Tomasz Kuszczak

Tomasz Kuszczak Stats
-Full Name: Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak
-Birthplace: Krosno Odrzańskie, Poland
-Height: 191cm (6ft 3ins)
-Date of Birth: 20/03/1982
-Position: Goalkeeper

International Football
Poland (2003 - )

Tomasz Kuszczak Introduction
Tomasz Kuszczak is a Poland international goalkeeper who sighned for Manchester United in 2006 after impressing for his former club West Bromwich Albion in a League match against The Reds in the March of that year.

Although not first choice goalkeeper, Kuszczak is a very able deputy to current Man Utd number one Edwin Van Der Sar.

A Polish international, Kuszczak started his professional playing career in neighbouring Germany with Hertha Berlin, where he didn't play one competitive game, before moving to West Bromwich Albion in 2003.

Now at Manchester United the goalkeeper is known as a super shot stopper and for his agility that defies his 6ft 3ins frame.

Tomasz Kuszczak Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2007, 2008,2009
-League Cup: 2006
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup:2010

Darron Gibson

Darron Gibson Stats
-Full Name: Darron Daniel Thomas Gibson
-Birthplace: Derry Northern Ireland
-Date of Birth: 25/10/1987
-Height: 183cm (6ft 0ins)
-Weight: 78kg (172lbs)
-Position: Central midfield
-Squad Number: 28

International
Republic of Ireland (2007 -)

Darron Gibson is the latest player to have come thorugh Manchester United's youth set-up and break into the first team. The young midfielder started his footballing career with Northern Irish youth side Institute F.C. before being snapped by Manchester United 2004.

Darron Gibson made his Manchester Debut on 26 October 2005 when he replaced Lee Martin in the 4-1 League Cup win over Barnet at Old Trafford.

Although the player made his Manchester United debut at a very young age it would take him three years and two loans spells, firstly at The Reds feeder club Royal Antwerp - making 33 appearances and scoring once - and with Wolverhampton Wanderers - scoring once in 24 games - before making his Premier League debut in the club's 5-0 home victory over Stoke City, alongside fellow debutants Manucho and Danny Welbeck.

Darron Gibson's first goal for Manchester United came on 4 January 2008 in the 3-0, 3rd round F.A. Cup victory over Southampton.

In 2007 Darron Gibson made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland, however this caused quite a bit of controversy at the time, as the player had took advantage of a ruling that allowed players who were born in Northern Ireland to play for the Republic. The player made his debut on 22 August 2007 in a 4-0 victory over Denmark.

Darron Gibson honours
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup: 2010

Macheda

Federico Macheda Stats
-Full Name: Federico Macheda
-Birthplace: Rome, Italy
-Height: 186cm (6ft 1ins)
-Date of Birth: 22/08/1981
-Position: Striker

International Football
Italy U-16 (2006-07) 10 2
Italy U-17 (2007-8) 3 0
Italy U-19 (2009 - ) 1 0
Italy U-21 (2009 -) 3 0

Federico Macheda Introduction
Federico Macheda signed for Manchester United in 2008 from his hometown club of Lazio under controversial circumstances, after The Reds took advantage of a ruling that doesn't allow Italian clubs to sign players before the age of 18.

The fiery Italian's rise to Manchester United's first team was remarkable. He started off the 2008-09 season playing in United's accademy, before scoring a priceless winner in the dying minutes of his debut in a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa, when he came on as a second half substitute.

Kiko Macheda oozes charisma and class, which has seen him become a bit of a cult figure around Old Trafford and is sure to have a magnificant future ahead of him.

Kiko Macheda Honours
Manchester United
FA Premier League: 2008, 2009

Gabriel Obertan

Gabriel Obertan Stats
-Full Name: Gabriel Obertan
-Birthplace: Pantin, France
-Height: 186cm (6ft 1ins)
-Date of Birth: 26/02/1989
-Position: Winger

International Football
France U-16 (2004-05)
France U-17 (2005-6)
France U-18 (2006-07)
France U-19 (2007-08)
France U-21 (2008 -)

Gabriel Obertan Introduction
Gabriel Obertan is a tricky skillful winger signed by Manchester United in the summer of 2009. After being tracked by United's scouts since his mid teams, Sir Alex Ferguson finally got his man, beating of stiff competiton to secure his services.

Before signing for Manchester United, the French winger, who has been capped at all levels by France from the under-16's through to the under-21's played for his homeland clubs of Bordeaux and Lorient.

The elegant winger looks to have a glittering career ahead of him at Old Trafford, providing he settles into the rough and tumble of the English game.

Antonio Valencia

Antonio Valencia Stats
-Full Name: Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera
-Birthplace: Lago Agrio, Ecuador
-Date of Birth: 04/08/1985
-Height: 182cm (6ft 0ins)
-Position: Winger

International Football
Ecuador (2005 -)

Federico Macheda Introduction
Antonio Valencia is an extremely explosive and quick winger who commenced his footballing career with Ecuadorian side El Nacional where he made 84 appearance and scoring 20 goals beofre securing a dream move to Europe with new emerging Spanish force Villareal.

The four years spent at El Madrigal were spent on loan with Recreativo and Wigan Atheltic, before securing a permanent move to the latter in the summer of 2008.

During his time at Wigan Sir Alex Ferguson monitered the wingers performances closely, before bringing to Old Trafford for fee of £16m

Antonio Valencia Honours
El Nacional
-Serie A de Ecuador: 2005

Manchester United
-Carling Cup: 2010

Darren Fletcher

Darren Fletcher Stats
-Full Name: Darren Barr Fletcher
-Birthplace: Dalkeith, Scotland
-Date of Birth: 01/02/1984
-Height: 185cm (6ft 1ins)
-Weight: 79kg (174lbs)
-Position: Midfield
-Squad Number: 24

International Football
Scotland (2003 -) 39 4

Darren Fletcher Manchester United Career
Manchester United's energetic midfielder Darren Fletcher was born in the Midlothian town of Dalkeith and signed for The Reds as a trainee on 3 July 2000, after rejecting the opportunity to join Newcastle United. Seven months later - at the age of 17 the player signed professional terms with the club.

Fletcher's maturity and level of play began to excite everybody behind the scenes at Old Trafford and he was seen as a long term or even short term replacement for David Beckham, should anything have happened to the England goldenboy. However the young Scot's early day at United were severely hampered by a career threatening foot injury and it would take him two more years before he was ready to make his first team debut, doing so in the UEFA Champions League group match against Swiss side Basel on 12 March 2003. Although the player clearly had talent he would go on to make only one more appearance during his rookie sason with Manchester United.

The following season as the player began to "fill out" after a sudden growth spurt Darren Fletcher began to establish himself as a first team squad regular, making 34 appearances for the club, including in the 3-0 F.A. Cup final win against Millwall.

His breakthrough at Mancheter United was rewarded by Scotland coach Berti Vogts who drafted Fletcher into the national set-up, giving the United midfielder his debut on 20 August 2003 in a goaless friendly against Norway.

When the season had concluded Darren Fletcher became the youngest Scotland captain since John Lambie in 1886, when he led his side out in a 1-0 win against Estonia in Talin on 26 May 2004 aged 20 years and 115 days.

Despite his international exploits the 2004-2005 season started pretty slow for Darren Fletcher who made only a handful of senior appearances for the club. However at the turn of the year (2005) the player scored his first goal for the club against Middlesborugh in a 2-0 victory and as a result was afforded more first team opportunites as Sir Alex Ferguson began to rotate is squad more often to cope with the rigours of firing on all four fronts (Premier League, Champions League, F.A. Cup and League Cup). The player would go on to finish the season with three goals in 30 games, netting his other two goals against Charlton and Southampton, the latter being relegated from the Premier League as a consequence.

