2 Duncan Edwards

177 appearances, 21 goals

2 League titles, 2 Charity Shields

The remarkable Duncan Edwards divides opinion on such lists. People dismiss the idea that he could be the greatest ever because he was only 21 when Munich took his life. The counter argument is simple — his first team career at Manchester United was longer than Eric Cantona’s. His spell of greatness at Old Trafford was longer than Cristiano Ronaldo’s.

When Edwards was breaking through into the senior side, he was considered so far ahead of his peers that managers of other teams would complain when he was played in the Youth Cup, even though he was fairly eligible for it.

Edwards was so talented he could play in any position and there are stories of him going up front when United’s youth team were losing just so he could turn the game around himself. But a player of that quality often finds themselves in the middle of the pitch where they can influence the entire game and that’s where Duncan began to settle.

His physical prowess made him comfortably the best midfielder in England when he was still a teenager and he immediately drew interest from top clubs in Italy and Spain. Edwards, though, revelled in being the young leader of the team ranked by many as the best in the world.

The 1957/58 season was shaping up to be a huge one, as Edwards was tipped to be the main star in teams that would win the European Cup and World Cup. Then Munich happened.

It is frightening to think of how good Edwards could have been because there is no doubt that at the age of 21, the experience of winning in Europe and on the international stage would have catapulted his reputation and also the maturity that comes with age would have enhanced his ability.

It is only the realisation of some of these things in respect of just one other which prevents Edwards from being higher or even topping this list.