Manchester United: Can David De Gea Join the Six Goalie Greats of Old Trafford?

David de Gea describes his $28M arrival as Manchester United’s new No. 1 as an honour, and well he might. He is being given the opportunity of following an impressive line of great goalkeepers who went hand in glove with success at the Theatre of Dreams.

At the age of only 20, he is asking a lot of himself, although his predecessor, Edwin van der Sar, insists the young Spaniard can handle the responsibility. His youth and comparative lack of experience make him quite a gamble for Sir Alex Ferguson.

But the manager is clearly confident that one day, de Gea’s name will rank alongside the six best post-war ‘keepers to form Old Trafford’s last line of defence…

Jack Crompton 1946-1956

Crompton was the man between the sticks in Sir Matt Busby’s first great team of the late '40s and early '50s, his finest moment coming in the 1948 FA Cup success. Goalkeepers these days tend to be giants, but Crompton was just five foot nine inches tall.

His Old Trafford playing career spanned a decade, starting in 1946, but he actually served United for a total of 32 years, twice as a trainer and once even as caretaker manager, stepping in after Dave Sexton was sacked in 1981 before Ron Atkinson moved into the hot seat.

Harry Gregg 1957-1966

One of the Busby Babes, although he was actually signed from Doncaster for the princely sum of £23,750 or approximately $35,000, making him back then in 1957 the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.

Named best in the world following his World Cup 1958 exploits for Northern Ireland. Not only survived the Munich Air disaster but dragged the bodies of Denis Viollet, Jackie Blanchflower and Bobby Charlton out of the burning aircraft’s wreckage, almost certainly saving their lives.

Alex Stepney 1966-1979

Harry Gregg’s successor arrived from Chelsea for $80,000. Once dislocated his jaw shouting at fans behind his goal.

His greatest claim to fame came during the 1968 European Cup final. With the scores at 1-1 he stopped a vicious close-range save from Eusebio, causing the Benfica legend to stop and applaud his rival.

That stop surely inspired United to their 4–1 extra-time triumph and England’s first success in Europe’s ultimate club competition.

Gary Bailey 1978–1987

As a youngster Bailey, English-born but raised in South Africa, he paid his own fare to get a trial at Old Trafford. The investment paid off in style.

He was the main goalkeeper of Ron Atkinson’s reign, winning FA Cup medals in 1983 and ’85.

Forced to retire due to a knee injury, Bailey should have also have won at least one league title, part of a talented and inventive team that, unfortunately for Atkinson, lacked the killer touch when it really mattered.

Peter Schmeichel 1991-1999

The giant was known as the Great Dane and little wonder. Voted best goalkeeper in the world in 1992 and 1993, he went on to captain United to the 1999 treble.

He is rated one of the top 10 goalkeepers of the 20th century, having been signed from Brondby for a mere $800,000, Sir Alex Ferguson rating the deal as the “bargain of the century.”

Set a record for Premier League clean sheets of 42 percent and, of course, patented the famous “starfish save” of jumping with all his limbs extended. Also happened to score 12 goals in his career.

Edwin van der Sar 2005-2011

Peter Schmeichel must surely be rated United’s greatest ever ‘keeper but the Dutchman comes a pretty close second. For instance, in the 2008/’09 season he set a world league record by not conceding a goal for 1,311 minutes.

Before he made way for David de Gea, he was the Premier League’s oldest player at 40 years and 205 days. He was rated Europe’s best in 1995, 2008, ’09 and ’10.

A Champions League hero like his predecessor, he saved the last penalty of the shoot-out from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 final. Arrived from Fulham for just $3.1 million and also became quite a bargain.