Manchester United’s All-Conquering Stars

The Manchester United 2007-08 squad, led by Sir Alex Ferguson, achieved remarkable success, securing both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League trophy. Their intense season ended with a nail-biting victory over Chelsea in the Champions League final, marking a high point for this talented team.

Today EPLNews looks at that talented group of players and where they are now.

Edwin van der Sar (Goalkeeper)

After several more seasons as United’s first-choice goalkeeper, Van der Sar retired in 2011. He transitioned to a leadership role, becoming CEO at Ajax, where he contributed significantly to the club’s success in Europe. Although he stepped down in 2023, in part due to health issues, his influence remains highly respected in the football world.

Gary Neville (Right-Back)

Neville also retired in 2011 after a career-long commitment to United and has since established himself as a leading football pundit on Sky Sports. He’s also a successful businessman and part-owner of Salford City, and recently joined the TV show *Dragon’s Den* as an investor.

Rio Ferdinand (Centre-Back)

Ferdinand played six more seasons at United before retiring in 2015 after a brief stint at QPR. Known for his analytical insight, Ferdinand turned to punditry with BT Sport and became a prominent football analyst. He even briefly considered a career in professional boxing in 2018.

Nemanja Vidić (Centre-Back)

Vidic continued his dominant run at United until 2014, winning multiple trophies, before ending his career at Inter Milan. After his retirement, Vidic earned a UEFA Pro License and briefly ran for the presidency of the Serbian FA, though he later withdrew from the race.

Patrice Evra (Left-Back)

Evra joined Juventus in 2014, winning Serie A titles before brief spells with Marseille and West Ham. After retiring in 2019, he earned coaching qualifications and now works as a pundit. His energetic social media presence and advocacy against racism have kept him in the public eye.

Michael Carrick (Midfielder)

Carrick retired in 2018 after over a decade with United, having won every major English trophy. He joined United’s coaching staff, served as caretaker manager in 2021, and now manages Middlesbrough, where he’s been well-regarded for his tactical acumen.

Paul Scholes (Midfielder)

One of United’s most iconic midfielders, Scholes retired in 2013, briefly returning in 2012 to help United win another Premier League title. Since then, he’s worked as a pundit, coached Oldham Athletic briefly, and is a co-owner of Salford City alongside his “Class of ’92” teammates.

Ryan Giggs (Midfielder)

Giggs retired as a one-club legend in 2014 after a 23-year career at United. He served as a coach under Louis van Gaal and later managed the Wales national team from 2018 to 2022. His achievements include helping Wales qualify for Euro 2020, although he later stepped back from coaching.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Forward)

Ronaldo’s first spell at United ended in 2009 with his move to Real Madrid, where he won numerous Champions League titles and became the club’s all-time top scorer. After stints at Juventus and a return to United in 2021, he currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, continuing his illustrious career.

Wayne Rooney (Forward)

Rooney left United in 2017 as the club’s all-time leading scorer. He played for Everton and D.C. United before moving into management, coaching Derby County and later D.C. United. In 2023, Rooney returned to English shores to take over as head coach at Birmingham City. Unfortunately his managerial career does not seem to yet reach the heights of this playing days.

Carlos Tevez (Forward)

After his controversial move from United to Manchester City, Tevez enjoyed success at Juventus and his boyhood club, Boca Juniors. Recently, he moved into management and enjoyed stints in charge of Rosario Central and Independiente.

Key Bench Contributors

Park Ji-sung: Known for his tireless work rate, Park retired in 2014. He earned a master’s degree in sports management and now works as a technical director at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in South Korea.

Anderson: Despite his potential, Anderson’s career was plagued by injuries. He retired early and now works in youth coaching in Brazil.

Owen Hargreaves: Another player whose career was cut short by injuries. After going into an early retirement, he transitioned into punditry, primarily with BT Sport.

This team’s 2007-08 season remains a highlight of Manchester United’s rich history, showcasing a blend of talent, tactical prowess, and resilience that few teams have matched.