‘It all ended with that tackle’ – Former Man United duo on their Old Trafford careers

The current campaign has not lived up to expectations, especially when compared with yesteryear. United have not won the Premier League title since Sir Alex Fergusons retirement more than a decade ago now.

One former player who managed to clasp hands on the trophy in the great mans final season at Old Trafford has spoken to the Manchester Evening News about his time at the club. Another former player has also offered his thoughts on his rise through the ranks at United before his sale.

A playing career can pass by in an instant. Tom Cleverley hasn&apost yet truly reflected on the end of his after hanging his boots up in the summer, but as he looks back on the early chapters he remembers a fearless young midfielder taking the fight to Yaya Toure at Wembley a dozen summers ago.

It was August 2011 and Cleverley&aposs United debut. The opponents were Manchester City in the Community Shield and the then 21-year-old was summoned at half-time along with Jonny Evans and Phil Jones. A newly-minted City, who had just won the FA Cup, were 2-0 up and hinting at the shift in power to come.

But under Sir Alex Ferguson, United roared back. More than 12 years on Cleverley can still remember the feeling in that second half as a goal from Chris Smalling and a Nani double secured victory.

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“My main reason for coming on board with the Football Fun Factory was a growing frustration with professional football,” Luke Chadwick admits as he explains the end of his career on the pitch.

“When my football career came to an end some years ago now it was a really challenging time. A lot of ex-professionals find that transition out of the professional game into something new (challenging) and I didnt know what I wanted to do so I went down the coaching route; did my qualifications and got a job at Cambridge United within their academy.