Cristiano First Debut

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his second Manchester United debut against Newcastle this weekend – over 18 years on from his first.

Then 18, Ronaldo impressed off the bench as a replacement for Nicky Butt, acting as the catalyst as United cruised to a 3-0 win over Bolton Wander

Tim Howard; Now 42, Howard is a pundit for NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage, an international ambassador in the US for Everton and part-owner of National League side Dagenham & Redbridge.

Phil Neville; He is now manager of MLS side Inter Miami, who are part-owned by Neville’s former Manchester United team-mate, David Beckham.

Quinton Fortune; The South Africa international made 126 appearances at Old Trafford before spells at Bolton, Brescia, Tubize and Doncaster Rovers, where Fortune would finish his playing career.

He has since held coaching roles with Cardiff City and United and is now a first-team coach at Reading.

Rio Ferdinand; He is now one of the most prominent voices on the punditry circuit, appearing regularly on BT Sport and BBC.

Ronaldo’s return might not have been possible without the help of Ferdinand, who helped persuade his former team-mate to come back.

Mikael Silvestre; Since hanging up his boots in 2004, Silvestre has turned his hand to a range of different things, including being a director of football at Stade Rennais, charity work and founding a Caribbean rum brand.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer; He learned the management ropes in two spells with Molde, either side of a brief, unsuccessful stint at Cardiff City before taking over at United in 2018 following Jose Mourinho’s ill-fated time in charge.

Roy Keane; Roy Keane left United under a cloud in 2005, spending six months at Celtic before hanging up his boots on medical advice.

He is now one of the game’s most savage pundits, regularly popping up with fiery opinions and controversial takes on Sky Sports.

Nicky Butt; He later returned to Old Trafford to begin his coaching career and after working with the club’s reserve team he was given the role as head of the academy in 2016.

The 46-year-old left his role as head of first-team development in March amid reports that his relationship with the club’s new football director John Murtough had deteriorated.

Ryan Giggs; Having spent his last season at Old Trafford as a player-coach under David Moyes, he took over as caretaker towards the end of the 2013-14 season after the Scotsman was sacked.

He was appointed Wales manager in 2018, but is currently suspended from that role having been charged with coercive or controlling behaviour, causing actual bodily harm, and assault by beating, allegations he has vehemently denied.

Paul Scholes; The 46-year-old has dabbled in management with Salford City and Oldham Athletic, but is better known these days as a pundit with BT Sport.

Cristiano First Debut

Ruud van Nistelrooy; The Dutchman is another to have taken a foray into coaching, helping Guus Hiddink with the Netherlands national team and PSV Eindhoven Under-19s.

Since 2019 he has been assistant manger with the national side – a role he now combines with his job as manager of Jong PSV.