Patrice Evra has long been a mainstay of the United back four and it was no different in 2011/12, when he notched up 47 appearances in all competitions. In many of them the left-back led the team out as captain, with Nemanja Vidic sidelined through injury.

The France international's passionate persona, both on and off the pitch, has made him a firm favourite among the Old Trafford faithful. Patrice will have felt the pain more than most as United failed to turn an eight-point advantage, with six games to go, into a 20th league title.

Evra arrived in January 2006 as the Reds beat off fierce competition from

Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan to secure his services. The defender's arrival, just days after Vidic’s capture, signalled Sir Alex Ferguson's intention to shore up his defence, which had suffered in the long-term absence of Gabriel Heinze.

Although only 24 when he joined the Reds, Evra had already been capped five times for France. He had been club captain at Monaco, where he established himself as a quick, committed, attack-minded player, also capable of playing at left-midfield.

Evra started his career in Italy after a scout from Masala spotted him in Les Ulis, the same tough suburb of Paris where Thierry Henry grew up. After one season in Serie C1,