Man Utd’s youngsters can emulate Class of ’92 – Butt

Ian Watson
Nicky Butt: Former player appointed head of academy

Nicky Butt believes that Manchester United’s current youth players are capable of repeating the achievements of the ‘Class of ’92’.

Along with Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Gary and Phil Neville, Butt was one of a number of young players who graduated from United’s youth system in 1992.

Each made the transition to first-team football, and played a part in the club’s Treble season of 1998/99.

Butt believes that United now boast a crop of youngsters who can emulate that side.

“The ‘Class of ’92’ can be done again,” Butt told M.E.N Sport. “Ability wise it definitely can be done again because some of these boys are better than I was when I was 16. They have so much more ability.

“The talent is there so it can be done again. There is no reason why it cannot. I would be really proud if it does. I’d love it to happen again.

“It is a bit like the Treble season it can be done again but everything has to be right, the timing, the players, the manager.

“It is our job and the club’s job to make to happen and do it again. I was always confident the club could it again. I wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise.

“No chance are we going away from trying to recruit locally as well. You just never know because each season brings up different possibilities.

“This year for instance in our under-12s, you’d normally take 14 players but it was such a good year we have brought in 22. That has never been done before. We had to bring in another staff member to deal with that year.”