When making my debut for United against Torpedo Moscow in September 1992, I did not imagine that my career would zoom forward as quickly as it did. Seen by many as one of the lynchpins to Manchester United's success, I have collected many Championship and FA Cup medals and a European Champions' League medal amongst others.
Along with my brother Phil, I am a regular in the United squad, but have come to be the first choice right back for both club and country, beating off fierce competition from my brother. Together we formed part of United's successful youth team of the early nineties which provided the stepping stones for players like Butty, Scholesies and Becks. Now they have simply transferred their success to the senior side and provided as effective at the top level as they did at junior level.
My quality has been acknowledged by my fellow professionals, as I have been selected to the PFA Premiership Eleven on several occasions. My hard-tackling and powerful running have meant that I have been as effective going forward (alongside my best friend Beckham on the right wing) as I am defending.
In United's famously shaky defence of 2001/02, my best performances were as centre-half, alongside Laurent Blanc, but it still seems that my lack of height will keep me at right-back. My season ended badly as he broke a bone in my foot against Deportivo, and that ruled me out of the World Cup.
2002/03 was another year where injuries affected me and my form. The nadir of my season and probably my entire career came at Maine Road in November when my bad mistake cost United one of the three goals in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. Known as the biggest United fan in the squad, I have always been a target for opposition fans, who greatly enjoyed my misery afterwards.
However, I bounced back with a heroic performance at Anfield where I inspired an under-strength United to victory over Liverpool, and while I was in and out of the team for the rest of the campaign, it is hard to imagine myself ever wanting to leave even if I lost my regular place in the team.
I was a typically dependable fixture in the United defence in 2003/04, and they struggled without me after I picked up a suspension for head-butting Steve McMcManaman (assclown) in an FA Cup derby clash. I was also one of England's best performers in Euro 2004, playing a vital part in a team which eventually got knocked out on penalties to hosts Portugal at the Quarter-Final stage.
The 2004/05 season proved dissapointing for me, as it did for almost all of the United squad. Although I played 34 times for the Red Devils - even scoring in a European match against Lyon - I could not inspire a below-average United to any silverware whatsoever.
The low-point of my season came from a rush of blood to my head when I kicked the ball at an Everton fan (he was a prick anyway, and deserved it) in a fit of frustration during the 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park which saw our title challenge finally burn out altogether.
2005/06 proved to a big season for me, starting with the departure of my brother to Everton (there's only enough room for one class act at this club). Injury ruled me out of much of the early stages of the season, but when I returned in the Autumn, it was as new captain of Man United, following the departure of Roy Keane (bastard).
I lifted my first trophy as skipper in February 2006 when United won the Carling Cup for only the second time, while I ended the season playing for England at the 2006 World Cup finals, though my appearances were limited by injuries. I finished the tournament with the captain's armband after old Becks went off injured against Portugal, but couldn't inspire my country in the penalty shoot-out. Stupid Ronny.
