10 Worst Man Utd Goalkeepers in History [Ranked]

When you’re a goalkeeper at Manchester United, the pressure is immense. Between the demanding role of protecting the net and the weight of representing one of the most iconic clubs in football, it’s a combination that can break even the most composed players.

Throughout United’s years of dominance, they’ve had some incredible goalkeepers who were key in securing titles and winning games on their own. However, the same can be said for those who have faltered under the immense pressure of following in the footsteps of legends. These 10 goalkeepers, in particular, will look back at their time at Old Trafford with regret.

Ranking Factors

• Appearances and statistics at the club
• Expectations
• Quality of performances
• Transfer fees
• What they achieved both at the club and after they left

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10

Victor Valdes

2015-2016

In terms of his overall career, Victor Valdes is one of the best and perhaps most underrated shotstoppers of his generation and was crucial to the success of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team. But his time in England was less than ideal.

After a career defined by success at Camp Nou, the player made only two league appearances following his move to Manchester United, who helped him recover from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury that cut short his time at the Catalan club. Unfortunately, his relationship with manager Louis van Gaal soured, leading to an unsatisfying end to what had been a stellar career. Released by United in 2016, his last season in football saw him suffer relegation with Middlesbrough, a far cry from the heights he had once reached in his earlier years.

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9

Andre Onana

2023-Present

Just as it seemed Andre Onana was turning a corner at Manchester United, he made another costly mistake, prompting doubts about whether the club should have ever let David de Gea go. The Cameroonian had a disastrous first season, but in his second, he was making stunning saves and showing the form that earned him praise at Inter Milan.

However, errors against Nottingham Forest, a goal conceded directly from a corner against Wolves, and a howler against Brighton have left fans questioning his ability. Once hailed as Erik ten Hag’s most impactful signing, Onana has instead become a source of frustration for all the wrong reasons.

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8

Paddy Roche

1973-1982

Paddy Roche spent much of the 1970s and 80s as a backup goalkeeper at Manchester United, making just under 50 appearances during a challenging period for the club. United were relegated to the second division during this time, though Roche’s performances were not the cause of their struggles. The club failed to regain their former stature under Sir Matt Busby.

When Roche departed in 1982, it was reportedly on less-than-amicable terms. Over the years, he has been critical of how the club has treated some of its former players, particularly in light of recent cuts to ambassadorial roles.

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7

Ricardo

2002-2005

A blink and you’ll miss him inclusion, Ricardo was a twice-capped Spanish international during his career but never amounted to much at Old Trafford. During his time at the club, he was a backup option and was limited to just one Premier League appearance as a substitute for the injured Fabien Barthez.

The Spaniard at least made sure to make it memorable for good and bad though, as he gave away a penalty which he then proceeded to save much to the delight of the United faithful. Something to show the grandkids someday.

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6

Mark Bosnich

1999-2001

Manchester United initially signed Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich at the end of the 1980s but let him go when Peter Schmeichel was brought in. Bosnich spent seven years at Aston Villa, where he became a reliable presence in goal, before returning to United in 1999 to replace Schmeichel.

He won the Premier League title as the first-choice goalkeeper in the 1999-00 season but saw his position slip to third when Fabien Barthez was brought in. Bosnich failed to feature as United retained the title the following year, and Sir Alex Ferguson later described him as ‘a terrible professional’ – a sentiment Paul Scholes would echo years later.

5

Kevin Pilkington

1992-1998

A dedicated figure at Manchester United during his youth, Pilkington was part of the 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning team, sharing the pitch with future stars including the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes. Serving as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Peter Schmeichel, he made only six league appearances for United between 1992 and 1998.

After leaving Old Trafford, Pilkington went on to have a solid career in the lower leagues, making over 300 appearances in his senior career. His time at United may have been limited, but he built a dependable career further down the pyramid which has helped him in current role as Luton Town’s goalkeeping coach.

4

Roy Carroll

2001-2005

Statistically speaking, Roy Carroll put up some rather impressive numbers at Manchester United. With a clean sheet record of just over 52%, the Northern Irishman put up figures that Andre Onana could only dream of. Admittedly, though, he benefited from having greater defenders in front of them, and Carroll lacked the confidence to be a true number one at United.

The Northern Ireland international will forever be remembered for his costly mistake against Tottenham, where he fumbled Pedro Mendes’ cross, allowing the ball to slip over the line. His blushes were spared by the goal somehow not being awarded, but that and his role in the worst team in Premier League history will always define his career in the English top flight.

3

Paul Rachubka

1999-2003

Rachubka’s sole league appearance for Manchester United came as a teenager, stepping in for an injured Fabien Barthez against Leicester. The young keeper kept a clean sheet in his unexpected debut and would play twice more for the Red Devils.

After his time at United, Rachubka continued his career in the Football League, becoming a regular in the lower divisions for the likes of Charlton. However, his stint at Leeds United became notorious in 2011 following a disastrous performance against Blackpool, where he was substituted at half-time after making three mistakes that led to goals, in addition to one of his teammates being sent off. Given the rivalry that exists between the two clubs, it’s a surprise he didn’t become a cult hero at Old Trafford.

2

Jim Leighton

1988-1992

Sir Alex Ferguson was convinced Jim Leighton was one of the best goalkeepers in the world when he signed him from Aberdeen in 1988. Having worked together at Aberdeen, the Scottish shotstopper had been a key figure in Ferguson’s success there and is still widely considered Scotland’s greatest ever ‘keeper, so the move made perfect sense.

However, upon joining United, Leighton quickly lost his form, and his performances became riddled with errors. His decline mirrored a situation similar to Erik ten Hag’s struggles with Andre Onana when the Dutchman had previously worked with him to great success at Ajax. The final straw for Ferguson was Leighton’s poor performance in the 1990 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, where his blunders contributed to a 3-3 draw. He was dropped for the replay, and from then on, his relationship with the manager was never the same.

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1

Massimo Taibi

1999-2000

Schmeichel, but he ultimately proved to be the least successful of the lot. His most memorable moment at Manchester United came from a shocking blunder against Southampton, which cemented his reputation as an unreliable keeper. Taibi managed to play just four league matches for United, failing to instil confidence in either his teammates or the fans.

After a disappointing spell at Old Trafford, the club decided to cut their losses and let him go. A few months later, he joined Reggina in Italy, marking the end of his brief and troubled tenure with Manchester United. His time at the club remains a cautionary tale of poor goalkeeper selection – one that continued to repeat itself over the years.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 22/02/2025.