Sir Alex Ferguson’s 5 Greatest Signings At Manchester United According To Fans
Sir Alex Ferguson made many top signings during his time as manager of Manchester United, but who were the best?
Well, we got the opinion of many United fans, and used that to rank the top 5 signings by Ferguson as United manager, taking the fee paid (value for money) and player’s achievements into consideration:
5. Peter Schmeichel
From: Brondby
Fee: £505k
Year: 1991
The great Dane.
Peter Schmeichel is arguably United’s best ever keeper, and Sir Alex got him for a steal.
He spent 8 seasons under Ferguson at United, and became one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Schmeichel was a key part of the treble-winning season, and for such a low fee, he was one of Ferguson’s top signings.
He won 5x Premier League titles, 3x FA Cups, 4x Charity Shields, 1x Champions League, and 1x European Super Cup.
4. Roy Keane
From: Nottingham Forest
Fee: £3.75 million
Year: 1994
Our greatest ever captain.
Roy Keane was on the brink of joining Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn, before Fergie hijacked the deal and brought him to United in 1994.
Things ended sour between the pair, but there’s no doubt about Keane’s positive impact on the club, as a mainstay for 13 successful seasons.
He’s one of United’s most decorated players ever, and no captain has lifted more trophies, as Man United captain, than Keano.
He won 7x Premier League titles, 4x FA Cups, 4x Community Shields, 1x Champions League, and 1x Intercontinental cup in his time at the club.
3. Wayne Rooney
From: Everton
Fee: £27 million
Year: 2004
The boy wonder.
Wayne Rooney is the most expensive player on this list, but his £27m fee is a bargain looking back.
Fergie managed to bring the 18-year-old Rooney to United, and he stayed for 13 seasons, to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, and one of our most decorated players ever.
Rooney won 5x Premier League titles, 1x FA Cup, 3x League Cups, 4x Community Shields, 1x Champions League, 1x Europa League, and 1x Club World Cup at the club.
Not too bad, eh?
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
From: Sporting Lisbon
Fee: £12.4 million
Year: 2003
One of the greatest footballers that the world has ever seen.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended the 40-year wait for a Ballon d’Or winner who played for United, when he won his first in 2008.
Sir Alex signed him as a young, relatively unknown, and raw winger for a modest fee.
He turned him into a world-beating superstar.
At United, Cristiano won 3x Premier League titles, 1x FA Cup, 2x League Cups, 1x Community Shield, 1x Champions League, and 1x Club World Cup, before being sold to Real Madrid for a then world-record fee.
When you consider his achievements for Sir Alex at United, and the huge profit made from his sale, it’s an all-round top signing.
“Cristiano was the most gifted player I managed. He surpassed all the other great ones I coached at United – and I had many.”
– Sir Alex Ferguson
1. Eric Cantona
From: Leeds United
Fee: £1 million
Year: 1992
The King.
And the catalyst to Sir Alex and United’s dominance over the Premier League for 20 years.
Cantona was the final piece of the puzzle for Ferguson’s first Manchester United title-winning side in 1993, and Sir Alex himself admits that he kick-started the dynasty.
It’s hard to separate Eric and Cristiano, but when you consider the fee for Cantona, who he was signed from, and what he achieved for himself and Fergie at United, then he’s generally considered to be Sir Alex’s best ever signing by fans.
In his 5 seasons at Man United, Eric won 4x Premier League titles, 2x FA Cups, and 3x Charity Shields.
“When Eric Cantona came, it was like the messiah. Players loved him. The young players loved him. His presence, his confidence, his stature.
He transformed the confidence factor and we deservedly won the league.”
– Sir Alex Ferguson