 | 1 | Edwin Van der Sar | There have been plenty of pretenders to Peter Schmeichel’s throne since his abdication in 1999. But few have graced the number 1 jersey with such quality and consistency as Edwin van der Sar.
The two differ in style; Schmeichel was famed for bellowing at his back four as well as his brilliant saves. Edwin, however, uses his experience and calm assurance to great effect.
Edwin has all the wisdom and know-how between the sticks that you would expect of a goalkeeper that is his nation’s most-capped player and a former UEFA Cup (1992) and Champions League (1995) winner with his first club Ajax. He
also won four league titles and three domestic cups with the Amsterdam outfit, before spending two seasons in Serie A with Juventus.
Gianlugi Buffon’s arrival at the Stadio delle Alpi resulted in van der Sar's £5million switch to Fulham in 2001 at the outset of the Londoners’ Premier League adventure, but after four seasons at Craven Cottage United came knocking.
Van der Sar was 34 when he arrived at Old Trafford in 2005 but old father time has dulled neither ambition nor influence. Age is not a problem, far from it. He kept an incredible 24 clean sheets in all competitions in 2007/08 as the
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 | 2 | Gary Neville | Gary Neville belongs to an elite group of players who have skippered the Reds to Premier League title glory.
Following on from Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, Neville realised a lifelong dream as he became the fifth United captain to lift the Premier League trophy following the Reds' record ninth triumph at the end of the 2006/07 campaign.
Neville himself had missed the final stages of that season, having suffered ankle ligament damage just 11 minutes into the visit of Bolton to Old Trafford on 17 March 2007. The same injury kept the Reds’ skipper out for most of the
2007/2008 season but even when unable to influence matters directly on the pitch, you can be sure his presence is felt in the dressing room and from the stands. Nobody wants United to win more than Gary Neville.
The defender, who has made more than 550 appearances in a United shirt, was handed the armband during the 2005/06 season following Roy Keane’s departure. Being one of United’s most consistent and committed performers since establishing himself in the side in 1994/95 at the expense of Paul Parker, Neville was a natural choice.
He enters every game refusing to contemplate defeat, and the
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 | 3 | Patrice Evra | |