In the eighteen years since Roy Keane’s departure, eight individuals have assumed the ‘permanent’ captaincy designation. During his tenure, Keane contributed to several of Manchester United’s most memorable moments.

Keane was appointed United’s captain for a duration of eight years under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson. During this time, the club achieved the renowned Treble triumph in the 1998-99 season. Although the Ireland international was suspended and therefore missed the Champions League final, his contribution that season cannot be disregarded.

His departure immediately followed a vitriolic MUTV segment in which he disparaged a number of United’s personnel. Keane’s farewell was incomplete, as he was sidelined by injury during his final season with United. Following a brief stint with Celtic in 2006, he retired.

In the eighteen years that followed, United elected to replace an even greater number of managers and captains. There was a degree of continuity preceding Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, but the ten years that have passed have been marked by considerable change.

At present, Bruno Fernandes holds the distinction, and the Portugal international will be aiming to surpass the average tenure of two and a quarter years held by those who have worn the armband since Keane departed. Mirror Football examines that octet in greater detail and ranks them from worst to best.

8. Ashley Young

During his nearly a decade at Old Trafford, England international Young accomplished much for Manchester United, but he failed to last a single season as captain. The former Watford and Aston Villa player was awarded the captaincy by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, but he had already joined Inter Milan by January.

After losing his starting position at United, Young may have felt compelled to seek first-team action elsewhere; his minutes since then have arguably validated that decision. Already at the age of 38, he is on the verge of tying the Premier League minutes he accumulated during his final six months with United last season.

7. Antonio Valencia

Valencia, an additional veteran who briefly served as United’s captain, had been a member of the club for nearly a decade prior to assuming the permanent captaincy role in 2018. In his penultimate season, he served as de facto captain; however, his participation was curtailed by injuries in his final campaign.

During the 2017-18 season, the Ecuadorian won several significant contests while donning the armband, including a memorable 3-2 victory in April against Manchester City. The following season, however, he appeared in only six games, the most recent of which was as a substitute in a flat loss to Cardiff.

6. Michael Carrick

Valencia served as captain in 2017-18 while official captain Carrick was sidelined due to injury. Carrick made his United debut as captain in Ferguson’s final match as manager, a 5-5 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Subsequently, he alternated between wearing the armband during the tenures of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

Prior to the 2017-18 season, Mourinho appointed Carrick captain on a permanent basis; however, the former Spurs and West Ham star hardly played due to heart problems. Notwithstanding this, he captained United to a 1-0 victory over Watford in the season-ending match, which marked his sole league appearance of the campaign.

5. Harry Maguire

Maguire assumed the captaincy subsequent to Young’s departure for Inter. The center-back, who joined Old Trafford the previous summer from Leicester, had only been a few months at the time, but then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was optimistic.

Maguire led Manchester United to the Europa League final in his debut season as captain. However, the subsequent two seasons under Maguire’s leadership were considerably less fruitful. In 2021-22, United accumulated their lowest-ever number of Premier League points, which Solskjaer dismissed due to Maguire’s red card in a humiliating loss at Watford. Maguire subsequently lost his starting position to Erik ten Hag.

A summer exit was a possibility for Maguire following his loss of captaincy to Bruno Fernandes. However, he has persisted and demonstrated that there is hope beyond that type of setback.

4. Bruno Fernandes

United’s current captain continues to elicit both positive and negative opinions. Although some critics initially doubted his suitability, particularly in a 7-0 loss at Liverpool last season, his on-field contributions have since swayed others.

One of these critics was Keane, who stated, “If there was one thing I could do differently after re-observing him today, it would be to remove the captaincy from him one hundred percent.” The decision to replace the captaincy with Harry Maguire was undoubtedly significant.

“However, Fernandes is unfit for the position of captain.” Although I believe he is a talented player, based on what I observed today—and we’ve discussed this before; I was at Liverpool last year—he was constantly whining, moaning, and raising his arms in the air. It is in fact not acceptable.

