Man Utd Team Guide (FM09)

Man Utd


Man Utd Football Club is an English football club, based at Old Trafford in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the exception of the 1974–75 season. Average attendances at the club have been higher than any other team in English football for all but six seasons since 1964–65.

Man Utd are the reigning English champions and Club World Cup holders, having won the 2008–09 Premier League and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. The club is one of the most successful in the history of English football and has won 22 major honours since Alex Ferguson became manager in November 1986. In 1968, they became the first English club to win the European Cup, beating Benfica 4–1. They won a second European Cup as part of a Treble in 1999, before winning their third in 2008. The club holds the joint record for the most English league titles with 18 and also holds the record for the most FA Cup wins with 11.

Since the late 1990s, the club has been one of the richest in the world with the highest revenue of any football club, and is currently ranked as the richest and most valuable club in any sport, with an estimated value of £897 million (€1.333 billion / .8 billion) as of September 2008. Man Utd was a founding member of the now defunct G-14 group of Europe's leading football clubs, and its replacement, the European Club Association.

Alex Ferguson has been manager of the club since 6 November 1986, joining from Aberdeen after the departure of Ron Atkinson. The current club captain is Gary Neville, who succeeded Roy Keane in November 2005.

Club Officials


Owner: Malcolm Glazer
Honorary president: Martin Edwards

Man Utd Limited
Co-chairmen: Joel Glazer & Avram Glazer
Chief executive: David Gill
Chief operating officer: Michael Bolingbroke
Commercial director: Richard Arnold
Executive director: Ed Woodward
Non-executive directors: Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer & Darcie Glazer

Man Utd football club
Directors: David Gill, Michael Edelson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Maurice Watkins
Club secretary: Ken Ramsden
Assistant club secretary: Ken Merrett
Global ambassador: Bryan Robson

Coaching and Medical Staff
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Assistant manager: Mike Phelan
First team coach: René Meulensteen
Goalkeeping coach: Eric Steele
Fitness coach: Tony Strudwick
Strength & conditioning coach: Mick Clegg
Head of human performance: Dr. Richard Hawkins
Reserve team manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Reserve team coach: Warren Joyce
Chief scout: Jim Lawlor
Chief European scout: Martin Ferguson
Director of youth academy: Brian McClair
Director of youth football: Jimmy Ryan
Club doctor: Dr. Steve McNally
Assistant club doctor: Dr. Tony Gill
First team physiotherapist: Rob Swire


Stadium


Old Trafford - Theatre of Dreams

Old Trafford is an all-seater football stadium in the Trafford borough of Greater Manchester, England, and is the home of Premier League club Man Utd. With space for 76,212 spectators, Old Trafford has the second-largest capacity of any English football stadium after Wembley Stadium, the third-largest of any stadium in the United Kingdom, and the eleventh-largest in Europe. It is one of two stadia in the country to have been given a five-star rating by UEFA. The stadium is approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from Old Trafford Cricket Ground and the adjacent Manchester Metrolink tram station.

The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Dreams by Bobby Charlton, has been United's permanent residence since 1910, with the exception of an eight-year absence from 1941 to 1949, following the bombing of the stadium in the Second World War. During this period, the club shared Maine Road with local rivals, Manchester City. The ground underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, most notably the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East stands which served to return the ground almost to its original capacity of 80,000. Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to over 90,000. The stadium's current record attendance was recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.

The ground has frequently hosted FA Cup semi-final matches as a neutral venue and several England international fixtures while the new Wembley Stadium was under construction. It also hosted matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and Euro 96 and the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final. Aside from football-related uses, Old Trafford has hosted Super League's Grand Final since the rugby league's adoption of playoffs in 1998 and the final of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.


Honours

Domestic

League

Premier League: 11
1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

First Division: 7
1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67

Second Division: 2
1935–36, 1974–75

Cups

FA Cup: 11
1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

League Cup: 3
1992, 2006, 2009

FA Charity/Community Shield: 17 (13 outright, 4 shared)
1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008 (* joint holders)

European

European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 3
1968, 1999, 2008

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1
1991

UEFA Super Cup: 1
1991

Worldwide

Intercontinental Cup: 1
1999

FIFA Club World Cup: 1
2008

Doubles and Trebles

Doubles:

League and FA Cup: 3
1994, 1996, 1999 (as part of The Treble)

League and League Cup: 1
2009

European Double (League and European Cup): 2
1999 (as part of The Treble), 2008

"The Treble" (League, FA Cup and European Cup): 1
1999

Especially short competitions such as the Charity/Community Shield, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup or Super Cup are not generally considered to contribute towards a Double or Treble.

