The Ex-Manchester United Ultimate Squad from the Premiership Years!

Apart from the long-serving current players such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs, there have been many Manchester United "legends" who donned the shirt at Old Trafford since the early 1990s. Many other players came and went with barely an appearance to their name. Here's a list for Man Utd fans!

1 Peter Schmeichel (Goalkeeper) - RETIRED

2 Paul Parker (Right Back) - RETIRED

3 Gabriel Heinze (Left Back) - playing for Real Madrid

4 Roy Keane (c) (Midfield) - SUNDERLAND MANAGER

5 Jaap Stam (Centre Back) - RETIRED

6 Gary Pallister (Centre Back) - RETIRED

7 David Beckham (Right Wing) - playing for Los Angeles Galaxy

8 Paul Ince (Midfield) - BLACKBURN MANAGER

9 Eric Cantona (Striker) - RETIRED

10 Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Striker) - playing for Real Madrid

11 Lee Sharpe (Left Wing) - RETIRED

12 Denis Irwin (Left / Right Back) - RETIRED

13 Fabien Barthez (Goalkeeper) - ALMOST RETIRED!

14 Steve Bruce (Centre Back) - WIGAN MANAGER

15 Bryan Robson (Midfield) - RETIRED

16 Mark Hughes (Striker) - MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER

17 Andrei Kanchelskis (Right Wing) - RETIRED

18 Teddy Sheringham (Striker) - RETIRED

19 Andrew Cole (Striker) - playing for Nottingham Forest

20 Dwight Yorke (Striker) - playing for Sunderland

21 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Striker) - RETIRED

22 Brian McClair (ST / MF)- RESERVE TEAM MANAGER AT MAN
UTD

23 Phil Neville (LB / MF)- playing for Everton

24 Nicky Butt (Midfield) - playing for Newcastle

25 Ronny Johnsen (Centre Back) - playing for Valerenga in Norway

26 Henning Berg (RB / CB) - LILLESTROM MANAGER (from January
2009)

27 Mikael Silvestre (Left Back / Centre Back) - playing for Arsenal

28 Louis Saha (Striker) - playing for Everton

29 Juan Sebastian Veron (Midfield) - playing for Estudiantes de la Plata in
Argentina

30 Tim Howard (Goalkeeper) - playing for Everton

31 Laurent Blanc (Centre Back) - BORDEAUX MANAGER

32 Quinton Fortune (Left Wing) - playing for Western Province Utd in S.
Africa

33 Keith Gillespie (Right Wing) - playing for Sheffield United

34 Neil Webb (Midfield) - RETIRED

35 Henrik Larsson (Striker) - playing for Helsingborgs in Sweden

36 David May (Right Back / Centre Back) - RETIRED

37 Kieran Richardson (Left Wing) - playing for Sunderland

38 Mike Phelan (Midfield) - ASSISTANT MANAGER AT MAN UTD

39 Karel Poborsky (Right Wing) - RETIRED

40 Danny Wallace (Left Wing) - RETIRED

41 Mark Bosnich (Goalkeeper) - playing for Central Coast Mariners in
Australia

42 Gerard Pique (Centre Back) - playing for Barcelona

43 Phil Bardsley (Right Back) - playing for Sunderland

44 Jonathan Spector (Centre Back / Left Back) - playing for West Ham

45 John Curtis (Right Back) - playing but currently without a contract

46 Alan Smith (Midfield / Striker) - playing for Newcastle

47 Clayton Blackmore (Left Back) - RETIRED

48 Dion Dublin (Striker) - RETIRED

49 Diego Forlan (Striker) - playing for Atletico Madrid

50 Jose Kleberson (Midfield) - playing for Flamengo in Brazil

51 Roy Carroll (Goalkeeper) - playing for Derby County

52 Jesper Blomqvist (Left Wing) - playing / coaching for Enkopings in
Sweden

53 Jordi Cruyff (Midfield) - playing for Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine

54 Eric Djemba-Djemba (Midfield) - playing for OB (Odense) in Denmark

55 David Bellion (Left Wing / Striker) - playing for Bordeaux

56 Jonathan Greening (Right Wing) - playing for West Bromwich Albion

57 Darren Ferguson (Midfield) - PETERBOROUGH MANAGER

58 Giuseppe Rossi (Striker) - playing for Villarreal

