Who is the greatest Man Utd number 9? Rasmus Hojlund granted new squad number

Feargal Brennan

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Who is the greatest Man Utd number 9? Rasmus Hojlund granted new squad number image

The No.9 shirt carries with it huge pressure in English football and Manchester United have got themselves a new incumbent for the 2024/25 season.

Following the summer exit of Anthony Martial, the Red Devils have moved Rasmus Hojlund from No.11 to take the Frenchman's old number, on the back of scoring 16 goals in his debut campaign.

Despite struggling to score in the Premier League in his early days in Manchester, Hojlund hit a hot streak of form at the start of 2024.

Ahead United's preseason tour of the USA, with Hojlund joined on the plane by Jadon Sancho, following a crunch reconciliation with Erik ten Hag, the Danish star will be looking to hit the ground running.

Who is the greatest Man Utd number 9?

Despite not having as many famous wearers as the No.7 at Old Trafford, the No.9 still carries some weight and The Sporting News takes a look at the very best to pull on the famous jersey on the red side of Manchester.

Sir Bobby Charlton

United fans of a certain vintage would go back to legendary striker Jack Rowley as their first superstar No.9 as he netted 211 goals for the club from 1937 to 1955.

Rowley scored the majority of those goals with the No.9 on his back, and remains fourth on the club's all-time scorer list, but Sir Bobby Charlton is the first name that springs to mind in the club's modern history.

As a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster of 1958, Charlton was the symbol of the Busby Babes at United, and he went on to score 249 club goals.

Charlton eventually won the UEFA European Cup in 1968, two years after winning the FIFA World Cup with England, and he remains a club icon following his passing in 2023.

Frank Stapleton

The No.9 never really found a permanent home after Charlton's exit in 1973 with a succession of players wearing it for a season or two.

The arrival of Frank Stapleton from Arsenal in 1981 saw a change, as the Irish international won two FA Cup titles at United, in 1983 and 1985.

Despite not hitting the heights of Charlton, or some of the Premier League stars in this list, Stapleton revived United's attack at a crucial time of Liverpool dominance.

Brian McClair

Scotland star Brian McClair smashed in 24 league goals in his debut season at United, after immediately taking over the No.9 shirt at the start of the 1987/88 campaign.

United finished second to Liverpool in the final rankings, but McClair remained as a firm favourite of Sit Alex Ferguson into the Premier League era.

Despite seeing his role reduced from 1993 onwards, he left United in 1998 with four Premier League titles, and 127 goals scored.

Andrew Cole

Andrew Cole set a British transfer record in 1995 as he swapped Newcastle United for Manchester United, in a deal that shocked the Premier League.

Cole's sensational goal numbers on Tyneside persuaded Ferguson to make the move and the striker more than proved his worth at Old Trafford.

His goals and memorable partnership with Dwight Yorke are remembered fondly by United fans and he scored some crucial goals over the years, as part of five Premier League trophy lifts.

He also bagged 24 goals in all competitions in 1998/99 as United set a historic benchmark by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble.

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov took over the No.9 shirt on his arrival from Tottenham in 2008 and kept it for his four seasons in Manchester.

The Bulgarian wowed Old Trafford with his mix of nonchalant brilliance and gravity defying ball control, with 48 Premier League goals scored, and two titles won.

His 20 league goals in 2010/11 also saw him clinch the Premier League Golden Boot as the first United player to win it since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.