42. Peter Schmeichel

Signed from: Brondby (£505,000), August 1991
Debut: 2-0 win vs Notts County, August 17th 1991
League Record: 292 games
Sold to: Sporting Lisbon (free transfer), June 1999

If I'm going to be brutally honest, by my reckoning there's only been three players who crop up in this list who could were without doubt the best in their position in the world. Peter Schmeichel is the first - in simple terms, throughout most the 1990s, he was the best goalkeeper in the business.

United hadn't had a really exceptional goalie for decades. Harry Gregg, signed in 1958, was at the time the most expensive 'keeper in the world, and was voted as the best at that summer's World Cup in Sweden, but injuries prevented him taking part in the glory days of the 1960s. Alex Stepney had been reliable and injury prevented Gary Bailey from maturing into his peak years.

Brian Clough knew how important the man between the sticks was to winning the league: so he bought the best in Peter Shilton. Initially, Fergie struggled with the signing of Jim Leighton failing, and Les Sealey only providing a stopgap. By signing Schmeichel, he'd made a huge move in our exceptional run of success throughout the rest of the decade.

Though we through the League away in his first season, the Big Dane was blameless, keeping plenty of clean sheets and introducing a new attack option with his long throws from goal that would often clear the half-way line. After a short spell of adjustment, he was soon confident in dealing with high balls aimed to the likes of John Fashanu and Mick Harford, his massive frame meaning he could clean out opponents and teammates alike in claiming the ball.

He had an exceptional summer that year, playing a big part in Denmark's unlikely claiming of the European Championships. Bringing that winning mentality back, he played every game in our first Premiership success. Over the next few years, he was untouchable as the best and was always first choice for United, with only a few minor injuries getting the way.

On several occasions, he would throw himself forward to try to save a game. He even managed a goal against Rotor Volgograd in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup, though it was in vain as we went out on away goals. Later that season, he put in what may have been his finest performance. Playing at Newcastle, then our big title rivals, he took everything they threw at him, pulling off a number of sublime saves to secure a vital 1-0 win.

1998/99 would turn out to be his last season. Midway through, he began to look a little jaded and some uncharacteristic mistakes saw him given a small break to take a holiday and get his head together. He came back on top form and played a huge part in our treble triumph. His penalty save from Dennis Bergkamp in the FA Cup semi-final replay lives long in the memory and in the Champions League final a few weeks later, he bombed forward in the last minutes to cause enough confusion to enable an equaliser.

Shortly after, he went off to Portugal, claiming he wasn't up to hectic standard of English football anymore. However, he returned to play for Aston Villa and then, somewhat unfortunately, Manchester City. That left a bad taste in a lot of Red's mouths, especially when he celebrated a win against us.

Despite that, it's interesting that in subsequent media appearances, he's always referred to United as "us". And he remains the best keeper we've had in my lifetime, just about edging a certain Dutchman far, far down the line.