The 2010s: Manchester Uniteds team of the decade

Publish date: 2024-06-14

In celebration of the sporting decade that is coming to a close, writers from The Athletic have been picking their teams of the 2010s — here, Laurie Whitwell names his Manchester United XI…

Goalkeeper: David de Gea

Indisputably the most consistent player of the decade. United struggled to adequately fill the hole left by Peter Schmeichel in 1999 but there was a smooth progression on from Edwin van der Sar, who was No 1 for the 2010-11 title win and 2011 Champions League final.

De Gea arrived that summer from Atletico Madrid and gets in ahead of the Dutchman by virtue of his repeatedly high standards. He won the Premier League in 2013 and the following season became the first goalkeeper to be named United’s Player of the Year. His personal total of four is the most since that prize’s inception.

“Dave Saves” became a meme for the frequency of De Gea’s improbable shot-stopping, and he could go on to become one of United’s all-time greats. His total of 376 appearances places him 38th on the club list and with a new contract running until June 2023, he can easily break into the top 10.

Speaking before De Gea signed fresh terms, former United coach Eric Steele told The Athletic: “Whatever he’s earned them in the last eight years, they should pay him for the next three to balance out.”

Right-back: Antonio Valencia

Originally signed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo on the right wing, Valencia dropped back under Louis van Gaal and was a steady presence across the decade. He played 10 games in United’s 2011 title campaign and 30 in the 2013 success, going on to start at right-back in FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League final victories.

Sir Alex Ferguson trusted Valencia over Nani to start the 2011 Champions League final.

Valencia could be infuriating for his left-foot phobia — those who ever saw him kick the ball with his weaker foot are in an exclusive club — and his lack of English meant a distance was maintained with fans.

Rafael da Silva, a rival for this spot in their all-decade side for instance, bridged that with his endearing exuberance. But Valencia gains entry for offering longevity and stability through this turbulent ten-year period.

He only scored 25 goals for United but some were memorable and his screamer against Everton in September 2017 gets better with every viewing.

Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic

The first of the tribe whose best years came before this era but who nevertheless made enough important contributions of a significant standard to warrant inclusion.

Vidic is one of United’s greatest defenders and though his peak form came between 2007 and 2009, he was still a fearsome competitor when United won the title in 2011, starting 35 games and scoring five goals. He was slightly on the wane two years later but played 19 times in another Premier League triumph.

He was captain during both seasons, a worthy leader because of his ferocious commitment. “He was the best header of the ball I played with and training sessions against him would be physical,” Louis Saha told The Athletic.

In games, Vidic stretched every Serbian sinew to stop opposing attackers and such was his esteem among United fans, the entire Stretford End interrupted his farewell speech in 2014 to sing his song. Never has a chant which revels in “murder” sounded so sweet.

Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand

The other half of United’s best defensive double act also makes the team, even though he turned 32 at the start of this decade. Ferdinand was the Rolls-Royce to Vidic’s monster truck, cruising his way through games by virtue of an impeccable ability to read play and speed of movement to carry out necessary interventions.

Going to ground was a last resort rarely needed by Ferdinand and even into his twilight years, he continued to produce pristine performances. Injury prevented him from playing more than 19 times in the 2010-11 title season but he enjoyed a renaissance and started 58 Premier League games in the next two campaigns to finish with a sixth Premier League winners’ medal. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for 2012-13.

After retirement in 2015, he has become a BT Sport pundit, giving us a window into the intelligence and rhetoric he once used in United’s dressing room.

Jonny Evans, who played 133 times for United in all competitions this decade, winning two titles and scoring three goals in the 2012-13 Premier League campaign, deserves a mention here, but just misses out.

Left-back: Patrice Evra

The story about Evra attempting to learn Korean so he could communicate better with Park Ji-sung only goes to illustrate how much the Frenchman brought to United, aside from his football ability. “I try to add Korean but it is really difficult. I know a few words,” Evra told Sky Sports last month.

He had to make do with just the six languages instead but such a talent meant he was the glue at a club of numerous nationalities. His fulsome personality, his positivity and humour, solidified his status as a genuine United cult hero.

On the pitch, his diminutive height belied a strength in one-on-one situations, either in attack or defence, and his coda at Juventus, where he started the 2015 Champions League final, proved that, in truth, he left Manchester too soon.

He never started fewer than 33 Premier League matches in each of the four campaigns that began this decade, winning two Premier League titles to take his total to five.

Central-midfield: Ryan Giggs

From wiry winger to measured midfielder, Giggs’ career transformation found a final few chapters in this decade and, as with Scholes, the pinnacle he reached and sustained deserves appreciation here.

Giggs was playing centrally by the time the 2010-11 campaign started and there were flourishes to treasure in this new role. His finish beyond Manuel Neuer to set United on their way to a Champions League semi-final win at Schalke aged 37 was one. A last-minute winner at Norwich City aged 38 was another.