Although the player was becoming a first team regular he had many critics amongst the Old Trafford faithful, but during a critical League game against title challengers Chelsea the player put in a man-of-the-match display as he netted the only goal of the contest with a delightful looping header. The important goal made some of the critics eat their words, but he would have to go further to convince his harshest detractors that he deserved to wear the famous red shirt. Despite the victory Manchester United lost out on the League title to their London rivals, however Fletcher and his team mates did console themselves with a 4-0 League Cup final victory over Wigan at Cardiff's impressive Millenium Stadium.

In 2006-2007 after the purchase of Michael Carrick from spurs; the return of Paul Scholes from a career threatening eye injury; and the emergence of Cristiano Ronaldo as a worldclass right winger the player found it increasingly difficult to break into the first team, however he did manage to make 24 league appearances as Manchester United wrestled back their Premier League crown from the grip of rivals Chelsea.
After Manchester United were compehensively beaten by AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, manager Sir Alex Ferguson bolstered his squad with the signings of midfielders Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich and Anderson and Nani from Portuguese football. These purchases meant that Darren Fletcher would have to work even harder to make the breakthrough. It is testament to the player's metal that he stayed on to fight for his place a lesser man would've given up and moved on to pastures new.

As the player battled to keep in the manager's minds eyes he could only muster 23 appearances during the whole of the 2007-2008 season, but did put in another critical man-of-the-match performance by scoring two goals in United's F.A. Cup fifth round thumping of Arsenal. Although he didn't play many games during the campaign he did pick up Premier League and Champions League winning medals.

Darren Fletcher started the 2008-2009 season in sparkling form netting United's equaliser against Newcastle United in the first game of the season, followed by the winner against Portsmouth at Fratton Park a week later. A number of impressive performances for the club during the initial stages of the campaign seemed to have won over even his harshest of critics.

Darren Fletcher Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2007, 2008,2009
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FA Cup: 2004
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup : 2010

John O'Shea

John O'Shea Stats
-Full Name: John Francis O'Shea
-Birthplace: Waterford, Eire
-Date of Birth: 30/04/1981
-Height: 191cm (6ft 3ins)
-Weight: 75kg (165lbs)
-Position: Full-Back, C. Back, Midfield
-Squad Number: 22

International Football
Republic of Ireland (2001 -)

John O'Shea Manchester United Career
John O'Shea was brought up in the southern Irish town of Waterford and first caught the attention of Manchester United when he came over tho Manchester to train with the club's academy during the summer months.

In 1998 the big Irishman signed professional forms with the club and made his debut a year later on 13 October 1999 at Villa Park in the 3-0 League Cup defeat against Aston Villa.

The player clearly had talent and Sir Alex Ferguson was keen for the player to gain experience and promptly sent him on loan spells to AFC Bournmouth and Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp.

John O'Shea's potential didn't go un-noticed on an international level when Irish manager Mick McCarthy called the defender upto to the senior squad in August 2001, making his debut on the 15th of that month against Croatia. Unfortunately for the player he gave away a penalty in injury time, which gave the Croats a chance to make it 2-2, which they duly took.

When he returned from Belgium O'Shea began to break into the Manchester United first team and in the 2002-2003 season made an incredible 52 appearances for the club (the most times he's played in one season), helping The Reds pip Arsenal to the Premier League title. Additionally the season underlined the player's versatility when he appeared for United in a , number of positions including right-back, left-back, centre-back and central midfield.

The following season John O'Shea established himself as a first team regular whenSir Alex Ferguson gave the player more opportunites to display his talents following Rio Ferdinand's lengthy suspension for missing a drugs test. That season also saw the player net his first Manchester United goal, when he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over Wolves on 27 August 2003.

On 4 February 2007 John O'Shea completed a remarkable achievement for the club, when against Tottenham Hotspur he played in goal after United regular stopper Edwin Van Der Sar had to leave the field after suffering a broken nose when he collided with Spur's striker Robbie Keane. This occurance saw the versatile defender play in every position possible during the 2006-2007 season, a feat which will probably never be matched. After he denied countryman Robbie Keane in a one-on-one situation his team mates nicknamed him "The Cat".

Not only did O'Shea play in every position for the club that season, he earned his place in Manchester United folklaw history when four weeks later he scored a last minute winner against Liverpool at Anfield as The Reds persued Chelsea for the Premier League crown. In fact the goal started a mini scoring run for the player as he netted three times in seven games, which proved to be the catalyst as United went on to win their 16th English League title.

During the 2007-2008 season John O'Shea's appearances in the first team were limited after the purchases of midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Anderson and compounded when Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra made the center back and left back berths - respectively - their own. However the player did make a respectful 32 appearances as The Reds went on to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

John O'Shea Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FA Cup: 2004
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes Stats
-Full Name: Paul Aaron Scholes
-Birthplace: Salford, Greater Manchester
-Date of Birth: 16/11/1974
-Height: 170cm (5ft 7ins)
-Weight: 161lbs (11st 7lbs)
-Position: Midfield, Striker
-Squad Number: 18

International Football
England (1997 - 04)

Introduction
What can I say about Paul Scholes which has not already been said? Well, here goes. "The Ginger Prince" is one of the most naturally and technically gifted footballers that England has ever produced. With his mind boggling movement, composure on the ball, pinpoint raking passes and his rocket shot it's clear that Scholsey is the ultimate attacking midfielder.

On the other side some critics label Paul Scholes as a bad tackler, but I personally think that he throws in the odd late tackle to let his opponents know he's there and to remind them that if they kick him, he'll kick them back even harder. It's a ploy that has served him well over the years and as a result he has been ever present in the engine room of the Manchester United team. Just take a moment and ask yourself how many bad tackels has little Scholsey been on the receiving end of?...The answer not very many. So his tackling is a great preservation tactic?

Manchester United Career
After the succesful F.A. Youth Cup winning campaign of 1992 Paul Scholes eventually made his Manchester United debut on 21 September 1994 in the 2-1 - 2nd round, first leg of League Cup - victory over Port Vale at Vale Park, scoring both of The Red Devils goals. He then went on to score in his very next game against Ipswich Town as United went down 3-2 at Portman Road, He eventually finished the 1994-95 season with an impressive 19 first team appearances to his name and 7 goals.

Unfortunately for Paul Scholes and his Manchester United team mates, after the banning of the influential Eric Cantona over his 'Kung-Fu' style attack on hooligan Mathew Simmons the team - by the norrowest of margins - lost out on the League and F.A. Cup double when they were pipped by Northern rivals Blackburn Rovers and Everton respectively.

The following season was the infamous "You can't win anything with kids" season where Paul Scholes along with fellow youngsters Gary Neville, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville. Proved the critics and doubters wrong - after the opening day 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa - by securing the League and F.A. Cup. Scholsey finised the season by scoring an incredible 14 goals in 18 starts.

Paul Scholes' fine form was now begenning to turn the head of the then England manager Glen Hoddle, who handed the player his debut in the 2-1 friendly victory over South Africa on the 24 May 1997 at Old Trafford, with the first of his 14 international goals coming eleven days later in his full England debut in the 2-0 victory over Italy. Scholsey eventually retired from the national team set-up after the failed Euro 2004 campaign to concentrate on spending more time with his young family.

During the 2007-08 season - after battling a career threatening eye injury - Scholsey's hard work at commitment to the United cause payed off when he fired his team-mates into the UEFA Champions League final with a superb 30 yard screamer which rocketed past Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes into the top corner. This goal was fitting to say the least as Paul Scholes along with warrior Roy Keane missed the 1999 final through suspension. United went on to defeat Chelsea in the 2008 Moscow final 6-5 on penalties after the sides finished the game with the scores level at 1-1.

Paul Scholes has thus far had such a distinguished career at Manchester United, picking up two Champions League (was given a medal even though he didn't play in the 1999 final), eight League titles, three F.A.Cups and one League Cup winning medals and chipping in with 138 goals in 560 appearances in the process.

