Top five greatest players to wear Manchester United's no 9 shirt

The number 9 shirt carries a rich vein of value in English football.

This is especially true for Manchester United. The United number 9 has a huge pressure on him to deliver the goals and win matches for his club. To be a player of the most supported club in England is itself a pressure. Wearing the number 9 in Old Trafford adds more burden to it.

Players can change their jersey numbers every season or if they switch clubs. However, there have been some players in Manchester United’s history who have worn jersey number 9 consistently. They have carried the burden of scoring the goals week in and week out for the team.

However, not every star has achieved the target of what’s required from a number 9 jersey in Manchester. In recent history, there have players who have failed to rise to the expectations of a United number 9 kit. However, there have been some great players who have risen to the occasion.

In this article, let us take a look at the top five greatest players to wear Manchester United’s number 9 shirt.

5. Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov has played for Manchester United from 2008 to 2012. He was a player who had a very good first touch. Berbatov was at his best in the 2010/11 season and finished as the league’s highest scorer. He played 149 matches for United and scored 56 goals while providing 26 assists. Berbatov has two Premier League titles and one Club World Cup title with the Red Devils.

4. Andy Cole

Andy Cole has featured in the Manchester United jersey from 1995 to 2002. He wore the number 9 jersey at the English club in a period when there were four world-class strikers in the ranks. He featured in 275 games and managed to score 121 goals.

Cole has won a UEFA Champions League title, five Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Manchester club. He had also won the Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Young Player of the Year awards.

3. Jack Rowley

Jack Rowley featured for Manchester United from 1937 to 1955. He was the first legendary man to wear the number 9 for United. He showed the world what it is to wear this legendary shirt for the Old Trafford club.

Rowley was part of the club for two decades and ended up as the leading goal scorer in the club’s history then. He featured in 424 games for the club and scored 211 goals. During his stint, Rowley won a First Division title and one FA Cup.

2. Tommy Taylor

Tommy Taylor played for Manchester United for five years from 1953 to 1958. He was a prolific goal-scorer for United’s legendary side. He had the knack of finding the back of the net consistently and scored over 20 goals in all the five seasons he played.

He featured in 191 games for the club and scored 131 goals. Taylor won the First Division twice. He was even inducted into the Football League 100 Legends.

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton featured in the Manchester United jersey from 1956 to 1973. He is definitely the greatest Manchester United star to wear the number 9 jersey. He played in 758 games for the club and scored 249 goals.

He won all the major trophies with the club. Charlton won the First Division thrice, a European Cup and the FA Cup once. His individual awards include the Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Ball. He was even honoured as the FWA Footballer of the Year. Sir Bobby Charlton also found a place in the English Football Hall of Fame.

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