Soccer Greatest Manchester United Sevens

Who Is The Best Player To Wear The Red Devils 7?

Nov 15, 2009 David Kuzio

Over the years Manchester United have produced world class players who have worn the Number 7 shirt, who is the best ever?

Manchester United are one the world's biggest clubs, winning countless Premier League titles, FA Cups and Carling Cups, they have also won the European Cup or Champions League three time.

But probably more famous than any trophy haul is the number of fantastic players they have had over the years that have worn the majestic Number Seven shirt.

Looking back over the years here is a list of the fine players to have worn that shirt with pride.

Belfast Boy George Best

For many supporters who followed United in the sixties and seventies George Best will not only go down as the greatest player to wear the Number Seven shirt but probably the best to ever play for United.

Best joined the Old Trafford side in 1963 and made his debut on September 14 against West Bromich Albion. In a United career that lasted 11 years the Northern Irishman scored 137 goals in 361 appearances.

Unfortunately antics off the field made Best just as famous than on the field as he led a celebrity lifestyle. Best died on November 25 2005 after a long battle against alcoholism.

Best will always have a special place in the heart of United supporters and the chant "we all live in a Georgie Best world" can still be heard every weekend.

Bryan Robson United Captain

Robson was dubbed Captain Marvel by the United faithful after Ron Atkinson signed the midfielder from West Bromich Albion.

Robson would represent United on 344 appearances banging in 74 goals in the process. He was the corner stone of the United side for years and led by example, his work ethic was rewarded when United won the title in 1992-93, the first time since 1967.

The following season Robson still did his fair share for the team despite falling out of favour due to the fine form of Eric Cantona and new signing Roy Keane.

Robson is now an ambassador for the club, which shows the high asteem he his held in throughout the whole of Manchester United.

Cantona King Of Old Trafford

While many older United fans think of Best as the greatest Number Seven the rest see Cantona head and shoulders above anything ever seen before or even in the future.

Cantona made the shock switch from hated rivals Leeds in 1992 and immediately helped United claim the Premier League title, which automatically helped him become a folk hero.

The women loved his Gaelic charm and the men just wanted to be him, even when he was suspended for kicking a fan at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, the fans still adored him and chanted his name whenever possible.

Cantona scored 64 goals in 144 appearances, with goals at Wimbledon, at home to Sunderland and his penalty against Liverpool in his comeback game following his suspension, as his main highlights.

Cantona shocked the world when he quit United at the end of the 1997 season but a part of his heart will always be with United and his "we'll drink, a drink" song can still be heard on match days in the bars and on the terraces.

David Beckham Manchester United

The next player to wear the Number Seven shirt would have enormous boots to fill, but in the end David Beckham did a very good job.

After being handed a number of jerseys Beckham took hold of Number Seven when Cantona left and wore it with the same style and passion as the Frenchman.

Beckham played 265 times and scored 62 goals, including that famous one from the halfway line against Wimbledon.

Beckham became a hate figure for fans outside of Manchester United after he was sent off for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, which made him loved more by the United fans.

Their love for Beckham seemed to wane when he had a fallout with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was not best pleased in the direction his career was going following his marriage to Victoria.

Beckham was then sold on to Real Madrid in a show of defiance from Ferguson, basically saying no-one was bigger than the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo Player Of The Year

As with when Cantona left people did not think anyone could fill the boots of Beckham until Ferguson spotted a teenager in Portugal going by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo.

When Ronaldo arrived he was very skinny and did not look like adapting to the physical aspect of the Premier League, but within the next few years he proved everyone wrong.

Ronaldo bagged 84 goals in 196 appearances, which included 42 in the 2007-08 season, but his relationship with the United fans went a bit sour the following season when he was constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid, plus his antics on the field which involved diving all the time, were also wearing a little bit thin.

Ronaldo did put that behind him to help United win their third consecutive Premier League title but ended up joining Madrid in the summer of 2009 for £80 million.

Michael Owen Joins Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson shocked the whole footballing world when signed former Liverpool striker Michael Owen on a free transfer.

Owen had been a thorn in United's side during his time at Anfield, but after unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle, Ferguson thought he could do a job for him.

Some United fans will never forget his relationship with Liverpool but a lot of them forgave him when he scored the winner in a remarkable Manchester derby in which Owen's injury time strike earned a 4-3 victory.

Only time will tell if Owen will be a firm favourite as a Number Seven, but no-one will ever know who the greatest was.

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