Wes Brown played alongside some of Manchester United’s greatest players, but a trio consisting of Ji-sung Park, Nani and Louis Saha stand out as sorely underrated when he reflects on his career.
Wes Brown spent 15 years at Manchester United between 1996 and 2011. As an academy graduate, the defender became one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most versatile players, with his ability to play at both centre-back and right-back.
In 1997 and 1998, Brown won the Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year award before he went on to win several trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Brown made 362 appearances for United and scored five goals. His trophy haul included five Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, two FA Cups, and two League Cups.
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Ji-sung Park and Wes Brown training
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Wes Brown labels Ji-sung Park, Nani and Louis Saha ‘underrated’
Brown played with multiple legends during his time at United.
From Paul Scholes and Roy Keane to Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, Brown shared the dressing room with top-class players who helped United achieve so much success.
However, other players were equally important despite not getting the same acknowledgement.
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In a TikTok video for The Soccer Archive, Brown is asked to name the three most underrated players from his time at United.
“Ji-sung Park,” was the first player that came to Brown’s mind.
“I know that’s pretty common now. Could do everything. Run all day. Ask him to do something, he’d do it. He’d get you a goal. He could also attack but he was the complete team player.”
Brown added: “Nani. I mean Nani was brilliant and you’ve all seen him play, but sometimes obviously Ronaldo was Ronaldo and Nani didn’t get, I don’t think, the sort of accolades that he probably deserved.
“I mean if you look at his goals, you’ll all know what I mean. He had a bit of everything as well. He was strong and had pace.
“The third player I would probably say… Louis Saha. And I say that because of when he did play for United, he was injured quite a lot, and not a lot of fans would have got to have seen his true self and how really tough he was to mark.
“They got glimpses of it. It was a shame he couldn’t show more.”
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Wes Brown made Man Utd debut in 3-0 win over Leeds
Brown made his first team debut in May 1998, as a substitute on the hour mark to replace David May.
United won the match 3-0, thanks to goals from Ryan Giggs, Denis Irwin and David Beckham.
It was United’s final home game of the season as Arsenal would complete the double, but at least Ferguson had his eye on the future with Brown becoming the latest debutant.
Reflecting on his United debut for ManUtd.com, Brown said: “It was a crazy week really. Obviously, I’d been training with the first team for a while and the Friday before, you know, just like normal, you have a little five-a-side. And we didn’t actually do the team, as in we knew who was playing.
“Gary Pallister, I always remember, comes up to me as we’re walking off and says: ‘You’re playing tomorrow, Wes, starting tomorrow’. So you can imagine how, obviously, that felt. And I just remember going home and I don’t think I told anyone. Maybe, I asked my dad if he’s going to the game tomorrow. But I didn’t sort of say what Pally had told me. And then, obviously that night, I couldn’t and didn’t really sleep even, being honest, as I was just nervous and there was excitement at the same time.
“Then, the day of the game, the gaffer does the squad and I’m sub! So it was, you know, don’t get me wrong, I’m still happy to be sub and everything, but obviously there’s a little bit of relief, if I’m being quite honest.
“I was pretty much running on adrenaline because I didn’t sleep that much that night. It was like Christmas Day, basically, when you’re a kid. So. then, obviously, I got on the bench and I was just seeing whether I’d come on or not.”
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