Manchester United
-FA Premier League:1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007,2008,2009
-UEFA Champions League: 1999, 2008
-Intercontinental Cup: 1999
-FA Cup:1996, 1999, 2004
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup:2008
-Carling Cup: 2009

Paul Scholes Personal Honours
-FA Premier League Player of the Month: Jan 2003, Dec 2003, Oct 2006
-PFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2007

Nani

Nani Stats
-Full Name: Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha
-Birthplace: Praia, Cape Verde
-Date of Birth: 17/11/1986
-Height: 175cm (5ft 9ins)
-Weight: 66kg (145lbs)
-Position: Wingerr
-Squad Number: 17

International Football
Portugal U-21 (2006 -) 10 1
Portugal (2006-) 18 4

Early days at Sporting CP
Luis Carlso Almeida da Cunha or Nani as he is better known was born in Cape Verde, which is a group of island of the West coast of Africa. The player moved to Portugal with his family not long after he was born and that's where he learnt his footballing skills.

At the age of 13 Nani joined youth side Real de Massama and it was there where he was spotted by Sporting Lisbon scouts who took no time at all in persuading the Portuguese giants to snap the youngster up.

So at the age of 16 Nani was inducted into Sporting's impressive youth set-up and made his senior debut for the club just two years later. That season the winger went on to make 29 league appearances, scoring 4 goals in the process. The players impressive form started to make the scouts at Europe's leading clubs sit up and take note and after an impressive second full season, which included the player making a goalscoring debut for Portugal on 1 September 2006 in a 4-2 defeat by Denamrk. It was at this point that Manchester United former assistant manager Carlos Quieroz used his immense influence in his homeland to broker a deal to bring the Portuguse youngster to Old Trafford.

Manchester United career
On 6 June 2007 Nani signed for Manchester United in a deal thought to be worth £17m. The player made his debut for the club on the pre-season tour of Asia against Chinese Super League outfit Shenzhen Xiangxue Eisiti and bagged a goal in the process, with a fiercely struck 20 yard drive that left the goalkeeper with no hope. The strike gave the winger the chance to give United's fans their first look at his superb accrobatic celebration, which he perfected during years of studying the Brazilian martial art dance of capoeira.

Two months after he had signed for Manchester United Alex Ferguson handed the Portuguese winger his copmpetitive debut for the club when he brought the player on as a second half substitute in the Community Shield victory over Chelsea, with his Premier League debut coming a week later in the goaless draw against Reading on 12 August 2007.

After an impressive start to his Manchester United career Nani scored his first competitive goal for the club in 1-0 victory over Spurs. With game poised at 0-0 the player unleashed a dipping swerving shot form 35 yards out which fizzed passed Paul Robinson in the visitors goal, cue the celebration which sent the Old Trafford wild.

During his first season at the club Nani forced the manager to use him more often than was expected due to the player's great form as well as injuries to key players. During his debut campaign he made 41 appearances and scored 4 goals. More impressively he helped to club to a fantastic Champions League and F.A. Premier League double.

Nani Honours
Sporting
-Portuguese Cup: 2007

Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2007-08, 2008-09
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

-Carling Cup: 2010

Vidic

Nemanja Vidic Stats
-Full Name: Nemanja Vidic
-Birthplace: Titovo, Uzice, SFR Yugoslavia
-Date of Birth: 21/10/1981
-Height: 190cm (6ft 2.5ins)
-Weight: 182lbs (13st)
-Position: C. Back
-Squad Number: 15

International Football
Serbia

Introduction
Nemanja Vidic is an old fashioned, tough tackling, never say die centre back cast out of the same rock as the likes of Bill Foulkes and Steve Bruce. His seemingly willingness to die for the cause along with his penchant for scoring powerful headed goals have given him cult status amongst the Manchester United faithful.

In fact they say "Nemanja Vidic doesn't head the ball away, the ball heads the other way".


Red Star Belgrade (Crvena zvezda) and Spartak Moscow
Nemanja vidic began his road to footballing success at the age of 7 with local side Jedinstvo Uzice where his talents were spotted by the larger Sloboda Uzice who quickly added the young Nemanja to their youth team set-up.

His talents were now turning the heads of the bigger clubs such as 1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade, who took the plunge and signed him up to their youth team, just before his 15th birthday.

Three years after being signed by Red Star Nemanja Vidic was ready to make his senior debut, doing so as a loanee at Spartak Subotica. It was here where he cultivated his knack for goal scoring, roughly averaging a goal every four games.

The very next season Vidic was now ready to make his senior debut for Red Star Belgrade and in his very season played 22 games, winning the Yugoslav Cup in the process when Red Star beat FK Startid 1-0.

The very next season with his leadership qualities growing all the time Nemanja was given the captaincy by then manager Zoran Filipovic, he was just 21 years old at the time, a great feat for one so young.

Vidic left Red Star Belgrade in 2004 on a high note when he led the club to the domestic double after beating FK Budućnost Banatski Dvor 1-0 in the Serbia & Montenegro Cup and pipping arch rivals FK Partizan to the Serbian Superliga title.

in the summer of 2004 Nemanja Vidic joined Russian giants Spartak Moscow in a deal worth £4.05m after playiing 66 games for the Belgrade club and scoring an amazing 12 goals.

In Nemanja's first and only full season in Moscow, Spartak finished runners-up in the Russian Premier League, eventually losing out to Moskovite rivals CSKA Moscow.

Manchester United
Manchester United signed Nemanja Vidic during the 2006 English transfer window for a fee believed to be in the region of £7m and was handed Klebrson's old number 15 jersey.

The player went on to make his debut on 25 January 2006 against Blackburn Rovers in the semi-final, 2nd leg 2-1 victory, coming on as a second half substitute for Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

After a tough start to life at Old Trafford and trying to adapt his skills to the pace of the Premier League Vidic eventually formed a strong defensive partership with Rio Ferdinand which saw them being dubbed the new "Brucey and Pally".

For me the turning point in Nemanja Vidic's United career was on 1st April 2006 in the 2-1 away victory over Bolton Wanderers where his superb robust performance had the normally unshakable Kevin Davies complaining to thereferee everytime Vidic won the ball from him. The player had finally arrived.

He scored his first goal for Manchester United on 14 October, 2006 in the 3-1 victory over Wigan Athletic, a towering header which would become the player's signiture goal and went on to score another three times that season.

In 2007 and 2008 Manchester United went on to lift the Premier League title by in large to the Vidic and Ferdinand partnership, which helped limit the defense into shipping just 49 goals over the two seasons.

In 2007-08 season Vida won his first European Champions Legaue title when United defeated London rivals Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The victory was particularly poignant for the player as the game was played at Spartak Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, where Vidic had spenta fantastic 18 months prior to his move to Old Trafford.

Nemanja Vidic Honours
Red Star Belgrade
Yugoslav Cup: 2002Serbian SuperLiga: 2004

Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 2004


Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup: 2009,2010

Nemanja Vidic Personal Honours
-Serbia's Overseas Player of the Year: 2005, 2007
-PFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2008

Tosic

Zoran Tosic stats
-Full Name Zoran Tosic
-Birthplace Zrenjanin, SFR Yugoslavia
-Date of Birth 28/04/1987
-Height 172cm (5ft 8ins)
-Weight 68kg (150lbs)
-Position Left wing
-Squad Number 14

International Football
Serbia U-21 (2006 - 07)
Serbia (2007 -)

Zoran Tosic early career
The Serbian winger started his career with local side FK Proleter Zrenjanin, before that club merged with neighbours FK Budućnost Banatski Dvor, to form FK Banat Zrenjanin. In the season after the ,merger the players performances helped the club avoid relegation, and it was this kind of football that persuaded Serbian giants Partizan to sign the winger.

Zoran signed a four year contract with Partizan on 6 August 2007, before being called up to the Serbian national squad just 25 days later. He made his international debut on 8 September 2007 against Finland in a goalless draw, when he replaced Dusko Tosic in the 53rd minute.

