David May

Manchester United In July 1994, Manchester United bought May for £1.2 million, as he was apparently unhappy at Blackburn in his final months due to the breakdown in contract negotiations. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had been searching for a defender to add to the squad, and specifically needed an Englishman who would not be affected by the restrictions on foreign players in European competition that were in place at the time. He was also thinking about the future, as centre-back and captain Steve Bruce was in his 34th year and Gary Pallister was approaching 30.

Injuries to first-choice right-back Paul Parker meant that May was often used as a right-back in his first season, and rarely played in his preferred centre-back position due to the strong partnership of Bruce and Pallister.

Bruce departed to Birmingham City soon after, and May became a regular starter in the 1996–97 season, making over 40 appearances and often being paired with Gary Pallister, although a third centre-back, new signing Ronny Johnsen, had been signed in the summer of 1996 and was a regular in the first team. His contributions were important as United retained the league title and also reached the semi-final of the Champions League after a 4–0 victory over Porto in the quarter-final, in which May scored the first goal. His form meant that he received a late call-up to the England national team for a friendly against Mexico, but he never actually won an international cap.

The purchases of Henning Berg and Jaap Stam, as well as the emergence of Wes Brown, limited his chances further during the late 1990s and he saw very little action with the first team. as Stam was being rested for the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich. May was named on the bench for that match, and is remembered for the way he led the celebrations after the match, despite not playing one single minute in the Champions League that season. A popular chant with the crowd was "David May, superstar! Got more medals than Shearer!" – in reference to the lack of success enjoyed by May's former Blackburn colleague Alan Shearer, who was one of the finest strikers of his generation but won just one trophy in a career which lasted nearly twenty years at the highest level.

The following season, May was loaned out to Huddersfield Town, where he played under Steve Bruce. In his first appearance for the Terriers, however, he picked up an injury and had to return for treatment to Old Trafford,

Burnley At the end of his contract with Manchester United in the summer of 2003, May was given a free transfer and snapped up by Burnley manager Stan Ternent, an old friend of Ferguson's, to bolster his leaky defence. while at the end of the month he was sent off against Wimbledon for two yellow cards.

In December 2003, May was headbutted by Ternent following a disagreement at the club training ground. They later settled their differences. and captained the team on a number of occasions.

Bacup Borough May joined non-League club Bacup Borough in November 2004 where he finished his playing career.

Coaching career After retiring as a player with Bacup Borough, May was appointed as assistant manager at the club. In 2007, he moved to Dubai to coach football at a school.

Personal life May was born in Oldham, Lancashire.

Since retiring May has become a wine importer. He is still a keen supporter of former club Manchester United,

Honours Blackburn Rovers Football League Second Division play-offs: 1992

Manchester United Premier League: 1995–96, 1996–97 FA Cup: 1995–96, 1998–99 FA Charity Shield: 1994, 1996 UEFA Champions League: 1998–99