Sir Alex Ferguson's most used players by appearances for Manchester United

Arguably the greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson took Manchester United to the pinnacle of English and European football in a remarkable spell that lasted more than 25 years.

Below we look at the most-used players by Ferguson throughout his spell at Old Trafford.

• Ryan Giggs (941)

No surprises for guessing top spot here. Ryan Giggs was the first of the Class of '92 to break into the United first team, doing so prior to the start of the Premier League.

Making his debut in the 1990/91 campaign, Giggs was an electrifying winger who could breeze past opponents, but as Giggs got older and his pace waned, the Wales international was deployed in more of a central role, where his intelligence and technical ability made him a proficient playmaker, eventually hanging up his boots the year after Ferguson's retirement.

• Paul Scholes (716)

One of the best English midfielders of all time, Paul Scholes was another member of the Class of '92 around whom Ferguson built some of his best teams.

Moving out of the early-90s, Scholes became a regular member of the Treble winners of 1999 and the UEFA Champions League winners of 2008, still being a crucial part of Ferguson's midfield until his second and final retirement in 2013.

• Gary Neville (600)

While he might be one of the last to admit it, Gary Neville was one of the best right-backs of his generation and only injuries later in his career prevented him from adding to his 600 appearances.

A fiercely determined competitor, Neville more than made up for any perceived lack of technical of physical prowess to be United's first-choice right-back for more than a decade.

• Denis Irwin (529)

Never the flashiest full-back, but superbly consistent, Denis Irwin was a 7/10 for United every week.

Signed from Division Two Oldham in 1990, Irwin played full-back on either side for United for more than a decade, eventually leaving after winning seven league titles and the UEFA Champions League, twice being named in the PFA Team of the Year.

• Roy Keane (479)

While their relationship may be non-existent these days, Roy Keane was the perfect on-pitch general for Ferguson. Like his manager, Keane demanded 100% from all around him, dragging his team-mates along when required.

Signed in 1993 having been named in the PFA Team of the Year for the relegated Nottingham Forest, Keane quickly found himself at home in the Manchester United midfield. Missing most of the 1997/98 campaign with a knee injury, Keane returned to captain United to the Treble, winning the PFA Player of the Year in 2000.

• Brian McClair (467)

After a successful spell in Scotland, Brian McClair was signed by Manchester United at the start of Ferguson's first full season in charge.

After a successful start to life at Old Trafford in which McClair scored 24, 10, five, 13 and 18 goals, the Scotland international was moved into a deeper role to accommodate the arrival of Eric Cantona.

McClair would leave United after making more than 450 appearances and winning four Premier League titles.

• Gary Pallister (435)

One half of the centre-back pairing that made up Ferguson's first great United team, Gary Pallister was signed in a big-money move at the start of the 1989/90 season.

Four years later, United were champions, as Pallister won the first of four league titles with United, where he'd also be named in the PFA Team of the Year in five seasons, winning PFA Player of the year in 1992.

• Rio Ferdinand (432)

A world class centre-back, Rio Ferdinand arrived at Manchester United from rivals Leeds for a massive fee of around £30m in 2002.

Despite missing a drugs test early in his United career, leading to a lengthy ban, Ferdinand repaid his transfer fee and then some, being named in the PFA Team of the Year five times at United, winning six Premier League crowns and the UEFA Champions League.

• Steve Bruce (412)

The other half of the central defensive partnership that took United to a first league title in 26 years, Steve Bruce lined up alongside Gary Pallister for the better part of a decade.

Harshly denied an England cap, Bruce left United with three Premier League winners' medals and three FA Cup winners' medals.

• Wayne Rooney (402)

One of the greatest English players of all time, Wayne Rooney's Manchester United career was very nearly cut short prematurely when the forward handed in a transfer request in 2010.

Persuaded to stay at Old Trafford by Ferguson, Rooney would score the goal that would tie United with Liverpool on 19 league titles, going on to win his fifth and United's 20th two years later.