafford stage in September 2004, just as he had burst into the Premiership with Everton, and has become arguably United’s most important player.

Much was expected of the England’s 18-year-old hero of Euro 2004 when he swapped Everton, his boyhood club, for the Reds in August of that year. Yet becoming the world’s most expensive teenager - £20m rising to a possible £30m – did little to phase him.

In his very first game at Old Trafford he produced a stunning display, putting behind him the frustrations of a metatarsal injury, to blast an

unforgettable debut hat-trick past a shell-shocked Fenerbahce.

It was a fairytale start to his United career and very much a sign of what was to follow. By the end of the 2004/05 campaign he’d amassed 17 goals in 43 appearances. Sadly he missed out on his first winners medal – United losing on penalties to Arsenal in the FA Cup final – but was rightly named PFA Young Player of the Year.

Rooney’s second season at Old Trafford saw him again take huge strides, justifying his billing as one of the world’s most exciting young talents. He netted the Reds first goal of the season against Debreceni and ended the season with 19 goals in 48 matches. It was a contribution that saw him named both Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year by fans and PFA Young Player of the year (again) by his fellow professionals.

The young striker openly endeavours to better his goals tally each season, and the 2006/07 campaign saw Rooney achieve his aim with 23 strikes as he shook off a difficult World Cup with England.

Rooney's red card during England's quarter-final defeat to Portugal caused a media storm in Britain, not least because of the involvement of United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, but Wayne rose above

the controversy to register another excellent year at United.

A long goalscoring drought was emphatically ended with a stunning hat-trick at Bolton, while doubts over his ability to find the net in Europe were well and truly banished as he netted four goals in the Champions League latter stages; home and away against Roma and a brace at Old Trafford against AC Milan.

The development of the man Sir Alex describes as “the best young player I have seen in my time” continues at a rate which causes either exhilaration or consternation, depending on who you support.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

9. Louis Saha

keys: manchester united | Louis Saha | Striker | Louis Saha profile | Louis Saha photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	08 Aug 1978
Birthplace:	Paris, France
Position:	Striker
Appearances:	114
Joined United:	23 Jan 2004
United Debut:	31 Jan 2004 v Southampton (H)
International	France

The celebratory champagne quaffed after clinching the Premiership title probably had a bitter-sweet taste for United’s French international striker, who experienced yet another Old Trafford season that swung from high to low.

In fact, so regularly has his trajectory switched direction since he signed in January 2004 in a £12.85 million deal from Fulham, the graph of Saha’s time at United career almost resembles a footballing version of snakes and ladders.

The 2006/07 season started with great promise – carrying on exactly where he’d left off last term (when he bagged 14 goals in 30 starts).

Goals against Fulham and Charlton Athletic early on in the Premiership – as well as a crucial Champions League strike against Benfica in Lisbon set the tone and he was absent from the starting line-up in just six of United’s games before the festive period. His exemplary form drew praise from the boss, who highlighted both his pace and bravery. “When he puts all the parts of his game together he is an excellent player, and now he is on a great goalscoring run as well,” said Sir Alex.

However, despite other notable achievements – highlights included November’s strike against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park which proved the only goal of the game and an extremely nifty finish against Chelsea in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford – Saha’s fortunes changed after Christmas. A succession of niggling injuries put paid to a regular run in the side, and he was forced to sit out the final nine matches of the season, making his swansong in March’s victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

He remains something of an enigma at Old Trafford – a player of undoubted potential who has yet to really fulfil it. The man himself, who scored on his Reds' debut against Southampton in January 2004, remains as confident as you would expect a graduate of France’s fabled

Clairfontaine Academy to be. “I’ve got so much pent-up energy I want to get out of my system,” he avers. “I feel like I’ve got something to prove again.”

Let’s hope he’s fit and raring to achieve that as the defence of our crown begins in earnest in August.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

8. Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira

keys: manchester united | Anderson | Forward | Anderson profile | Anderson photos pictures wallpapers

Birthdate:	13 Apr 1988
Birthplace:	Porto Alegre, Brazil
Position:	Forward
Appearances:	14
Joined United:	01 Jul 2007
United Debut:	01 Sept 2007 v Sunderland (H)
International	Brazil

Dubbed the new Ronaldinho, Brazilian wonder kid Anderson completed his move to Old Trafford in July 2007.

