Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history - winning more than 30 trophies during his time in charge of the Reds. Yet despite more than two decades at the United helm he remains focused on increasing that tally, bringing yet more silverware to Old Trafford.

The Reds boss enjoyed a playing career north of the border that saw him take in spells with Queen's Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. But it is not for his playing of the game that Sir Alex was to become a success.

Following a spell out of the game he

moved into coaching, taking up the role of manager of East Stirlingshire, St Mirren then Aberdeen. It was his time at Pittodrie where he earned his reputation as a top coach. He broke the Glasgow dominance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners' Cup.

Following the sacking of Ron Atkinson as manager of Manchester United, the Old Trafford hierarchy moved quickly for his services. They got their man on 6 November 1986.

Ferguson inherited a dispirited team of underachievers who had consistently, to their supporters' discontent, failed to break Liverpool's domination. Stuck in the bottom four of the Division One table, Ferguson immediately set about attempting to stave off the very real threat of relegation. Without resorting to the transfer market, he guided United up the table to and eleventh place finish.

By now it was clear to Ferguson that he faced a major job in turning the club around. United were an entertaining side but one that seemed unable to cope with the more physical aspects of League football. In his second season the Reds fared better finishing second behind Liverpool, but the position painted a false

picture. The turning point came in the 1989/90 season.

Following a run of games in which the Reds were drawn away in every round, United picked up their first silverware of the Ferguson era. Lee Martin scoring the only goal in a final replay against Crystal Palace to in the FA Cup.

This first trophy opened the flood gates. The European Cup Winners' Cup was won the following season in Rotterdam, Barcelona defeated 2-1 thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. Then in 1991/02 the League Cup was added to United's list of honours.

Sadly the title remained elusive. It was the Holy Grail to United fans, the 26 championships free years being exacerbated by Liverpool's dominance of the domestic and European game.

In 1992/93 the long wait for the League championship came to an end. The Reds, inspired by £1m signing Eric Cantona, pipping Aston Villa in the final weeks of the season.

The shackles were broken: the double followed in 1993/94, the double-Double (with 'kids') in 1995/96, and another title in 1997. Finally United were matching off-field might with on-field success. Liverpool's dominance was well and truly over.

Sir Alex's greatest

achievement came in 1998/99. No side before or since has achieved a treble haul of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. On an unforgettable night in Barcelona his decision to throw on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assured history was made. The pair scored injury-time goals to win the Champions League and complete the treble.

Ferguson was knighted following that success and some suggested he should retire, believing his desire would wane following the realisation of a dream. Not a bit of it. Another title followed in 1999/2000 and he made it three-in-row in 2000/01. His eighth Premiership duly arrived in 2002/03; his fourth FA Cup a year later, against Millwall in Cardiff.

The Reds had by now entered a period of rebuilding. The side of homegrown players he'd first put together in 1995/96 was now breaking up and he'd recruited new stars like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to spark a new era of success.

The rebuilding paid off with victory in the Carling Cup in 2005/06 and a ninth Premier League trophy in 2006/07. In May 2007 Sir Alex swooped for three players - Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves - to bolster an already strong squad. This evolving team claimed more glory in

2007/08, defending the Premier League title and securing Sir Alex's second Champions League triumph.

United followed European success by winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December 2008. The Reds then claimed the Carling Cup in March 2009 by beating Tottenham on penalties in the final.

On 16 May 2009, United achieved what had seemed an impossible mission when Sir Alex arrived in 1986, equalling Liverpool's long-standing record of 18 league championships. Beating Liverpool to the 2008/09 crown - Sir Alex's 11th title in 17 seasons - made the feat even sweeter.

Sir Matt Busby

The man who was to become one of English football's greatest-ever managers was born in Scotland, in the village of Orbiston, Lanarkshire, on 26 May 1909.

As a player, he represented two English clubs. He joined Manchester City on 11 February 1928, and made his debut the following year against Middlesbrough. Busby was then transferred to Liverpool for a fee of £8,000 in March 1936.

