Steve Bruce
If Michael Carrick was underappreciated by England, Steve Bruce was almost criminally overlooked having failed to make a single appearance for his country during an otherwise hugely successful career at club level.
Bruce joined Manchester United in 1987 and left nine years later, having played a major role in developing the club into the dominant force in English football.
It was Bruce's late brace against Sheffield Wednesday in April 1993 which proved to be the pivotal moment in the first ever Premier League title race, with United coming from behind in the dying stages to pick up a crucial win which took them a big step towards a first top-flight crown in 26 years.
Bruce formed one of the best defensive partnerships in the club's history alongside Gary Pallister, with that base providing the means for United to go on and win three Premier League titles during Bruce's time at Old Trafford.
In all, Bruce won 12 trophies with United - seven of which came in the Premier League era - eventually leaving in 1996 having scored 51 goals in 414 appearances for the club.
