GOING into management or punditry are two of the most popular roles for professional players when they hang up their boots.But did you know one member of the 1999 Treble-winning Manchester United side now runs his own pizza restaurant?
Many of Manchester United’s starting line-up from the 1999 Champions League final have gone into punditry or managementCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The starting line-up from the ’99 Champions League final have all long since retired.
But many enjoyed continued success after hanging up their boots, whether that be through media work, coaching or serving up delicious pizza.
A number of them even work together to this day, whether that be as co-owners of League Two side Salford City, or ambassadors for the Red Devils.
Here SunSport takes a look at where the side that started the ’99 Champions League final against Bayern Munich are now.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
GK – Peter Schmeichel
Like many retired footballers, Schmeichel went into punditry after calling it a day on his professional playing career.
Now 59, Schmeichel worked for the BBC during the 2022 World Cup, and he also works as a pundit in his native Denmark.
RB – Gary Neville
The 48-year-old has successfully gone into football punditry after hanging up his boots and is one of Sky Sports’ biggest names.
He is also co-owner of League Two side Salford City and has a string of business ventures including hotels and property developments in Manchester.
Most read in Football
Neville spent an ill-fated 16 games in charge of Spanish side Valencia in 2015-16, and was also England assistant manager from 2012-2016.
Gary Neville is a top pundit for Sky SportsCredit: Getty
CB – Ronny Johnsen
One of the two starting centre-backs from the ’99 Champions League final, Johnsen has gone into coaching and punditry since retiring.
He has worked as a pundit and analyst for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, and also spent time as coach of Norwegian side Eik Tonsberg, before leaving in 2021.
Johnsen is also a Manchester United ambassador.
CB – Jaap Stam
Former centre-back Stam enjoyed a spell managing in the Championship with Reading from 2016-18.
His most recent role was with MLS franchise FC Cincinnati from 2020-21.
Stam is currently without a role in management but last Septemer offered his services to current United boss Erik ten Hag.
LB – Denis Irwin
Another of the ’99 Treble-winning team to have successfully forged a career in the media.
Irwin, 57, works for the club-owned MUTV.
RM – Ryan Giggs
The 49-year-old has played more times for Manchester United than anyone else, and spent time as interim boss after David Moyes was sacked in 2014.
He was also assistant manager from 2014-16, before becoming Wales boss in 2018.
Giggs stepped down from the role in June 2022 amid allegations of assault and coercive behaviour against his former girlfriend.
Giggs will face a retrial, starting from July 31 this year, after the jury in his first trial were unable to reach a verdict.
The former winger denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
CM – David Beckham
Global celebrity David Beckham is another co-owner at Salford.
But he is also the co-owner and president of his own MLS franchise, Inter Miami.
Nowadays he can regularly be found in attendance at Brentford B’s fixtures, where son Romeo is currently on loan.
David Beckham remains one of the world’s biggest celebsCredit: AFP
CM – Nicky Butt
The last of the starters from the 1999 Champions League final to be a co-owner at Salford.
Now 48, Butt is also the current CEO of the League Two club after taking over from Neville in October 2022.
He was previously head of first-team development at Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but left the role in March 2021.
A number of the starters from the 1999 Champions League final are co-owners of League Two side Salford CityCredit: Handout
LM – Jesper Blomqvist
These days the former Sweden international runs a pizza restaurant in Stockholm.
He told manutd.com last September: “I’ve still got that [restaurant] and we’ve just moved to a bigger place.
“We’ve won a few awards, especially from some Italian organisations and that makes me extra proud, those awards, but the most important thing is the customers keep coming back.”
ST – Dwight Yorke
Former striker Yorke led Aussie side Macarthur FC to Australian Cup final glory in 2022 as manager of the club.
However, he left in January 2023 after just 13 games in charge and is currently a brand ambassador for Manchester United, as well as a sports ambassador for Trinidad & Tobago.
Dwight Yorke left his role as boss of Australian side Macarthur FC in JanuaryCredit: Getty
ST – Andy Cole
Like his old strike partner, Cole, 51, is a Manchester United ambassador and also works as pundit.
Cole and Yorke spent time together in Singapore in April in their roles for United, helping to promote the club.
He is also the co-founder of Phoenix Sport & Media Group, who work as advisors to sports and media stars.
Sub – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The match winner from the ’99 final went on to manage United from 2018 to 2021.
He returned to his native Norway after being sacked by the Red Devils, where reports claim he is currently settled with his family.
Solskjaer is claimed to have done some work coaching with Norwegian side Kristiansund, where his son plays.
Sub – Teddy Sheringham
The other goal scorer on that infamous night in Barcelona, Sheringham started playing competitive poker after retiring from professional football.
Read More on The Sun
He had brief spells in charge of EFL side Stevenage and Indian club ATK in 2015-16 and 2017-18, respectively.
In 2020 Sheringham was a contestant on hit ITV show The Masked Singer, and was also part of the show Harry’s Heroes that same year.
The Red Devils lifted the Champions League for the first time after a miraculous comeback win over Bayern MunichCredit: Getty – Contributor More
