Sir Alex Ferguson was renowned for his unique eye for talent during his 26 years in charge of Manchester United – but he didn’t always get it right.
The likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes all came through the United academy under Ferguson and became club legends.
After winning the Premier League in 2001, the manager tipped seven young players for stardom and we’ve looked at how they fared.
Kieran Richardson
Richardson never really established himself as a regular in the starting lineup at United despite making 81 appearances between 2002 and 2007.
The England international joined Sunderland in search of regular first-team football and immediately attained hero status by scoring the winning goal in the Tyne-Wear derby.
He last appeared for Cardiff City in the Championship in 2016, most recently tweeting his urge to find a new club after four years out of the game.
Danny Pugh
Pugh was handed his United debut in a Champions League win over Maccabi Haifa in 2002 but only made a further six appearances for the club.
He left Old Trafford to join Leeds United in 2004 as part of the deal that saw Alan Smith move in the opposite direction.
The 37-year-old then had spells with Preston, Stoke City, Coventry City, Bury and Blackpool before seeing out his playing career with Port Vale in League Two and then staying on as a coach.
Darren Fletcher
One of the two big success stories from this group, Fletcher recovered from a broken leg and became a regular fixture in United’s midfield under Ferguson.
The Scotland international made 342 appearances in all competitions, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford.
An unfortunate illness decimated his final few years at the club, but he went on to play for West Brom and Stoke City before hanging up his boots. He’s now a technical director back where it all began.
Happy birthday to a true #MUFC fans’ favourite – Darren Fletcher! pic.twitter.com/iqT44tE64l
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 1, 2017
Paul Tierney
Tierney won the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2001-02 but made just one first-team appearance for United, appearing in a League Cup defeat to West Brom in December 2003.
After being released by the club in 2005, the left-back dropped down the divisions and finished his career with a month-long stint at non-league club Altrincham when he was still just 26.
John O’Shea
O’Shea made…
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