Who was the first foreign player to play for Manchester United?

Question

By foreign I mean from outside the UK.

Answer 1

Arnold Mühren in 1982, is the earliest I can find.
Olsen didn't join till 1984 and Sivabaek till 1986.

Answer 2

Alex Bell - South African born but played for Scotland 1902-13
George Hunter - Indian born but considered English 1914-15
Charlie Mitten - Burma born but considered English 1946-50
Carlo Sartori - Italian who is probably considered the first actually foreign player to play for Man Utd, made his debut in 1967 and made 55 appearances.
Following him was Nikola Jovanovic, Arnold Muhren, Jesper Olsen, John Sivebaek, Mark Bosnich and Andrei Kanchelskis.

EDIT
If you include Ireland then M Hamill (1911-14), W Crooks (1921-22), D Lyner (1922-23) and T Breen (1936-37) predate Johnny Carey.

Answer 3

By foreign do you mean outside the EU? Because for many years there have been players from Scotland, Ireland and Wales playing but surely you don't count them as "foreign"?
I think the first non British player was probably Peter Schmeichel but Andrei Kanchelskis also signed in the same season (1990-91).

Answer 4

the_kop2...

The frist non british player would have been one from Ireland not Denmark

First foreign was Johnny Carey from Ireland 1936 - 1953

Why was i given the thumbs down i am speaking the truth Ireland is a foreign Country to England

Answer 5

Jesper olsen or John Sivebaek are the earliest from outside the british isles that i can remember.

Answer 6

I remember Carlo Sartori?

Answer 7

Eric Cantona.

Answer 8

Giggsie from Wales.

Answer 9

Some player who couldn't play well at all so got sent back to wherever they came from!!!!!!!!
You lot Should support a team that can play football!
A Team like CHELSEA F.C.
Blue is the colour Football is the game, Man U are rubbish and Liverpool are the same! So come and support us coz we're the better team! Coz Chelsea, Chelsea is our Name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

JOHN SIVEBAEK BOUT 1982 I THINK DANISH FULL BACK