Peter Schmeichel
© Getty Images
Peter Schmeichel's importance to Manchester United is perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that it took all of six years to adequately replace him between the sticks.
An intimidating presence in the Old Trafford goal for eight years, Schmeichel joined United in 1991 for just £505,000 and went on to establish himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever seen.
The Dane kept 22 clean sheets to help United to their first top-flight title for 26 years in the inaugural Premier League season - a trophy he went on to win five more times in addition to three FA Cups, the League Cup and the Champions League.
Perhaps his most telling contribution in a United shirt came against fierce rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final of 1999 when he saved a last-minute penalty from Dennis Bergkamp to keep the treble hopes alive, and he went on to captain the team in the Champions League final when they completed that treble in the most dramatic fashion.
That proved to be his 398th and final game in a Manchester United shirt, during which time he even managed to score a goal - one of 11 he netted throughout his illustrious career.
Schmeichel remains the only goalkeeper to have won the Premier League Player of the Season award, doing so in 1996 having helped the club to the league and FA Cup double that year.
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Barney Corkhill