There is a striking resemblance between Anderson and international superstar Ronaldinho, not only in terms of looks. Like Barcelona's attacking wizard, Anderson is incredibly skilful and his array of talent will surely dazzle the Premiership.

Both Anderson and Ronaldinho started their careers at Gremio in Brazil. Anderson (or Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira to give his full name) joined the Porto Alegre club at the age of just five.

He made his first

appearance for Gremio in 2004, aged just 16 but with his club side in the Brazilian second tier it was internationally where Anderson made his name.

He shone with Brazil at the 2005 South American U-17 Championship and 2005 U-17 World Cup, winning the Adidas Golden Ball for most valuable player.

An Anderson wonder goal for Gremio against Nautico in November 2005 earned a 1-0 win and promotion back to the top flight. That goal and his impressive showing for Brazil's young side persuaded FC Porto to sign Anderson in January 2006.

He continued his promising displays at Porto. He won many honours including the Portuguese Championship in 2005/06 and 2006/07, although his progress was hampered by a broken leg causing him to miss much of last season.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his right hand man Carlos Queiroz were clearly impressed and fought off interest from Barcelona to get their man. Anderson will battle with fellow new signing Nani, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs for a place in the starting line-up. His favourite position is wide left but he has also featured in central midfield.

On the international front, Anderson earned his first call up to the

Brazilian senior squad in the summer of 2007 and featured in the team’s Copa America campaign.

Anderson has already earned many plaudits, none more so than from Mario Zagallo, the World Cup-winning player and manager.

"Everything suggests he is going to be a superstar, a prodigy, as he has undisputable quality," he said.

If Anderson lives up to the expectations, Premiership and European defenders will be having many sleepless nights working out ways to deal with his trickery.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

keys: manchester united | Cristiano Ronaldo | Winger | Cristiano Ronaldo profile | Cristiano Ronaldo photos pictures Cristiano Ronaldo wallpapers

Birthdate:	05 Feb 1985
Birthplace:	Madeira
Position:	Winger
Appearances:	208
Joined United:	12 Aug 2003
United Debut:	16 Aug 2003 v Bolton (H)
International	Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has just about exhausted all superlatives, except to say that having developed and matured from a young and inexperienced winger when he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, he's now among the best and most dynamic attacking forces in the world.

Signed as a largely unknown 18-year-old for £12.24m, the story goes that Sir Alex was persuaded to sign him by his players on the plane home from a pre-season friendly against Sporting that summer. In truth, the boss had long been aware of his ability. The urgency to sign him stemmed from interest from other top European clubs. This was a target Sir Alex simply

couldn’t let slip through the net.

Ronaldo wasted little time in showing off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-minute debut against Bolton at Old Trafford in August 2003. After 39 appearances and eight goals – including the opener in the FA Cup final win over Millwall – he was named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2003/04. His second season never quite lived up to his first. But some late season form saw him end the 2004/05 campaign with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny again reserved his best form for the latter half of the season, a clear sign that, despite his undoubted talent, this was a player still honing his talent.
Then came the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, a truly defining moment. In the quarter finals against England, Cristiano was blamed for Wayne Rooney’s sending off, the scapegoat for England’s exit. Some wondered if he would even return to Manchester. But Sir Alex’s calming words assured him. After all, it’d happened before with Eric Cantona in 1995 and David Beckham in 1998. The best players respond to adversity, and he did just that.

United’s title success was undoubtedly a team effort, but one player was central to almost every major plotline. It began with the barnstorming

5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo and Rooney running the show and very publicly rubbishing claims the two were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed with regular assists and crucial goals, including seven in five games over Christmas and then a last-gasp winner against Fulham in February.

His form brought renewed interest from Spain, but United’s No.7 signed a new five-year deal until 2012 insisting, “I’m happy here.” In 2006/07 he claimed 14 individual awards and, most crucially, his first Premiership medal. The soundtrack to Cristiano’s campaign may have begun with a chorus of boos, but it ended with cacophonous applause.

reference: http://www.manutd.com