Substitutes (Part II)
Phil Neville (on for Heinze in the 81st minute)
Then: Was a pale imitation of his older brother Gary – but could do a useful job anywhere in defense and central midfield and thus made 386 appearances for United in the decade he spent at the club; and added to it with 303 appearances for Rooney’s current club, Everton!
Now: Is a pale imitation of his elder brother Gary – was his assistant at Valencia, and is now a TV analyst with Sky.
Quirky Video: This will never stop being funny... or awkward:
Goalkeeper – Ricardo
Then: Before David de Gea, there was Ricardo López Felipe. The Atletico Madrid youth team player moved to United via Valladolid a couple of years before Rooney but didn’t have anything like the impact that his fellow Atleti youth-team graduate would have a decade later. He played just once in the Premier League and four times in the Champions League for United. He ended his career with Osasuna, where he made nearly 200 appearances over 8 years.
Now: In 2013, he joined Club Brugge KV as goalkeeping coach before moving on to his current position as Japan’s goalkeeping coach.
Quirky Fact: He conceded a penalty with his first touch in the Premier League (fouling Andy Cole, then of Blackburn)... but saved David Dunn’s attempt! (United won that game 2-1)