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Nicky Butt

Full Name	Nicholas Butt
Position	Central Midfield
Squad Number	8
Date of Birth	21st January 1975
Place of Birth	Gorton Manchester
Height	5' 10''
Weight	11st 5
United Debut	21/11/1992 (H) Oldham
Transfer Fee	N/A
International	13 Caps - 0 goals

Career History
Nicky Butt signed for Manchester United as a trainee in July 1991 after playing for Oldham and Greater Manchester Schoolboys. He was a part of the successful FA Youth Cup side in 1992, scoring twice in the first leg of the final against Crystal Palace.

His first team debut came on 21st November 1992, as a 65th minute substitute for Paul Ince against Oldham Athletic. By the end of the 1994-95 season he had earned himself a place in the starting line up for the FA Cup Final, but finished with a runners-up medal after losing 1-0 to Everton.

Twelve months later Butt collected a winners' medal in the 1996 FA Cup Final, completing a League and Cup double for himself and Manchester United.

By 1999 Butt had won two Premier League Championship medals in 1996 and 1997, an FA Cup winners' medal in 1996 and runners' up medal in 1995, an FA Youth Cup Final medal and a Pontin's Central League (Reserve team) Championship medal.

Recent History
In the 1998-99 season Nicky Butt made less starting appearances than the previous year, because of Roy Keane's return. Butt's hard tackling style has made him primarily a defensive midfielder. His role is that of a classic fetcher and carrier, covering every blade of grass, but he also boasts clever passing skills and can make timely runs into the box to score the odd goals.

Whenever Alex Ferguson wants to play a more attacking game, Paul Scholes is usually ahead of Butt. The considerable depth of United's squad is apparent when a quality player like Butt can be left on the subs bench.

That said, Butt still had an excellent year with great displays against Leeds, Juventus Liverpool and Arsenal. When Keane and Scholes were both suspended for the 1999 Champions League Final, Butt became an invaluable asset, but it also meant he was not risked in the FA Cup Final.

In 1999-2000 he started 21 games and was a sub 11 times so he certainly played a significant role in the title win. Butt scored an important last minute equaliser away at Sunderland as well as goals against Derby, Vasco and home to Sunderland. The following season he scored his first European goal, a belter at home to Sturm Graz and featured in 41 games of United's successful Premiership winning season. Sven Goran Eriksson has called up Butt to the England squad where he played against Albania, Spain and Finland.