Manchester United’s Intricate Ties with the Class of ’92

In a recent exchange involving Manchester United’s defender Lisandro Martinez and two of the club’s notable alumni, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, their differing perspectives have emerged.

During the podcast titled ‘The Good, The Bad, The Football,’ where they playfully ribbed Martinez prior to the Manchester derby, Butt and Scholes acknowledged the Argentine’s commendable performance in the team’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford. However, they expressed skepticism regarding his justification for reacting to their earlier comments.

“Fair play to him,” Butt remarked. “He faced off against one of the best strikers in the world. We commend his efforts; he’s done remarkably well.”

Butt continued, stating, “When someone becomes overly upset about remarks made on a podcast or in the media, to respond with comments like, ‘they can say whatever they like’ and ‘come to my house’—it’s time to mature. If you react so emotionally to someone’s words, perhaps a big football club isn’t the right place for you.”

Prior to the match, Butt and Scholes had humorously suggested to host Paddy McGuinness that the towering Erling Haaland would easily overpower the 5ft 7in Martinez during their encounter at Old Trafford. Post-match, Martinez countered, saying, “People can talk on television, but when it comes to facing each other in person, no one speaks up.”

This exchange encapsulates the complex dynamics between Manchester United and their legendary Class of ’92. Collectively, Ryan Giggs, Scholes, David Beckham, Butt, and the Neville brothers—Gary and Phil—accumulated an impressive 3,448 appearances for the club, forming the backbone of the second great team that Sir Alex Ferguson molded, which famously clinched the Treble in 1999.

Giggs took on the role of interim manager for four games after David Moyes was let go in 2014, having previously served as a coach and later as Louis Van Gaal’s assistant. Butt, Scholes, and Phil Neville all had coaching roles under Giggs’ leadership.

Butt has a history as a youth coach and was appointed the head of the academy in 2016, a role he vacated in 2021. Few individuals possess more insight into the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent, a cause he is deeply invested in. On December 15, despite United’s Premier League match against Bournemouth later that evening, Butt braved the rain in Moss Side to mentor underprivileged children on behalf of Sir Bobby Charlton’s Foundation.

Previously, Butt had voiced strong objections to a United official’s remark suggesting that youth development extends beyond mere victory. More recently, he alleged that the club was threatening to revoke his season tickets.

Just three days before Butt’s charitable endeavor, Gary Neville attended an event at Old Trafford where United announced their partnership with UA92 University, an institution established by the Class of ’92 in 2019. While the bond remains intact, their opinions—especially the critical ones—are highly sought after.

In October, Giggs expressed his thoughts at the Training Ground Guru conference held at Old Trafford, lamenting Ruben Amorim’s strategy of employing wider players on the opposite side of the pitch from their dominant foot.

All of them frequently share their insights on match days at Hotel Football, a venue they co-own, conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Old Trafford.

Historically, the hotel has faced its own share of strain, as the club initially attempted to block its construction; however, United now utilizes the facility on occasion.

Then there’s Neville, who is never shy about sharing his thoughts, whether as a commentator or pundit on Sky Sports or through his successful podcast, ‘Stick to Football.’ During the press conference at Elland Road that led to his dismissal, former United head coach Ruben Amorim pointed to Neville as a figure whose opinions were overly influential among senior club officials.

This assertion is open to interpretation. Nevertheless, unlike former captain Roy Keane, whose critiques of new manager Michael Carrick were blunt and personal, United trusted Neville enough to engage him in a conversation with his former teammate in the Old Trafford tunnel before the derby.

When launching his UA92 campus initiative at Old Trafford, Neville addressed the notion that the Class of ’92 and the club are at odds. “That’s a theory,” he stated. “A few years back, there may have been valid concerns, but those issues have been resolved. I don’t believe there are any current problems; the Class of ’92 genuinely wants the club to thrive and feels disappointed and frustrated during losses.”

Collette Roche, United’s Chief Operating Officer, shared a similar sentiment. “Many of our former players are in the media and will naturally have their opinions about the football team—that’s perfectly fine. The Class of ’92 is part of our family, and our relationship with UA92 runs deeper than any recent headlines or podcasts.”

This perspective aligns with Butt and Scholes’ suggestion that the players should simply overlook any negativity. However, as evidenced by Martinez’s reaction, it is clear that they do not.

“We exchanged messages on Instagram quite a while ago due to his discontent with something I said,” Scholes recalled. “I can’t recall the specifics, but he claimed he had lost all respect for me. I offered him my phone number, but I have yet to hear back from him.”