Manchester United's youngest star Garnercho scored his lightning-fast pace and cool head in United's game against Fulham. Considering United's defeat to Aston Villa a week ago, their place is just outside the top four, which is an absolutely crucial goal for United's race for four this season.
Garnerjo's goal made him the sixth youngest goalscorer for the Premier League era club. Manchester United's youngest 20 goalscorers in the Premier League, most of them Academy graduates, are further evidence of the club's continued improvement in young players. Let's take a look at these top 20 young players, when and where did they score their first goal? And where are they now?
20. Nicky Bart – 19 years and 344 days
Bart was the first official contestant in the legendary "Class of '92," whose breakthrough came in the 1994-1995 season. His first league goal came in a 2-2 draw with Southampton in '94. He has been a co-owner of Salford City since 2014 and was announced last month as the club's new chief executive, replacing Gary Neville, who held the role part-time eight years ago.
19. Scholes – 19 years and 312 days
Scholes was Butt's midfield partner and the more attacking of the two, scoring his first goal for United in his league debut in a 2-3 defeat to Ipswich on September 1994. Since retiring in 2013, he has been a co-owner of companies such as Bart and Neville and an interpretive expert for BT Sport.
18. Phil Jones – 19 years and 285 days
Jones' first career goal came in a 1-0 win over Villa in December 2011, and for much of United's first two seasons he looked like a future captain. Sadly, injuries ravaged his body for a player who was once hailed by Sir Bobby Charlton as 'the next Duncan Edwards', who is now the forgotten man at Old Trafford. In the upcoming transfer window, departure will certainly be imminent.
17. Anthony Martial – 19 years and 281 days
Martial with Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo
"Welcome to Manchester, Anthony Martial !!!" - Who can forget Martin Taylor's reaction to the young Frenchman's maiden goal against Liverpool in September 2015. Since then, Martial's inconsistency and injuries have driven fans and coaches crazy. He seemed certain to leave the club last season but is now a key member of Eric Ten Hag's squad.
16. Brandon Williams – 19 years and 259 days
Williams' only goal in professional football came in a 3-3 draw with Sheffield United in November 2019. He is a favourite among Manchester United fans for his tough tackle and all-around performances, but his United career has faded since his debut season. Currently injured, he could be looking for something to happen in the transfer market in January or summer.
15. Gillespie – 19 years and 253 days
As a Northern Ireland winger, Gillespie was compared to George Best and Ferguson gave him high praise, even doting ahead of David Beckham. His only Premier League goal at United came against Newcastle in October 1994, after which he joined Andy Cole in a move to Old Trafford. Gillespie is now working to help those who are addicted to gambling get out of the pit.
14. Erlanga – 19 years and 26 days
The Swede, who is of Cameroonian descent and plays for Manchester, England, scored his first goal for Manchester United on the final day of the 2020-21 season, in the team's 2-1 win over Wolves. He has been a member of the first team ever since, but mostly as a substitute.
13. Rooney – 19 years old
Rooney (trophy lifter)
Wayne Rooney is United's greatest goalscorer in club history, with 253 goals. Rooney already scored a hat-trick for United in the Champions League against Fenerbahce, but his first Premier League goal came on his 19th birthday, ending Arsenal's unbeaten run of 49 games. Rooney is now the head coach of Major League Soccer United in Washington, D.C.
12. Giggs – 18 years and 274 days
Giggs
Giggs had already scored a league goal for Manchester United before the start of the Premier League, but this is the list, he is 12th. The first of his 109 Premier League goals came in a 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest in September 1992. Giggs recently served as Wales national team manager for a while but was forced to resign due to ongoing court proceedings.
11. Cristiano Ronaldo – 18 years and 269 days
Cristiano Ronaldo's second career at Manchester United was not pleasant
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Manchester United and Premier League goals against Portsmouth in November 2003. He has since become the greatest goalscorer in football history, but his influence is clearly waning and he now has a 99.9 per cent chance of having played his last game for Manchester United. Now with Portugal on a World Cup tour, his fifth World Cup, will come first.
