A £12.6million record-signing, Yorke was an instant hit with the Manchester United fans and by the end of that first season was named Carling Player of the Year.

His goals, his demeanour, his overall contribution, his obvious love for the game and gratitude for all that it has given him, all of this makes him a very special player.

Brought from Tobago by Graham Taylor, he spent several seasons at Aston Villa. But it is with United, and particularly in his partnership with Andy Cole, that Yorke emerged as a world-class striker.

That relationship with Cole came as a surprise to critics who anticipated that the players were too similar. How wrong they were has been proven over and again, as the pair set scoring records in that first season.

Yorke's second season at Old Trafford was less dazzling. International calls (to the Gold Cup and for World Cup qualifiers) kept him on the move for much of the time. And yet he still managed 23 goals. Not bad!

But it was all downhill from there for Dwight, and by the 2001/02 season it became clear he did not figure in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans. A series of much-publicised off-field antics proved to be his downfall - not least his relationship with model Jordan which eventually saw her fall pregnant with his child.

Was originally put on the market at £6million. Blackburn Rovers were desperate to land the player but refused to pay the fee.

After a long process of haggling, Yorke eventually signed for Rovers for just £2million in July 2002. An extra £600,000 could be payable on Yorke's appearances and Blackburn's performance. The player signed a three-year contract.

Yorke scored 64 goals in 151 games for United. He was reunited with Cole at Ewood Park, who had moved to Rovers just months earlier.