MANCHESTER UNITED last faced Ipswich Town at Portman Road more than 20 years ago.
But this Sunday Ruben Amorim gets his first taste of being United manager when they visit the Tractor Boys.
The Portuguese boss has replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat and got straight down to work in training.
Amorim would love Sunday’s match to go the same way as the last league encounter between the clubs.
That ended in a 1-0 away victory for United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Much has changed at the club since April 2002 – and obviously the starting XI.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
Here is a look at the starting team from that match and what those players are up to…
Roy Carroll
In goal for United was the Northern Irish stopper Carroll.
He stayed at Old Trafford until 2005 and went on to have stints at West Ham, Rangers and Derby County.
He continued his career abroad as he played for Danish outfit Odense Boldklub and Greek sides OFL and Olympiacos.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Carroll returned to England in 2014 with Notts County and continued his career right up until 2021.
However, he made a shock return to playing in 2023 – aged 45 – as he came out of retirement to play for Ballinamallard United in Northern Ireland.
Phil Neville
Neville started the match against the Tractor Boys at left-back.
The defender also stayed at the club until 2005, when he left for Everton.
Neville was at the Toffees up until he retired in 2013 and moved into coaching roles at United and Valencia.
In 2018, he was named the manager of the England Women’s team, stepping down in 2021.
He then had a stint as the head coach of Canada and is now in charge of the MLS outfit Portland Timbers.
Wes Brown
Brown was one of the two centre-backs in a defence that kept a clean sheet.
He stayed at United until 2011 and went on to have spells at Sunderland, Blackburn and Indian side Kerala Blasters.
The Englishman retired in 2018 and started a car firm.
In 2023, he was declared bankrupt despite his £50,000-per-week wage during his career.
John O’Shea
O’Shea partnered Brown in the heart of the defence.
The Irishman also left the club in 2011 as he joined Brown at Sunderland.
He stayed at the club until 2018 after suffering back-to-back relegations to League One.
He retired in 2019 after a year with Reading and has most recently been the caretaker manager and assistant boss of the Republic of Ireland.
Denis Irwin
Irwin was coming to the end of his playing days when he lined up against Ipswich.
He retired in 2004 after a two-year spell at Wolves.
After hanging up his boots, the Irishman moved into the media and started working as a presenter for MUTV.
He has gone on to become a columnist at Ireland’s Sunday World newspaper and a contributor to RTE.
Nicky Butt
Butt was in the engine room against Ipswich.
He stayed at United until 2004 then enjoyed a good spell at Newcastle until 2010.
He retired in 2011 after playing for Hong Kong outfit South China.
He most recently was CEO at Salford City but stepped down in October.
Butt was one of the United legends that invested in Salford back in 2014.
Michael Stewart
Scotsman Stewart made one of his handful of Premier League appearances for United in this match.
The midfielder left the club in 2005, having only made 14 appearances in all competitions.
He spent the majority of his career in Scotland with Hibernian and Hearts of Midlothian.
He ended his playing days back in England with Charlton Athletic in 2011.
After retiring, Stewart entered politics as attempted to become the SNP candidate for Edinburgh West at the 2015 General Election but failed to win the party’s nomination.
He has since worked as a pundit for BBC Scotland and for the Scottish Sun.
Luke Chadwick
Chadwick was another part of Ferguson’s midfield.
He left United in 2004 and continued playing until 2016.
The midfielder had stints at clubs such as West Ham, Stoke City, Norwich City, MK Dons, and Cambridge Town before his final club Soham Town Rangers.
He was most recently the Director of The Football Fun Factory, which is a coach provider, and he runs his own branch.
Roy Keane
Keane was the final midfielder in the team at Portman Road.
He controversially left United in 2005 for a single season at Celtic before retiring from playing.
Keane then tried his hand at management with stints at Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
He also coached under Martin O’Neill at the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest.
He has now become a fan-favourite pundit on Sky Sports with fans often hailing his analysis.
Keane recently praised future son-in-law Taylor Harwood-Bellis after he scored on his England debut.
Diego Forlan
Forlan, was one of two strikers to start the match, has possibly had the biggest career shift.
The Uruguayan forward struggled to show his best form during his two-year spell at the Red Devils.
He left in 2004 and went on to become one of the best in Europe during his stint at LaLiga sides Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.
He retired from football in 2018, but that did not end his sporting career.
Earlier this month, he was the wildcard entry into the 2024 Uruguay Open main doubles draw.
However, he and his partner, Argentine Federico Coria, were beaten in straight sets.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy was the match-winner against Ipswich with his 45th-minute goal.
The Dutchman was one of the most prolific strikers during his time in the Premier League.
He left Old Trafford in 2006 for Real Madrid and ended his career in 2012 at Malaga.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The former striker has since turned to coaching and was the interim boss at United following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
He won three of four games during his unbeaten time in charge of the club before he was axed by Amorim.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
