A Manchester United legend called time on his Old Trafford career because he was so frustrated watching players “not as good as me playing instead of me”
A Manchester United legend decided it was time for him to leave the club after becoming frustrated at watching transfer flops “not as good as me playing instead of me”.
Nicky Butt was part of the iconic ‘Class of ’92’ alongside David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes who won the FA Youth Cup that same year, before dominating English football over the course of the next decade. The former England midfielder’s medal collection includes six Premier League titles, the Champions League and three FA Cups – and he certainly made his mark at Old Trafford.
But he often had to get used to sitting on substitute benches under Sir Alex Ferguson, including at the 1999 FA Cup final, when he was told he wasn’t playing and to prepare for facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League final just four days later instead. Butt, who turned 51 on Wednesday, January 21, was guaranteed a starting spot in Barcelona due to Scholes and Roy Keane being suspended – but he wasn’t thrilled about it.
He would later explain: “When the two lads were suspended, I was gutted. I wanted to play because I was picked, not by default, so I was gutted for my mates – my really good mates. Their heads were down and I was sick for them.
“Being completely honest, I don’t think I would’ve played if those two had been able to, as the manager would have gone with his normal 4-4-2 that had served him so well that season. I don’t think people could have argued with that.
“I didn’t hold the midfield together that night,” he said. Butt may not have been beaming about his performance at Camp Nou back in May 1999, but that epic night went on to define him and his fellow Red Devils.
They were catapulted into legendary status thanks to the Treble sealed with two last-gasp goals – and young Butt, then just 24, had the world at his feet. As the new millennium dawned, United’s fortunes were a mixed bag.
The record-breaking £28.1million snagging of Juan Sebastian Veron from Lazio in 2001 was seen by many as the writing on the wall for Butt’s time at Old Trafford, yet he outlasted the Argentine maestro.
“There have been superstars who’ve come to this club and can’t live with it,” Butt reflected. “Juan Veron comes to mind. He was the best player I’ve ever seen, except Cantona. In training he was like something I’d never seen.”
Despite the stiff competition, Butt became a mainstay in Fergie’s squad, thriving as the boss tweaked the formation to a 4-4-1-1, with Scholes playing off Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, in the years that followed, Butt’s time at United took a nosedive, and he wasn’t thrilled about how his exit played out. Despite the rocky road, Butt’s trademark grit kept him going.
Looking to rejuvenate the squad after triumphs around 2000, Sir Alex Ferguson had his sights set on mirroring the international flair of the Gunners and Mourinho’s Chelsea, splashing cash on international stars.
Kleberson, David Bellion, and Eric Djemba-Djemba made their moves at Old Trafford, often getting picked over homegrown Butt, which was a tough pill for the local hero who believed they didn’t deserve the regular spots.
Reflecting on his rivalry with Scholes and Keane, Butt commented, “Scholes and Keane were better than me but I always played in the big games because we would play a three in midfield. So I was okay. Not always dead happy but okay.
“But I truly couldn’t stand players who were not as good as me playing instead of me, Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba – just because they had been bought. I couldn’t have it so I left… but it was hard.”
Butt handed in a transfer request in January 2004, but turned down a proposed move to Birmingham City. After winning the FA Cup in May 2004, having only been introduced in the 84th minute as a substitute at Wembley, he would move to Newcastle United, leaving his boyhood club for £2.5m.
But he struggled to impress and the following year was loaned to Birmingham City. After returning to St James’ Park and winning a place in team, the Magpies were relegated in 2008/09, before he helped them win the Championship in 2009/10 to secure a return to the top flight.
The midfielder would retire in 2011 after a spell with South China in Hong Kong.