After turning professional in 1996, he made his senior debut in 1998 and became a semi regular first team player during the 1998–99 season, when the club won the Treble.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Brown is "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years".

Brown announced his retirement from international football on 8 August 2010, just a day after being recalled to the England squad by Fabio Capello.

Born in Longsight, Manchester, Brown began his football career as a schoolboy playing for the Burnage High School[5] and Fletcher Moss Rangers, a Greater Manchester youth side, and was a former student of the Lilleshall Hall FA School of Excellence, as well as spending time at United's football Academy, which he joined at the age of 12.

[citation needed] On 4 May 1998, Brown made his first team FA Premier League debut against Leeds United, coming on as a substitute.

His strong comeback the following year prompted praise from all corners, with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson making waves by proclaiming Brown to be Manchester United's most talented defender.

Brown finished the season in good form, notably giving an imperious, man of the match-winning performance in the FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal.

[7] Brown was a member of the side that won the FA Cup that year, against Millwall in Cardiff, and later went on to collect runners-up medals in the 2005 and 2007 finals.

[13] Brown made his debut on the opening day of the season at Liverpool, where he was awarded man of the match as Sunderland drew 1–1.

[citation needed] Brown's season ended through injury in the FA Cup fourth-round tie with Middlesbrough in January 2012.

[22] On 21 September 2016, following a number of injury set-backs and three-and-a-half months training with the club to regain fitness, Brown signed a short-term contract with Blackburn Rovers, lasting until the end of the season.

[23] As part of the deal, Brown would also take up a coaching role with the club's development squad, a team for which he had played a number of games while regaining fitness.

He worked alongside existing coaches Damien Johnson and David Dunn and offered guidance and advice to the club's younger players.

Brown made his debut in 1999 against Hungary and booked a place in Sven-Göran Eriksson's squad for the 2002 World Cup, although he spent his time on the bench.

[4] Brown performed consistently well in the 2005–06 season which led to his recall to the England squad for the friendly game against Uruguay.

Although he played no part in this fixture, he hoped to make it into the final England squad for the 2006 World Cup, though he was ultimately not selected.

Brown scored his sole senior international goal in a friendly against the Czech Republic on 20 August 2008 at Wembley Stadium, heading in a David Beckham corner in the 45th minute.