British football teams have traditionally consisted of players who could be divided into two main categories. There were the cutesy and technical boys, the skilled ball-players who don't bother with the rough stuff - targets of violence rather than perpetrators.
The other kind of player is that very perpetrator. Gleefully destructive and ceaselessly physical, their official role is to be a pain in the arse for the lads who are trying to play football.
What made the United team of '94 unusual was the sheer number of players they had who combined both qualities.
They were wonderfully technical footballers who were also aggressively macho and spitefully argumentative on the pitch. The Guardian football writer Rob Smyth has described them, rather brilliantly, as an 'intoxicating fusion of tempo, testosterone and technique'.
Snarling, cocky, stylish, and often cloaked in that distinctive green and yellow jersey, here is our tribute to the Manchester United team of 1993-94.
Peter Schmeichel
One of the greatest keepers in the world, Schmeichel joined United in the summer of 1991 and hung around until the Champions League was claimed in 1999. During the 93-94 season, he got sent off in the FA Cup against Charlton and missed the Coca-Cola Cup final as a result being replaced by the late Les Sealey. United lost 3-1 and frittered away the domestic treble.
Where now? A TV presenter in his native Denmark in recent years.
Paul Parker
An undervalued figure, he was an ever-present on the 1992-93 and 1993-94 Championship winning teams, before injury struck the following season. He was a forlorn bit-parter for the remainder of his spell at United.
Where now? Works as a pundit for Yahoo Sport. In 2006, he penned the beautifully named autobiography 'Paul Parker tackles like a ferret', a book which contains some truly magnificent anecdotes such as the tale of Roy Keane and the German in the hedge (read here).
Steve Bruce
Famously never picked to play for England, Bruce formed an iconic partnership with the laid-back Gary Pallister. He is best remembered for this two late goals against Sheffield Wednesday which sent Manchester United top of the table in April 1993. He also scored an incredible 19 goals from centre-half in the 1990-91 season. Captained United in the early glory years.
Where now? Hull manager, full-time referee critic and armchair legal pundit (check out his views on the Ched Evans case).
Gary Pallister
UK's record signing in 1989, Gary 'Pally' Pallister's reputed laziness on the training pitch was the subject of much japes in interviews. More of a footballer than his central defensive counterpart, he was a cool and reliable performer, who was much quicker than his physique suggested.
Roy Keane detailed in his (first) autobiography that 'Pally' always looked 'knackered in the warm-up. You think, 'he'll never last the ninety' and yet he was always there at the end.
Where now? Does some impartial, balanced punditry for MUTV where the prominent trouser bulge around his midriff has been known to send viewers into a tizzy.
Denis Irwin
Much beloved full back, who was deployed, to the bemusement of Jack Charlton, at left back by Alex Ferguson. Back in the day, British football writers could get drummed out of the journalist's trade union if they failed to characterise him as 'dependable' or 'underrated.'
In 1994, he finished off an astonishing move to score one of the goals of the season at Selhurst Park.
Alex Ferguson has said he would be the first man on the teamsheet if he was to select his all-time United side.
People ask you who is your best Man United team, it is absolutely impossible. But honestly, I would say Denis Irwin would be the one certainty to get in the team. I called him an eight out of 10. At Highbury in one game he had a bad pass back in the last minute and Bergkamp came in and scored. After the game the press said ‘you must be disappointed in that pass back. I said, well, one mistake in 10 years isn’t bad. He was an unbelievable player.
Where now? An MUTV pundit and occasional RTE pundit
Andre Kanchelskis
Russian winger with blinding pace who won two Premier League titles before manufacturing a move away from Old Trafford in the summer of 1995. He was United's top scorer in the 1994-95 season. Ferguson didn't forget his Russian agents in a hurry and was offered 'gifts' to induce him to sell the player.
Where now? He was appointed manager of Latvian club FC Jurmalla late last year. He left recently, having secured relegation.
Paul Ince
United's player of the year in 1992-93, Ince alienated Ferguson with his insistence on being called 'Guv'nor' and his determination to get forward rather than sit patiently in front of the defence. Intriguingly, Ferguson made the almost identical claims about Keane in his latest book.
Fergie's decision to stand three inches from Ince's face and call him a 'fuckin' bottler' in a dressing room in the Nou Camp was probably the beginning of the end of their relationship.
Where now? Managerial career on the rocks after leaving Blackpool, he wowed everyone with his windscreen wiper wave when appearing on Philip Schofield's ITV show All-Star Mr and Mrs with his wife Claire last summer.
Roy Keane
In 1993-94, he scored a healthy amount of goals in his first season at Old Trafford - he was a more box-to-box, up and at 'em style player then. Before the season started, he annoyed the hell out of Kenny Dalglish, and was reminded that no one 'fucks' with the former Liverpool striker (by the man himself) and at the end of the season, he apparently annoyed Maurice Setters and had to apologise to him in front of the TV cameras.
Where now? Sure, we know where
Ryan Giggs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZMsm4eBCjU
Some folk argue Giggsy was never more exhilarating than he was in those first couple of seasons. Giggsy's highlights that year include him slaloming through the QPR defence before blasting a shot past the keeper at Loftus Road and his dellightful chip in the first half blitz of Liverpool at Anfield.
Where now? Still at Old Trafford despite it all
Eric Cantona
Cantona was shortlisted for European Footballer of the Year in 1993 and probably hit his peak in the 93-94 season, scoring 25 goals and providing many more.
The only downside was France somehow not qualifying for the World Cup. Cantona's goals had taken France to the brink of qualification but they suffered a quite astonishing collapse at the end and Cantona's chance was gone.
One of his best moments of the season, was swivelling and hitting the crossbar from 40 yards after Dmitri Kharine had come scampering out his goal. Even Chelsea fans stood up to applaud.
Where now? Stars alongside Eva Green in new film 'The Salvation' which comes out next April
Mark Hughes
Spent the 1980s and 90s, scoring pile-drivers for Manchester United (save for a brief spell at Barcelona), he wasn't top scorer in 1993-94 as Eric Cantona wrestled that title off him. Was part of the great exodus of the summer of 1995, paving the way for the kids.
The 'Hoooked back in for Hughes!!!' moment against Oldham was his most memorable one of the 1994 FA Cup semi-final
Where now? Stoke manager for now
Bryan Robson
Robbo made fifteen appearances in his farewell season, appearing primarily as a substitute. The No.7 jersey, not the fetish it was to become later on, was handed to Eric Cantona as Robson was given the no.12 shirt. He scored on the opening day against Norwich and his final and ninety-ninth goal for United came in the FA Cup semi-final.
Where now? His largely unimpressive managerial career appears to be behind him and he now holds a cushier role as a 'Manchester United ambassador'
Lee Sharpe
Him and Giggsy were popular among the teenage girl constituency, a factor which, at the time, seemed to please Sharpey more than Giggs. He was a relatively prominent figure that season, scoring nine goals, including both at Villa Park in August against the previous season's runners-up.
Where now? A staple of the reality TV circuit in the noughties, his appeal appears to have waned to producers and he doesn't get those calls anymore.
