Robin Van Persie

All United fans will remember where they were when news broke that a deal had been agreed with Arsenal to bring Robin van Persie to Old Trafford and he put pen-to-paper on Friday 17 August.
Van Persie is the reigning PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year after a fabulous season with the Gunners.
The Dutchman was top scorer in the Barclays Premier League with 30 goals, three ahead of his nearest challenger, Wayne Rooney, who looks set to line up alongside him when the 2012/2013 campaign kicks off.
Born in Rotterdam, he really made his mark at local side Feyenoord and was chased by some of England's top clubs after a couple of seasons impressing on the left wing. Despite rumoured interest from Tottenham, Arsenal snapped him up for £2.75million in 2004 and he soon proved value for money.

After overcoming injury problems, he became the main man at Arsenal, playing centrally and becoming a major influence on the Gunners' play. Taking over the captaincy, he was the driving force for Arsene Wenger's side and was clearly one of the best players of 2011/2012 with many pundits arguing he dragged the North Londoners into the top three by leading from the front.

"The intelligence of his movement around the box and the accuracy of his finishing is exceptional," commented Wenger after his skipper hit a sensational hat-trick in a 5-3 win at Chelsea in October, 2011. "He is on fire."
Van Persie scored in both matches against United, albeit in defeat on each occasion, and confirmed his status as a world-class striker with a string of outstanding displays and matchwinning contributions. A set-piece specialist who possesses a fearsome shot, he also shows an unselfish streak by providing a number of assists for his team-mates.
In terms of international football, he scored in Holland's defeat to Germany during a disappointing overall Euro 2012 campaign for the Netherlands and starred at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals and also at Euro 2008.

Fellow countryman Dennis Bergkamp, who was also idolised at Arsenal, paid his special tribute to an outstanding talent. "He can make the difference time after time and, in my opinion, that describes a great player," said Bergkamp. "It’s incredible how he has developed himself and players like that deserve trophies. His character and style of play is fantastic."
As well as playing in the 2010 World Cup final, when Holland were beaten by Spain, he also lifted the 2002 UEFA Cup with Feyneoord after a 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund, and won the FA Cup three years later when the Gunners defeated United on penalties in Cardiff. He came off the bench and successfully converted one of the spot-kicks past Roy Carroll but, aside from a Community Shield, it remained the only team silverware he won with Arsenal.

Hopefully, team glory will accompany personal accolades for van Persie at Old Trafford,as he provides another mouthwatering option for Sir Alex Ferguson in attack.
"It’s an honour to sign for Manchester United," he admitted when signing on the dotted line. "I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can’t wait to get started."

Waynee Rooney

Wayne Rooney burst onto the Old Trafford stage in September 2004, netting an unforgettable hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his debut.
Perhaps his performance wasn't that surprising, given the enormous pedigree he had amassed since making a lasting impression on now-Academy manager Paul McGuiness some years previous. In an Under-9 match between United and Everton, McGuiness remembers. “Rooney scored the perfect bicycle kick, which for a kid of eight or nine years old was really something special." It merely hinted at what was to follow and, of course, it was a trick he would repeat on the biggest of stages in the

Manchester derby to net a goal that will be repeated forever more.
By the end of the 2004/05 campaign, his first in a Red shirt after signing from boyhood club Everton, Rooney had amassed 17 goals in 43 appearances, and was rightly named PFA Young Player of the Year. Rooney’s second season at Old Trafford again saw him take huge strides. He ended the season with 19 goals in 48 matches and was voted both Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year by fans and PFA Young Player of the year (again) by his fellow professionals.
The young striker openly aims to better his goal tally each season and, despite a difficult World Cup with England in 2006, Rooney went on to net 23 times for United as the Reds lifted the Carling Cup and a first English title in three years. Cristiano Ronaldo stole all the headlines in 2007/08, but Rooney chipped in with another 18 goals, a tally that included three league braces and four goals in Europe. His exciting strike partnership with 19-goal Carlos Tevez was one of the key factors in the Reds' Premier League and Champions League double triumph and cemented his iconic status at Old Trafford. But it's not just Wayne's goals that endeared him to the United faithful.