Busby became United's first boss after the war, having turned down the job of assistant manager at Liverpool. He accepted the position on 19 February 1945, and then joined the club full-time

on his demobilisation from the armed forces in October 1945. In doing so he filled a post left vacant since the resignation of Scott Duncan in 1937 and temporarily filled by club secretary Walter Crickmer.

Following demob, Busby took charge of a club with a bomb-damaged stadium and a £15,000 overdraft. His first signing for United was Jimmy Murphy, his great assistant manager who served the club until 1971. Together they created United's first great post-war team built around the defensive capabilities of Johnny Carey, John Aston and Allenby Chilton and the attacking skills of Charlie Mitten, Jack Rowley and Stan Pearson.

United were FA Cup winners in 1948, defeating Blackpool 4-2. Then, after finishing runners-up four times in 1947-49 and 1951, Busby's men brought the title to Old Trafford in 1952.

Far from being blinded by their success, Busby and Murphy had the foresight to plan ahead and prepare for the day when their first great team would need replacing. The club's scouting system was expanded and reorganised and in the early 1950s, the new youth policy bore its first fruit as Jeff Whitefoot, Jackie Blanchflower and Roger Byrne stepped up to the first team. By 1953 a new team was being blooded in the First Division as

Bill Foulkes, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Liam Whelan, Eddie Colman and Duncan Edwards all broke through. League success soon followed as this new young side, soon christened the 'Busby Babes', won the League title in both 1956 and 1957 and reached the FA Cup final in 1957.

Busby was still looking to the future, trailblazing the way for English clubs by entering the European Cup in 1956/57 - initially against the wishes of the Football League. United reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid.

The following season, 1957/58, bristled with promise and United were still challenging in all three competitions by February when disaster struck. On 6 February 1958, the aeroplane bringing the team home from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade crashed after refuelling in Munich. Twenty-three people were killed, including eight of Busby's players - Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Billy Whelan. Three club officials also perished - secretary Walter Crickmer, trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley.

Busby almost lost his life as well - he was twice given the last rites while lying gravely ill in a German hospital.

Fortunately, he survived and returned to Manchester 71 days after the crash. In the meantime, Jimmy Murphy - who missed the tragedy because of his commitments as manager of the Welsh national side - brilliantly guided a patched-up team to an emotionally charged FA Cup Final. Bolton Wanderers beat United 2-0 at Wembley.

After taking up the managerial reigns again in August 1958, Busby began to add some big money purchases to his homegrown talent. The likes of Albert Quixall, Noel Cantwell, Denis Law and Pat Crerand joined United in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This group of players reached the FA Cup final in 1963 and beat Leicester City 3-1 to claim the club's first trophy after Munich.

League titles followed in 1965 and 1967, giving Busby the chance to conquer Europe in the following seasons. In 1965/66, United reached the semi-finals, just as they had done in 1956/57 and 1957/58. But in 1967/68 they went further, to the final at Wembley where they faced Portuguese side Benfica.

On another night of great emotion, United triumphed 4-1 after extra-time to win the European Cup for Busby. It was a fitting tribute to the players and staff killed and injured 10 years before and was

Busby's crowning achievement as United manager. They almost retained the Cup in 1968/69, before bowing out to AC Milan in the semi-final.

Busby retired at the end of the '68/69 season, but stayed on as general manager while Wilf McGuinness became the man in charge of the team on a day-to-day basis. The new arrangement lasted little more than a year - on 28 December 1970, Busby was invited by the Directors to return to his old job and replace McGuinness until the end of the season.

A respected figure throughout his career, Busby was awarded the CBE in 1958 and made the 66th

Freeman of Manchester in 1967. In 1968, he was named Manager of the Year and was knighted following United's European Cup triumph.

In 1972 he was made a Knight Commander of St. Gregory by the Pope. He became President of Manchester United in 1980, was elected Vice-President of the Football League in 1982 and went on to become a life member. In 1993 Warwick Road North, the road which runs past the front of Old Trafford, was renamed Sir Matt Busby Way in honour of the man described as 'Mr Manchester United'.

