Manchester United Football Club is an English association football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. The club was formed in Newton Heath in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR F.C., and played their first competitive match in October 1886, when they entered the First Round of the 1886–87 FA Cup.[1] The club was renamed Manchester United F.C. in 1902, and they moved to Old Trafford in 1910.[2] The club won its first significant trophy in 1908 – the First Division title. Since then, the club has won a further 19 league titles, along with 12 FA Cups and five League Cups. They have also been crowned champions of European football on three occasions by winning the European Cup.[2][3] The club was one of 22 teams in the Premier League when it was formed in 1992. They experienced the most successful period in their history under the management of Alex Ferguson, who guided the team to 13 league titles in 21 years.[4][5]
Since Manchester United's first competitive match, 970 players have made a competitive first-team appearance for the club.[6] Many of these players have spent only a short period of their career at Manchester United before seeking opportunities in other teams; some players had their careers cut short by injury, while others left for other reasons. Jimmy Davis was killed in a car accident in 2003 having made one first-team appearance, the first Manchester United player to die during his career since the Munich air disaster, which claimed the lives of many of the Busby Babes, including Geoff Bent.[7][8] The First and Second World Wars also disrupted the careers of footballers across the United Kingdom.[9][10]Peter Beardsley only played one match for Manchester United but went on to have a very successful career at Newcastle United, Liverpool and several other clubs; he also won 59 caps for the England national team.[11]
As 29 September 2024, a total of 491 players have played fewer than 25 competitive matches for the club.[6] Four former players — John Scott, Ted Buckle, Eddie Lewis and Michael Clegg — each made 24 appearances during their spell at Manchester United. The most recent player to make his debut for the club is Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who came on as a substitute in the 2024–25 Premier League match against Southampton. The current player closest to making his 25th appearance for the club is Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who has made 16 appearances for Manchester United.
Harry Williams made five appearances in one season for Manchester United.
Tommy Jones made 22 appearances in two seasons with Manchester United.
Neil Whitworth made one appearance for Manchester United.
Erik Nevland made five appearances across two seasons with Manchester United.
Danny Higginbotham made seven appearances across three seasons with Manchester United.
Paul Rachubka made three appearances in two seasons with Manchester United.
Danny Webber made three appearances in three seasons with Manchester United.
Danny Pugh made seven appearances in two seasons for Manchester United.
Phil Bardsley made 18 appearances across five seasons with Manchester United.
Chris Eagles made 17 appearances across five seasons with Manchester United.
Jonathan Spector made eight appearances in two seasons with Manchester United.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake made two appearances over two seasons with Manchester United.
Liam Miller made 22 appearances across two seasons with Manchester United.
Giuseppe Rossi made 14 appearances across two seasons with Manchester United.
Gerard Piqué made 23 appearances across four seasons with Manchester United and went on to have a decorated career with his boyhood club FC Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Ritchie Jones made five appearances across three seasons with Manchester United.
Lee Martin made three appearances across four seasons with Manchester United.
Ryan Shawcross made two appearances in two seasons with Manchester United.
Fraizer Campbell made four appearances in one season with Manchester United.
Dong Fangzhuo made three appearances across two seasons with Manchester United.
Danny Simpson made eight appearances in one season with Manchester United.
James Chester made one appearance for Manchester United.
Mame Biram Diouf made eight appearances in two seasons with Manchester United.
Joshua King made two appearances in three seasons with Manchester United.
Zoran Tošić made five appearances in one season with Manchester United.
Bebé made seven appearances in four seasons with Manchester United.
Ravel Morrison made two appearances in three seasons with Manchester United.
Robbie Brady made one appearance for Manchester United.
Wilfried Zaha made four appearances for Manchester United.
Michael Keane made five appearances for Manchester United across four seasons.
Will Keane made three appearances for Manchester United across five seasons.
Tom Thorpe made one appearance for Manchester United.
Víctor Valdés made two appearances for Manchester United.
Players are listed according to the date of their first-team debut for the club.
Statistics correct as of match played 7 November 2024
Table headers
Nationality – If a player played international football, the country/countries he played for are shown. Otherwise, the player's nationality is given as their country of birth.
Manchester United career – The year of the player's first appearance for Manchester United to the year of his last appearance.
Starts – The number of matches started.
Sub – The number of matches played as a substitute.
Total – The total number of matches played, both as a starter and as a substitute.
^ A utility player is one who is considered to play in more than one position.
^ While Zaha was a member of Manchester United, he had multiple caps at various levels for the England national team, including the first team. After leaving Manchester United, Zaha subsequently declared for the Ivory Coast and became a full international for the Ivory Coast.
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.