“It must begin somewhere; however, where do you implement changes, the manager?” at the board level? It commences with the manager assuming the captaincy, given his or her capability to do so. Raise his hands and confirm that he made an error. “While Fernandes is an exceptional player, he does not embody the qualities I would seek in a captain.”

Ten Hag, however, was opposed. After the recent victory over Fulham, he stated, “I don’t understand why (people are questioning whether he should be captain) because everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect.” “But he’s doing a lot of things really well and as a captain, he’s setting an example – we saw today how hard he’s working, he’s pressing and in the end, he’s scoring a goal and he’s massively important for us.”

3. Wayne Rooney

Although Wayne Rooney’s impact as a Manchester United player is readily apparent, his influence as captain is somewhat more subtle. He retained the armband from the time Van Gaal succeeded David Moyes as manager in 2014 until his departure in 2017.

Three of United’s most recent trophies were won during that time period: the FA Cup in 2016, the League Cup, and the Europa League the following season. However, he started only one of the three, substituting in the unused second and entering the field in the final minute against Ajax in Stockholm after the game had already been won.

“Wayne serves as the club’s captain. Early in the 2016-17 season, Mourinho stated, “He is trusted by the players and by me, and he beautifully represents the club as both a player and an individual.” “But in football, everyone is the same and if he has to go on the bench, he goes on the bench.”

Regarding his standing in the squad, Rooney’s final season as captain was comparable to Maguire’s; however, he departed for a farewell season at Everton prior to a stint in the United States. However, the trophies and Rooney’s on-field performance prior to being named full-time captain both carry some weight.

2. Gary Neville

Since Keane’s departure, Neville was the captain with the most tenure, having held the position for five years prior to retiring at the end of his career. Although those five years marked the conclusion of his career, they nevertheless yielded several noteworthy achievements.

One of those zeniths occurred during the 2006-07 Premier League season, when Neville’s United overthrew Chelsea’s hegemony. After missing the 2008 Champions League final triumph due to an injury that sidelined him for the entire season, he was in Moscow to celebrate with his colleagues.

The England international was also sidelined in the 2009 United Cup final against Barcelona due to injury that plagued the final years of his career. By January 2011, when his final game occurred, he had already relinquished the armband due to the realization that his playing time was diminishing.

“Gary is still club captain but I have been looking for someone who is going to be playing consistently every week,” Ferguson stated at the time. “On multiple occasions over the past two to three years, we have been required to pass the baton along the line.

“Gary’s injuries have hindered his captaincy on a consistent basis, preventing him from playing regularly. Had he perpetual availability, he would hold the position of captain. Saturday would have been his day. Nevertheless, I must consider the big picture.”

1. Nemanja Vidic

Vidic was the individual who appropriated Neville’s armband shortly before the Englishman’s retirement. Following Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, the Serbian assumed the role of captain for the Champions League finals in 2008 and 2009, respectively, in 2011.

Additionally, Vidic led Manchester United to Premier League championships in 2011 and 2013, with only a late goal by Sergio Aguero for Manchester City in 2012 preventing him from tying three in a row. A lackluster final season under Moyes’ leadership is insufficient to deprive the center-back of the premier honor.

Despite the fact that Vidic may be the best captain since Keane, he is not regarded as the greatest in recent memory. Ferguson attributes this distinction to Bryan Robson, who led the team to its inaugural Premier League championship.

“He was without a doubt the most effective captain I ever had. “During his time at United, he was, in my opinion, the best player,” Ferguson said at the 2021 premiere of “Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story.” “Every player adored him.” He received a response, and it is worth noting that he was the most tenured captain during my era. Captains face challenges when they are required to tell the truth to their players.

“At times, the support he offers them can be quite erratic, and he was no exception; however, the players adored him nonetheless.” In addition, they valued the time he devoted to them, and he was the only captain I was aware of with decision-making authority on the field. It was unnecessary for him to look over to me.

“He would do that, which is not typical. In fact, the fact that he had the courage to do that is quite extraordinary.”