Zoran Tosic Manchester United career
On 22 November 2008 the media reported that Manchester United had agreed a deal with Partizan, to sign the player in the January 2009 transfer window. The only evisaged stumbling block now, was the fact the winger didn't satisfy the work permit criterion that a player must have played in 75% of his national team's fixtures over the previous two years. However because his age meant that it was unlikely that he would have been mature enough to have played for Serbia over the previous two years, coupled with the liklihood that his talent would see to it that he would became a permanent fixture in the international set-up for years to come, he was granted a conditional work permit on 28 November 2008.

Although reports in the English press had suggested the deal had stalled due to the players personal terms, Zoran Tosic finally signed for Manchester United on 2 January 2009.

Owen Hargreaves

Owen Hargreaves Stats
-Full Name: Owen Lee Hargreaves
-Birthplace: Calgary, Canada
-Date of Birth: 20/01/1981
-Height: 178cm (5ft 10ins)
-Weight: 66kg (145lbs)
-Position: Midfield/Right-back
-Squad Number: 4

International Football
England U-21 (2000 - 01)
England (2001-)

Early in Canada and Munich
Owen Hargreaves was born in Calgary, Canada and who currently plies his trade in the English Premier League with Manchester United. The midfielder is also an England international although he could've played for Germany (qualified for residency), Canada, or Wales (his mothers birthplace).

The young Owen Hargreaves started his footballing career with local side Calgary Foothills at the age of 13. He impressed whilst learning his trade with Canadian club, which ultimately earned him an exciting move to Bayern Munich at the tender age of 16.

After he had completed his move on 1st July 1997 the midfield star spent 2 seasons in Bayern's U-19's side and then six months with their amateur side.

Owen Hargreaves eventually made his first team debut for Bayern Munich on 12 August 2000 when he came on as second half substitute for 1999 UEFA Champions League Final runner-up Carsten Jancker. However, the player had to wait another 5 weeks for his first senior start, doing so against SpVgg Unterhaching. His first season in the Bayern first team was a superbly succesful one as he made 19 league appearances in helping the German giants pick up both the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League titles.

The following season Owen Hargreaves established himself as a first team regular, as he made 46 appearances. This rise to fame didn't go unnoticed at an international level as the player was called up to the Wales U-21 squad by coach Jimmy Shoulder, at the time this wasn't much as shock as the player had been involved in various youth set-ups for the Welsh for the previous three years. However what did come a shock was that just a few days before the player was due to make his Wales U-21 debut. England U-21 manager Howard Wilkinson persuaded the player to join the English set-up. Hargreaves duly pulled out of the Welsh squad and accepted Wilkinson's offer. At the time the Guardian reported

"Unlikely though it may sound, Owen Hargreaves, a 19-year-old Bayern Munich midfield player born in Canada, has, thanks to his parents, become the subject of a tug-of-love between England and Wales.

Hargreaves, who has broken into the German champions' first team this season, was named in the Wales Under-21 squad to travel to Belarus next week for their first European Championship qualifier. But having been "invited" by England to become involved with them instead, he has pulled out of the Welsh squad.

Hargreaves, who has a Welsh mother and an English father, has been involved in the Wales set-up for three years and has played for the Welsh youth side in friendlies, which do not commit him to anyone. But if he had agreed to play for the Under-21s next week he would have been able to play only for Wales for the rest of his career.

The Wales Under-21 coach Jimmy Shoulder said: "We have unearthed the lad and done all the hard work, but now he is unsure so the right advice is to not commit yourself. We hope that eventually he decides to play for Wales.

"He is a very assured young man and it's clear that he won't commit himself unless there is a full cap at the end of it and he can be sure he will not be getting just a couple of games and that's all."

So as you can see quite a controversial move. Just after the 2000-2001 season Owen Hargreaves made his full England debut on 15 August 2001 against the Netherlands at White Hart Lane, the game was a nice landmark in English football as the midfielder became the first England player to make his debut without ever appearing for a British club.

In 2002-2003 Owen Hargreaves tasted success once more as Bayern Munich regained their Bundesliga crown and picked up the German Cup, a feat he repeated with the Bavarian's in 2004-2005 too.

In 2006 his tock within the English game rose to new heights after he was voted England's best player during the ill-fated 2006 World Cup, throwing in a superb man-of-the match performance during his side's 1/4 final penalty shoot-out defeat against Portugal. It was Hargreaves' performances during the tournamnet which made Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sit up and take note. The Reds' boss saw the midfielder as an ideal replacement for the departed Roy Keane. However Bayern didn't want to sell their prized asset, declaring they wouldn't accept anything less then £50m for the player, and to add insult to injury a few weeks after nd negotiations had come to an abrupt halt , the player suffered a career threatening leg break, which kept him out of most of Bayern's 2006-2007 campaign.

Although the leg break was severe this didn' stop Sir Alex Ferguson from courting the player in the spring of 2007 and after a couple of months of negotiations he finally got his man.

Signing for Manchester United
Owen Hargreaves finally signed for Manchester United on July 1st 2007 (although the transfer was announced on 31st May 2007) in a £17m deal. The midfielder was given Gabriel Heinze's vacated number 4 shirt and made his first United press appearance - alongside fellow signee Nani - eight days later.

Owen Hargreaves made his Manchester United debut - after recovering from a knee problem - in a pre-season friendly against Peterborough on 4 August 2007 with The Reds running out 3-1 winners. The Canadian born midfield player made his first competitive appearance for Man Utd in the Manchester derby at Eastlands in a 1-0 defeat on 19 August 2007.

The player's first goal in a red shirt came against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 1 March 2008, when he curled home a beautiful free-kick; he repeated this act against title challengers Arsenal on 13 April 2008. The goal won the game for The Reds and proved to be one of the most important goals in United's Premier and UEFA Champions League winning season. The player now has the envious record of winning the domestic and Champions League double in his debut season with two separate clubs.

Owen Hargreaves Honours
Bayern Munich
-Bundesliga: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006
-DFB Pokal: 2003, 2005, 2006
-Premiere Ligapokal: 2004
-UEFA Champions League: 2001
-Intercontinental Cup: 2001

Manchester United
FA Premier League: 2008
UEFA Champions League: 2008

Owen Hargreaves Personal Honours
-2001 European U-21 Player of the Year
-England Player of the Year: 2006
-England Player of the World Cup: 2006

Park Ji-Sung

Park Ji-Sung Stats
-Full Name: Park Ji-Sung
-Birthplace: Goheung, South Korea
-Date of Birth: 25/02/1981
-Height: 175cm (5ft 9ins)
-Weight: 70kg (154lbs)
-Position: Winger
-Squad Number: 13

International Football
South Korea (2001 -)

Park Ji-Sung Early Career
The tireless winger was born into modest surroundings of the South Korean district of Goheung. As a teenager he was rejected by many professional clubs becuase he was deemed too small and lightweight to handle the boisterousness nature of the K-League. However he did manage to start his footballing career with the University side of Myongji University, after his high school coach gave the winger a glowing refference. Whilst playing for the University side he was spotted by J-League outfit Kyoto Sanga F.C., who swiftly offered the player a contract.

Just one season after joining the Japanese side the player helped his team win the prestigious Emperors Cup, for the first time in thew club's history. Park Ji-Sung had great game, he scored the equalising goal and set up the winner as Sanga ran out 2-1 winners.

In 2002 - after a great World Cup for the player in whch his South Korean side reached the semi-finals - Guus Hiddink, who had just left as Park's national coach took the player to PSV Eindhoven.

His early days with the Dutch giants were plagued by injury and as result the player failed to make a real impact, only managing to play eight times during the entire 2002-2003 season. The following seson the player gradually adjusted to life in the Netherlands and played and over the following two seasons played 83 times, scoring an impressive 11 goals.

