10@10: You'll never win anything with kids - Fergie's top 10 Manchester United academy graduates
With Darron Gibson the latest product of Manchester United's famed academy to hit the headlines following his match-winning brace against Tottenham last night , MirrorFootball runs down the top 10 players to have come through from the youth team under Sir Alex Ferguson.
10) John O'Shea
The Irishman is the ultimate versatile player having played in every position for United, even as an emergency goalkeeper on occasion. The type of squad player Fergie relies upon to get through a long hard season and has been in the first team since 2002.
9) Wes Brown
Even now Fergie hails Brown as "the best natural defender in the country". Has struggled with injuries but has been a solid if unspectacular performer for United for a decade now.
8) Jonny Evans
Learning at the feet of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic has helped Evans develop into a top-class centre half. His form this season has even seen him start to edge ahead of Ferdinand in the pecking order.
7) Phil Neville
Although the younger Neville brother was shipped out of Old Trafford back in 2005, he is the model pro and an almost identikit Fergie player - keeps his head down and delivered when called upon for United and England (Romania, Euro 2000 excepted)
6) Nicky Butt
Came through the ranks with Beckham, Scholes and the Nevilles and established himself in midfield for both United and England. Was even picked out as the best player at the 2002 World Cup by Pele. Has never been the same since leaving Old Trafford in 2004.
5) Darren Fletcher
Initially struggled to win over the Old Trafford fans but Fergie stuck by him and the Scot is now repaying on an almost weekly basis. Has developed into a key player for United and Scotland with his combative style in midfield and happy knack of scoring important goals in big games.
4) Gary Neville
Captain since Roy Keane's departure Neville has been United's first choice right back for 15 years. Gets extra points from the fans for being a local lad and his hatred - and frequent taunting - of Liverpool.
3) David Beckham
The most famous player in the world has never been the best in the world but always worked hard to maximise what he did do. Was on United's teamsheet week in, week out for 10 years before he started to get bigger than the club and Fergie shipped him off to Real Madrid.
2) Paul Scholes
The ultimate Fergie player, Scholes is supremely talented and has won enough trophies to warrant employing a full-time cleaner just for his silverware, yet he keeps out of the limelight and doesn't even have an agent. Ferguson revealed recently that the club had not had a single approach from any other club for Scholes because they all knew he'd never leave Old Trafford, such is his loyalty to the club and his manager.
1) Ryan Giggs
Undisputed number 1. Broke into the United first team in the 1991/92 season and hasn't stopped since. Has broken just about every record going and is the most decorated player in English football history having won 11 League titles. Is the only player to have scored in every season of the Premier League since it was formed in 1992 and shows weekly that he is still capable of mixing it at the very top - a view shared by his fellow professionals who awarded him the PFA Player of the Year award last season.
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