The only major honour that Man Utd has never won is the UEFA Cup, although they reached the quarter-finals in 1984–85 and the semi-finals of the competition's precursor tournament, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, in 1964–65.

Squad


Edwin Van Der Sar

Shirt Number 1 Nationality Dutch Position GK
The Netherlands international is a calm presence between the sticks as United won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2007/08 and 2008/09, and the former Ajax and Juventus player also saved Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to take the 2008 Champions League trophy to Old Trafford. A calm world-class goalkeeper capable of making crucial saves and a great shot stopper. However he is approaching the end of his career and may only have two season left.

Gary Neville (Captain)

Shirt Number 2 Nationality English Position DRC
The current united captain, Neville has battled back from a serious injury which some thought could end his career. He is a solid right back and a capable of slotting in the center of defence if need be. He may have lost a yard of pace but is a great crosser and with his long throws is a danger from throws ins.

Patrice Evra

Shirt Number 3 Nationality French Position DL
Man Utd moved to strengthen their defence by signing Evra, a lightning fast player, from AS Monaco in January 2006. His early performances had many wondering if the France defender was a poor signing, but in 2006/07 he was named the best left-back in the Premier League. Now an integral part of a hugely successful United side, his performances also earned a return to the France fold and was brought back into the starting line-up during the 2008 European Championships. After such a shakey start to life at Old Trafford, few would have predicted such success.

Owen Hargreaves

Shirt Number 4 Nationality English Position DMC/MC
He moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2007, and though his first few months at the club were dogged by injury he soon blossomed into a vital player, helping United to a Premier League/Champions League double in his debut season. A good dead ball specialist and capable of producing good crosses from the right side. However the 2008/09 season was over as soon as it began as he had surgery on both knees to cure the patellar tendonitis. Hopefully he will be fit enough to talk part this season.

Rio Ferdinand

Shirt Number 5 Nationality English Position DC
Armed with elegance, pace and an astute ability to read the game, Rio Ferdinand is one of the finest defenders in world football. In September 2003 disaster struck. The defender missed a routine drugs test and, despite appealing, was banned from football for eight months in January 2004.Since returning from suspension, Rio has consistently justified his tag as a world-class defender. He's also chipped in with valuable goals, perhaps most dramatically with an injury-time winner against Liverpool in January 2006.Although an increasingly potent threat from set-pieces, Rio’s main asset remains his leadership in defence, a skill that has made him a solid foundation for both United and England and seen him handed the captaincy for club and country on numerous occasions.

Wes Brown

Shirt Number 6 Nationality English Position DRC
Tough tackling, strong in the air and fast on the deck, Wes Brown is one of England's finest defenders. He’s not the most fortunate though. Surely his club and country appearance totals, while impressive, would be far higher had it not been for his awful luck with injuries. Wes is a good right back or centre back.

Michael Owen

Shirt Number 7 Nationality English Position FC
His July 2009 arrival at Old Trafford may have raised a few eyebrows, but former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is undoubtedly one of the finest goal scorers in the history of English football. The Chester-born forward notched up more than 200 goals for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United, plus 40 goals in 89 England internationals prior to signing for Man Utd. Owen is strong and a deadly finisher in the box. Unlike Berbatov and Rooney Michael stays up to where he can be devastating.

Anderson

Shirt Number 8 Nationality Brazilian Position AMC
He arrived with the billing: the ‘new Ronaldinho’. But upon his arrival at Old Trafford from FC Porto in summer 2007. After a wondrous debut season the Brazilian's talents are well known not just in Manchester, but also around the world. The Ronaldinho comparisons are inevitable given both players began their careers at Brazilian side Gremio, who Anderson joined at the age of just five, but that’s really where the similarities end. Where Ronaldinho is all flicks and flamboyance, Anderson is bustling with energy and possesses an eye for a defence-splitting pass. He has skill and technical ability in abundance, but his preference for midfield combat could bring you to question his Brazilian roots

Dimitar Berbatov

Shirt Number 9 Nationality Bulgarian Position ST
Dimitar Berbatov is a classy and complete centre-forward, pairing the ability to ruthlessly and regularly find the net inside the box with the aptitude to create moments of sheer magic outside it. Like the captivating Frenchman, Berbatov loves to entertain with the ball at his feet, and he also shares Cantona's happy knack for scoring important (often late) goals, which he showed more than once in his first season at United.