In addition to managing United, Busby also guided the British Olympic football team

to a semi-final place in the 1948 Olympics and in 1958 was manager of Scotland, giving an 18 year-old by the name of Denis Law his first cap.

Sir Matt Busby died on 20 January 1994 at Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle, after a short illness. His funeral a week later saw thousands line the streets of Manchester as his cortege drove from Chorlton to Old Trafford and finally to Manchester's Southern Cemetery. Tributes to Sir Matt came from around the world and supporters of many different clubs sent thousands of shirts, wreaths, pictures and scarves to create a multi-coloured memorial. A bronze statue of Sir Matt was unveiled on 27 April 1996 at the Scoreboard End of Old Trafford as Manchester United remembered the man who epitomised the club.

Five years after Busby's death, the modern United side emulated his greatest feat by winning the European Cup. Poignantly, the date of that triumph, 26 May 1999, would have been Matt's 90th birthday.

Sir Bobby Charlton

Nobody embodies the values of Manchester United better than Sir Bobby Charlton. Having survived the trauma of Munich aged just 20, he played as if every game was for his fallen colleagues, recovering from his injuries to reach the pinnacle for both club and country.

In a 17-year playing career with United, he played a record 754 games, scoring 247 goals. It is unlikely his deeds will ever be matched. Although highly coveted by clubs across the country, the young Charlton, nephew of the great Newcastle striker Jackie Milburn, turned professional with United in October 1954, winning the FA Youth Cup in 1954, 1955 and 1956.

His league debut came on 6 October 1956 against Charlton at Old Trafford and the youngster made an immediate impact, scoring twice despite carrying an injury. "Mr Busby asked me if I was ok," recalled Sir Bobby. "I actually had a sprained ankle, but I wasn't going to admit to it and I crossed my fingers and said 'yes'."

Despite his dramatic bow, Charlton didn't command a relatively regular place until the latter stages of the 1956/57 season, notching 10 goals as the Busby Babes won a first title. Competition for a first-team spot was intense, but a hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers in January 1958 certainly helped his cause, and Busby found it harder and harder to leave out the powerful young forward.

A month later Charlton scored twice in United's 3-3 draw against Partizan Belgrade as the Babes sealed a place in the semi-finals of the European Cup. It was on their return that disaster struck, and Charlton was among those injured. His wounds were relatively minor, however, and he was back in action within a month.

Charlton proved an integral component of the post-Munich rebuilding, plying his trade across the field while the rest of the side was reconstructed. A permanent switch to a deep-lying

forward role brought the best from him, and he was vital as United won the league championships in 1965 and 1967.

Those successes flanked international glory with England. Shortly before the 1966 World Cup, Charlton was named Football Writers' Association Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year in quick succession. He went on to play a starring role as Alf Ramsey's side won the tournament, scoring twice in the semi-final win over Portugal. Charlton went on to win 106 caps - three as captain - and is still England's record goalscorer with 49 goals.

Although winning the World Cup is seen as the pinnacle of achievement in football, Charlton's finest hour at club level came in May 1968 when he captained United to European Cup triumph. Sir Bobby scored twice in a 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica at Wembley. For Charlton the victory capped the post-Munich rebuilding, and he famously missed the post-match celebrations - opting instead to conduct a solitary remembrance of absent friends.

Sir Bobby continued to entertain as part of the famed Best-Law-Charlton triumvirate before he retired in 1973. He spent two years as manager and player-manager at Preston North End before resigning in August 1975.

He briefly played for Waterford in the Republic of Ireland in 1976 before accepting a boardroom position at Wigan Athletic, where he took over as caretaker-manager during season 1982-83.

In June 1984 Charlton became a director of Manchester United, a position he still holds today. Already awarded the OBE and CBE, he became Sir Bobby Charlton in June 1994. A respected ambassador for his club, English football and the game across the world football, he is a figurehead: a link with the club's past, present and future.

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs has made more appearances and won more honours than any other United player in the club's illustrious history.

He surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's previous record (of 758 matches) on the night he helped the Reds secure a third European Cup triumph - the second of his career - in Moscow on 21 May 2008.

United's most decorated player might never have graced Old Trafford, however, 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 favourites.

