The Intricate Ties Between Manchester United and Their Class of ’92

The ongoing exchange between Manchester United’s defender Lisandro Martinez and two of the club’s iconic alumni, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, highlights a complex relationship. On the podcast ‘The Good, The Bad, The Football’, Butt and Scholes, who previously teased Martinez ahead of the Manchester derby, took a moment to commend his solid performance in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford. However, they raised eyebrows regarding his decision to retaliate against their comments.

Butt remarked, “Kudos to him for going head-to-head with what many consider the premier center forward in the world. We commend his effort; he performed exceptionally well. Yet, when someone reacts so emotionally to remarks made on a podcast or in the media, saying things like, ‘come to my house,’ it seems a bit immature. If you let outside opinions affect you to that extent, then perhaps you’re not suited for a club of this magnitude.”

Prior to the match, both Butt and Scholes had humorously suggested to host Paddy McGuinness that Erling Haaland might physically overpower the 5ft 7in Martinez during the game. In the wake of their win, Martinez responded, saying, “People can voice their opinions on television, but when it comes to facing them here in person, nobody speaks up.” This exchange illustrates the complicated dynamics that Manchester United shares with its legendary ‘Class of 92’.

The Class of 92, comprising Ryan Giggs, Scholes, David Beckham, Butt, and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, collectively made 3,448 appearances for Manchester United. They were integral to the second great team constructed by Sir Alex Ferguson, which became the first English side to clinch a Treble in 1999. Following David Moyes’ dismissal in 2014, Giggs served as the interim manager for four matches and had previously held coaching roles, eventually becoming Louis Van Gaal’s assistant. Butt, Scholes, and Phil Neville were among those who coached under Giggs.

Butt, who had been a youth coach and later appointed head of the academy in 2016 before departing in 2021, is deeply invested in the club’s legacy of nurturing young talent. On December 15, he braved a rainy night in Moss Side alongside United officials to mentor underprivileged children on behalf of Sir Bobby Charlton’s Foundation, despite the club’s Premier League match against Bournemouth occurring just hours later.

Butt has expressed strong disagreement with a comment from a United official suggesting that youth development extends beyond just winning. Recently, he alleged that the club was threatening to revoke his season tickets. Just three days before Butt’s appearance with the Foundation, Gary Neville was present at Old Trafford for the announcement that United would serve as a campus for UA92 University, established by the Class of 92 in 2019.

There’s an evident connection that remains intact, though their perspectives on the club are often sought, particularly when critical. In October, Giggs attended the Training Ground Guru conference at Old Trafford, where he expressed concern about Ruben Amorim’s strategy of utilizing wider players on opposite flanks to their dominant foot. This group frequently shares insights on matchdays at Hotel Football, which they co-own, conveniently located just 50 yards from Old Trafford.

Historically, the hotel has been a point of contention, as United sought to halt its development, although they do utilize it for their own needs today. Neville, whether as a commentator or pundit for Sky Sports or through the successful ‘Stick to Football’ podcast, consistently shares his views. In a press conference that resulted in Amorim’s dismissal, he cited Neville as someone whose opinions received disproportionate attention from senior club officials.

This remains a topic for debate. However, unlike former captain Roy Keane, who leveled harsh and personal critiques at new manager Michael Carrick, United felt confident enough to allow Neville to engage with Carrick on camera in the Old Trafford tunnel prior to the derby.

While launching his UA92 Old Trafford campus initiative, Neville addressed the speculation regarding the supposed rift between the Class of 92 and United. “That’s just a theory,” he stated. “A few years ago, there may have been valid concerns, but those issues have been resolved. I genuinely believe there are no problems at all now, and the Class of 92 is eager for the club to thrive, feeling disappointed and frustrated during losses.”

Collette Roche, United’s chief operating officer, echoed this sentiment. “Many of our former players are in the media and will naturally have opinions about the football team, which is perfectly acceptable. However, the Class of 92 is a part of our family, and our relationship with UA92 extends far deeper than the latest headlines or podcast discussions.”

Ultimately, as Butt and Scholes suggest, it’s best if players choose to disregard such commentary. The challenge is, as Martinez’s reaction illustrates, that they often do not. Scholes revealed, “We exchanged messages on Instagram some time ago because he was upset about something I said. I can’t recall the specifics, but he mentioned losing all respect for me. I provided him with my phone number, but I’ve never heard back from him.”