Manchester City v Manchester United Combined XI (21st century)

Liam Williams Updated: 16 Dec 24 09:44

Manchester City and Manchester United are the two most successful teams of the Premier League era, winning a combined 21 titles.

Since the turn of the century, both clubs have won eight titles apiece, with Chelsea the nearest challengers on five. The clubs have employed some of the best players seen in the Premier League this century.

With that in mind, we've put together a combined XI of the two teams from the 21st century.

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GK – Edwin van der Sar

While Joe Hart at his peak was a genuinely world class goalkeeper, instrumental to Manchester City’s 2012 title-winning campaign, Edwin van der Sar gets the nod for his consistency over a longer period of time.

Manchester United had spent six years looking for a rightful heir to Peter Schmeichel’s throne, only to find he’d been in the Premier League for four of them.

Named three times in the PFA Team of the Year, Van der Sar would keep 92 clean sheets in 186 games, winning three league titles and the UEFA Champions League.

RB – Kyle Walker

While his defensive nous may have been criticised, particular in the latter stages of his career, Kyle Walker’s near-unrivalled physical assets made him a crucial part of some of Pep Guardiola’s most successful teams.

Following his arrival at the Etihad in 2017, Walker won six Premier League titles in seven years, being named in the PFA Team of the Year three times.

CB – Rio Ferdinand

With Manchester United entering their post-Treble malaise, Rio Ferdinand was signed from a financially stricken Leeds United for an eye-watering £30m, and though United would win the title in Ferdinand’s first season, they would go three years without a title afterwards.

But as the rest of the team began to take shape, Ferdinand grew into an increasingly important part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side that would win three consecutive titles between 2007 and 2009 as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2008.

Premier League Hall of Fame: Rio Ferdinand

CB – Nemanja Vidic

Signed in the January of 2005 alongside Patrice Evra, it was hard to know which of United’s new additions looked more out of place. Evra was hooked at half-time of his debut against Manchester City, while the side conceded four goals in the first hour of Vidic’s maiden outing.

After the signing of Ferdinand, Ferguson had gone through countless central defensive partners, none of whom were up to Ferdinand's – or indeed United’s – standard. Until Vidic, that is.

Between them, they forged a formidable partnership; Ferdinand’s pace and elegant ball-playing complemented by Vidic’s imposing, no-nonsense style.

So good was Vidic, United won the title in each of his first five seasons where he was fully fit, only missing out on two injury-hit campaigns in 2009/10 and 2011/12.

LB – Patrice Evra

After a nightmare debut in just about the worst place to have a nightmare debut, Patrice Evra found himself contesting the left-back spot with the uncompromising Argentine, Gabriel Heinze, who spent Evra’s maiden campaign out injured, and compatriot Mikael Silvestre.

Evra’s first full season saw him play a more prominent role in the side, and his second full season saw him established as United’s first-choice left-back, a position he’d hold until leaving in 2014.

Evra would end his time at Old Trafford having won five league titles, and despite vying with the likes of Ashley Cole, was named in the PFA Team of the Year three times.

RM – Cristiano Ronaldo

Perhaps the first name on the team sheet, there’s an argument to play Cristiano Ronaldo on the left or up front, but most of his time at Old Trafford was spent on the right side of midfield, where he tormented Premier League defenders up and down the country.

While he turned into a near-unstoppable goal machine at Real Madrid, the Ronaldo at Manchester United had flair dripping out of his pores.

Although it took Ronaldo three years to become the Ronaldo we’d become accustomed to, that version of the winger was utterly devastating, scoring 66 goals in three seasons, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2008.

CM – Kevin De Bruyne

Quite possibly the best central midfielder in Premier League history, Kevin De Bruyne is a six-time Premier League winner and one of only seven players to have been named PFA Player of the Year more than once.

On four occasions, De Bruyne has recorded the most assists in the Premier League, and while he won’t overtake the ageless Ryan Giggs in all-time assists, he will leave the Premier League second, as one of five players with more than 100 Premier League assists, doing so in less than 300 games.

It can be easy to overlook some of the individual brilliance within Guardiola sides, looking at them as one, unified and supremely well-oiled machine, but De Bruyne has spent nearly a decade as the integral cog.

CM – Paul Scholes

If Kevin De Bruyne isn’t the best passer in Premier League history, Paul Scholes is.

Throughout his time with Manchester United, Scholes was deployed in a midfield two alongside the all-action Roy Keane before being moved behind the striker to accommodate Juan Sebastian Veron, later returning to midfield.

In the latter stages of his career, Scholes adapted his game to operate as a deep-lying playmaker, orchestrating the team at will.

A phenomenally gifted footballer, Scholes ranks fourth in the list of goalscoring midfielders, and the only one to have scored 100 or more without scoring a penalty.

Premier League Hall of Fame: Paul Scholes

LM – David Silva

Quite simply, a magician. Of the stand-out quartet of Manchester City’s early years of success, from Vincent Kompany to Yaya Toure to David Silva to Sergio Aguero, there’s a strong case that Silva was the best of the lot.

The Spaniard recorded double figures for goal contributions in all 10 of his Premier League seasons, and despite looking like he could be knocked over by a strong gust of wind, his impeccable touch combined with his balance, vision and technique made him a danger every time he played.

CF – Wayne Rooney

The early peak of Wayne Rooney has arguably diminished his standing in many football fans’ memories, but it shouldn’t be forgotten just how good Rooney was. Rooney was often a victim of his selfless work rate and well-rounded game, being deployed in a deeper role, out wide and as a lone frontman, all to great success.

While the younger Rooney was a devastating forward, he still reached double figures for goals and assists in three seasons after turning 23, finishing as the Premier League’s third highest goalscorer.

Premier League Hall of Fame: Wayne Rooney

CF – Sergio Aguero

While Erling Haaland could one day occupy a place in every historical XI, he still needs the longevity of a Sergio Aguero.

Making his debut off the bench for City back in 2011, Aguero scored two and made one in a 30-minute cameo, starting as he’d mean to go on.

In the five seasons where he started more than 22 games, Aguero would reach 20 goals each time, and in the four more injury-hit campaigns, the Argentine still scored 0.85 goals per 90.

Indeed, of every player to have scored 100+ Premier League goals, Aguero’s minutes-per-goal ratio of 108 is comfortably the best.