Wayne Rooney

Shirt Number 10 Nationality English Position FC
Wayne Rooney burst onto the Old Trafford stage in September 2004, netting an unforgettable hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his debut. Wayne Rooney is a good goal scorer and capable of scoring long distance screamers, but it's not just Wayne's goals that have endeared him to the United faithful. A tireless worker, Rooney always gives 100 per cent and can't stand losing. They're traits that have, from time to time, landed him in hot water but Reds fans recognise the odd over-zealous challenge or act of petulance is merely a by-product of Rooney's immense passion and will to win. The striker's ability to adapt is an attribute often overlooked. Although most at home leading the line or playing just behind a main striker, Rooney has delivered sparkling displays from out wide on numerous occasions. With pace to burn and an eye for a long, raking pass, Rooney's just as effective creating chances as he is taking them.

Ryan Giggs (vice-captain)

Shirt Number 11 Nationality Welsh Position AMLC
Ryan is also the Reds' record appearance-maker; he surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's 758 on the night he helped the Reds secure a third European Cup triumph - his second - in Moscow on 21 May 2008, and is United's most decorated player. Giggs' career continued with a flourish during 2008/09 when he adopted a more central position in midfield or just off the main striker. He extended his contract by another year in February 2009, effective to the end of 2009/10. In that same month he became the only player to score in every Premier League season when he netted in United's 1-0 win at West Ham. The Welsh Wizard is world-class and a legendary left-winger.

Ben Foster

Shirt Number 12 Nationality English Position GK
Foster joined Man Utd from Stoke City for an initial fee of £1million, rising to £2.5m, in July 2005. He is a fantastic shot stopper and is capable of making world-class saves. Foster is an England International and with Edwin coming to the end of his career Ben looks like likely to take the gloves over.

Park Ji-Sung

Shirt Number 13 Nationality Korean Position AMRL
Park Ji-Sung joined Man Utd in July 2005 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £4million. Park is an instrumental figure within United he has injected energy and style into the side. The South Korea international is the epitome of a player from that region. Small, but full of running and a tricky customer. Essentially a winger happy on either flank, he can also fill in at full-back if necessary. Popular with the terraces, Park has become a useful squad player for United.

Zoran Tošić

Shirt Number 14 Nationality Serbian Position AMRL
Described by United's scouting department as “a stylish player consistent with the traditions and legacy of wide players at this club”, 21-year-old Tosic is already a regular in Serbia’s national team. A winger who hugs the touchline and takes defenders on, he possesses silky dribbling skills and a strong left-foot shot. Renowned for his mastery in dead-ball situations, Tosic is a real threat from set pieces, whether firing goalwards or delivering pinpoint crosses.

Nemanja Vidić

Shirt Number 15 Nationality Serbian Position DC
Nemanja Vidic enjoyed his best season yet in a United shirt during 2008/09, a fact not lost on his team-mates, who voted the towering Serbian defender the players' player of the year at the Reds' end-of-season awards. Tall, athletic and solid as a rock, Vida is uncompromising in the tackle and formidable in the air. He began his career with boyhood club Red Star Belgrade, joining their youth programme at 14. Nemanja is a world class defender and is part of one of the worlds best defending partnerships with Rio.

Michael Carrick

Shirt Number 16 Nationality English Position DMC/MC
Carrick's £17m move to Man Utd in the summer of 2006 was long-running and controversial but eventually United got their man and Tottenham Hotspur got their price. And United appear to have got value for money as the England international has improved each season with United. In Carrick, United had signed a playmaker who dovetailed well with the ageing legs of Paul Scholes. His quiet personality matches his unspectacular style but his distribution was invaluable to United's recent success. He even showed up with the odd goal.

Nani

Shirt Number 17 Nationality Portuguese Position AMRL
Nani is a powerful and pacy winger. He arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in 2007 and, predictably, was given the tag of being ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’ Nani produces explosive bursts of brilliance, his goals are spectacular and well worthy of his equally extravagant backflip celebrations. But the challenge now, after a patchy second season in England, is to do it consistently at the top level. Like Ronaldo in his first three seasons at Old Trafford, the good form comes in spells. Nani, who scored four goals in 41 appearances as the Reds clinched the Premier League and Champions League trophies, can play on either flank and showed his speed, skill and scoring potential in his first season at Old Trafford.