59 Lee Martin (Left Back) - RETIRED (no relation to current player of
same name)

60 Luke Chadwick (Right Wing) - playing for Norwich City

61 Raimond Van Der Gouw (Goalkeeper) - SUNDERLAND GK COACH

62 Liam Miller (Midfield) - playing for Sunderland

63 Paul McShane (Centre Back) - playing for Sunderland

64 Danny Higginbotham (Centre Back) - playing for Stoke City

65 Ronnie Wallwork (Centre Back) - playing but without a contract

66 Chris Eagles (Left Wing) - playing for Burnley

67 Gary Walsh (Goalkeeper) - DERBY GK COACH

68 David Healy (Striker) - playing for Sunderland

69 John O'Kane (Right Back) - RETIRED

70 Terry Cooke (Right Wing) - playing for Colorado Rapids

71 Felipe Ricardo (Goalkeeper) - playing for Osasuna in Spain

72 Ben Thornley (Left Wing) - playing for Wilmslow Albion

73 Philip Mulryne (Right Wing) - playing but without a contract

74 Erik Nevland (Striker) - playing for Fulham

75 Colin McKee (Right Wing) - RETIRED

76 Pat McGibbon (Centre Back) - LURGAN CELTIC MANAGER

77 Andy Goram (Goalkeeper) - CLYDE GK COACH

78 Mark Wilson (Midfield) - playing for Doncaster Rovers

79 David Jones (Midfield) - playing for Wolves

80 Chris Casper (Centre Back) - BRADFORD YOUTH TEAM COACH

81 Simon Davies (Left Wing) - CHESTER CITY MANAGER

82 William Prunier (Centre Back) - RETIRED

83 Kieran Lee (Full Back / Midfield) - playing for Oldham

84 Massimo Taibi (Goalkeeper) - playing for Ascoli in Italy

85 Michael Stewart (Midfield) - playing for Heart of Midlothian

86 Michael Clegg (Left Back) - COACH AT SUNDERLAND

87 Ryan Shawcross (Centre Back) - playing for Stoke City

88 Ritchie Jones (Midfield) - playing for Hartlepool United

89 Kevin Pilkington (Goalkeeper) - playing for Notts County

90 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Striker) - playing for Wolves

91 Dong Fangzhui (Striker) - released in August 2008

92 Danny Pugh (Midfield) - playing for Stoke City

93 Bojan Djordic (Midfield) - playing for AIK in Sweden

94 Paul Rachubka (Goalkeeper) - playing for Blackpool

95 Lee Roche (Right Back) - playing for Droylsden

96 Nick Culkin (Goalkeeper) - RETIRED

97 Michael Appleton (Midfield) - WEST BROM RESERVE MANAGER

98 Michael Barnes (Left Wing) - playing for Northwich Victoria

99 Daniel Nardiello (Striker) - playing for Blackpool

100 Graeme Tomlinson (Striker) - RETIRED

101 Eddie Johnson (Midfield / Striker) - playing for Chester City

102 Adam Eckersley (Left Back) - playing for AC Horsens in Denmark

103 Richard Wellens (Midfield) - playing for Doncaster Rovers

104 Michael Twiss (Midfield) - playing for Morecambe

105 Mark Lynch (Right Back) - playing for Rotherham United

106 Danny Webber (Striker) - playing for Sheffield United

107 Philip Marsh (Striker) - training with Northwich Victoria

108 Jimmy Davis (Winger) - tragically killed in a car crash in August 2003

Please get in touch if I've missed anyone off the list!

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American Hoop Dreams from "Dream Team" to "Redeem Team": NBA Stars Wearing the Flag for Olympic Glory!

It was the Barcelona Olympics in the summer of 1992 when I really caught basketball fever. Up until then I’d been a fan of the NBA, living in England, making do with the occasional video of a “game of the week” arriving in the post. But this was the Summer Games of the “Dream Team”, the magical collective of multi-millionaires rubbing shoulders with amateurs, ready to school the world in the art of basketball. The fact that they won the Gold Medal is almost immaterial, as it was expected of them. I’m more interested in the NBA stars who have subsequently taken their place on the US Men’s Basketball team, and how many times they have played for their country.

