United’s Prolific Academy Feeds Both English And European Football

Needless to say Manchester United is one of the most popular and powerful football brands worldwide, but some mightn’t be aware how much United care about helping young talents to develop and transform themselves into top professional sportsmen. In that sense, the Manchester United Academy does feed the first-team with fresh blood on a regular basis and nurture both English and European clubs.

Straight from the Trafford Training Centre (commonly referred as “Carrington” and formerly known as “The Cliff”) uncountable generations have graduated, the most famous being “The Busby Babes” (including Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton and George Best amongst others) and “The Fergie Babes” (featuring Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham and Nicky Butt).

Besides the afore mentioned Giggs and Scholes, as many as six players of the current United squad come from The Academy, namely en Ben Amos, Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher, Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck. A remarkable achievement especially considering Manchester United’s obligation to chase every title and the financial muscle of their opponents.

In addition, another 30 former Academy’s members ply their trade in either the Premier League or the Championship, being Sunderland’s John O’ Shea and Wes Brown arguably the most notorious names. Shouldn’t also be neglected the fact the several others have has successful careers away from Old Trafford, including the current FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro double winner Gerard Piqué.

Former Manchester United Reserves or Academy players

Premier League (9)

• John O’Shea, Sunderland (393/15)
• Wes Brown, Sunderland (362/5)
• Kieran Richardson, Fulham (81/11)
• Darron Gibson, Everton (59/10)
• Phillip Bardsley, Sunderland (18/0)
• Danny Simpson, Newcastle United (8/0)
• Fraizer Campbell, Sunderland (4/0)
• Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City (2/0)
• David Fox, Norwich City

Championship (23)

• Jonathan Greening, Nottingham Forest (27/0)
• Chris Eagles, Bolton Wanderers (17/1)
• Jonathan Spector, Birmingham City (8/0)
• Ritchie De Laet, Leicester City (6/0)
• David Jones, Blackburn Rovers (On loan from Wigan Athletic) (4/0)
• Scott Wooton, Peterborough United (On loan from Manchester United) (4/0)
• Lee Martin, Ipswich Town (3/0)
• Ravel Morrison, Birmingham City (On loan from West Ham United) (3/0)
• Joshua King, Blackburn Rovers (2/0)
• Sylvan Ebans-Blake, Wolverhampton Wonderers (2/0)
• Michael Keane (On loan from Manchester United) (2/0)
• Robert Brady, Hull City (1/0)
• James Chester, Hull City (1/0)
• Corry Evans, Hull City
• Paul McShane, Hull City
• Joe Dudgeon, Hull City
• Daniel Drinkwater, Leicester City
• Matthew James, Leicester City
• Oliver Norwood, Huddersfield Town
• Craig Cathcart, Blackpool
• Cameron Stewart, Blackburn Rovers (On loan from Hull City)
• Davide Petrucci, Peterborough (On loan from Manchester United)
• Reece Brown, Ipswich Town (On loan from Manchester United)

European top-flight leagues (6)

• Federico Macheda, Stuttgart (Germany) (On loan from Manchester United)(36/5)
• Gerard Piqué, Barcelona (Spain) (23/2)
• Giuseppe Rossi, Fiorentina (Italy) (14/4)
• Paul Pogba, Juventus (Italy) (7/0)
• Ron-Robert Zieler, Hannover 96 (Germany)
• Magnus Eikrem, Molde (Norway)

* Matches played and goals scored for Manchester United first-team.

Writer: Juan Manuel @theredinsider