Paul Scholes

Shirt Number 18 Nationality English Position MC
You must have a rare and special football talent to impress the great Sir Bobby Charlton. The United legend sums up Paul Scholes perfectly: "He’s always so in control and pinpoint accurate with his passing – a beautiful player to watch." Neat and compact, a misplaced Scholes pass remains one of the rarest sights in football. His superb eye for goal and late runs from midfield also served his country superbly on 66 occasions. When Paul does not start he can often came on to steady the tempo of games and help close out narrow league victories. His opener in United’s 3-0 victory over Fulham in February 2009 – a game he dominated – proved he hasn’t lost his deadly ability to score from distance. Carrick’s corner found Scholes in a familiar position at the edge of the area, and he rolled back the years to thunder in a 25-yard volley that was simply too hot for Mark Schwarzer to handle.

Danny Welbeck

Shirt Number 19 Nationality English Position AMR/ST
Danny Welbeck, a highly promising forward capable of spectacular goals, was handed a first-team squad number for the 2008/09 season after starring for the Academy and Reserves. The Manchester-born front man joined United's youth set-up in summer 2007 and quickly caught the eye with his skilful, strong and pacy displays, which have seen him likened to former Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu.

Fábio

Shirt Number 20 Nationality Brazilian Position DR/MR
Like his twin brother Rafael, Fabio moved to Man Utd in January 2008 after being spotted playing for Fluminese in his homeland of Brazil. With his brother a right-back, Fabio could complete a twin full-back pairing as he is left-footed. They are both attack-minded defenders. He is also a dead-ball expert.

Rafael

Shirt Number 21 Nationality Brazilian Position DR/MR
The player is at attacking full-back who loves to get forward and join in with the attack. He is lightning quick and can also play further up the park in more advanced roles.

John O'Shea

Shirt Number 22 Nationality Irish Position DRLC/DMC
Arguably United’s most versatile player, John O'Shea - who has made over 300 appearances - has played everywhere during his time at Old Trafford. But wherever he plays, United’s no.22 is happy to contribute to the team. O'Shea has always been a footballing defender, blessed with beautiful balance, crisp passing and formidable upper-body strength, which enables him to slip effortlessly into midfield and anywhere across the back four.

Jonny Evans

Shirt Number 23 Nationality Irish Position DC
Belfast-born Jonathan Evans is a tall and agile centre-back. An intelligent defender, he combines an uncompromising physical approach with the ability to pass the ball out from the back. Jonny has risen through the United ranks to become an integral part of the first team squad,

Darren Fletcher

Shirt Number 24 Nationality Scottish Position MRC
Darren Fletcher is a player for the big occasion. While other men might shirk from the responsibility presented to them in the heat of battle, the Scot thrives in such encounters. This attitude was never more visibly displayed than in the 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal [in February 2008] in which he headed two goals. He set the standard for the team with his indefatigable running, hassling, closing down and tackling which denied the Gunners time and space to play their usual passing game.

Danny Simpson

Shirt Number 25 Nationality English Position DR
Salford-born defender Danny Simpson has represented United at all levels since signing with the Reds' Academy in July 2003.The robust, tough-tackling full-back can play anywhere across the back, but has settled as a right-back in recent years, having honed his position during a host of successful loan deals.

Darron Gibson

Shirt Number 28 Nationality Irish Position MC
Republic of Ireland international Darron Gibson is an athletic midfielder who packs a powerful shot. 'Gibbo' has been in and around the first team for several seasons but it was in the 2008/09 campaign that he made a real breakthrough. He scored his first goal for the seniors in the FA Cup win at Southampton in January 2009 and also played every game of the Reds' triumphant Carling Cup campaign, in which his composure and passing ability drew comparisons with Michael Carrick. He will be pushing for regular first-team involvement in the coming seasons.

Tomasz Kuszczak

Shirt Number 29 Nationality Polish Position GK
The Pole is extremely athletic and agile, attributes that first came to the Reds' attention when he came on for West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in May 2005.

Sam Hewson

Shirt Number 33 Nationality English Position MC
The Bolton-born player is a creative midfielder who loves to get forward in support of the attack, but is also adept at stopping the opposition.