Olympics 1992 (8-0, gold medal) & and an identical roster for FIBA 1992 (6-0)

If you follow any kind of fantasy sport in a newspaper or online, delighting in picking your favourite players and wishing that they could ever have the chance to play together, 1992’s US Olympic Basketball team truly was that dream come to life. All-time NBA superstar Michael Jordan and his sidekick Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls were suiting up alongside Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the L.A. Lakers and his classic ‘80s rival Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Then there was the “Round Mound of Rebound”, Charles Barkley, the ever-intense seven feet tall center, Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler of the Portland Trailblazers, and “The Admiral”, David Robinson. Everybody’s favourite dynamic duo that you loved to hate, John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz were there, leaving the man with the tight shorts and buzz haircut, Chris Mullin, and the twelfth man on the roster, Duke University representative (and later NBA journeyman) Christian Laettner.

World Championships 1994 (8-0, gold medal)

So what happened next to the victorious US basketball team? Two years after Barcelona, all twelve of the “Dream Team” had either retired or been set aside in favour of showcasing the NBA’s next generation at the World Championships. Ewing and Robinson at center were replaced by the new athletic powerhouses of Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning. Steve Smith and Dan Majerle, comfortable at both shooting guard and small forward, moved in to Pippen and Mullin’s slots. The powerful front court of Barkley and Malone were rested in favour of Derrick Coleman and Larry Johnson, and the slow-moving skills of Larry Bird and Christian Laettner were replaced by young superstar Shawn Kemp and perhaps the only other big-name star who should have been on the ’92 Olympic team, Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins. In the back court, the guard positions were slightly more reliant on age and experience. Point guards Magic Johnson and John Stockton had their spots taken by Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Mark Price. The extraordinary pair of shooting guards, Jordan and Drexler, could hardly be “replaced” but their positions were filled by the charismatic Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers, and the Detroit Pistons’ well-respected Joe Dumars.

Olympics 1996 (8-0, gold medal)

Maybe sentiment was part of the selection process of the USA Basketball organization, as Olympics on home soil in 1996 saw the return of some of the “Dream Team”. Five of the twelve players who won the Gold medal in Barcelona lined up at the Atlanta games: David Robinson, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen. Of the ’94 World Championship team, only Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller held on to their spots for the 1996 Olympics. The other five roster spots went to the Houston Rockets center, Hakeen Olajuwon, guards Penny Hardaway, Gary Payton, and Mitch Richmond, and young forward Grant Hill.

FIBA 1999 (10-0, gold medal)

With the NBA labour dispute putting paid to the USA fielding a team of its top stars for the 1998 World Championships, it wasn’t until the FIBA "Tournament of the Americas" in 1999 that America was next able to send out the big guns in an international tournament. Only point guard Gary Payton still remained on the team from the ’96 Olympic team, Steve Smith returned having been on the ’94 World Championship roster, and a further ten new faces made their debut for the United States: Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, forwards Kevin Garnett, Tom Gugliotta, Elton Brand, and Vin Baker, and the guards Jason Kidd, Tim Hardaway, Allan Houston, Richard Hamilton, and Wally Szczerbiak.

Olympics 2000 (8-0, gold medal)

The following year when the Olympics took place in Sydney, the USA team managed to maintain some continuity. Kidd, Payton, Tim Hardaway, Houston, Garnett, Steve Smith, and Baker were still on the roster that competed in 1999. At center, Alonzo Mourning came back in place of Tim Duncan having not featured since the 1994 World Championships. Forwards Elton Brand and Tom Gugliotta were left off in favour of Antonio McDyess and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and two of the NBA’s brightest talents, Ray Allen and Vince Carter, replaced Hamilton and Szczerbiak.

World Championships 2002 (6-3, 6th Place)

However, as with the interim World Championship squad between the ’92 and ’96 Olympic Games, the players on the USA team were almost entirely made up of international “rookies” for the 2002 World Championships. The only exceptions were Reggie Miller, who was back at shooting guard for the first time since the Atlanta Olympics six years earlier, and Elton Brand returned to a spot in the front court having earlier been on the ’99 FIBA roster. The new guards were Baron Davis, Andre Miller and Jay Williams, the big men were Antonio Davis, Raef LaFrentz, Ben Wallace and Jermaine O’Neal, and a rather small group of forwards comprised Michael Finley , Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns, and Paul Pierce of the Celtics. Inexperience no doubt told as the USA lost three of its nine games to finish 6th overall behind Yugoslavia, Argentina and Germany in the medal positions.

