By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Jaap Stam was a Ferguson victim Why Ferguson has got it right Former stars back Ferguson

David Beckham has joined a lengthy list of Old Trafford idols who have had their departure rubber-stamped by the ruthless Sir Alex Ferguson.

Beckham has left the glamour of Manchester United for the even glitzier surroundings of Real Madrid and The Bernabeu.

He now has to prove he is worthy of joining Real's superstars, while at the same time proving Manchester United boss Ferguson was wrong to show him the door.

So who else has left Old Trafford with a point to prove - and is there really life after Ferguson and Manchester United?

PAUL MCGRATH

The Republic of Ireland defender was a stalwart of Ron Atkinson's colourful Old Trafford side, a man who played as hard off the field as on it.

It was this lifestyle, which Ferguson regarded as part of a drinking culture at the club, that sealed his fate.

Villa landed McGrath for �450,000 in the summer of 1989 and he is still regarded as one of their finest players.

He was PFA Player of the Year in 1993 and played in Villa's League Cup wins in 1994 and 1996.

NORMAN WHITESIDE

Whiteside was the teenage prodigy who won a place in Old Trafford folklore, but he also fell foul of Ferguson's determination to clean up the club's image.

He was sold to Everton for �750,000 at the start of the 1989/90 season and had two injury-plagued years before retiring because of a knee problem.

MARK HUGHES

Hughes made himself an Old Trafford legend in two brilliant spells at Old Trafford - but he was part of a fierce Ferguson cull after the 1995 FA Cup final defeat against Everton.

Hughes went on to win FA Cup and European Cup Winners medals with Chelsea after leaving Old Trafford.

He also had spells at Southampton and Everton before putting himself among the silverware again by playing in Blackburn's Worthington Cup Final win against Spurs in 2002.

He retired at the end of last season at the age of 38 and is now carving an outstanding reputation as manager of Wales.

PAUL INCE

Ferguson grew tired of the self-styled "Guv'nor", the man he infamously labelled "a big time Charlie" in a fly-on-the-wall documentary after he left Old Trafford.

He was sold to Inter Milan for �7m in 1995, where he became a fans' hero and helped them reach the Uefa Cup final in 1997 before joining Liverpool in a �4.2m deal.

Ince had an unsatisfactory Liverpool career before being shown the door by Gerard Houllier in 1999.

He gave sterling service to Middlesbrough for two seaons before inspiring Wolves back into the Premiership.

ANDREI KANCHELSKIS

The flying winger left Old Trafford in acrimonious circumstances to join Everton in a �5.5m deal in 1995.

The Ukrainian had one outstanding season at Everton, but struggled after Euro 96 before leaving for Fiorentina in an �8m deal.

He was a flop in Italy and returned to have fleeting success with Rangers, but spells at Manchester City and Southampton proved fruitless.

MARK BOSNICH

Ferguson broke the habit of a lifetime by giving the colourful Australian goalkeeper a second chance to join United.

He left Old Trafford in 1991 and re-surfaced at Aston Villa, but was then brought back into the Old Trafford fold in June 1999 after Peter Schmeichel retired.

Bosnich gets ban

Bosnich was dogged by injury and poor form, and was replaced after only one season by Fabien Barthez.

He embarked on a war of attrition with Ferguson, threatening to sit out his lucrative contract before being allowed to join Chelsea on a free transfer in January 2001.

Once again injuries denied him a regular place and he is currently serving a nine-match FA ban for failing a drug test after testing positive for cocaine.

ANDY COLE

Left Manchester United on good terms in December 2001 when he joined Blackburn Rovers in an �8m deal.

He had played his part in United's triumphs, and showed he was a winner again with the crucial goal in Blackburn's 2002 Worthington Cup final win against Spurs.

Cole had mixed fortunes last term, but still helped Blackburn qualify for the Uefa Cup.

DWIGHT YORKE

Yorke was another established Manchester United star who came into conflict with Ferguson over his lifestyle.

He left Aston Villa for United in a �12.5m deal just after the start of the 1998/99 season and played a key role as they claimed the treble of the title, FA Cup and Champions League that season.

But his form fell away and he spent long spells in the wilderness, capturing more headlines for his relationship with surgically reconstructed model Jordan than his football.

Yorke was eventually re-united with Cole at Blackburn in a �2m move in July 2002 - but has only shown flashes of a return to his best form.

JAAP STAM

Arguably Ferguson's most contentious victim, with speculation still surrounding the true story of his sudden Old Trafford exit.

The Dutch defender had been an outstanding figure at United after signing in 1998, but was sold to Lazio almost overnight in August 2001 after the publication of his book.

Stam revealed Ferguson had made an illegal approach to sign him when he moved from PSV Eindhoven in a �10.5m move and also laid bare some tasty Old Trafford's secrets.

Ferguson insists the �16.5m move to Italy was a purely footballing decision - but Stam has never sounded convinced.