David Beckham scored his first Man United goal 29 years ago… where does he rank in our top 10 Red Devils of the Premier League era?

Manchester United fans celebrated the first of David Beckham’s 85 goals for the club 29 years ago today, in a 4-0 victory over Galatasaray. 

The midfielder grabbed the second for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in 1994, joining Simon Davies and Roy Keane on the scoresheet in the rout. 

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the win wasn’t enough to see them progress from the group stage as they finished behind Goteborg and Barcelona on goal difference. 

However, unbeknownst to the club faithful, the roster on that night included several players who would prove crucial to their unprecedented 1999 success. 

But alongside Beckham, who also provided 120 assists in 394 appearances for the club, who else makes our top 10 list of United players in Premier League history? 

The former England captain makes our list for United’s top 10 players in the Premier League era

10. Andy Cole

One of the best strikers in Premier League history, Cole formed one half of a formidable front line alongside Dwight Yorke at Old Trafford for man years. 

The forward long sat in second place in the division’s all-time scoring charts and held the record for fastest player to reach 50 goals. 

Having been usurped by Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane in the former, and Erling Haaland in the latter, Cole’s goal scoring prowess is often overlooked. it shouldn’t be. 

He found the net 121 times in 275 games for the Red Devils and won five league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League.

Andy Cole held records for most goals in a Premier League season and quickest player to reach 50 Premier League goals before Erling Haaland

9. David Beckham 

Beckham outgrew his footballing legacy but – as his recent documentary reminded us – he was one hell of a player in his day. 

He established himself as one of the club’s most important pieces at a time when they were the dominant side in world football. 

It wasn’t just free-kicks and corners either. Beckham was a workhorse. He regularly posted total distance run statistics in the 1990s that players today would struggle to match.  

8. Rio Ferdinand

Ferdinand’s move to Old Trafford in the summer of  2002 made him the most expensive defender in the history of football. And he was worth every penny. 

A player who would excel with the modern game’s demands of a high-line and ball playing, Ferdinand was the proto-Virgil Van Dijk. 

At Old Trafford he  won six Premier League crowns, three FA Cups and became just the third United captain to lift the European Cup in 2008.

Rio Ferdinand (middle) captained United as they claimed their third European Cup in 2008

7. Peter Schmeichel

Schmeichel is still widely considered to be the best goalkeeper in Premier League history. His command of the area and imposing presence had attackers flustered before they’d even decided what to do with their shot. 

The Dane kept 180 clean sheets in 398 outings for the side as they won five league titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League.

Schmeichel is still widely considered to be the best goalkeeper in Premier League history

6. Eric Cantona

The stats don’t tell the full the story of Cantona’s influence on modern Manchester United. Though, 82 goals and 62 appearances in 185 games isn’t bad. 

Cantona’s swagger on the pitch and professionalism off it is credited with providing the example followed by several of the players on this list. 

The Frenchman spent five years at the club, winning four league titles and two FA Cups before his shock retirement in 1997. 

The stats don’t tell the full the story of Eric Cantona’s influence on modern Manchester United

5. Roy Keane

United’s skipper during their glory days, Keane is often pigeonholed as simply a tough-tackling midfielder. He could certainly do that, and there are a raft of former players who bare the scares of his ‘combative’ disposition. 

But Keane also possessed the ability with the ball at his feet to mix with the best. As well as the intelligence to marshal a game. 

He famously missed the 1999 Champions League final after picking up a suspension in the semi-final win over Juventus.  A game in which he scored United’s opener to start a stunning comeback. 

Roy Keane grabbed United’s first goal in their 3-2 away win against Juventus in the semi-final of the 1999 Champions League

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

How many United fans suspected they were watching a player who would go on to establish himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time when Ronaldo was turning out at Old Trafford. 

Ronaldo narrowly misses out on the top three in this list despite spending all of his prime years at another club. 

Still, with the Red Devils he produced one of the greatest individual seasons the league has ever seen, scoring 42 goals in all competitions and taking home the first of five Ballon d’Ors. 

Cristiano Ronaldo earned the first of his five Ballon d’Ors while at Old Trafford in 2008

3. Wayne Rooney

Man United’s all-time goalscorer; for that alone Rooney deserved a place in the top three of our list. 

He finished his United career with the grand total of 253 goals in 559 games, many of which were spent in service of out-and-out centre forwards – or mercurial Portuguese wide men.

Rooney’s contribution to Ferguson’s second great side was as important as any other. He was a tireless, diligent player, who also happened to have the talent to smash in a volley from 30 yards!  

Wayne Rooney ended his career as Man United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals

2. Paul Scholes

The greatest passer in English football history? If not, he’s certainly in the conversation. 

Scholes was in many ways ahead of his time and it will forever be a shame that England managers lacked the imagination required to utilise him alongside Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. 

As things turned out, England’s loss was United’s gain, with his international retirement enabling Scholes to prolong his career at Old Trafford and win major trophies well into his 30s. 

When all was said and done he had claimed 11 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues in 716 games for his only club.

Paul Scholes won 11 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues in 716 games 

1. Ryan Giggs 

No player has won the Premier League more. Nor has any player eclipsed his number of assists. 

Giggs made 963 appearances for United and won 34 trophies in total, including 13 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. 

His excellence over a staggeringly long stretch give him the nod in our list.

Ryan Giggs has won more Premier League titles than any other in the competition’s history