Manchester United: The 20 Most Underrated Players in Club History

When people think of Manchester United, they usually think of the legends.

They think of the "Holy Trinity" and get goosebumps from the memories of George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.

More recently, they remember the days of David Beckham, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs.

But what about the rest?

Manchester United is perhaps the most successful club in English football history. But not every player that's ever played there has been a legend.

Likewise, just because some players weren't legends, that doesn't mean they were scrubs. The club's history is filled with solid players who have never been appreciated quite enough.

It's these players we'd like to recognize right here. These guys played well for United but were overshadowed by more illustrious teammates, past, present and future.

But right now, it's all about them.

Ji-Sung Park

Once thought to be a Far East marketing ploy, Ji-Sung Park has evolved into one of Manchester United's most dependable current players.

Park, the former South Korea captain, never has a bad game. Every time out, he gives 100 percent effort and heart. He passes well, shuts down opposing attacks in the midfield and even scores at important times.

Park is also the most decorated footballer in Asian history, having won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with Manchester United.

But, somehow, he's underrated even by his manager. He scored 13 goals last term despite limited appearances, and this year he's only appeared three times.

When he does play, Park plays well. Always.

Darren Fletcher

Is Darren Fletcher underrated? The Daily Mirror seemed to think so a few years ago.

"

Fletcher has really come on ever since Roy Keane once questioned his abilities and quality. The Scotland midfielder seems to have relished taking on extra responsibility and when Paul Scholes was injured, Fletcher grasped his chance.

"

The writer went on to argue Fletcher "makes United tick" with his work rate and versatility. We think that's still true, and we think he doesn't get enough respect outside Manchester United circles.

John O'Shea

John O'Shea joined Sunderland in July after more than a decade with Manchester United.

We think he was allowed to leave because he was underrated by his own club.

This Facebook group would probably agree. Here's what they said: "John O'Shea is a manager's dream. You can ask him to play anywhere and the boy will not only work hard, but play well too."

We agree with most of this. O'Shea always works hard and generally turns in good performances. But as his move to Sunderland showed, he's definitely not a manager's dream.

Maybe he should be, though.

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick has rightfully taken some criticism recently for his performances as Manchester United has struggled with inferiors opponents.

Carrick, a 30-year-old English midfielder, is often criticized for his lack of assertiveness. His performance in the 2009 Champions League final against Barcelona, when he tried to pull the strings in the central midfield, was simply not good enough.

But Carrick has a lot of positive qualities, too, including steady passing. He regularly features highly in the "passes completed" stats. He also tackles well and disrupts opponents' play through the midfield.

As a defensive midfielder, Carrick plays perhaps the least glamorous position on the pitch. So it's no surprise he's underrated.

Owen Hargreaves

Speaking of defensive/holding midfielders, Owen Hargreaves filled the role well for Manchester United from 2007-11.

He was underrated with United, but to understand his value to a team we only have to look at his contributions to England's 2006 World Cup team.

Hargreaves earned Man of the Match in England's quarterfinal loss to Portugal, and overall he was one of England's few bright spots during a disappointing tournament.

For his strong performances, he was awarded the FA's England Player of the Year in 2006.

Teddy Sheringham

Teddy Sheringham scored 46 goals in 102 starts for Manchester United between 1997 and 2001.

Think about those numbers for a minute. That's very close to one goal every two starts—an outstanding strike rate.

But those 102 starts came in all competitions over the course of four whole seasons. His first three seasons with United, Sheringham didn't get many first-team opportunities.

But when he did in the 2000-01 season, he rewarded his club with 16 goals and earned both the the FWA and PFA end-of-season awards.

And we could never forget—he scored the equalizer and assisted on the late, late winner in that game. You know which one.

Andy Cole

Speaking of Andy Cole…

Cole and Sheringham could never get along, and it probably hampered both careers.

Cole scored 93 league goals for Manchester United in 195 league appearances from 1995-2001. Throughout his career, United had several options up front, starting with Eric Cantona, Sheringham, Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (more on some of them later), Paul Scholes, and later Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

In other words, United never allowed its offensive players to get comfortable on the pitch. It resulted in a lot of titles, but I would argue it also made a bunch of individual players seem underrated.

Dwight Yorke

Here's another example of the United Striker Syndrome (I just made that up—you like it?).

Dwight Yorke, a Trinidad and Tobago international, scored 47 league goals in 95 matches with United from 1998-2002.

On a lesser team with fewer options up front, it probably would have been a lot more.

Yorke was absolutely lethal in the box, as he showed with a hat trick in Manchester United's 6-1 demolition of Arsenal in 2001.

But like I said, with another club he would have had more chances for playing time. And he probably would have gotten more goals and even more respect.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

I promise, this is the last of the 1990s Manchester United strikers on the list.

This guy is my favorite of the bunch.

The Baby-Faced Assassin. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.

No one could say his name. Or spell it.

He still looks about 12 years old.