During his final season with PSV, Park Ji-Sung played a starring role in his clubs magnificent UEFA Champions League run to the semi-finals, in which he scored in their 3-1 home win over A.C. Mlan. Unfortunatley for Park and his team mates they got beat 2-0 in the second leg, therefore going out on the dreaded away goals ruling.

Park Ji-Sung Manchester United Career
On 8 July 2005 Park Ji-Sung completed a £4m dream move to Manchester United after impressing Reds boss Alex Ferguson with his high octane displays for the PSV and South Korea.

On 9 August 2005 - a month after signing - Park made his senior debut for the club in the 3-0 home win against Hungarians Debrecen in Third Qualifying round of that seasons UEFA Champions League, and as a result bacame the first South Korean to play for Manchester United.

Just a couple months into his Old Trafford career a supremely proud moment for the player arrived when on 18 October 2005 he became the first non-European to captain Manchester United, doing so in the goaless UEFA Champions League group match against Lille OSC, when he was handed the captain's armband by the substituted Ryan Giggs.

After making a handful of first team appearances Park Ji-Sung scored his first goal for Manchester United in the 20th December League Cup 1/4 final 3-1 victory over Birmingham City. That first season in England Park would go on to make an impressive 45 appearances, scoring twice as United bagged a second place finish in the Premier League.

His first season at United could not have gone better for a player, going on to pass two milestones by scoring his first official Manchester United league goal when The Reds beat title rivals Arsenal 2-0 on 20 April 2006 and also playing 90 minutes in the club's 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the League Cup final of that year.

The following season troubled by injuries and a lack of form the player only managed to play twenty times during the entire season, but did manage to notch an impressive five goals, as Manchester United went on to lift the Premier League trophy.

After a troublesome knee injury kept him ut for most of the previous campaign Park Ji-Sung was sent to see a specialist in America. The treatment would see the player miss the first few months of the 2007-2008 season, but when he returned he seemed to back to his swashbuckling best. That season United were going great in the Champions League and in the semi-finals against Barcelona Alex Ferguson gave the player a starting role in both legs as he needed a player who would harry and chase the Spaniards for 90 minutes. After the first leg at the Nou Camp finished 0-0, Manchester United were quietly confident of reaching their first Champions League final in nearly 10 years.

In the second leg Park was at his industrious best and was arguably the man-of-the-match, as he gave the Spanish giants no time to settle on the ball. In that match he ran an incredible 12km. However, when the final came around in Moscow Alex Ferguson had virtually a full squad to choose from and it was Park who missed out on a place on the bench. The United boss explained - after the game - that it was one of the most heartbreaking decisions he'd had to make during his managerial career.

Manchester United went on to beat Chelsae 6-5 on penalties in the final and Park deservedly picked a winners medal. Despite not playing he qualified for his performances in the previous round.

Park Ji-Sung Honours
Kyoto Purple Sanga
Emperors Cup: 2001

PSV Eindhoven
Dutch League: 2005
Dutch Cup: 2004

Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
-League Cup: 2006

-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup:2008
-Carling Cup:2010

International
World Cup 4th place: 2002

Park Ji-Sung Personal Honours
-UEFA Champions League Best XI: 2005
-J. League Division 2 MVP: 2001
-Emperor's Cup MVP: 2002
-J. League Best XI: 2001
-J. League Best XI: 2002
-Amstel Cup MVP: 2005
-Holland Casino Eredivisie Best XI: 2005
-FIFA.com's Best Asian Footballer in Europe: 2007

Ben Poster

Ben Foster Stats
-Full Name: Benjamin Anthony Foster
-Birthplace: Leamington Spa, England
-Height: 188cm (6ft 2ins)
-Date of Birth: 20/03/1982
-Position: Goalkeeper
- Squad Number: 12

International Football
England (2006 - )

Ben Foster Introduction
Before signing for Manchester United in 2005 the big kicking goalkeeper plied his trade the hard way. After commencing his football career with local county side Racing Club Warwick at the age of 18 he was picked up by Stoke City, where he spent four seasons without playing competitive game, instead being loaned out to the likes of Bristol City, Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers, Kiddiminster Harriers and Wrexham respectivley where he played a collective total of just 25 games.

While at Wrexham his potential was relayed to Sir Alex Ferguson by son Darren, who was managing Wrexham at the time and swiflty secured a shock move to Old Trafford.

After moving to Manchester United the player was sent out on loan to Watford for two seasons to again experience. Although Foster has been plagued by injuries during recent years he's been capped by England and remains on track to have a glittering Manchester United career.

Ben Foster Honours
Wrexham
LDV Vans Trophy: 2005

Manchester United
FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08,2008-09
League Cup: 2009

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs Stats
-Full Name: Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE
-Birthplace: Ely, Cardiff, Wales
-Date of Birth: 29/11/1973
-Height: 180cm (5ft 11ins)
-Weight: 150lbs (10st 10lbs)
-Position: Winger
-Squad Number: 11

International Football
Wales U-21 (1991)
Wales (1991 - 07)

Introduction
Without a doubt Manchester United's record appearance holder Ryan Giggs is the most decorated player in the club's great history, winning a staggering 20 major trophies in his seventeen year career. In fact it seems the only thing the Welshman hasn't won is the Grand National.

As well as appearing for Manchester United more times than any other player, Giggsy has set up more goals than any other footballer in the history of the Premier League with an amazing 289 assists in his 535 games.

A fantastic moment for the Cardiff born winger came in the 87th minute of the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final when he replaced Paul Scholes. That substitute appearance meant that Ryan Giggs had broken Bobby Charlton's 35 year old Manchester United appearance record and the cherry on top came when the player slotted home the team's seventh penalty which would turn out to be the winning goal.

Ryan Giggs career started Manchester United on his 14th birthday when Sir Alex Ferguson went around to the Giggs/Wilson family home in Swinton, Greater Manchester to persuade the young starlet to sign YTS forms with the club and turn down rivals Manchester City. Fergie was successful and the rest they say is history.

Ryan Giggs turned professional exactly three years later on his 17th birthday and made his debut three months later on 2 March 1991 in the 2-0 home league defeat at the hands of Everton, when he replaced full back a href = http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/denis-irwin>Denis Irwin.

On 14 May 1991 Giggsy marked his full debut for the club by scoring the only goal of the match in the Manchester derby against City, a goal which was his first for the club; talk about making an instant impact!

In the 1991-92 season Giggsy began tp play more and more games as his burgeoning talent could be held back no longer. He was rewarded for his superb form by a place in Manchester United's starting line-up for the League Cup final against Nottingham Forest, where he repaid the faith shown in him by Sir Alex Ferguson by setting up the only goal of the game for Brian McClair.

The following season Ryan Giggs was immense, he now started to establish himself as one of the greatest young talents in world football, if not the greatest. It was the emergence of Giggsy coupled with the arrival of the enigmatic Frenchman Eric Cantona which spurred The Red Devils onto their first English Title success since the glory days of the Busby Babes 26 years earlier.

The two successes in his first few seasons playing for Manchester United were definately not going to be his last. After all these years "The Welsh Wizard" has won ten league titles, four F.A. Cups, Two League Cups and Two UEFA Champions League trophies and heading into his twilight years is till going strong.

