Manchester United is a club draped in footballing royalty and renowned for creating superstar talent that reaches incredible heights in the sport. Take, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo, who arrived as a young brace-faced teenage prospect and was transformed into a five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Ronaldo played in a side with similarly dominant world-class footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs. But some of Sir Alex Ferguson's crop's hard work helping maintain the club's stranglehold on the Premier League went unnoticed.
Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were among those whose importance sometimes flew under the radar because of the high-profile names they teamed with. They are just two of many Red Devils who earn the tag "underrated".
GIVEMESPORT have ranked the top 10 most underrated players in Manchester United's history, including those who came before the Ferguson era.
Ranking Factors:
Success - What the player achieved during his time at Manchester United.
Verdicts - How they were perceived by their peers and manager.
Reputation - Those who weren't household names.
Longevity - Time spent with the Red Devils.
Honourable Mentions
Andy Cole
Antonio Valencia
Wes Brown
Danny Welbeck
Andre Kanchelskis
Ander Herrera
Denis Irwin
11 Edinson Cavani
Time at club: October 2020–August 2022
We're starting with a controversial choice given Edinson Cavani joined Manchester United in the latter stages of his career. His arrival at age 34 stirred up criticism over the club panicking when he joined as a free agent on deadline day in October 2020.
Cavani quickly became a fan favourite because of his passionate personality and undeniable ability to lead the line, which had been missing over the years. A proper number nine, he was simply sublime during the 2020-21 season, managing 17 goals in 38 games, including a Goal of the Season halfway-line strike against Fulham.
The Uruguayan frontman came off the boil during his sophomore season with United following Cristiano Ronaldo's return. He took a backseat to the Portuguese icon, handing him his number seven shirt and the striker's starting berth. Injuries and a lack of form proved problematic, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surely looks back with regret over bringing Ronaldo in, which forced Cavani into a bit-part role.
Edinson Cavani's Manchester United Career
Games:
59
10 John O'Shea
Time at club: August 1998– July 2011
Most Manchester United fans quickly recall John O'Shea nutmegging Luis Figo when asked about his time at the club. The former Irish defender was so much more than just a cult hero; he was extremely effective for Sir Alex Ferguson, putting in shifts in any position asked of him.
O'Shea was a centre-back by trade but was often put at left-back while also filling in for Gary Neville and Wes Brown at right-back. His teammates, including Roy Keane, spoke highly of 'Mr Versatility', and Fergie trusted him to perform to his very best even in midfield.
The former Republic of Ireland international won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his 12 years at Old Trafford. He embodied the determined work ethic that Ferguson wanted to see in his players and rarely ever let the Red Devils down.
|John O'Shea's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|394|15|23|10|
|---|
9 Henning Berg
Time at club: August 1997–December 2000
Building a successful squad that can win a treble often requires recruiting dependable players willing to wait in the wings for opportunities. Henning Berg wasn't always a starter during his nearly three-year United spell, but he was a player Sir Alex Ferguson could turn to for backup.
Berg was a versatile Norweigan defender whom Ferguson had tried signing during his teenage years, but a move collapsed over work permit problems. In the summer of 1997, he earned a dream £5m move from Blackburn Rovers to the club he supported during his childhood, and he became the first player in Premier League history to win two titles with two different clubs.
Jaap Stam's arrival a year later meant Berg's game time started to decrease, but he didn't down tools and served as a brilliant backup option. When you talk about "underrated," you needn't look further than his clearances in both legs of United's Champions League quarter-final victory over Inter Milan.
"He made two of the best goalline clearances I have ever seen in my life in the year we won the Champions League" - Ferguson on Berg.
|Henning Berg's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|103|3|2|5|
|---|
8 Steve Coppell
Time at club: July 1975–June 1983
If it weren't for a snapped cruciate injury while representing England that cut his career short at just 28, there's no telling how much more successful Steve Coppell would have been with Manchester United. The number 7 shirt is synonymous with entertaining Red Devils royalty such as George Best and Eric Cantona, but Coppell can also lay claim to being in such conversation.
Coppell's achievements speak for themselves. He broke the record for the most consecutive appearances for an outfield United player from 1977 to 1981. A gifted attacker whose footballing IQ helped him flourish out wide. In his first senior season, he was part of the side that won promotion back to the First Division.
One of the former Crystal Palace manager's most interesting and important accomplishments from United fans' perspectives was winning the FA Cup in 1977. He played the full 90 minutes of a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the final. Born and bred in the south of the Merseyside city, he'd helped prevent his childhood heroes from claiming the treble.
|Steve Coppell's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|373|65|10|3|
|---|
7 Jonny Evans
Time at club: June 2006–August 2015 / July 2023–June 2025
Jonny Evans would be lower down the list if judging in recent times, but this goes back to Manchester United's decision to sell him a decade ago. Sir Alex Ferguson had retired, and the Red Devils needed defensive solidarity, especially with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic's Old Trafford spells ending.
The Northern Irish centre-back seemed the perfect solution and had the backing of Fergie. There was an obvious change in the club's vision in the post-Sir Alex era, particularly under Louis van Gaal, when many commercial signings were made. Their decision to accept a £6 million offer from West Bromwich Albion in August 2015 bemused their former manager, according to Martin O'Neill:
"(Ferguson) openly said to me that he could not believe Van Gaal had sold Jonny from United because having seen him come through, he felt Jonny would spend his whole career at United or certainly to the latter stages of his career."
