take great pride in their youth set-up. From the memorable Busby Babes to the Class of ‘92 to the current roster of academy stars, there are very few clubs that can mimic their conveyor belt of young talent that has been churned out over the years. Becoming the beautiful game’s leading talisman has become commonplace for footballers that have emerged from the club’s academy ranks, such as Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, while the likes of Marcus Rashford are now considered to be the face of Carrington.
Legendary manager Sir explained why relying on youth is such a ‘fantastic thing’, saying: “Giving young people an opportunity is a fantastic thing, and they very seldom let you down. These lads never let me down when they put that jersey on.” Here are the 10 greatest Manchester United academy graduates from the club’s long and storied history ranked in order.
The late, great Sir was more than just a footballer. A figurehead in the world of football, firing the Red Devils to European Cup glory in 1968 - a decade after surviving the Munich Air Disaster - is his most memorable moment on the turf. To showcase his importance to Manchester United’s long-standing tradition, only Ryan Giggs has played more games for the club.
The greatest players that England has produced down the years - ranked in order. Cementing himself in a very exclusive club, Ashington-born Charlton won the Ballon d’Or while plying his trade at Old Trafford and picked up a long list of col.