Ryan Giggs Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
-UEFA Champions League: 1999, 2008
-Intercontinental Cup: 1999
-FA Cup: 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
-League Cup/Carling Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
-UEFA Super Cup: 1991
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Ryan Giggs Personal Honours
-PFA Player of the Year: 2009FA Premier League Player of the Month: Sep 1993, Aug 2006,Feb 2007
-Manchester United Players Player of the Year Award: 2006
-Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award: 1998
-U-21 European Footballer of the Year: 1993
-Wales Player of the Year Award: 1996, 2006
-BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1996
-Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: 2005
-Inducted into the Premiership Team of the Decade: 2003
-Inducted into the PFA Team Of The Century: 2007
-Record holder for number of English League title medals
-PFA Team of the Year: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2007
-OBE for services to football

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney Stats
-Full Name: Wayne Mark Rooney
-Birthplace: Croxteth, Liverpool, England
-Date of Birth: 24/10/1985
-Height: 178cm (5ft 10ins)
-Weight: 172lbs (12st 4lbs)
-Position: Striker
-Squad Number: 10

International Football
England (2003 -)

Introduction
Wayne Rooney reminds me of a bouncing bomb. Why? Because he's full of energy, ferocity and can explode at any given moment and It's this air of unpredictability and precocious talent that is leading fans and pundits alike into drawing comparisons between the striker and Manchester United legend Eric Cantona; and although he might not be as prolific in front of goal as the Frenchman was, his contribution to the cause and drive is what makes United tick.

Everton Career
After Wayne Rooney blazed a trail through the Liverpool Schoolboys and The Dynamo Browning ranks, he was quickly snapped up by heroes Everton on schoolboy terms and all this even before the player had turned 11 years old.

However the young Wayne Rooney would have to wait nearly six years before his special talent was unleashed on the world when on 19 October 2002 he picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and smashed a dipping, swerving shot against the underside of the crossbar and into the back of David Seaman's net. What a way do declare your intent, not only was the goal a last minute winner which ended Arsenal's 30 game unbeaten run, but it meant that the player became the youngest ever Premier League goalscorer - a feat which has now been surpassed by fellow Evertonian James Vaughn.

So great was the player's talent that he made his international debut for England in their 3-1 defeat against Australia on 12 February 2003 - just 6 months after making his senior club debut - when he replaced Michael Owen as a half time substitute; ironically this meant he broke the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker's youngest ever England appearance record, aged just 17 years and 111 days old (This has since been beaten by Theo Walcott who beat Rooney's record by 36 days).

With Euro 2004 just around the corner Wayne Rooney had arrived on the international scene just at the right time. He was subsequently picked for the England squad. He finished the tournament - in Portugal - with four goals in in four games and an inflated price tag of £50m.

Manchester United Career
Although Sir Alex Ferguson had known about the phenomenon that is Wayne Rooney a long time before the player had made his Everton debut, it was Wayne's exploits over on the Iberian Peninsula, combined with Newcastle United's attemp to snap up the striker that spurred him into getting his cheque book out and signing the teenage prodigy for £23m.

Manchester United's new acquisition would have to wait 4 weeks to make his debut for the club as he was still recovering from the broken metatarsal he suffered during England's ill fated Euro 2008 Quarter-Final defeat against host nation Portugal.

Eventually Wayne Rooney was chomping at the bit so Ferguson decided to give the player a shock starting place in United's UEFA Champions League group game against Turkish outfit Fenerbache on 28 September 2004. The player was outstanding, and showing no ill-effects of his foot injury bagged himself a phenomenal hat-trick, a feat which sent shockwaves through the sporting world.

The youngster eventually finished his first season at the club with a more than satisfactory 17 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions.

The following season would see the player get his hands on his first piece of silverware. When United hammered local rivals Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the 2006 Leauge Cup final, grabbing himself a brace and picking up the Man-of-the-Match award in the process.

Now that Rooney had been bitten by the bug that is success, in the following two seasons he would help Manchester United to two League Championships titles and the UEFA Champions League trophy with his 41 goals in 98 appearances over the period.

Wayne Rooney Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling Cup: 2010

Wayne Rooney Personal Honours
-FA Premier League Player of the Month: Feb 2005, Dec 2005, Mar 2006 , Nov 2007
-PFA Team of the Year: 2006
-Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2006
-FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2005
-PFA Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
-PFA Fans' Player of the Year (Premiership): 2006
-Match of the Day's Goal of the Season: 2005, 2007
-BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality: 2002
-UEFA European Championship 2004 Team of the Tournament

Michael Owen

Michael Owen Stats
-Full Name: Michael James Owen
-Birthplace: Chester, England
-Height: 170cm (5ft 7ins)
-Date of Birth: 14/12/1979
-Position: Striker
-Squad Number:7

International Football
England U-20 (1997)
England U-21 (1997)
England (1998-)

Introduction
The son of former Everton and Chester City footballer Terry Owen, Michael Owen commenced his senior career with Liverpool in 1996, where he went on to make 300 appearances and scoring an impressive 160 goals. During his eight year spell with the Merseysiders he won two League Cups, one F.A. Cup and the UEFA Cup (now the Europa Cup) in 2001, which helped him pick up the European Footballer of the Year accolade.During his career thus far Michael Owen has played for Spanish giants Real Madrid, had an injury plagued four year spell with Newcastle United and has 89 caps for England, where he has netted 40 times, a feat that currently puts him 4th on the all-time goalscorer’s list behind Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and top man Sir Bobby Charlton.

Michael Owen Liverpool Career
When the youn striker was 13 Liverpool beat off the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to sign Owen on schoolboy terms. From the age of 13 to 16 he studied at the F.A.’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall, Shropshire. When he graduated in the Spring of 1996 his club quickly signed up to a Youth Training Scheme. Just four months later Michael Owen signed his first professional contract in football and finally made his Liverpool debut 6 months later in May 1997, when he came on as a second half substitute and quickly grabbed the winner in a 2-1 victory over Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

The following season ((1997-98) after an injury to first choice striker Robbie Fowler, Owen was thrust into the first team as a more than capable replacement. He would go on to be crowned co top goalscorer in the Premier League along with former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin and Blackburn’s Chris Sutton with a haul of 18 goals. His goalscoring antics during his first full season earned him the PFA Young player of the Year accolade. The following season he proved that finishing top of the Premier League’s scoring charts was no fluke by repeating the feat. Ironically he shared the honour once more with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink of Leeds and Manchester United’s Dwight Yorke, again with 18 goals.

Over the next couple of season Michael Owen scored 36 goals for Liverpool and in 2001 he helped the club win the League Cup, UEFA Cup and F.A. Cup. In the final of the latter the striker showed is striking credentials as he netted two late goals for the club, to hand them a 2-1 victory; all this after they had trailed for most of the game.

2001 proved a defining year for Michael Owen not only did he win a ‘treble’ with Liverpool, but he picked up the European Footballer of the Year accolade and scored his 100th goal for Liverpool on 21 December against Londoners West Ham United.

In his final three seasons at Liverpool the player could only help the club win the League Cup in 2003, against Manchester United despite scoring 77 goals in 138 matches.At the end of the 2003-04 season Owen dropped a bombshell on the Merseyside club, by announcing he wished to leave, and with his contract running out Real Madrid stepped in and signed the player for a fee of £8m.

Michael Owen Real Madrid Career
On 13th August 2004 Owen finally signed for the Spanish giants and was given the number 11 shirt. After a rather slow start to his career at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu the striker eventually found his feet in the October when he netted his first goal for the club in a 1-0 Champions League victory over Dynamo Kiev. A couple of day later he endeared himself to the Los Blancos fans further when he scored the only goal of a crucial La Liga game against high-flyers Valencia; Owen had now hit a rich vein of form and went on to score in 3 of the next four games. Although chances in the first team seemed few and far between the striker did manage to finish the season as Real Madrid’s second top league goalscorer, behind Brazilian Ronaldo with 13 goals. In his one and only season in Spain Michael Owen made 41 appearances in total, scoring 18 times.

At the end of the 2004-05 campaign Owen had become disillusioned with life on the continent and signalled his wish to return to England to re-commence his footballing career. After former club Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton had been put off by Real Madrid’s asking price, it was Newcastle United who decided to take the £16m gamble on the player.

Michael Owen Newcastle United Career
On 31st August 2005 after much media speculation Michael Owen signed for Newcastle United on a four year deal, for a club record fee of £16m.