FIBA 2003 (10-0, gold medal)

The selections for the 2003 FIBA tournament, with the exception of Elton Brand and Jermaine O’Neal, reflected a new roster. But this time it was a combination of totally new players, and previous US stars being brought back into the fold. Guards Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, and Vince Carter returned for the first time since the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Kidd’s teammate from the last FIBA competition in 1999, Tim Duncan, was also back in USA colours. Allen Iverson made it onto the squad for the first time, as did Mike Bibby. The final four places went to forwards not previously selected – Richard Jefferson, Tracy McGrady, Kenyon Martin, and Nick Collison.

Olympics 2004 (5-3, bronze medal)

When the following year’s Olympic squad was announced to travel to Athens only Allen Iverson, Richard Jefferson and Tim Duncan kept their roster spots. Forward Shawn Marion returned having missed the 2003 FIBA competition, and previously been on the 2002 World Championships roster. Center Emeka Okafor replaced Jermaine O’Neal, point guard Stephon Marbury took over from Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade and Lamar Odom took the final back court places from Ray Allen and Vince Carter. Gone were forwards Elton Brand, Tracy McGrady, Nick Collison, and Kenyon Martin, and in their place the high-powered quartet of LeBron James (Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony (Denver), Carlos Boozer (Utah), and Amare Stoudamire (Phoenix). As they had done two years earlier, the US team suffered disappointing losses and ended with the bronze medal behind Argentina and Italy.

World Championships 2006 (8-1, bronze medal)

James, Anthony and Wade continued on from the Athens Games to head to the World Championship of 2006. Young star point guard Chris Paul joined the team along with Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) and shooting guard Joe Johnson. Iverson, Marbury and Odom all made way for the trio. Elton Brand returned for the first time since the 2003 FIBA competition in addition to a group of new forwards: Antawn Jamison, Shane Battier and Chris Bosh. Meanwhile the center spot went to Brad Miller (Sacramento) and the “next Shaquille” Dwight “Superman” Howard (Orlando Magic) in place of Tim Duncan and Emeka Okafor.

FIBA 2007 (10-0, gold medal)

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard were now the mainstays of the USA team, point guard Jason Kidd was back to offer leadership and experience, and amazingly for the first time on the roster was Kobe Bryant of the Lakers. Amare Stoudamire was back for the first time since the 2004 Olympics, along with a group of six first-timers: Deron Williams (Utah), Michael Redd (Milwaukee), Chauncey Billups (Detroit), Mike Miller (Memphis), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit), and Tyson Chandler (New Orleans).

Olympics 2008 (final placing not yet known!)

The "Redeem Team" currently duelling for the gold medal in Beijing show a good deal of continuity with the 2006 World Championship and 2007 FIBA rosters, with all twelve of the USA roster previously having represented their country. But this time they are trying to make up for the disappointment of only coming home with bronze medals at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 World Championships. Dwight Howard has a lock on the center position, alongside forwards Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. Kidd and Bryant remain in the back court with 2007 FIBA “rookies” Michael Redd and Deron Williams, with Wade and Paul returning from their last outings at the 2006 Worlds. Tayshaun Prince kept his place, Carlos Boozer was a holdover from the previous Olympic squad in Athens, while Chris Bosh was also last used at the World Championships in 2006. So plenty of experience indicating that the selection committee wish to take no chances with the Olympic title this time around!

The Combined Roster of 16 Years of the USA Team

When you tally up the rosters that the US has fielded ever since the 1992 Dream Team captured glory and the world’s imagination in Barcelona, a player could conceivably have been selected a total of 12 times to represent his country. There have been 92 players filling the 144 roster spots with point guard Jason Kidd appearing the most times. Here is how a combined roster of American talent stacks up:

5 selections Guard Jason Kidd (Phoenix / New Jersey / Dallas)

4 selections F / G LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
4 selections Forward Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
4 selections Forward Elton Brand (Duke Uni / L.A. Clippers)

3 selections Guard John Stockton (Utah Jazz)
3 selections Guard Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers)
3 selections Guard Gary Payton (Seattle Supersonics)
3 selections Guard Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
3 selections G / F Steve Smith (Miami / Portland / Atlanta)
3 selections Forward Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
3 selections Forward Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns)
3 selections Forward Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
3 selections F / C Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
3 selections F / C Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
3 selections Center David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)

