4th Place
780 Points
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (2)
Premier League Appearances -157 (39)
Overall Appearances - 244 (48)
Premier League Goals - 84
Overall Goals - 118
Position - Right Winger
In the summer of 2003, Manchester United played Sporting in a friendly. Now legend has it that Ronaldo's performance that day convinced United to sign him. It didn't quite work out that way, United would never have signed a player based on ninety minutes of a friendly. Still Rio Ferdinand would recall years later, going up to Fergie after the game, "Are we going to get him or not?"
Luckily, United did get their man and Ronaldo signed that summer for about 12 million pounds. The young Portuguese winger would arrive at Old Trafford to sign his contract. He didn't bring any clothes as he had assumed he would be loaned back to Sporting CP for a year. Ferguson told him to go back and bring his stuff to Manchester. He would make his debut eight days later.
That home debut is one of the most memorable in football. Coming on in a Premier League game against Bolton, Ronaldo absolutely stole the show and although he didn't score in the 4-0 win his contributions excited the Stretford End. "There's only one Ronaldo" rang out the song from the terraces as the young pacey winger jinxed and tricked his way against the Bolton defence. George Best remarked that it was "the most exciting debut I'd ever seen" and it's hard to argue with his assertion.
Ronaldo would be used sparingly that year. He would only start 15 Premier League games. However his talent was clear to see and at the end of the season he got the all important first goal in an FA Cup final against Millwall. The first of many trophies had arrived.
How the trophies flowed after that. In his third season at the club, he added the League Cup to his growing trophy collection, scoring the third in a 4-0 rout of Wigan. Despite this Ronaldo had been accused of lacking end product as the winger had only scored 12 times in over 47 appearances. As Ronaldo went to the World Cup that summer, many people felt the winger didn't have the "footballing brain" to kick on from his initial promise.
Things came to a head in the World Cup itself when Ronaldo represented Portugal and got involved with Wayne Rooney in an incident that led to England being knocked out of the World Cup. Ronaldo would ask to leave United as he thought the club hadn't protected him enough. Ferguson and United refused to accept the transfer request.
In his fourth season at the club, Ronaldo exploded. His form saw him score over twenty goals for Manchester United as they were crowned Premier League champions. He added a diversity to his game which saw him bamboozle defenders with his skill, before slamming the ball home. His range of passing, goalscoring ability, deadly pace and incredibly deceptive strength made him a nightmare for defenders.
He followed that up with the 2007/2008 season which will go down as one of the best seasons in Manchester United's history. Scoring an incredible 42 goals, Ronaldo would propel Manchester United to the Premier League and the Champions league. He would go onto win the Premier League's Golden Boot, become the top scorer in the whole of Europe and eventually come runner up in the Ballon d'Or. Not bad for a young Portuguese winger with no consistency. His role in the 08 Champions League final will always be remembered as he put Manchester United in front with one of his towering headers in a crunch game against Chelsea. Truly one of the best seasons ever had by someone in a United shirt.
His final season came in the 2008/2009 season as United reclaimed the Premier League trophy. Ronaldo would score another 26 goals and become the first United player since George Best to win the Ballon d'Or award. By the time he left United in 2009 he had become the perfect footballer. His training and dedication turning him into a phenomenon that will go down in United's history.
To this day Ronaldo is still chanted about at Manchester United. Viva Ronaldo is one of the Stretford End's most popular chants, as United sing about the lanky Portuguese winger who went on to become the best footballer in the world while under United's tutelage.