Ryan turned professional at United in November 1990 and made his league debut in the old Division One against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 as a substitute for Denis Irwin. His first league start in 1991/92 also proved a memorable occasion, as he also scored his first ever United goal that day (albeit via a huge deflection off Colin Hendry) in a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Giggs' first senior trophy arrived in November 1991 as United beat Red Star Belgrade in the European Super Cup final - Giggs was a 71st minute substitute for Lee Martin. The Welshman picked up his second winners' medal of the campaign five months later as the Reds beat Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final. The following season, 1992/93, saw Giggs and United win the inaugural Premier League title.

Ryan was an integral part of two Double-winning sides, in 1993/94 and 1995/96, before going one better in 1998/99 by adding the European Cup to the FA Cup and Premier League trophy. His contributions to the Treble-winning campaign included a superb solo goal to win the FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park, commonly regarded

as one of United's greatest goals of all time.

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. Two months later, he became a league title winner for the ninth time, beating the record of eight championship medals held by Liverpool legends Phil Neal and Alan Hansen.

In the interests of prolonging his club career at the highest level, Ryan retired from international football with Wales in June 2007 after 64 games and 12 goals. In October 2007, he extended his United contract to June 2009.

December 2007 brought two landmark achievements - Ryan was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to football and he scored his 100th league career goal in the 4-0 victory over Derby County at Old Trafford.

Ryan crowned the epic 2007/08 season, his 18th in United's first team, by scoring the Reds' second goal in the final day league win at Wigan and slotting home what proved to be

the decisive penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out in Moscow.

Giggs' career continued with a flourish during 2008/09 as he enjoyed a new role in the United team. Leaving the left flank where he made his name as a flying winger, he adopted a more central position in midfield or just off the main striker. His importance to the cause was recognised yet again in February 2009 when he agreed another one-year extension to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2010. In that same month he became the only player to score in every Premier League season from 1992/93 to 2008/09, when he netted in United's 1-0 win at West Ham.

Paul Scholes

You must have a rare and special football talent to impress the great Sir Bobby Charlton. The United legend sums up Paul Scholes perfectly: "He's always so in control and pinpoint accurate with his passing - a beautiful player to watch."

Part of the new wave of talent that ushered in Beckham, Giggs, Butt and the Neville brothers in the mid-1990s, Salford-born Scholes scored twice on his debut in the League Cup at Port Vale in 1994/95 - and on his first league outing against Ipswich - and hasn't looked back.

A host of golden seasons at Old Trafford include 1995/96's Double-winning campaign, in

which he covered admirably during Eric Cantona's suspension, finishing second behind the Frenchman in the scoring charts with 14 goals; he was a cornerstone of 1999's Treble-winners, although suspension ruled him out of the UEFA Champions League final, and in United's Premier League success in 2003, his 20-goal haul was vital.

Neat and compact, a misplaced Scholes pass remains one of the rarest sights in football. His superb eye for goal and late runs from midfield also served his country superbly on 66 occasions.

An eye problem kept the man the fans dubbed the 'Ginger Prince' out of action for a large part of 2005/06, but he burst back onto the scene during the 2006/07 title-winning campaign, playing a key role in helping the Reds reclaim the Premier League crown. Personal highlights included his opener in the 2-0 win over Liverpool in October 2006 and a volley of the highest calibre in the 3-0 win at Aston Villa two months later, which earned him the Goal of the Season Award at the club's Player Awards ceremony.

His contribution was recognised by players and press alike - he finished third in the PFA Player of the Year category and fourth in the Football Writers' vote - both of which were won by

team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

His good form continued the following season as he helped the Reds to a glorious double and finally buried the UEFA Champions League ghost of '99 when his stunning strike against Barcelona in April 2008, booked United's, and his own place, in the final in Moscow.

Now in the top four highest ever appearance makers, with over 600 games under his belt, and the top twelve highest goalscorers at the club, Scholes is, indisputably, one of the finest talents in United's history, and he's still going strong - in October 2008 he was rewarded with a one-year contract extension, taking him through to June 2010.

