“They didn’t have a clue who I was” - Manchester United icon who played over 300 games for club opens up on people at club not recognising him

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has said that people at the club office didn't recognise him when he called to discuss about his season ticket. The 50-year-old played nearly 400 games for the side between 1992 and 2004.

In 387 games across competitions - all under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson - Butt contributed 26 goals and 21 assists while primarily operating as a defensive midfielder.

The Englishman won a plethora of honours with the Old Trafford side, including eight Premier League and one UEFA Champions League title - as part of a continental treble (in 1999).

However, more than two decades after he had last turned up for United as a player, Butt said that nobody at the club ticket office had a clue about him when he identified himself. The 50-year-old said (as per Sport Bible):

"I rang the office to sort out my ticket. ... When I told them I was Nicky Butt, they didn't have a clue who I was, only played 450 games for them."

Butt's former teammate, Paul Scholes, recounted a similar experience:

"I don't know anyone at the club anymore. ... I had to ring a ticket tout in order to get tickets."

Scholes, like Butt, also enjoyed a decorated career at Old Trafford, spending his entire career with the Premier League giants. In 716 appearances across competitions spanning 19 seasons, he bagged 155 goals and 82 assists, winning 11 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles, among others.

What's next for Manchester United?

Manchester United are coming off a 1-0 home loss to 10-man Everton in the Premier League at the weekend. Despite Idrissa Gueye seeing red for the visitors in the 13th minute, they struck the game's only goal 16 minutes later through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The defeat snapped the Red Devils' five-game unbeaten run in the league - winning three - remaining 10th in the standings, 11 points behind runaway leaders Arsenal (29) after 12 games.

Ruben Amorim's side next take on Crystal Palace away in the league on Sunday (November 30). United are winless in four league meetings with Palace, losing three, failing to score in all four matchups. Two of those three defeats have come at Selhurst Park, the venue of Sunday's meeting.

Edited by Bhargav