A tireless worker, Rooney always gives 100 percent and diminish Rooney's potency. Indeed, the pair forged a strong partnership up front and, in January 2009, Wayne embarked on a scoring run that saw him net in five consecutive league games. A month earlier, he stole the show in Japan as United lifted the FIFA Club World Cup, thanks to his winner in the final and a brace off the bench in the semi.

There was more success to follow in 2008/09 as the England striker picked up his third league winners' medal with the Reds in May. Sadly, however, Rooney and United couldn't add another European title as Barcelona ran out victorious in the Champions League final in Rome. The striker began the 2009/10 campaign in fine fettle, netting in the Reds' opening two games against Chelsea, in the Community Shield, and Birmingham City in the league. Another energetic display from Rooney followed in the 5-0 thrashing of Wigan at the DW Stadium on 22 August during which he fired his 100th and 101st goals for the club. Come May, that tally was 131 as Rooney enjoyed his best ever season in front of goal and, at times, appeared to steer the Reds almost single-handedly through both domestic and European waters. And all as an out-and-out centre-forward. His 2009/10 feats were rewarded with a clutch of individual honours, including the PFA and Football

can't stand losing. They are traits that have, from time to time in the past, landed him in hot water, but everybody recognises his immense passion and will to win. The striker's ability to adapt is an attribute often overlooked. Although most at home leading the line or playing just behind a main striker, Rooney also delivered sparkling displays from out wide on numerous occasions. With pace to burn and an eye for a long, raking pass, Rooney's just as effective creating chances as he is taking them.
That said, goals are Rooney's bread and butter and not even the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov at Old Trafford in September 2008 could Writers' Player of the Year awards.

Rooney had always displayed remarkable promise: now he had proved the hype was more than justified. What's more, in October 2010 he penned a new five-year deal, guaranteeing his long-term United future. And while the striker didn't reach anything near top form until the second half of 2010/11, his contribution to the Reds' record-breaking 19th league title was undeniable. When it mattered most, Rooney was there to bang in the goals and drive United towards glory. He dragged Sir Alex's men back from 2-0 down to net a hat-trick in United's 4-2 win at West Ham, was instrumental in the win against Chelsea

at Old Trafford and kept his nerve to slot home the penalty at Ewood Park that ultimately clinched the title.
United’s number ten continued his role as talisman into the 2011/12 season, forming a formidable partnership with loan-returnee Danny Welbeck. Some would say that he fired United through the season in a similar vein to that of 2009/10, always producing goals at key moments.
Wayne notched up 34 of them, which took him ahead of United legend George Best in the table of most prolific United goalscorers, his tally at the time of writing stands at an impressive 181 with only Jack Rowley, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton ahead of him.

Charlton’s record, which had hitherto looked impregnable, now stands on less steady ground. With Rooney only 26 years of age and yet to reach the peak of his career, it would take a brave man to bet against him overtaking one of the most famous footballers ever to play the game.
Shinji Kagawa's arrival in 2012 threatens to influence the role in which Rooney will perform but, after turning his hand to a deeper midfield brief in the previous year, nothing will faze the Merseysider nor diminish his value to the cause. As is so often the case, the hype around his involvement with

England at a major championship, followed by the all-to-familiar exit, led to many suggesting he will return from the break with a point to prove.
In truth, he scored one goal in two games - his suspension for kicking out during the qualifier in Montenegro, totally out of keeping with a virtually flawless campaign in terms of discipline, was always going to affect his input - and also converted his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out with typical panache. Hence, there will be no worries among the United faithful that he will be at his brilliant best again when he pulls on the red shirt.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history, winning almost 40 trophies – including 13 Premier League titles – during his time in charge of Manchester United.
He arrived at Old Trafford on 6 November 1986 and will retire at the end of the 2012/13 season.
Ferguson enjoyed a playing career in Scotland that saw him take in spells with Queen's Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. But it is not for his playing of the game that Sir Alex was to become a success.
Following a spell out of the game he

