{"id":632976,"date":"2025-12-15T01:21:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T01:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/632976\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T01:21:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T01:21:21","slug":"manchester-uniteds-best-left-backs-of-the-21st-century-25-years-of-the-2000s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/632976\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United\u2019s best left-backs of the 21st Century, 25 years of the 2000s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Running through the contenders for Manchester United\u2019s best left-backs of the 21st Century.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are approaching the end of the first 25 years of the 2000s, and with the help of United In Focus<\/strong> readers, we are selecting our best team of the 21st Century<\/a> to date.<\/p>\n

The battle to be selected top goalkeeper<\/a> is a two-horse race between Edwin van der Sar<\/a> and David de Gea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Left-back throws up a more varied list of contenders, and we want you to cast your vote\u2026<\/p>\n

Who is the best Man Utd LEFT-BACK 2000-2025? Cast your vote \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f <\/p>\n

Help us pick our best XI\u2026<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

Mikael Silvestre<\/p>\n

After signing from Inter Milan in 1999, Mikael Silvestre<\/a> began the century as Manchester United\u2019s left-back.<\/p>\n

He later switched to play a centre-back role, switching positions and playing a vital role across four title-winning seasons. He made more than 360 appearances for the club.<\/p>\n

\"ManchesterPhoto credit should read CARL DE SOUZA\/AFP via Getty ImagesGabriel Heinze<\/p>\n

There was a time in the early 2000s where Gabriel Heinze<\/a> was a big fan favourite and earned raucous chants of \u2018Argentina\u2019 from the Old Trafford crowd.<\/p>\n

Heinze\u2019s uncompromising style made him a fearsome defender for opponents to go up against, as Arsenal found out to their cost when Manchester United ended their unbeaten run<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The defender\u2019s spell at United ended under a cloud after trying to force a move. He was sold to Real Madrid in 2007, winning one title with the Red Devils.<\/p>\n

John O\u2019Shea<\/p>\n

John O\u2019Shea<\/a> looked like a potential world-beater at left-back when he nutmegged Figo at Old Trafford in the Champions League against Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Shea would later play at centre-back, midfield and right-back, becoming an ultimate utility player for the club, playing 393 games.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo by Alex Livesey\/Getty ImagesPatrice Evra<\/p>\n

Patrice Evra<\/a> signed for United in 2007 and had a tough start, before developing into one of the club\u2019s best ever defenders.<\/p>\n

Evra\u2019s ability in defence and attack, along with his irrepressible personality saw him become a real fan favourite.<\/p>\n

A starter in United\u2019s 2008 Champions League win<\/a>, Evra played 393 United games and won five Premier League titles.<\/p>\n

Ashley Young<\/p>\n

First signed as a winger, Ashley Young<\/a> extended his Manchester United career by switching positions to left-back.<\/p>\n

Young went on to captain United as a left-back and play for England at the position.<\/p>\n

\"LukePhoto by Marc Atkins\/Getty ImagesLuke Shaw<\/p>\n

Luke Shaw<\/a> signed for Manchester United in 2014 and overcame a horrific leg injury<\/a> a year later, and is still a key player in 2025.<\/p>\n

Currently playing as a centre-back in a back three, if United reverted to a back four, Luke Shaw would still be the first choice option.<\/p>\n

Shaw has struggled with his fitness<\/a>, but still managed to see off competition for his place, despite a brief threat from Alex Telles.<\/p>\n

Who is the best Man Utd goalkeeper 2000-2025? Cast your VOTE \ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f <\/p>\n

Help us pick our best XI!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter <\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Running through the contenders for Manchester United\u2019s best left-backs of the 21st Century. We are approaching the end…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632977,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[100959,195580,748,393,92290,4884,59005,33763,2465,195581,27049,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-632976","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-ashley-young","9":"tag-best-of-the-21st-century","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-gabriel-heinze","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-john-oshea","15":"tag-luke-shaw","16":"tag-manchester","17":"tag-mikael-silvestre","18":"tag-patrice-evra","19":"tag-uk","20":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115720964495651815","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=632976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632976\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=632976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=632976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=632976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}