Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in Premier League history and he will forever be acknowledged as a Manchester United great.
When Ferguson took charge of the Red Devils in November 1986, they sat 21st in the English First Division. Fast forward 26 years, and he had guided the Old Trafford outfit to English football dominance, winning the title 13 times and knocking Liverpool off their perch as he famously vowed.
Ferguson retired in 2013, and since then, United have fallen from grace. They no longer find themselves challenging for top-flight glory and haven't been crowned champions since he lifted the trophy on his final day as manager.
That said, there have been plenty of highs for fans to enjoy during the post-Ferguson era. Many of those have come from world-class players who are still showcasing their extraordinary ability in an underperforming team.
Here, we put together a team of the best talent that played during and after the legendary Scot's retirement. That includes players who played on after his farewell, as well as one who made a stunning return.
Manchester United Best XI During and After Ferguson
GK: Peter Schmeichel
United have been spoiled with some of the best goalkeepers this country has ever seen. David de Gea certainly made his mark in the post-Ferguson era, but he and Edwin van der Sar miss out on the number one spot to Peter Schmeichel.
The Great Dane was just that, a once-in-a-lifetime shot-stopper who possessed incredible agility for his six-foot-four-inch frame. He was box office and played in a Red Devils side that became the first English club to win a continental treble.
Schmeichel made several outstanding saves during his career but his trademark star-jump against Inter Milan during the treble-winning season is probably his best. He undoubtedly gets into this team and probably most fans' all-time Premier League XI's.
Right-Back: Gary Neville
Diogo Dalot deserves his flowers and perhaps gets too much criticism when the going gets tough for United. Many right-backs have come and gone since Ferguson retired, and none of them have come close to reaching Gary Neville's level.
Neville downplays his ability when speaking as a pundit, but he remains one of the best defenders in club history. Not only was he defensively sound, but he also helped out his attacking teammate on the overlap (pardon the pun).
The Englishman's leadership qualities saw him captain United, and he did so brilliantly. He won 20 major trophies during his time at the Theatre of Dreams, including eight Premier League titles.
Centre-Back: Rio Ferdinand
When Premier League fans debate the best centre-back in top-flight history, Rio Ferdinand's name is among the most popular. He wasn't just a fighter for Ferguson as he possessed incredible ball-playing abilities.
Labeled a 'Rolls-Royce', he was calm, composed, and on the ball, and his pace allowed him to quickly sniff out danger. He scored the winning goal in Ferguson's final Old Trafford game against Swansea City.
United haven't and never will be able to replace what Ferdinand brought to his team. The legendary Englishman was a teammate everyone wanted on their team.
Centre-Back: Nemanja Vidic
Ferdinand's partner in crime had to make the team and that's not just because they are arguably the best defensive duo in Premier League history. Nemanja Vidic was a warrior who put his body and head on the line in every match.
Lisandro Martinez might be nicknamed 'the Butcher ', but Vidic feels a more worthy representative of that label. The Serbian wore the scars of war throughout his career and he's the only defender to win the Premier League's Player of the Season award twice.
Left-Back: Dennis Irwin
While Luke Shaw and Patrice Evra are worthy candidates for the left-back position, Dennis Irwin is the obvious choice. Take it from Ferguson himself, who once said that the Irishman was the only "absolute certainty" to make his all-time XI.
Irwin's remarkable consistency and effectiveness didn't go unnoticed by his manager. He served up an 8/10 performance pretty much every matchday, and it's a shame young Premier League fans aren't more informed of his qualities.
Dependable is the best way to describe him, and he got on with his job without making a fuss. That's everything Ferguson wanted from his players.
Central Midfield: Bryan Robson
Ferguson would likely choose Bryan Robson as his captain and with a nickname like 'Captain Marvel' it's easy to understand why. The former England skipper starred for club and country, his box-to-box profile providing an engine room that kicked his teammates into gear.
Robson knew where the goal was, and if it weren't for injuries, he'd be in the conversation as the best player in United's history. So many of his peers, including Diego Maradona, spoke glowingly of his technical ability, and he led by example.
There have been other leaders to take up midfield roles during and after Ferguson's tenure. Roy Keane is an honourable mention and for some fans probably warrants a place in this team.
Central Midfield: Paul Scholes
'He scores goals' could be heard chanted by the Stretford End during Paul Scholes' captivating career at the Theatre of Dreams. The Englishman performed more like a Barcelona midfield maestro than a gritty Red Devils star, and Ferguson loved him.
Scholes did indeed score goals and some of the very best in European football history. His volley against Aston Villa, which smacked the woodwork before going in, and his scorcher against Barca come to mind.
Whether it be playing central midfield, as a second striker, in attacking midfield, or even on the wing, he was a sublime footballer. It's no wonder Pep Guardiola chooses him over Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the trio's long-running debate.
Attacking Midfield: Bruno Fernandes
This could be the most controversial selection, but it's one that only gains more support each season that Bruno Fernandes wows at Old Trafford. The Portuguese playmaker made history last season, breaking the all-time assist record in a single campaign with 21.
United fans have backed Fernandes against rival supporters who question his ability and leadership. He has consistently done his talking on the pitch, producing magical moments that deserve to have occurred during Ferguson's reign.
Fernandes has cemented his legacy as an all-time great, and he's a case of right player, wrong time. If he's producing record-breaking numbers in this era, imagine him back in the club's 2007-08 Champions League-winning side.
Right-Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo
Who else but Cristiano Ronaldo, who United fans watched grow from a brace-faced teenage prospect and become a five-time Ballon d'Or winner? You could put David Beckham forward as an option but even he will probably admit the Portuguese attacking ace deserves the right-wing berth.
We haven't seen a better season from a Premier League player than the one Ronaldo delivered in 2007-08. He scored 42 goals, and most of them deserve to be hung in the Louvre.
Ronaldo even came back for round two in 2021; just the announcement of his return itself had fans dreaming of the club returning to its glory days. That didn't quite happen, but even during his tumultuous second spell, he proved why he's one of, if not the best, forwards in football history.
Striker: Wayne Rooney
Probably the toughest one to call because, on one hand, you have Eric Cantona, who transformed the Premier League and the culture at United. On the other hand, you have Wayne Rooney, who became the Red Devils' all-time top goalscorer.
Ferguson seems to side with Cantona but from a statistical standpoint, Rooney is the one. Watching him arrive from Everton and immediately take his place as one of the most talented players in England was quite something.
Rooney embodies exactly what United is all about: a player with a winning mentality and the ability to put the team on his back. After Ronaldo's departure, he took centre stage and ensured Ferguson's men remained the team to beat in the Premier League, and you needn't look further than his overhead kick against Manchester City.
Left-Wing: Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs is the Ferguson of United players, given his longevity, but playing 963 games is only part of his story. The legendary Welshman is criminally underrated nowadays, with flashy wingers often put forward as better players.
It's nonsense most of the time, as many forget what Giggs brought to Ferguson's team. He left defenders for dead when surging down the wing, and his elegance on the ball saw him take up a central midfield position later in his career.
When you think about United goals, one of the very first that comes to mind is his unbelievable solo goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup. He was a workhorse and set the standards both on and off the pitch.