George Best

"If I'd been born ugly, you'd never have heard of Pelé." Many a true word is spoken in jest, and few would argue that George Best was the most naturally gifted footballer Britain has produced.

Speed, balance, vision, superb close control, the ability to create chances and score from seemingly impossible situations tells half the story. The other half was an uncontainable zest for the game as it should be played, a ceaseless trickery and joy. Pelé, for his part, dubbed United's no.7 "the greatest player in the world."

A skinny teenager from Belfast's Cregagh estate, Best was spotted by United

scout Bob Bishop, who famously told Matt Busby: "Boss, I think I've found you a genius".

Having fought off initial homesickness, Best turned professional on his 17th birthday in May 1963, made his debut in September - and scored on his second appearance. A first cap for Northern Ireland swiftly followed.

In 1964/65, alongside Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and David Herd, Best was a key figure in the Reds' first title triumph since the pre-Munich era.

The following season he almost single-handedly destroyed Benfica in the European Cup quarter-final in their own back yard. After scoring twice in a 5-1 success to inflict the Lisbon giants' first home defeat in Europe he was dubbed 'El Beatle'.

A second title followed in 1967, and Best proved the scourge of Benfica again a year later in the 1968 European Cup Final, giving the Reds a 2-1 extra-time lead en route to a 4-1 success. Best's 28 goals that season - he was PFA and European Footballer of the Year - made him United's top scorer, a position he retained over the next four campaigns.

As the Busby era ended and an ageing side was dismantled, Best struggled with the personal demons that would dog him

until his death in November 2005.

He famously 'retired' to Marbella in 1972, before coming back again and eventually leaving for good in January 1974 for a globe-trotting series of destinations taking in, among others, the rather unlikely surrounds of Dunstable Town, Fulham, Los Angeles Aztecs, Brisbane Lions and the Jewish Guild of South Africa.

As he asked, he should be remembered for the back-page headlines, not the front. And what glorious memories they are.

His 361 league appearances in Red brought 136 goals; he holds the post-War record for the most goals by a United player in a single match - six versus Northampton Town, in an 8-2 FA Cup fifth-round mauling in the 1970 FA Cup.

Best's send-off in November 2005, a riotous night of applause at West Ham, was followed by a game of which he would have been justly proud. Appropriately enough, fellow Irishman John O'Shea netted the winner.

Roy Keane

Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him the best he's ever worked with, aspiring footballers and Reds everywhere worshipped the ground he walked on: Roy Keane epitomised the unwavering spirit and desire to succeed Manchester United stands for.

Few sportsmen lead from the front in the way Keane did, on and off the pitch - and the fact that more than 70,000 United and Celtic fans paid their tributes to him at his testimonial before he retired in June 2006 says it all.

Images of him rallying the troops, covering every blade of grass in the process define the 1990s for United. He was not afraid to speak his

mind in front of the media, particularly if he felt his colleagues were not reaching the high standards he expected.

The Cork-born midfielder began his career with Cobh Ramblers after failing to gain an apprenticeship in English football. Brian Clough took him to Nottingham Forest before he completed a then-record £3.75 million switch to Old Trafford in the summer of 1993.

Two goals on his home debut, a 3-0 win over Sheffield United, served notice of what would follow, and the gladiatorial Keane won the first of seven Premiership medals that season, adding a European Cup, Intercontinental Cup and four FA Cup winners' medals along the way.

He took over the United captaincy from Eric Cantona at the start of the 1997/98 campaign, but his season was cut short by a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in a tackle with Leeds' Alf-Inge Haaland at Elland Road in September 1997.

The 1998/99 season saw Keane experience a range of mixed fortunes. On his way to leading United to their historic Treble, a sending-off in the FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Arsenal was followed by a yellow card during arguably his greatest display in a Red shirt in the Champions League semi-final second

leg against Juventus, forcing him to miss that unforgettable night in Barcelona when United were crowned European champions.