Even though his legend was already forged, these extra years carving out unexpected depictions of his talent added a special afterglow.

He started the Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley, setting up United’s equaliser with a deft touch and pass, and although that night did not go to plan, such heartache a wishful dream to the current side.

Central-midfield: Paul Scholes

He may have only been enjoying a swansong during the period on which this team is based but the parameters still allow for recognition of brilliance.

The touch and vision Scholes possessed are undimmed by the passage of time, as Vincent Kompany’s recent testimonial showed. It’s why Scholes was able to come out of retirement in 2012, after six months away, and pick up where he left off.

Paul Pogba was not pleased of course, with that comeback, seen as the catalyst for him becoming convinced about leaving, but even at 36, Scholes was delivering.

His contribution in 2012-13 needed to be managed but he still played 16 times, scoring once, which combined with his input two years previously is enough to qualify him for a place in a diamond midfield here.

“In training, he would point out a guy walking in the distance, strike the ball and it would hit his head, bang,” says Saha. “He has no physique, but the guy is a genius.”

Central-midfield: Michael Carrick

United have acted shrewdly in keeping Carrick at the club as a coach. He is a smart thinker, who played the game the right way and is well-positioned to pass down technical and psychological advice.

Carrick was, at times, pilloried by supporters who overlooked the simple beauty of his game but it cannot be regarded as coincidence that after the midfielder joined from Tottenham Hotspur, United won five titles in seven years and lost out on the other two by a single point to Chelsea and on goal difference to Manchester City.

The anchor of United’s style for much of this decade, Carrick played 28 times in the 2010-11 title campaign, and 36 times in the 2012-13 Premier League season. He also played the entire 120 minutes of the 2016 FA Cup final, came on at half-time of the following year’s League Cup final win, and played a number of ties in the Europa League success.

No 10 role: Wayne Rooney

The only United player to score in a Champions League final this decade, one of 122 club goals since 2010, Rooney is the easiest name to select in this team even if was not always a serene period for him.

The decade began with a public desire to leave — prompting that remarkable press conference when Ferguson laid bare the private machinations — but instead, Rooney signed a new contract. The same happened in 2013 too.

But on the pitch, Rooney, more than anyone, was United’s talisman. He led them to their two most recent title wins with a goal record that stayed strong until his move back into midfield.

Van Gaal adjusted Rooney’s position to some success, particularly in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final against Everton, and in January 2017 came the moment when Sir Bobby Charlton was dethroned as United’s record scorer. Rooney brought up his 250th for the club with a scintillating free-kick at Stoke City.

Rooney left United that summer having added three more goals and won a total of 11 trophies.

Striker: Marcus Rashford

It might seem odd to include a player who has emerged to prominence in United’s recent fallow years but Rashford deserves inclusion for what he represents and could yet become, as well as his current achievements. Let’s face it, he also brings speed to a fantasy side creaking a little because of its age.

In terms of pure numbers, Rashford has already scored 50 goals for United at a quicker rate than Ronaldo did and he has also won three trophies — all by the age of 22. His recent free-kick against Chelsea was up there with any standout moment of the last 10 years too.

From the beginning, there was something pure about the way Rashford seized his opportunity, having risen through the ranks of the academy to score twice on his debut against Midtjylland, and then again against Arsenal. His derby winner at the Etihad Stadium in his maiden season was a goal to cherish and he has gone on to score 13 times in 33 games against big-six opponents, a better ratio than Mohamed Salah.

Striker: Robin van Persie

Can one player gain entry for what was effectively one good season? When that player is Van Persie and it meant Ferguson could sign off with a 13th Premier League title, yes.

Arsene Wenger showed commendable altruism by selling Van Persie to United for a £24 million fee, considering the Dutchman had just finished as Premier League top-scorer. He did not need much time acclimatising to the north, scoring a hat-trick in his third game to secure a 3-2 win at Southampton — a scoreline that would become a theme of United’s season.

Another hat-trick the following April against Aston Villa confirmed United as champions, and included the astonishing volley from Rooney’s wonderful pass that was instantly cast as the defining image of that campaign.

Van Persie scored 26 goals playing in all 38 Premier League games during 2012-13 and was undoubtedly the crucial component in a team that fragmented without Ferguson’s alchemy. He completed two more seasons and finished with 58 goals in 105 matches in total — pretty good for a parting gift.

(Photo: Adam Davy/EMPICS/Getty Images)

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57kGxsb3BoaHxzfJByZmppX2eDcMDHnmRraGFlwG65wKeaoZ2jqbKzedSnoK2dlKh6tbHApmSonl2ptaZ5w56ampyVZA%3D%3D

BeamDash

The 2010s: Manchester Uniteds team of the decade