Top 10 Manchester United goalkeepers of all time

Through the years Manchester United has always had a colossal presence in front of goal—the reliability. Old Trafford has been blessed to see some amazing talents lay the foundations for success.

These cape-less heroes have been part of countless victories, and have helped secure important triumphs for the Red Devils.

We have gathered some iconic names to have stood between the sticks, ranking the top 10 Manchester United goalkeepers of all time.

10 – Fabian Barthez

Fabian Barthez was signed in 2000 from Monaco and he carried all his stellar shot-stopping ability and unique charisma in a bag to impress Old Trafford. Ultimately, helping the team lift the Premier League trophy in his debut season.

Despite being considered a controversial choice in the list, his performance on the pitch made him a fan favourite, but not everything swings your way. A few occasional errors piled up into moments of sheer frustration in a decent career with the Red Devils. Winning the FA Cup in 2003 was overshadowed by his inconsistencies at the cost of his place in the team.

9 – Sergio Romero

Whenever called upon Sergio Romero jumped in to save the day displaying consistency and professionalism. His standout performances were cut to cup runs, being the second-choice goalkeeper for De Gea, but still won the hearts of the fans.

Having played only 63 games the Argentinian gathered a 73% win ratio for Manchester United which is mind-blowing, but Romero just faded slowly. However, It’s safe to say, Romero would have played a few more matches at the highest level if not for De Gea.

8 – Reg Allen

Reg Allen played for Manchester United only for two years but has become a star attraction during his time. Signed from QPR on the 6th of June 1950 for a world-record fee of £11,000 during that time, It wasn’t surprising, that he turned out to become one of the best goalkeepers not only in England but also the world, despite staying trophyless at Manchester United

7 – Gary Bailey

During the time of crisis, Gary Bailey was like a knight in shining for the Red Devils showcasing his brilliance. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was a ‘Gary Show’ with two FA Cup triumphs in 1983 and 1985 ending his time at the club as one of the best.

6 – Harry Moger

Harry Moger was an early 20th-century spectacle from 1903 to 1912, which was the period of Manchester United’s growth and development as a football club. He played a crucial role making 264 appearances, helping the side to a Football League title in 1907-08 and 1910-11, while also lifting the FA Cup in 1909.

5 – Harry Gregg

Popularly known as the “Hero of Munich”, Harry Gregg was given this title for his heroic act of rescuing some of his teammates including Sir Bobby Charlton from the plane crash during the Munich air disaster.

However, he has saved some moments for the field as well as heroics as Gregg was widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation ahead of the legendary Lev Yashin, at the 1958 World Cup.

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4 – David de Gea

The Spanish delight David de Gea was one a hell of stopper for Manchester United. Bought in 2011 from Atletico Madrid, he went on to play over 500 games for the Red Devils. A record four-time Player of the Year Award winner could not save his spot in 2023 as Erik ten Hag paved the way for incoming Andre Onana. Whatever said and done the Spaniard will forever be remembered for his performance with the Red jersey.

3 – Alex Stepney

Alex Stepney was the first Manchester United goalkeeper to win the European Cup during his tenure from 1966 to 1978, with a total of 539 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils.

Stepney won numerous trophies playing a pivotal role in Manchester United’s success in the 1966-67 when they lifted the First Division title and the European Cup in 1968, highlighted by his penalty save in the final against Benfica.

A legendary moment happened when Portuguese icon Eusebio, patted him on the back after a sensational save, which was just picture-perfect.

2 – Edwin van der Sar

Signed from Fulham, in 2005 van der Sar quickly became the number one presence between the sticks, earning applause for his reflex ability, under pressure/

During his time at Old Trafford, the Dutch went 14 games without conceding in the 2008/09 season. His 132 clean sheets in 313 Premier League games helped the side secure multiple Premier League titles, League Cups, and even the converted Champions League.

1 – Peter Schmeichel

Topping the list and highly considered Manchester United’s best goalkeeper of all time is Peter Schmeichel. The Danish wall was an absolute talent for the Red Devils with his time summed up by his trophy collection.

His eight years at United were central in the club’s domestic and European dominance, winning five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and the Champions League in 1999.

FAQs
Who is the best goalkeeper of Manchester United?
Peter Schmeichel
Who is the longest-serving goalkeeper at Manchester United?

ALEX STEPNEY with 535 appearances
Who is Manchester United’s current goalkeeper?

Onana

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