Aside from his influential displays for United, Keane - who scooped Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards in 2000 - proved an inspiration to his country and winning close on 70 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

A huge bust-up with former Republic boss Mick McCarthy, which led to Keane's premature departure from the 2002 World Cup, looked to have put paid to his international career, but he made a shock return to action under Brian Kerr in May 2004.

The reunion lasted only until the autumn of 2005, however. Following Ireland's failure to qualify for the 2006 finals, Keane announced his international retirement.

At the time of his announcement Keane was injured, having broken a metatarsal bone in his foot in United's Premiership match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 18 September 2005. He was still out of action on Friday 19 November when a shock announcement to top them all was made.

Manchester United issued a statement through ManUtd.com declaring that Keane's Old Trafford career was over. The Reds had reached

agreement with Keane to end his contract immediately, enabling him to join Celtic.

"Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe the time has now come for me to move on," said Roy on the day of his departure.

In the same statement, Sir Alex Ferguson described Keane as "the best midfield player in the world of his generation" and "one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history."

Six months after joining Celtic and helping them secure the Scottish Premier League title and Scottish League Cup, Keane announced his retirement from professional football on 12 June 2006 following medical advice.

He was named manager of Sunderland in August 2006 and has since steered the Black Cats to the play-off positions in the Championship.

Steve Bruce

Pound for pound, the £825,000 Alex Ferguson paid Norwich City for this craggy, uncompromising centre-half two weeks short of his 27th birthday in December 1987, was one of the best deals Manchester United have ever done.

Bruce's central defensive partnership with Gary Pallister - the pair were affectionately dubbed 'Dolly and Daisy' - was the bedrock on which three Championship-winning sides were built (1993, 1994 and 1996), as well as successes in the European Cup Winner's Cup (1991), FA Cup (1994, 1996) and the League Cup (1992). It was arguably Bruce's two critical late, late goals - a pair of towering headers - against

Sheffield Wednesday that tipped the 1992/93 Premiership title race in United's favour and really got the ball rolling for United's dominance of the modern game.

Bruce's was a steady climb to the football summit. A product of the famous Wallsend Boys Club that gave the game talents like Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and more recently United transfer target Michael Carrick, he represented Newcastle schoolboys, but was rejected at 16 by his boyhood idols, as well as Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday and Southport ¬because he was perceived to be too small. He subsequently got a job at the Swan Hunter shipyard as a trainee plumber but a week before he was due to start was offered an apprenticeship with Gillingham.

After making his league debut for the Gills at the start of the 1979-80 season while still just 17, he went on to make more than 200 league appearances for the Kent club before Norwich paid £135,000 for his services in August 1984. At Carrow Road, Bruce won a League Cup winner's medal in 1985 and the Second Division Championship medal the following year. Remarkably, for all his subsequent honours at Old Trafford, Bruce was never selected for a full England cap, though he did lead the side at B level.

He finally left the Reds on a free transfer for Birmingham City in the 1996 close season after nine years, 414 appearances and a prolific 51 goals. Assisted by his accuracy from the penalty spot he had remarkably finished as the club's joint top scorer in 1990/91 with 19 goals in all competitions.

In 1998 he started out on the management trail with Sheffield United as player-manager, and has also been in charge at Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace. He is currently boss at Birmingham City, mounting a bid for a swift Premiership return in 2006/07 after taking the Blues up and spending four seasons in the top flight. Don't bet against it.

Bryan Robson

It was a fitting climax to United's 1992/93 FA Premier League championship season when Bryan Robson scored the campaign's last goal to clinch a 2-1 victory against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

Six days earlier 'Captain Marvel' had jointly accepted the FA Premier League trophy with Steve Bruce as the curtain came down on an Old Trafford season in which a 26-year wait for the game's ultimate domestic honour was finally over.

Back and hamstring problems had blighted Robson's season, but in typical fashion he fought bravely to reclaim his place. Indeed, various injuries plagued so much of his

remarkable career for club and country, that it was laughably suggested at times by the media that he should ease up! For such a fiercely committed and courageous player it was perhaps just an inevitable price that had to be paid.

In his early days with West Bromwich Albion, three leg breaks inside a year threatened his future, but with great determination he somehow made a complete recovery.