moved into coaching, taking up the role of manager of East Stirlingshire, St Mirren then Aberdeen. It was his time at Pittodrie where he earned his reputation as a top coach. He broke the Glasgow dominance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Following the sacking of Ron Atkinson as manager of Manchester United in 1986, the Old Trafford hierarchy moved quickly for his services.
Ferguson inherited a dispirited team of underachievers who had consistently, to their supporters’ discontent, failed to break Liverpool’s domination. Stuck in the bottom four of the Division One table, Ferguson immediately set about attempting to stave off the very real threat of relegation. Without resorting to the transfer market, he guided United up the table to an 11th place finish.

By now it was clear to Ferguson that he faced a major job in turning the club around. United were an entertaining side but one that seemed unable to cope with the more physical aspects of League football. In his second season the Reds fared better finishing second behind Liverpool, but the position painted a false picture. The turning point came in the 1989/90 season.
Following a run of games in which the Reds were drawn away

in every round, United picked up their first silverware of the Ferguson era. Lee Martin scoring the only goal in a final replay against Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup.
This first trophy opened the floodgates. The European Cup Winners’ Cup was won the following season in Rotterdam, Barcelona defeated 2-1 thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. Then, in 1991/92, the League Cup was added to United’s list of honours.
Sadly the title remained elusive. It was the Holy Grail to United fans, the 26 championships-free years being exacerbated by Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic and European game.
In 1992/93 the long wait for the League championship came to an end with the Reds, inspired by £1m signing Eric Cantona, pipping Aston Villa in the final weeks of the season.

The shackles were broken: the Double followed in 1993/94, the double-Double (with ‘kids’) in 1995/96, and another title in 1997. Finally United were matching off-field might with on-field success. Liverpool’s dominance was well and truly over.
Sir Alex’s greatest achievement came in 1998/99. No side before or since has achieved a Treble haul of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. On an unforgettable night in Barcelona his decision to throw on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole

Gunnar Solskjaer assured history was made. The pair scored injury-time goals to win the Champions League and complete the Treble.
Ferguson was knighted following that success and some suggested he should retire, believing his desire would wane following the realisation of a dream. Not a bit of it. Another title followed in 1999/2000 and he made it three-in-row in 2000/01. His eighth Premiership duly arrived in 2002/03; his fifth FA Cup came a year later, against Millwall in Cardiff.
The Reds had by now entered a period of rebuilding. The side of homegrown players he’d first put together in 1995/96 was now breaking up and he’d

recruited new stars like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to spark a new era of success.
The rebuilding paid off with victory in the Carling Cup in 2005/06 and a ninth Premier League trophy in 2006/07. In May 2007, Sir Alex swooped for three players - Anderson, Nani and Owen Hargreaves - to bolster an already strong squad. This evolving team claimed more glory in 2007/08, defending the Premier League title and securing Sir Alex's second Champions League triumph with all three of those signings scoring in the penalty shoot-out against Chelsea.
United followed European success by winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December

2008. The Reds then claimed the Carling Cup in March 2009 by beating Tottenham on penalties in the final.
On 16 May 2009, United achieved what had seemed an impossible mission when Sir Alex arrived in 1986, equalling Liverpool's long-standing record of 18 league championships. Beating Liverpool to the 2008/09 crown – Sir Alex's 11th title in 17 seasons – made the feat even sweeter.
Even better was to follow two years later. After being pipped to the championship by a point by Double winners Chelsea, United had to settle for the Carling Cup as the only trophy of 2010. But the Reds

wrestled the Premier League title back with typical determination as Wayne Rooney's penalty at Blackburn ensured United surpassed Liverpool as the most successful club in the domestic game. 
There was final-day heartbreak in 2011/12 as Manchester City pipped the Reds to the league title with just seconds of the season remaining. That disappointment made the manager doubly determined to reclaim the trophy in 2012/13 – his final season in charge – and his side delivered a fitting send-off to by clinching the club's 20th league title with four games to spare.

Sir Alex will continue to be involved at United following his retirement, taking up a position on the club's board and acting as an ambassador.