Manchester United’s connection with their famous “Class of ’92” remains as complex as ever, illustrated by the recent back-and-forth between defender Lisandro Martinez and former players Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
The tension flared on The Good, The Bad, The Football podcast, where Butt and Scholes previously teased Martinez ahead of the Manchester derby. After United’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford, the duo praised the Argentina defender for his performance but questioned his reaction to their earlier remarks.
“Fair play to him,” Butt said. “He has gone man-to-man with the best centre-forward in the world. He’s done really well. But when someone gets so upset about comments on a podcast or in the media… and then says, ‘come to my house’ — grow up. If you react like that, maybe you shouldn’t be at a big football club.”
Before the derby, Butt and Scholes had joked that Erling Haaland could lift the 5ft 7in Martinez and run with him at Old Trafford. Following the victory, Martinez responded: “Everyone can talk on television, but when you see [them] face to face, no one says anything.”
This episode highlights the delicate balance United maintain with their legendary alumni. Ryan Giggs, Scholes, David Beckham, Butt, and the Neville brothers collectively made 3,448 appearances for the club, forming the backbone of Sir Alex Ferguson’s second great team that won the Treble in 1999.
Members of the Class of ’92 have stayed involved in coaching and management. Giggs served briefly as interim manager after David Moyes’ departure in 2014 and later as assistant to Louis van Gaal. Butt, Scholes, and Phil Neville have all coached under Giggs, while Butt also served as head of United’s academy from 2016 to 2021, shaping the club’s youth development philosophy.
Butt’s commitment to nurturing talent is evident. On December 15, he coached underprivileged children in Moss Side through the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, despite United playing Bournemouth in the Premier League hours later. He has also publicly defended the importance of youth development and voiced concerns when he felt the club’s priorities were misaligned, including a recent dispute over season tickets.
The Class of ’92’s involvement continues beyond football. Gary Neville attended Old Trafford for the announcement that United would host UA92 University, founded by the Class of ’92 in 2019. Their bond with the club remains strong, yet their candid opinions—especially critical ones—continue to attract attention.