The striker’s early career at the club was far from an easy one, The Magpies were struggling in the League and Owen found goal scoring chances to be few and far between. On 18 September 2005 Michael Owen scored his first goal in the black and white of Newcastle United in a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park and just three days after his 26th birthday on 17 December 2005 he scored his first hat-trick for his new club in a 4-2 victory over West Ham United.

Disaster struck the striker just two weeks after his hat-trick scoring heroics, when he broke his metatarsal after colliding with Tottenham Hotspur and England’s goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Although he player did return to action later that season he could only manage 11 games during his first campaign with Newcastle United, but did weigh in with seven goals.

The following season saw heartbreak again for the player when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after falling awkwardly in England’s 2006 World Cup group match victory over Sweden. This injury meant he would not play again for 10 months. He returned to action on 30 April 2007 in a 1-0 defeat by Reading. The catalogue of injuries at the start of his Newcastle United career meant the player was limited to just 14 appearances in his first two seasons on Tyneside.

The following two seasons, although not completely injury free were a lot kinder on Michael Owen he made a further 64 appearances for the club and scored a reasonable 23 goals. However, unfortunately in his last season with the Geordies, the club were relegated to The Championship, which led to a great deal of speculation that the player would leave on a free-transfer.

Michael Owen Manchester United Career
On 3 July 2009 Manchester United made the shock announcement that they had signed the England striker on a free-transfer; beating off competition from Hull City, Stoke City, Aston Villa and Everton in the process. In a later interview Michael Owen stated that he had received a phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson, who asked him if he would care to join him for breakfast the following morning. Owen assumed the canny Scot wanted to talk to him about their mutual passion of horse racing, but to his surprise, Ferguson declared that he wanted the player to join him at Manchester United. Just a few days later Michael Owen accepted the offer and signed on the dotted line. The striker was given the number ‘7’ shirt left behind by the departed Cristiano Ronaldo and made his competitive debut on 16 August 2009 in a 1-0 Premier League victory over Birmingham City at Old Trafford.

Michael Owen England Career
Michael Owen’s international career started off with a bang. He made his senior debut on 11 February 1998 in a 2-0 friendly defeat by Chile at Wembley stadium. This was a landmark game for the player as he became the youngest player to play for the full England team in the 20th Century at the age of 18 years 59 days, beating the former holder of that title Duncan Edwards by 124 days. Owen subsequently lost this honour to Wayne Rooney in February 2003.

In another friendly match before the 1998 World Cup Owen netted his first senior England goal against Morocco, which made him England’s youngest ever goalscorer. Although the media and fans were calling for Owen to start for England in the tournament in France, manager Glen Hoddle left the striker on the bench. In England’s second group game against Romania the young striker made an immediate impact when he came off the bench to score England’s only goal of the game in a 2-1 defeat.

After his goalscoring substitute appearance Glen Hoddle decided that he would start Michael Owen in England’s last-16 match against highly fancied Argentina. And it was this match which catapulted the striker to super stardom, when he opened the scoring with a super solo goal after gliding past two Argentine defenders before smashing the ball into the top corner. The goal was later voted the best goal of World Cup 1998 by many publications across the globe. Unfortunately England went on to draw the match 2-2 and were knocked out of the tournament on penalties.

On 1 September 2001 Michael Owen netted his first hat-trick for England in a 5-1 victory over arch-rivals Germany in Munich and just six months later in April 2002 in a friendly match against Paraguay Owen received the great honour of captaining England, when regular captain David Beckham was withdrawn from the squad due to injury.In the 2006 World Cup Owen started England’s first two group games against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, before he ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament in a victory over Sweden in the final group stage.

As things currently stand Michael Owen has played 89 times for England, scoring 40 goals.

Michael Owen Honours
Liverpool
-UEFA Cup: 2001
-European Super Cup: 2001
-FA Cup: 2001
-League Cup: 2001, 2003

Manchester United

-Carling Cup 2010

Michael Owen Personal Honours
-PFA Young Player of the Year: 1998
-PFA Team of the Year: 1998
-Premier League joint top scorer: 1998, 1999
-European Footballer of the Year: 2001
-BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 1998

Wes Brown

Wes Brown Stats
-Full Name: Wesley Michael Brown
-Birthplace: Longsight, Manchester, England
-Date of Birth: 13/11/1979
-Height: 185cm (6ft 1ins)
-Weight: 74kg (163lbs)
-Position: R. Back, C. Back
-Squad Number: 6

International Football
England (1999 -)

Wes Brown Manchester United Career
The young Wes brown was brought up in the notorious Manchester district of Longsight and commenced his football career playing for Burnage High School and local youth side Fletcher Moss Rangers, as well as attending the F.A. 's much maligned School of Excellence at Lilleshaw.
At the age of 12 Brown attended Manchester United's academy where he showed great potential and signed professionally on 4 November 1996 at the age of 17.

Before he was deemed ready for the first team Wes Brown served his apprenticeship with youth side - picking up an F.A. Youth Cup winners medal in 1995 - and in the reserve team set-up.

The defender made his first team debut on 4 May 1998 when he came on as a second half substitute in the fierce cross Pennine derby against Leeds United. The following season Wes Brown established himself as one of the best prospects in the English game and as a possible future England captain after making 24 League appearances in Manchester United's treble winning season of 1998-99.

However, during the close season of 1999 the defender suffered, what would turn out to be the first of many serious injuries endured during a frustrating early career, when he badly injured his cruciate knee ligament, a problem which would keep him out of action for the whole of the 1999-2000 campaign.

The following season Wes Brown made a remarkable comeback, which earnt him praise from many leading professionals in the English game, least not Sir Alex Ferguson who proclaimed the player as the most naturally gifted defender at the club.

After a superb 2001-2002 season Wes Brown was called up to England's 2002 World Cup squad for the tournament, to be held in Japan & South Korea. Although the defender failed to make a appearances in Sven Goran Eriksson's 5 games, his inclusion in the squad did confirm the player as one of the best centre backs in the country.

On the 19 February 2003 Brown scored his first senior goal for Manchester United - in a 5 year career - when he scored The Reds opening goal in the 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Juventus at Old Trafford.

Just when the Brown was establishing himself in United's first team and the England set-up injury plagued his campaign in 2002-2003 culminating in the player tearing a knee ligament against Everton on the last day of the season. This latest set-back kept him out of action for seven months.

When the player came back he finished the season in superb form and arguably played his greatest game for the club in the 2004 F.A. Cup semi-final win over Arsenal, when he picked up the man-of-the-match award in a quite stunning display of defending.

Although Wes Brown was in fantastic form he was surprisingly left out of England's Euro 2004 squad. But the good news was the player could concentrate on getting fit for Manchester United's 2004-2005 campaign.

The 2007-2008 season looked as though it might be Brown's last at United when he stalled over the signing of a new contract, a contract which he had rejected as far back as December 2007, but after playing an integral part in the club's UEFA Champions and English Premier League double the defender put pen to paper on a lucrative 5 year deal.

Wes Brown Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008,2009
-UEFA Champions League: 1999, 2008
-FA Cup: 2004
-League Cup: 2006

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand Stats
-Full Name: Darryl Rio Ferdinand
-Birthplace: Peckham, London, England
-Date of Birth: 07/11/1978
-Height: 189cm (6ft 2ins)
-Weight: 180lbs (12st 12lbs)
-Position: C. Back
-Squad Number: 5

International Football
-England U-21
-England (1997 -)

Introduction
Rio Ferdinand is one of the best footballing centre backs of a generation and his skills wouldn't look out of place in Brazil's famous Gold kit.

Ferdinad's reading of the game along with his arial ability have improved vastly since moving to Old Trafford and is now quite rightly regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the club's illustrious history.

This improvement in his game has not gone unrecognised by Sir Alex Ferguson or Fabio Capello who both see Rio as captain material for both club and country respectively.

West Ham and Leeds United
Rio Ferdinand started his foootballing life playing as a Striker for Queens Park Rangers where he was spotted by West Ham United's scouts. The Hammers moved quickly in persuading him to join their more than impressive academy.

