Ex-Man Utd chairman details his five top signings

Former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has named his five best signings during his time at Old Trafford.

Edwards was chairman at United for 22 years between 1980 and 2002, during a time in which the Red Devils re-established themselves as England’s finest club side.

To promote the release of his autobiography Red Glory, Edwards, who was also responsible for hiring Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, was asked by MUTV to name his five top signings from his time in charge.

“I want to name a five and not in order because it is value for money,” he began.

“I’d have to have Cantona in there.

“Just look at the time he was there. We won the league four of the five years and we did two doubles. I think we would have done a third double if he hadn’t kicked the supporter at Crystal Palace. I think he just completely revolutionised the club in the time he was there.

“Peter Schmeichel, £505,000, an absolute bargain when you think of what he did in the eight years he was there and what we won: five titles, we won the Champions League and FA Cup a few times. Unbelievable.

“Denis Irwin. £700,000. Again, eight or nine years. I think he got seven championship medals. Part of that huge success. A great player, very rarely had a bad game.

“Bryan Robson for £1.5m. It seemed a lot of money at the time, a British record. But he captained us to three FA Cup finals, a couple of league titles, was really the main player at a time before United really hit the headlines, before they became a great side. Again a fantastic midfield player, up and down, scored important goals – semi-finals, finals, you could rely on Robson.

“Roy Keane – a fantastic midfield player, something like seven championship medals, FA Cup winner, captained us, took over the captaincy from Bryan Robson, probably took over that midfield from Bryan Robson. When Bryan went, we all wondered who was capable of taking over; certainly Roy Keane stepped into the breach there.”