Nicky Butt with Ryan Giggs in May 1999.

Nicky Butt names his ultimate United XI

Thursday 25 October 2018 10:10

As a graduate of Manchester United's Class of '92, Nicky Butt played with some living legends during his time at Old Trafford.

Therefore, the former England midfielder, who scored 26 goals in 387 games for the Reds between 1992 and 2004, had plenty of scope to pick an impressive dream team when asked to do so by the club’s official matchday programme, United Review, back in 2009.

This is what he went with…

Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel
Nicky Butt says

"He was so hard to score against and such a massive character."

Right-back: Gary Neville
Nicky Butt says

"Gary was Mr Consistency throughout his career and rarely played badly."

Centre-back: Jaap Stam
Nicky Butt says

"An awesome defender with great recovery pace, strength and physique."

Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand
Nicky Butt says

"Rio is simply the best footballing centre-back I have ever seen."

Left-back: Denis Irwin
Nicky Butt says

"Ultra-reliable like Gary, plus he could produce the goods from free-kicks."

Right midfield: David Beckham
Nicky Butt says

"His final pass and delivery were brilliant, and he had a first-class work ethic."

Centre midfield: Paul Scholes
Nicky Butt says

"A phenomenal player with an incredible footballing brain – he was such a goal threat too."

Centre midfield: Roy Keane
Nicky Butt says

"A great leader and a massive presence, but his football talent was underrated."

Left midfield: Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs says

"Ryan is one of the best players to have ever graced the Premier League."

Centre forward: Andy Cole
Nicky Butt says

"A proper out-and-out scorer who did it for United over a number of years."

Centre forward: Eric Cantona
Nicky Butt says

"A legend. Everyone looked up to him and he won us those early Premier League titles."

My substitutes bench
Nicky Butt says

"I was torn between Cole and van Nistelrooy up front. I’ve got to have super-sub Solskjaer and Mark Hughes too. My wildcard is George Best. I’d have some hard-working midfielders on there, so I’ll sit next to Robson and Ince!"

My team selection
Nicky Butt says

"I've had to leave some top-class players out, so this is a high-quality team. It has a rock-solid defence and midfield, with plenty of creativity and class going forward, then Eric and Coley to put it away up front."