| DATE | NAME | NOTES |
| 1878–1896 | Unknown | |
| 1896–1903 | HARRY STAFFORD
| Captain of Newton Heath and first captain of Manchester United |
| 1903–1904 | Unknown | |
| 1904–1907 | JACK PEDDIE
| |
| 1907–1913 | CHARLIE ROBERTS
| |
| 1913–1919 | GEORGE STACEY
| |
| 1919–1922 | GEORGE HUNTER
| |
| 1922–1928 | FRANK BARSON
| |
| 1928–1932 | JACK WILSON
| |
| 1932–1936 | HUGH MCLENAHAN
| |
| 1936–1939 | JIMMY BROWN
| |
| 1939–1946 | NONE | No football was played during the Second World War
|
| 1946–1953 | JOHNNY CAREY
| First post-war captain, and first from outside the UK
|
| 1953–1954 | ALLENBY CHITON
| Made captain for only one season, after Johnny Carey retired |
| 1954–1958 | ROGER BRYNE
| Died in the 1958 Munich air disaster
|
| 1958–1962 | BILL FOULKES
| |
| 1962-1967 | NOEL CANTWELL
| |
| 1967–1973 | BOBBY CHARLTON
|
|
| 1973–1979 | MARTIN BURCHAN
| |
| 1979–1982 | SAMMY MCLLROY
| |
| 1982–1994 | BRYAN ROBSON
| Longest-serving captain in United's history |
| 1994–1996 | STEVE BRUCE
| |
| 1996–1997 | ERIC CANTONA
| First United captain from outside the United Kingdom or the Rep. of Ireland
|
| 1997–2005 | ROY KEANE
| Won more trophies than any other United captain
|