Mike Phelan has revealed which five Manchester United title winners were Sir Alex Ferguson’s best signings.
The legendary manager spent over 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, winning 40 trophies during that period.
8
8
Phelan served as Ferguson’s assistant for the final five years of his tenure, which ended with his retirement in 2013.
The former United midfielder also played under Ferguson for the club, winning two Premier League titles and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Over a decade on from the end of Ferguson’s time as manager, Phelan has reflected on the signings he brought to the club.
Speaking to the BBC, the 62-year-old was asked to name the five best signings Ferguson made at United.
READ MORE MAN UNITED NEWS
Amongst them is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, two former captains and a £4million bargain.
Phelan’s first pick was Eric Cantona, who Ferguson signed from Leeds in 1992.
He explained: “He brought something completely left field to whatever was going on at the time. He was French, he was good-looking, and he knew how to play football.
“He gelled the team into that winning mentality that Sir Alex stood for.”
Cantona would the league in his first two seasons at Old Trafford, before retiring in 1997 with four titles in five years.
The Frenchman was also made captain for his final season, becoming the club’s first permanent skipper from outside the UK and Ireland.
8
In 185 appearances for the Red Devils, Cantona scored 82 goals and provided a further 62 assists.
Phelan’s second signing joined for just £4million as a relative unknown from PSV in the summer of 2005.
Describing Ji-Sung Park, he said: “He was one that nobody really knew about.
“Nobody really understood that signing at the time, but what a bundle of energy. You could put the battery into Ji, and he could run all day until he ran out of battery.”
The South Korean international’s versatility made him a key man for Ferguson in midfield and on the wing.
Across his seven years with the club, Park made 204 appearances and won the Champions League along with four league titles.
8
Ferguson’s final summer transfer window came after United had agonisingly missed out on the Premier League to bitter rivals Manchester City.
In response, the Red Devils boss swooped to sign the league’s top scorer Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
The Dutch forward fired in 26 league goals in his debut season to help deliver the title ahead of Ferguson’s retirement.
Phelan added: “Well, obviously, Van Persie was an interesting one, because he took us to the title in Sir Alex’s final season. [He] made the difference.”
Van Persie’s partnership with Wayne Rooney was key to United’s success during the 2012/13 season.
The title would be Rooney’s last of five won with the club under Ferguson.
8
8
He had been signed from Everton as an 18-year-old in 2004, becoming the world’s most expensive teenager at the time.
Phelan said of Rooney: “For his youthfulness, his abundance of anarchy that he brought to the club at times, but he was a great signing. Young, enthusiastic, winner.”
Across 13 years at Old Trafford, Rooney scored 253 goals in 559 appearances to become the club’s all-time record scorer.
The forward also captained the side for three years and won 17 major trophies.
A year prior to Rooney’s arrival, Ferguson brought in another 18-year-old in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon.
Reflecting on his impact, Phelan admitted: “Ronaldo speaks for himself.
8
“He was going to be, or was – in his own mind at that time – the best player in the world.
“He went on to achieve that through Manchester United, Real Madrid, and he’s still playing to this day, so he was the perfect choice at a young age to have a fantastic career.”
Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances under Ferguson, even winning his first Ballon d’Or whilst with United in 2008.
After nine trophies in six years, which included the Champions League and a trio of league titles, the Portuguese was sold to Real Madrid for a then world record £80million fee.
The veteran forward would later return to Old Trafford in 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Phelan also back at the club as assistant at the time.
Ronaldo’s second spell saw him score another 24 goals to take his overall United tally to 145 in 346 appearances across all competitions.
8
