One of the biggest sports documentaries of 2023 was the release of Beckham on Netflix. But that wasn’t the first time that the Manchester United icon has been featured in a documentary. Back in 2013, he was spotlighted in Ben and Gabe Turner’s ‘The Class of ‘92’.
That documentary followed Beckham and five teammates on a spectacular journey from the academy to being the fulcrum of a golden generation at the club. When they were all in their prime and churning out successes for the Red Devils, United fans would have felt like constantly scoring bonuses at the best online gambling sites.
But where are United’s Class of ‘92 now?
David Beckham
Despite hanging up his playing boots in 2013, David Beckham is still no stranger to the spotlight. Beckham is heavily involved in the game as a co-owner of Salford City and Inter Miami in the MLS.
Beckham made 265 Premier League appearances for United and won six league titles with them. His final match for the Red Devils was in May 2003, scoring in a 2-1 victory over Everton. Becks is regularly seen at major sporting events like F1 and Wimbledon.
Paul Scholes
For so long the heartbeat of the Manchester United midfield, Paul Scholes made his debut during the 1994-95 season. With a work rate second to none, a visionary passing range and an eye for goal, Scholes is a club legend winning 11 Premier League titles.
He is now a co-owner of Salford City and had a temporary spell in charge there, plus has done a bit of punditry here and there. By and large ‘Scholesy’ has remained out of the public spotlight though.
Ryan Giggs
Former Wales international Ryan Giggs collected 13 Premier League titles with United, making him the most decorated player in EPL history. It was a stunning, trophy-laden career that he had and the winger produced some iconic moments in a Red Devils shirt, like his solo FA Cup goal against Arsenal.
Giggs, who was never sent off during his playing career, went on to have an interim managerial spell at Man Utd, took up the Wales job and joined former United teammates in co-ownership of Salford City.
Nicky Butt
Another of the midfield crop of the Class of ‘92, Nicky Butt is also part of the Salford City co-ownership. With 12 seasons of action at Old Trafford for the Red Devils, he collected six Premier League titles. Butt left Manchester United in 2004 for a move to Newcastle United and ended his playing days for South China. He did some coaching at United before leaving in 2021.
Phil Neville
Fullback Phil Neville made more than 250 appearances for the Red Devils, before leaving in 2005 to join Everton. He won six Premier League crowns before moving into coaching life, firstly having a stint with England U21s before roles at Manchester United and Valencia.
The biggest managerial job to date for Neville came when he was appointed manager of England’s Women's team, which he led to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals. After a spell with Beckham’s Inter Miami, Neville moved on to an assistant coaching role with the Canadian national team in 2023.
Gary Neville
With his punditry, Gary Neville usually isn't far away from the key topics of football. Having vocally opposed the likes of the European Super League, foreign player dominance in the Premier League and the Glazer ownership at Manchester United, Neville is a public figure.
Neville was a one-man club with United, playing more than 400 times for them. He became England’s assistant managerial in 2012 and took up the hot seat at Valencia for his first full managerial job in 2015, which wasn’t a success, winning just 10 of 28 games in charge.
In Summary
Perhaps the most surprising thing from the Class of ‘92 is a lack of transition into the world of top-tier managerial life. But the fact that they still garner so much interest long after their playing days speaks volumes about their influence.
The Class of ‘92 was special. It’s tough for academy players to break through to the top level, let alone half a dozen all at the same time at the same club. They were inspirational, world-class players and part of Manchester United's history that is not ever likely to be replicated.
Their participation in United’s 1997-98 treble, plus the collective Premier League titles they amassed, makes the modern-era struggles of the famous club a little harder to bear.
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