At West Ham, Ferdinand was converted into a midfielder and then into a footballing centre Back, a role which earned him his senior debut on 5 May 1996, coming on for Hammers legend Tony Cottee in the 1-1 home draw against Yorkshire outfit Sheffied Wednesday.

Two years after making his West Ham United debut Rio was picking up his first personal honour as he won the Hammer of the Year Award (West Ham Unied Player of the Season accolade), pipping established stars such as Paulo Di Canio, Steve Lomas, Neil Ruddock,Trevor Sinclair and fellow youngster Frank Lampard jnr in the process.

In November 2000, Champions League chasing Leeds United smashed Alan Shearer's British transfer record when they swooped to sign Rio in an £18m deal.

Just eight months after he had joined Leeds as the World's most expensive defender he was made club captain by then manager David O'Leary.

Manchester United Career

On 22 July 2002 - after a superb World Cup - Alex Ferguson decided to splash the cash on the defender, eventually agreeing to fork out £29.1m to secure the player's services. The cash shelled for Ferdinand at the time, again broke the British transfer record eclipsing the fee paid by Manchester United to Lazio for Argentinian flop Seba Veron.

The huge fee paid by United seemed to be justified as in Ferdinand's first season United pipped rivals Arsenal to the Premier League title conceeding just 34 goals in the process.

On 23 September 2003 Rio's United career hit crisis point as the player failed to attend a mandatory drugs test at Manchester United's Carrington training ground, citing frogetfulness as the reason. Rio Ferdinand subsequently received a "savage" 8 month ban from playing football. Many people felt that the player was harshly treated after Dutch trio Frank De Boer, Edgar Davids and Jaap Stam only recieved 4 month bans for testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone.

Ferdinand eventually started his lengthy ban on 12 January 2004 missing 31 of United's matches - including the 2004 F.A. Cup Final - and England's flop at Euro 2004.

Ferdinand returned to Manchester United's starting line-up in the 2-1 home victory over arch-rivals Liverpool on 20 September 2004 and was given a somewhat mixed reception by the 67,857 crowd. Although before the match it was Rio who was hogging the limelight, post match some of the attention was taken away from the player by fellow centre-back Mikael Silvestre who's brace had put Liverpool to the sword.

Rio had to wait three-and-a-half years to score his first goal for the Red Devils, doing so on 14 December 2005 in the 4-0 victory over Lancashire rivals Wigan Athletic.

In the 2007-08 season Rio Ferdinand finally finished his long journey from foolish villain to ultimate hero as in the abscence of club captain and talisman Gary Neville led Manchester United to the fantastic Premier League and Champions League double. A feat which was said to be as great as the 1999 treble win due to marked improvement of London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

Rio Ferdinad Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Rio Ferdinand Personal Honours
-PFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008

Gary Neville

Gary Neville Career Stats
Neville Stats
-Full Name: Gary Alexander Neville
-Birthplace: Bury, England
-Date of Birth: 18/02/1975
-Height: 180cm (5ft 11ins)
-Weight: 159lbs (11st 5lbs)
-Position: R. Back, C. Back
-Squad Number: 2

International Football
-England (1995 -) 85 0

Manchester United Career
Gary Neville is Manchester United through and through. In fact if you were to cut him open he'd have "United 'til I die" written right the way through him. He is arguably the greatest right back to have pulled on a shirt for club and country and the current Manchester United captain's never say die attitude opitimises the winning ethos that The Red Devils are renowed for worldwide.

On September 16 1992 a crowd of 19,198 saw Gary Neville make his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford in the UEFA Cup 1st round goaless draw against Russian side Torpedo Moscow, when he replaced the injured Paul Parker. However, Neville would need to be patient as he'd have to wait nearly two years to make his League debut, doing so in the closing game of the 1993/94 season on 8 May in a 0-0 draw against Coventry City at Old Trafford.

Two year's later Gary Neville would find himself picking up his first League winners medal in the infamous "You won't win anythin' with kids" season along side fellow Fergie's Fledglings David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and younger brother Phil Neville.

In December 2005 after the departure of Roy Keane to Celtic, Neville was rewarded for his great service to the club by becoming the official Manchester United captain, an honour which he celebrated three months later when lifting the Carling Cup after United had comprehensively beatan Lancashhire rivals Wigan Athletic 4-0.

During his long stay at the club he has won 14 major trophies including 7 English League and 2 UEFA Champions League titles, securing the England right back berth as his own in the process, thus far winning 85 caps.

Gary was given his international debut by Terry Venables on 3 June 2005 in a 2-1 friendly victory over Japan at Wembley Stadium and is on course to break Kenny Samsom's recored 86 full-back appearances after recovering from an ankle injury which saw him miss all but 10 minutes of the 2007/08 season.

Gary Neville Honours
Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07,

2007-08,2008-2009
-UEFA Champions League: 1999, 2008
-Intercontinental Cup: 1999
-FA Cup: 1996, 1999, 2004
-League Cup: 2006
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
-Carling cup:2009,2010

Gary Neville Personal Honours
-PFA Team of the Year: 1999, 2005, 2007

Edwin Van Der Sar

Edwin Van Der Sar Career Stats
-Full Name: Edwin Van Der Sar
-Birthplace: Vourhoot, Netherlands
-Date of Birth: 29/10/1970
-Height: 200cm (6ft 6ins)
-Weight: 187lbs (13st 5lbs)
-Position: Goalkeeper
-Squad Number: 1

Leaugue Club Football
Holland (94-08)

Ajax, Juventus and Fulham
Edwin Van Der Sar began his footballing career at Foreholte and VV Noordwijk where his incredible talent didn't go un-noticed. He was quickly snapped up by Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, where he enjoyed great success, winning 4 League titles, 3 Dutch Cups, the UEFA Cup and the European Cup (UEFA Champions League) in 1995.

In 1999 after Ajax finished a disappointing 6th in the Eridivisie and bottom of their Champions League group, Van Der Sar decided that the time was right to move to pastures new and subsequently joined The Old Lady (of Italian football) Juventus for a transfer fee of £5m.

Edwin Van Der Sar's stay at Juventus was a short lived one, he played Just 66 league games for the club before he was was replaced by an outstanding young goalkeeper by the name of Gianluigi Buffon, whom the Italian's paid a transfer fee of £32.6m a world record for a goalkeeper and the 4th highest of all time.

It was at this point that Edwin joined Mohamed Al Fayed's revolution at newly promoted Fulham for a fee of £7.7m. There he played 126 League games, establishing himself as on of the Leagues best stoppers.

The Manchester United Years
After 6 years and many failed attempts to sign a perfect replacement (or as near perfect as you can get) for the Great Dane Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United switched their sights to veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar and in the summer of 2005 readily paid Fulham a fee believed to be in the region of £2m to secure his safe pair of hands.

So far at Manhester United Edwin Van Der Sar has proved himself to be a more than a worthy replacement for Peter Scmeichel and this is evident in his meadal haul since joining the club. In his relatively short stay at the United he has helped his team-mates win two League titles, one League Cup and the European Champions League, in which his heroics in the penalty shoot-out against fellow finalists Chelsea secured victory for the Red Devils. Edwin Van Der Sar - in doing this - became the first goalkeeper to win the Champions League with two different clubs.

Edwin Van Der Sar's Honours
Ajax
-Eredivisie (League title): 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
-KNVB Cup: 1993, 1998, 1999
-UEFA Champions League: 1995
-UEFA Cup: 1992
-European Super Cup: 1995
-Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Juventus
-UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Fulham
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2007, 2008
-English League Cup: 2006
-Community Shield: 2007
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008


Edwin Van Der Sar Personal Honours
-Best European Goalkeeper: 1995
-Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
-Dutch Golden Shoe: 1998
-PFA Team of the Year Goalkeeper: 2007