Clubs: Manchester United FC

UEFA honours
UEFA Champions League: winner 2008, runner-up 2009, 2011
European/South American Cup: 1999
UEFA European Under-18 Championship: 1993

• Locally born, in Salford, he joined United as a trainee in 1991, turned professional in July 1993 and made his senior debut in September 1994, scoring twice in a League Cup win against Port Vale FC.

• Won the first of ten Premier League titles in 1995/96, scoring ten goals, a tally he would not exceed until the 14 he registered in 2002/03, which included a brilliant hat-trick against title challengers Newcastle United FC.

• Was suspended for the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, but made amends nine years later by taking United back to showpiece with the only goal of the semi-final against FC Barcelona – a typical long-range missile at Old Trafford; earned a winners' medal against Chelsea FC in Moscow.

• Played for England 66 times, scoring 14 goals, before retiring from the international arena after UEFA EURO 2004, his fourth major tournament; memorably scored two goals against Scotland at Hampden Park in UEFA EURO 2000 play-off.

• Reached a century of Premier League goals with a strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (1-0) on 6 March 2010 − struck his 150th goal in all competitions for United in a 2-2 draw with Fulham FC on 22 August 2010.

• Made his 676th appearance for United when he came on as a substitute in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final − though he announced his retirement a few days later, he reversed his decision in January 2012.