He had appeared in close on 200 league games for the Baggies, scoring 39 goals, when new United boss Ron Atkinson returned to his former club and paid a joint fee of around £2 million to bring both Robson and Remi Moses to Old Trafford in October 1981. The deal rated 'Robbo' at a then-record £1.5 million.

Some doubted Atkinson's wisdom, but Robson was destined to become one of the game's midfield greats. He quickly grew in stature, replacing Ray Wilkins as club captain, a player with whom he enjoyed such a fine understanding and one who helped develop Bryan's already mature reading of the game.

A supreme motivational force, Robson in his prime was a shining diamond, blessed with a seemingly endless supply of stamina, great creative passing skills in attack or defence, controlled

aggression in the tackle, plus the added bonus of genuine pace and powerful shooting and heading ability.

Robson scored well over a century of league goals in his career - many from steaming late blind side runs into the area. But perhaps above all, he was an inspiring captain for both club and country, uniquely leading United to a hat-trick of FA Cup wins in 1983,1985 and 1990. In the 1983 final against Brighton and Hove Albion he scored twice in the 4-0 replay victory.

He was a League Cup finalist in 1991 and collected a prized European medal when he lifted the Cup Winners' Cup in the same season.

Robson won 90 caps for England, wearing the Three Lions in three World Cups. His 26 international goals included a hat-trick against Turkey in 1984, and a strike afer just 27 seconds against France in the 1982 World Cup, which was the second-fastest goal of the tournament's final stages.

In his final two seasons Robson started only 15 Premiership matches, but usually made a telling contribution when called upon and could hardly have ended his illustrious career on a more satisfying note than seeing United complete the coveted League and Cup Double in 1994.

An early recruit by England's new manager Terry Venables as coach and right-hand man, Robson was quickly snapped up on a lucrative contract by Middlesbrough when he announced his impending exit from Old Trafford. After seven seasons there as manager in June 2001, and following a relegation battle, Robson left in June 2001.

He later resurfaced with his first club, West Bromwich Albion with whom he completed a remarkable escape from Premiership relegation in 2004/05 - becoming the first boss to lead a team bottom at Christmas to safety in the Premiership's short history.

However, a year later the Baggies dropped down to the Championship. They were favourites to win promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt, but after taking only twelve points from their first eight games, Robson left the club by mutual consent on 18 September 2006.

Gary Pallister

A pacy defender with excellent aerial ability and terrific ball control given his towering 6ft 4in frame, Gary Pallister formed half of arguably the greatest central defensive partnership the club has known.

With Steve Bruce by his side 'Dolly and Daisy', as they were affectionately dubbed, saw off all comers to United's 18-yard box in a glorious seven-season stint together.

Their rock-like presence yielded three Premiership titles (1993, 1994, 1996), two runners-up spots, the 1991 European Cup-Winner's Cup and Super Cup, three FA Cups (1990, 1994, 1996) and the League Cup of 1992.

Born on the Kent coast in Ramsgate in June 1965, Pallister started his career with non-league Billingham Town and joined the Reds from his boyhood heroes Middlesbrough for £2.3 million in August 1989 - then a record fee for a British defender.

Given a weight-training regime to bulk his skinny body up, the 13th-placed finish of his first season - virtually impossible to conceive of now - was followed by a remarkable run in which United finished outside the top two just once in the next eight campaigns.

An imposing backline, in which Pallister was a permanent fixture (he missed ust one league game between 1992 and 1995), proved a cornerstone of this success. He was voted PFA Player of the Year in 1992 and was unlucky not to win more than 22 England caps.

After nine years at Old Trafford and 317 league appearances - and a further title success in 1996/97 following Bruce's departure - Pallister's career went full circle, leaving United to return to the north-east with Premiership new boys Boro for £2.5 million in the summer of 1998. All that success, and a £200,000 profit!

Pallister is still a regular face at Old Trafford, popping up on MUTV as a pundit. And though

stopping goals is the thing he will be largely remembered for, his brace of headers against Liverpool at Anfield which all but clinched the 1997 title burns brightly in any self-suspecting Red's memory bank.