10 Worst Man Utd Goalkeepers in History [Ranked]

Being a goalkeeper at Manchester United comes with enormous pressure. Between the responsibility of guarding the net and the expectation of upholding the standards of one of football’s most storied clubs, it’s a challenge that has overwhelmed even seasoned professionals.

Over the years, United have boasted world-class keepers who delivered match-winning performances and were pivotal in the club's most successful eras. But not every shot-stopper has risen to the occasion. For some, the weight of following in the footsteps of legends proved too heavy to bear.

These 10 goalkeepers, in particular, struggled to make their mark at Old Trafford and will likely look back on their United careers with a sense of disappointment.

Ranking Criteria:

• Appearances and stats during their time at United

• Expectations vs. actual impact

• Overall quality of performances

• Transfer fee and value for money

• Success (or lack thereof) at the club and beyond

10. Victor Valdes

2015-2016

Victor Valdés was undoubtedly one of the finest — and most underrated — goalkeepers of his generation, playing a key role in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side. However, his brief stint in English football was far from memorable.

After a glittering career at Camp Nou, Valdés joined Manchester United while recovering from a serious ACL injury. Though the club supported his rehabilitation, his time on the pitch was limited to just two Premier League appearances. A falling-out with then-manager Louis van Gaal quickly soured his stay, and he was released in 2016.

His final chapter in professional football saw him relegated with Middlesbrough — a dramatic decline from the dizzying heights he once enjoyed as a serial winner in Spain.

9. Andre Onana

2023-Present

Just when it looked like Andre Onana was finally finding his footing at Manchester United, another costly blunder reignited debate over whether the club were too quick to part ways with David de Gea.

After a nightmare debut season, Onana showed glimpses of the shot-stopping brilliance that earned him acclaim at Inter Milan, pulling off spectacular saves and regaining confidence. But the progress has been marred by fresh mistakes — including a high-profile error against Nottingham Forest, conceding directly from a corner versus Wolves, and a howler against Brighton.

Once viewed as Erik ten Hag’s most influential signing, Onana has instead become a lightning rod for criticism, with many fans now questioning if he was ever the right fit.

8. Paddy Roche

1973-1982

Happy birthday to Paddy Roche who is 74 today
Manchester United (1973-1982)
#MUFC #PaddyRoche pic.twitter.com/nHAqQxiILw

— MANCHESTER UNITED FANS (@Unitedfans2023) January 4, 2025

Paddy Roche spent much of the 1970s and early 80s as a backup goalkeeper for Manchester United, making just under 50 appearances during a turbulent era for the club. United were relegated to the Second Division during that period, although Roche wasn’t to blame for their decline. The team was still struggling to find its footing after the end of Sir Matt Busby’s reign.

Roche left Old Trafford in 1982 under reportedly strained circumstances. In the years since, he’s been vocal about his disappointment with the way the club has treated some of its former players—especially amid recent decisions to scale back ambassadorial roles.

7. Ricardo

2002-2005

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it presence at Old Trafford, Ricardo was a two-time capped Spanish international whose time at Manchester United amounted to little more than a footnote. Brought in as a backup, he made just one Premier League appearance—coming on as a substitute for an injured Fabien Barthez.

That lone outing, however, was anything but forgettable. In a moment of chaos and redemption, Ricardo gave away a penalty… only to save it moments later, earning a cheer from the United faithful. A brief but memorable cameo—something he can always bring up to the grandkids.

6. Mark Bosnich

1999-2001

Manchester United first brought in Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich in the late 1980s, but his initial spell was short-lived, as the club moved to sign Peter Schmeichel. After seven solid years at Aston Villa—where he established himself as a dependable shot-stopper—Bosnich returned to Old Trafford in 1999 as Schmeichel's replacement.

He played a key role in United's 1999–2000 Premier League title win as the starting goalkeeper but quickly fell down the pecking order following the arrival of Fabien Barthez. By the time United retained the title the next season, Bosnich was no longer in contention. Sir Alex Ferguson famously labelled him "a terrible professional," a view later echoed by Paul Scholes—an unfortunate footnote in what should’ve been a triumphant second stint.

5. Kevin Pilkington

1992-1998

A loyal servant during his early years at Manchester United, Kevin Pilkington was part of the club’s 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning side, lining up alongside future legends like David Beckham and Paul Scholes. As third-choice goalkeeper behind the great Peter Schmeichel, Pilkington found opportunities limited, making just six Premier League appearances between 1992 and 1998.

Following his departure from Old Trafford, he carved out a respectable career in the lower leagues, amassing over 300 senior appearances. While his time in Manchester was brief, the experience helped lay the foundation for a long and steady career—one that now sees him passing on his knowledge as Luton Town’s goalkeeping coach.

4. Roy Carroll

2001-2005

Statistically, Roy Carroll's stint at Manchester United was more impressive than many remember. Boasting a clean sheet rate of just over 52%, the Northern Irishman posted numbers that Andre Onana could only envy. However, it’s worth noting that Carroll was backed by a far stronger defensive unit and never truly convinced as a long-term No.1 at Old Trafford, lacking the commanding presence needed at the top level.

Carroll is most famously associated with a major blunder against Tottenham, when he spilled Pedro Mendes’ speculative effort over the line—only for the officials to miss the goal entirely. That moment, along with his time in goal for the infamously poor 2007-08 Derby County side, has come to define his Premier League legacy, despite flashes of promise during his United career.

3. Paul Rachubka

1999-2003

Paul Rachubka made his only Premier League appearance for Manchester United as a teenager, stepping in for the injured Fabien Barthez against Leicester City—and impressively keeping a clean sheet on debut. He would go on to feature twice more for the Red Devils before continuing his career in the lower leagues.

Rachubka became a familiar name in the Football League, turning out for clubs like Charlton and Blackpool. However, he's perhaps best remembered—infamously—for a nightmare outing with Leeds United in 2011. In a match against Blackpool, he made three costly errors that led to goals, prompting his substitution at half-time, all while Leeds were reduced to 10 men. Considering the fierce rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United, that performance alone nearly earned him cult status at Old Trafford.

2. Jim Leighton

1988-1992

When Sir Alex Ferguson brought Jim Leighton to Manchester United in 1988, he was convinced he’d secured one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The pair had enjoyed immense success together at Aberdeen, where Leighton had been a cornerstone of Ferguson’s trophy-laden run and was widely regarded as Scotland’s greatest ever goalkeeper. On paper, the move was a perfect fit.

But things unraveled quickly at Old Trafford. Leighton’s form nosedived, and his performances became increasingly error-prone. The situation bore an uncanny resemblance to Erik ten Hag’s current struggles with Andre Onana—another trusted shot-stopper from a former club who couldn't replicate past success on a bigger stage.

Leighton's fate was sealed in the 1990 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, where a shaky display led to a chaotic 3-3 draw. Ferguson dropped him for the replay, and from that moment, their relationship never fully recovered.

1. Massimo Taibi

1999-2000

Taibi arrived at Manchester United with hopes of following in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, but ultimately became one of the most forgettable and least successful keepers in the club's history. His stint is best remembered for a calamitous error against Southampton, where he let a tame shot slip through his legs—an incident that instantly tarnished his reputation and underscored his unreliability between the posts.

He made just four Premier League appearances, never managing to win over the trust of his teammates or the Old Trafford faithful. United quickly realised their mistake and offloaded him just months later, with Taibi returning to Italy to join Reggina. His short-lived and troubled spell at the club stands as a stark reminder of the importance of getting goalkeeper signings right—something United would continue to struggle with in the years to come.