His greatness was never truly appreciated.

In more than a decade with Manchester United (1996-2007), Solskjaer played 235 league matches and scored 91 times. He had a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time.

The most famous example is his late game-winner for United in the 1999 Champions League final. But it's a shame that's the only thing most people remember him for.

Paul Scholes

I know what you're saying.

Paul Scholes? Underrated? How can he be underrated WHEN HE HAD A#%@! TESTIMONIAL MATCH?!?!?!? UR AN IDIOT MIKE!?!?!

You know what Paul Scholes is? Paul Scholes is the album Zooropa by U2.

Zooropa looks weird. It sounds weird. Yet somehow it's a favorite of both critics and hardcore fans.

Outsiders? They can't figure out what all the fuss is about.

See, it's Paul Scholes. The Times ranked him No. 13 in its list of greatest Manchester United players. Ahead of Wayne Rooney. Ahead of David Beckham.

United fans adore him. He looks funny. He sounds funny.

Outsiders can't figure out what all the fuss is about. Scholes scored 142 goals in 602 appearances with United, but as a non-United fan, I can tell you I was never afraid of him when my team played United.

Along those same lines, Scholes never quite replicated his form with England despite earning 66 caps.

Scholes is an all-time great to United fans. To others, he's a curiosity. That makes him underrated.

Gary Neville

If Paul Scholes is Zooropa, Gary Neville is Pop.

Pop gets ridiculed all the time. It was panned by critics upon release. People couldn't figure out what U2 were thinking.

Gary Neville gets ridiculed all the time (hey, it's fun and easy). He got panned by critics all the time. People couldn't ever figure out what Fergie was thinking, putting him in the lineup!

With the benefit of hindsight, Gary Neville is now getting his due. The Times ranked him No. 17 in its list.

But when you think of the great players who came up through the ranks at Manchester United in the early 1990s, Gary Neville isn't the first player you're going to think of. Or the second, third, fourth or fifth.

Mark Robins

Mark Robins made just 27 starts for Manchester United from 1986 to 1992. He scored just 17 goals in that time.

But his game-winning goal in an FA Cup third-round tie against Nottingham Forest in January 1990 was an important moment in the club's history. Before the match, newspapers were reporting that Ferguson would be sacked if United lost.

United didn't lose, of course. They went on to win the FA Cup the following May and then started dominating English football unlike anything ever seen before.

Brian McClair

Remember how I spent so much time on Manchester United's abundance of great strikers in the 1990s?

Well, that wasn't always the case.

Brian McClair, a Scottish international, scored 127 goals in 399 United starts from 1987-98. In his first season alone, he scored 24 times.

By the mid 1990s he wasn't playing much. But he stuck around anyway and collected a bunch of silverware for his loyalty.

Tony Dunne

Tony Dunne is an Irish international defender who played left back for Manchester United from 1960-73.

During those years, he started 535 times. And all he did was defend (he scored a whopping two goals).

That kind of player rarely gets the respect he deserves.

Denis Irwin

Speaking of defenders, Denis Irwin was one of United's best during its run in the 1990s.

Over a career with United that spanned more than a decade (1990-2002), Mr. Dependable made 511 starts and scored 33 times.

The Irish international's strong defending helped Manchester United win seven league titles, two FA Cups and one European title.

Jaap Stam

Still speaking of defenders, Jaap Stam was another who played a big role in United's success during the late 1990s.

Stam, a Dutch international, made 125 starts from 1998-2001, scoring once. His dependable defending helped United win the treble in 1999.

Stam never did anything wrong, in fact, until releasing his autobiography in 2001. Alex Ferguson quickly sold Stam to Lazio, hurting the Dutch defender's legacy.

Eddie Colman

Eddie Colman was an English wing-half who died in the Munich air disaster of 1958.

Colman, who was only 21 at the time of his death, had already made 58 appearances for United with one goal. As The Times has written, "it is safe to assume that he was set to have a glittering career" before becoming the tragedy's youngest victim:

"

“He was a boy/man whose every stride and shimmy announced self-belief,” Sir Bobby Charlton said. “But it was also clear to me that he would never be in danger of running away with himself.”

"

Roger Byrne

Roger Byrne was Manchester United's captain during the legendary Busby Babes era. He played as a full-back.

Though he was United's captain, few considered Byrne a naturally gifted player. Instead, he relied on hard work and intelligence to get himself into good positions.

The Munich air disaster cut Byrne's career and life short in 1958. We can only guess how much he would have accomplished.

Mark Jones

Mark Jones is another of the Busby Babes who died in the Munich air disaster.

Jones was 24 at the time and had already represented United 103 times, scoring once. He was a regular in the 1955-56 title-winning side and appeared to have a bright future ahead of him.

David Pegg

David Pegg was United's first choice outside-left in the final months before the Munich air disaster, in which he died at the age of 22.

Before his tragic death, Pegg scored 24 times in 127 league appearances for United.