2 selections Guard Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
2 selections Guard Magic Johnson (L.A. Lakers)
2 selections Guard Clyde Drexler (Portland Trailblazers)
2 selections Guard Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
2 selections Guard Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
2 selections Guard Ray Allen (Milwaukee / Seattle)
2 selections Guard Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors)
2 selections Guard Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)
2 selections Guard Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)
2 selections Guard Deron Williams (Utah Jazz)
2 selections Guard Allan Houston (New York Knicks)
2 selections Guard Tim Hardaway (Miami Heat)
2 selections Forward Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
2 selections Forward Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2 selections Forward Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)
2 selections Forward Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns)
2 selections Forward Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
2 selections Forward Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons)
2 selections Forward Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors)
2 selections Forward Richard Jefferson (New Jersey Nets)
2 selections Forward Christian Laettner (Duke University - later NBA)
2 selections Forward Vin Baker (Seattle Supersonics)
2 selections C / F Amare Stoudamire (Phoenix Suns)
2 selections C / F Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers)
2 selections Center Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks)
2 selections Center Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando Magic)
2 selections Center Alonzo Mourning (Charlotte Hornets)

1 selection Guard Dan Majerle (Phoenix Suns)
1 selection Guard Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
1 selection Guard Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets)
1 selection Guard Andre Miller (L.A. Clippers)
1 selection Guard Anfernee Hardaway (Orlando Magic)
1 selection Guard Mitch Richmond (Sacramento Kings)
1 selection Guard Mark Price (Cleveland Cavaliers)
1 selection Guard Joe Dumars (Detroit Pistons)
1 selection Guard Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
1 selection Guard Mike Bibby (Sacramento Kings)
1 selection Guard Richard Hamilton (Connecticut Uni. - later NBA)
1 selection Guard Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons)
1 selection Guard Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies)
1 selection Guard Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks)
1 selection Guard Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls)
1 selection Guard Jay Williams (Chicago Bulls)
1 selection G / F Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
1 selection G / F Tracy McGrady (Orlando Magic)
1 selection G / F Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers)
1 selection G / F Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks)
1 selection G / F Wally Szczerbiak (Miami Uni (Ohio) - later NBA)
1 selection Forward Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks)
1 selection Forward Shawn Kemp (Seattle Supersonics)
1 selection Forward Derrick Coleman (New Jersey Nets)
1 selection Forward Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets)
1 selection Forward Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
1 selection Forward Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)
1 selection Forward Shane Battier (Houston Rockets)
1 selection Forward Antonio McDyess (Denver Nuggets)
1 selection Forward Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets)
1 selection Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies)
1 selection Forward Tom Gugliotta (Phoenix Suns)
1 selection F / C Emeka Okafor (Charlotte Bobcats)
1 selection F / C Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets)
1 selection F / C Nick Collison (Seattle Supersonics)
1 selection F / C Raef LaFrentz (Dallas Mavericks)
1 selection Center Hakeen Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
1 selection Center Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings)
1 selection Center Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors)
1 selection Center Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)

The Future USA Basketball Roster?

So what will the future hold for the USA Basketball team? Based on the dynamic squad put together for the Beijing Olympics, it’s likely that a few of the same names will be selected for the 2010 World Championships and 2011 FIBA tournament. Will any of them still be around for the London Olympics in 2012?

I think we could see LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat move forward from the current twelve man Olympic roster. Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant may step aside in favour of younger talent, while less “glamorous” stars such as Chris Bosh (Toronto), Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams (both Utah), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit), and Michael Redd (Milwaukee) could be set aside to further the NBA’s global publicity drive for its ever-changing new and exciting player pool.

So the obvious candidates to join the USA squad are: Brandon Roy and his Portland Trailblazers teammate Greg Oden (depending on how he plays having sat out his true rookie year injured), Amare Stoudamire (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Seattle Supersonics), and Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks). The other two stars of the future that may emerge are the top two picks from the 2008 Draft – guard Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) and forward Michael Beasley (Miami Heat). How about this for a USA team depth chart of the future?

Point Guard - Chris Paul / Derrick Rose
Shooting Guard - Dwyane Wade / Kevin Durant / Brandon Roy
Small Forward - LeBron James / Carmelo Anthony / Josh Smith
Power Forward - Amare Stoudamire / Michael Beasley
Center - Dwight Howard / Greg Oden

New stars and fan favourites will no doubt emerge, but the future of both the NBA and the US Men’s national basketball team’s gold medal prospects look assured for many years to come!