Aston Villa v Man United: Top 5 stars who played for both
Published:
Manchester United got their season off to a winning start without ever really impressing in the 1-0 win over Tottenham last week.
Likewise, Villa were lucky to escape Dean Court with all three points after a smash-and-grab win by the same scoreline against newly-promoted Bournemouth.
Both sides will be hoping for a better performance this time round and former Villan Ashley Young will be perhaps more determined than most.
The winger isn’t the only player over the years to have run out at both Villa Park and Old Trafford but he is one of the best.
Here’s Ladbrokes News’ top five stars who played for both…
Peter Schmeichel
The Great Dane is so synonymous with United that few people realise he played for a total of seven clubs throughout his career – three of them English.
After impressing as a young stopper at Gladsaxe-Hero, Schmeichel was snapped up by Hvidovre where his commanding displays between the sticks and no less than six – yes six – goals saw him move up a level to Brondby.
He then became a United legend, winning five Premier Leagues and three FA Cups before bowing out with a Champions League win in 1999. He then enjoyed a two-year spell in Portugal with Sporting before he returned to England with Villa, where he was among the goals again with this memorable strike…
Dion Dublin
For our younger readers out there – before he was the Dube-playing, Homes Under the Hammer presenter you all know and love Dublin was a fearsome striker.
His 52 strikes in 156 games for Cambridge saw United come calling, but after just two league goals in two years and a host of injury problems at Old Trafford the four-cap England man was on his way.
He found his feet again at Coventry before being snapped up by Villa where he smashed a solid 48 goals in 155 league outings.
Dwight Yorke
With his chipped penalties and cheeky smile Yorke was a fan favourite at Villa, netting 73 goals in 232 matches before switching to United for £12.6m in 1998.
His stay at Old Trafford may have only lasted four years but 48 goals in under 100 games as part of a fearsome duo with Andy Cole saw him grab a trophy haul including three titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup to ensure he became a Red Devils legend.
Ashley Young
Young may have started his career at Watford but he made his name at Villa Park with his pace and trickery on the wing marking him out as one of the hottest prospects in the league.
Chipping in with 38 goals from midfield it was a sad day in the West Midlands when he left for Old Trafford for a rumoured £20m in 2007.
While he may not have been Mr Consistency at United over the years he has provided plenty of highlights and his adaptability over recent campaigns has seen him rewarded with a new three-year deal.
Paul McGrath
While McGrath’s Old Trafford reign came in the days before the Premier League he had made a name for himself and set the mould for the likes of John Terry and co years later well before he left Old Trafford as an FA Cup winner.
The Irish centre-back netted 12 league goals for Manchester United before moving to Villa Park for £300,000 in 1989. He went on to lift the League Cup twice as a Villan and almost led the them to the inaugural Premier League title in 1992-93 when they lost out to – you guessed it – Manchester United.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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