Manchester United and other teams' new plush sweatshirt ¥139.8 to buy
10. Giuseppe Rossi – 18 years and 257 days
Rossi joined the Manchester United Academy Academy from Parma in 2004 and scored his first Premier League goal just over a year later in his 3-1 win over Sunderland in September 2005. He did not have good results at Old Trafford, but became a star for Villarreal after 30 appearances in Italy. After spending time at Spa in the Italian Serie B last season, the 35-year-old is still on a free agent.
9. Januzai – 18 years and 243 days
The player is best compared to Garnercho as he has made a brilliant start to his Premier League career at Old Trafford. Like Rossi, Yanuzai scored his first Premier League goal at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. He was one of the few hopeful stars of the Moyes era, but never quite lived up to the expectations of Manchester United fans. After spending time on loan at Borussia Dortmund and Sunderland, he gradually established himself at Real Sociedad before moving to Sevilla last summer.
8. Nick Powell – 18 years 177 days
Powell was signed from Crewe in the summer of 2012 and scored in the 9th minute of his Premier League debut in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in September of the same year. He made only 8 appearances for the club. Powell left the club in 2016 and spent three seasons at Wigan before joining Stoke City and has now spent more than three seasons at Stoke City.
7. James Wilson – 18 years and 157 days
Wilson was one of the beneficiaries of four games at the end of the 2013-14 season and scored twice on his club debut in the 3-1 win over Hull City on May 2014. He scored just two goals for Manchester United and finally left the club in 2019 after a series of loan spells. He now plays for Port Vale in League One, having previously played for Aberdeen and Salford City.
6. Garnera Jo – 18 years 135 days
Garnacho mimicked the celebratory moves of Messi and Ronaldo
He is now United's youngest non-England goalscorer in Europe, ahead of George Best. For him, it was a start. As a young star who has played alongside both Messi and Ronaldo, will he be remembered as a great star like many on this list, or will he be short-lived like everyone else? This may be worth paying attention to.
5. Rafael da Silva – 18 years and 123 days
One of only two twins in United's first team, Rafael opened his Premier League account with a brilliant volley at Emirates in a 1-2 defeat to Arsenal in November 2008. He played 170 games for Manchester United and is a favourite with fans and Sir Alex Ferguson. In 2015, he was sold by then-manager Louis van Gaal and after several years in Lyon and Istanbul, Basak Sehir, he is now back in his hometown of Botafogo in Brazil.
4. Rashford – 18 years and 120 days
Marcus Rashford in the game
Marcus Rashford scored twice in his Premier League debut in a 3-2 win over Arsenal in February 2016, three days after scoring in his club debut in the Europa League. The whirlwind start seemed to bode well for his Manchester United career. He recently scored his 100th goal for the club against West Ham United in October. He is also being beckoned for England's fourth major tournament in a row as Marcus Rashford has been named in Southgate's World Cup squad.
3. Greenwood – 18 years and 54 days
Greenwood scored his first Premier League goal in the same game against Brandon Williams when Sheffield United drew 3-3. Considered one of the most talented young players United have produced in years, his career is now pending after being suspended by the club in January 2022 over several serious allegations.
2. Welbeck – 17 years 355 days
Welbeck opened the scoring with a goal in a 5–0 win over Stoke City in November 2008. He scored 29 goals for the club, but he was another star to suffer a snub by Louis van Gaal who was sold in 2014. Later, a series of injuries derailed his career at Arsenal, finding a home at Brighton after a year at Watford and tormenting United's defence on the season opening day.
1. Maccheda – 17 years and 227 days
The last thing Liverpool fans want to mention Manchester United star Marceda
Unbeknownst to most spectators, Marceda announced his arrival in the Premier League in the best possible way, with Manchester United beating Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford in April 2009 to save Maccheda's savior in stoppage time. It was arguably a pivotal moment in Manchester United's triumph that season. The following week, he scored another crucial goal at Sunderland, but that was the pinnacle of his success. He has played in England and Europe for QPR, Cardiff, Sampdoria, Stuttgart and Panathinaikos. He currently plays for Turkish side Ankara Guku.