Rodrigo Possebon
(on loan at Braga until 30 June 2010)

Shirt Number 34 Nationality Brazilian Position DMC/MC
Elegant and composed in possession but full of energy, Rodrigo Possebon is an archetypal box-to-box midfielder. He joined United in January 2008 from Brazil's Sporting Club Internacional.

Tom Cleverley

Shirt Number 35 Nationality English Position DR/DMC/MC
Tom Cleverley is a versatile midfielder who has progressed through the ranks at Old Trafford. The youngster can play in defence as well as across the middle.

David Gray

Shirt Number 36 Nationality Scottish Position DR/MR
David Gray has the advantageous ability of being able to play in almost any position.

Craig Cathcart

Shirt Number 37 Nationality Irish Position CD
Tall, good in the air and strong in the tackle, Craig Cathcart is a prototypical centre-half, but he also possesses the ability and confidence to bring the ball out of defence.

Ron-Robert Zieler

Shirt Number 38 Nationality German Position GK
Ron-Robert Zieler began his career with home-town club FC Cologne before joining United in the summer of 2005.Good in one-on-one situations and an excellent shot-stopper,

James Chester

Shirt Number 39 Nationality English Position DC
James Chester is an agile, tough-tackling central defender.

Ben Amos

Shirt Number 40 Nationality English Position GK
Amos has impressed for the club's youth ranks but is still learning his trade a England youth international, one for the future.

Federico Macheda

Shirt Number 41 Nationality Italian Position FC
Kiko is Formerly a member of Lazio's youth system, Macheda signed professional forms on 22 August 2008. A powerful forward with a natural eye for goal, he was born in Rome and is regarded in Italy as one of the most promising prospects of his generation.

Davide Petrucci

Shirt Number 43 Nationality Italian Position AMC/FC
Petrucci, who comes from the San Basilio suburb of Rome, has been compared to a young Francesco Totti. He is young attacking midfielder who can also play up front.

Ritchie De Laet

Shirt Number 44 Nationality Belgian Position DRLC
De Laet made a shock move from Stoke City to Man Utd in January 2009 despite never having played a game for the Potteries club. The Belgian defender can play anywhere across back line.

Corry Evans

Shirt Number 45 Nationality Irish Position DRC/MRC
Corry Evans is a strong and consistent performer, equally adept at playing in the heart of midfield or defence, or on either flank.

Daniel Drinkwater

Shirt Number 46 Nationality English Position MC
Danny is comfortable playing with both feet and displays excellent passing ability. He has spent several years with the academy and, now a first year scholar; he has progressed well through the age groups.

Matthew James

Shirt Number 47 Nationality English Position MC/DMC
Rochdale-born Matthew James is a versatile and adaptable player, capable of filling in at the back – which he did at the start of the 2007/08 campaign – even though his preferred position is in midfield. He’s a very good all-round footballer with good technique. He can pass short and long and he’s good in the air

Tom Heaton

Shirt Number ** Nationality English Position GK
An excellent shot stopper and always in full command of his penalty area, Tom is a reliable, solid goalkeeper who has always shown great promise.

Antonio Valencia

Shirt Number ** Nationality Ecuadorian Position MR/AMR
Valencia joined Man Utd in June 2009 for a fee believed to be in the region of £16m.The Ecuador international had spent three years with Wigan Athletic, initially on loan for 18 months before sealing a permanent switch in January 2008. Antonio is a fast winger with tremendous skill and crossing ability.

Febian Brandy

Shirt Number ** Nationality English Position FC
With United since the age of nine, Brandy is viewed as one for the future and has had to overcome some serious injuries during his career. The young-old striker has been a regular in the United reserve side, but has not made the breakthrough into the first-team squad.

Gabriel Obertan

Shirt Number ** Nationality French Position AMRLC/ST
Obertan, a Paris-born France Under-21 international, can fill several attacking roles. He has great speed and strength and has an eye for a goal.

Mame Biram Diouf
(on loan at Molde until 31 December 2009)

Shirt Number ** Nationality Senegalese Position FC
Strong, quick and powerful forward that can finish with both feet and his head.

Adem Ljajić
(Currently playing for FK Partizan will join on the 1st January 2010)

Shirt Number ** Nationality Serbian Position AMRLC
The Young Serbian who has been labelled the next “Kaka”. He is a skilful midfielder capable of scoring goals and a great dribbler. He can play across the midfield it attacking roles.