Source: Manchester_EveningNews
OT Special: Wingers
IN a practice match at United's training ground on his first day at Old Trafford, 15-year-old George Best picked up the ball, waltzed past three experienced defenders and cheekily poked it into the net through the legs of goalkeeper Harry Gregg. Gregg was incensed. He grabbed the waif from Belfast by the throat and said: "Never take the Mickey out of me again." Over the next decade defenders from one end of the country to the other were wishing that Harry had gone all the way and strangled George that morning to save them the embarrassment of trying to contain one of the greatest players in the history of English football. Best made his senior debut for the Reds against West Bromwich Albion in a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford. He was 17 and was marked by the West Brom and Wales captain Graham Williams. Best teased and tormented the life out of the vastly experienced left back during that match and after the game Williams summed up the dazzling young Irishman perfectly when he said simply that "it was like tackling a gust of wind." Back in 1991 Alex Ferguson took what many believed to be a massive gamble when he named little-known left winger Ryan Giggs in his team for the Manchester derby. But Fergie knew what he was doing. The Reds won 1-0 and 17-year-old Giggs was credited with his first senior goal. And so began one of the most enduring and brilliant careers in the entire history of English football. Born in Cardiff on May 29, 1972, Giggs holds a host of football records including that of most decorated player of all time in domestic football. What's to be said that hasn't already been said about David Beckham? Whether he was United's greatest winger is down to personal opinion. What cannot be argued is that the baby born in Leytonstone on May 2, 1975 is now the most famous footballer on the planet. But let's ignore Beckham's celebrity status and remind ourselves of what he achieved during his seven-year career at the Theatre of Dreams. Making his senior debut at the age of 17, Beckham went on to clock up 265 league appearances, scoring 62 goals. He was an inspirational captain for England between 2000 and 2006 and is England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances for his country. Manchester United broke with tradition at the end of season 2002/03 by signing their first Portuguese footballer. Cristiano Ronaldo, an 18-year-old winger, signed from Sporting Club of Portugal for a fee of £12.24m. The Old Trafford faithful were initially bemused by their new acquisition with his fancy footwork, his ball juggling tricks and his tendency to collapse under the gentlest of challenges. But the jinking young winger gradually won over the Reds' supporters. Ronaldo's career record at Old Trafford was little short of phenomenal. He scored 84 goals in 196 league outings and broke the club's single season scoring record in 2007/08 when he netted 35 times from 37 matches. Other great United wingers you may care to nominate are Billy Meredith, Johnny Berry, David Pegg, Willie Morgan, Andrei Kanchelskis and Steve Coppell.