Evans returned to United at 35 in the summer of 2023 after a trial period during pre-season. He earned a contract extension after becoming arguably one of the best performers that season, despite initially expecting just to be a voice in the dressing room.
|Jonny Evans' Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|241|8|7|8|
|---|
6 Nicky Butt
Time at club: June 1992–July 2007
There was nothing flashy about Nicky Butt, but that was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson required of the English midfielder, who was a hardworker in the middle of the park. He made the step-up to the senior team as part of the Class of '92 and it's fair to say that alongside Phil Neville, he was less celebrated than names like Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
Butt knew when to time a tackle to perfection and his energy was vital for the Red Devils, including in the 1999 treble-winning season. He'd stop the opposition while helping launch attacks, and he very rarely put in anything less than a 7/10 performance.
The former 39-cap England international spent 12 years at Old Trafford, winning 13 major trophies, and was an important participant every season. He also showcased an understanding of the game that translated into coaching post-career, taking charge of United's U21s.
|Nicky Butt's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|387|26|21|13|
|---|
Nicky Butt celebrating a goal for Manchester United Related
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Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt had nothing but praise when discussing this now-retired Old Trafford legend.
5 Brian McClair
Time at club: July 1987–June 1998
One of three players that Sir Alex Ferguson thinks were the "most underrated" during his reign. Brian McClair epitomised everything the legendary Scot demanded from his players with a willingness to perform any role, including up front, in midfield and on the wing.
McClair was a prolific goalscorer who arrived at Old Trafford from Celtic in the summer of 1987 with a reputation as one of Scottish football's deadliest frontmen. Perhaps had he put in the hard work on the training ground, he'd have earned a bigger superstar status during his 11 years with the club.
Ferguson hilariously once explained:
"You know what, in pre-season, the worst trainer, without doubt, was Brian McClair. He was always last, but you put him on a pitch on Saturday and he would run all day! It’s no secret, any player that wants to be good… look after yourself, sacrifice and practice."
McClair was the ultimate team player and a valuable asset for the Red Devils during the late eighties and nineties. His first season was particularly impressive, scoring 24 goals in 31 games and becoming the inaugural winner of the club's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.
|Brian McClair's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|466|121|16|9|
|---|
4 Darren Fletcher
Time at club: June 2006–February 2015
Of all the players on this list, it might be fair to say that nobody loves Manchester United more than Darren Fletcher. The Scot's affection for the club was shown through his football. A combative, box-to-box, and energetic midfielder, he remains tied to the Red Devils in his post-career.
Like O'Shea, Fletcher could adapt to different positions and often left no blade of grass untouched. One massively underrated part of his game was his attacking prowess, particularly in the air from set-piece situations. He netted a terrific brace of headers in a 4-3 thriller against Manchester City in 2009-10.
So often, we are left scratching our heads about how United have fallen so low since Ferguson's retirement. Losing players of Fletcher's ilk was a huge reason, as he was just as influential at the heart of his side's midfield as he was as a dressing room leader.
|Darren Fletcher's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|342|24|31|11|
|---|
3 Ronny Johnsen
Time at club: July 1996–August 2002
Ronny Johnsen initially turned Manchester United down when they came calling during his time in Turkey with Besiktas. Sir Alex Ferguson worked his magic and secured his signature in the summer of 1996, and the Norwegian defender didn't disappoint.
Another one of Ferguson's versatile heroes, he was a member of the 1999 treble-winning team, playing in the famous win over Bayern Munich in the final. He was the complete package as a centre-back, and his calm and composed playing style sometimes saw him move into defensive midfield.
Johnsen spent six years with the Red Devils before departing for Aston Villa in 2002 as a free agent. There should be more appreciation, as Andy Cole once pointed out, for his success at Old Trafford and his short-lived but impressive partnership with Jaap Stam at the back.
|Ronny Johnsen's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|150|9|2|6|
|---|
2 Michael Carrick
Time at club: July 2006–June 2018
"It's Carrick, you know, hard to believe it's not Scholes" roared the Stretford End each time Michael Carrick gained possession and delivered an inch-perfect long ball over the top. It was almost as if United fans were trying to alert visiting supporters to just how gifted the English midfielder was.
Since hanging up his boots in 2018, Carrick has been given his flowers, and that's why he doesn't rank first in this list. He was a sublime, deep-lying playmaker who starred for the Red Devils throughout his time at Old Trafford, with many memorable performances.
A brace in a 7-1 mauling of AS Roma in the quarter-finals of the 2006-07 Champions League was perhaps his finest outing. He was Sir Alex Ferguson's answer to Barcelona icon Sergio Busquets. Those who managed England during his international career should have focused more on him than on trying to solve the Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard partnership problem.
|Michael Carrick's Manchester United Career|
|Games:|Goals:|Assists:|Trophies:|
|464|24|35|12|
|---|
Underrated footballers Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), and Sergio Busquets (Barcelona Related
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The 10 most underrated players in football history have been named and ranked with Michael Carrick and Jordan Henderson featured.