The 9 Greatest Moments in the History of Manchester United Manchester United is an institution of English sport, with millions of fans around the world. For more than 100 years United have inspired and excited all those who have been fortunate enough to watch them play, winning countless trophies and creating many precious memories in the process. Listed chronologically, heres a look at the 9 greatest moments in Manchester Uniteds illustrious history. Start Slideshow 1. Newton Heath Saved From Financial Ruin, 1902 Prior to 1902 Manchester United had existed as Newton Heath LYR, a club formed by employees of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Initially formed in 1878 the club was accepted into the Football League in 1892, but just a few years later the newly formed outfit was facing financial ruin. By 1902 Newton Heath had been issued with a winding up order and things looked bleak. However, following on from a chance meeting at a fundraising event a few months earlier, the club would be saved. At the Grand Bazaar hosted in Manchester, local businessman John Henry Davies had followed a dog belonging to club captain Harry Stafford, subsequently leading to him meeting the team. After the encounter Davies, along with three associates, agreed to invest £2,000 to save the club. It was under this new regime that Newton Heath LYR was famously renamed to Manchester United. Simply, without these events, there may not have even been a Manchester United today. 2. Busby Stamps His Authority, 1945 Sir Matt Busby shaped the history of English football as a whole in a way that few others have ever done. His arrival at United in the 1940s remains one of the most important and greatest days in the clubs history. Busby began his role as United manager following the conclusion of the Second World War and the return of organised football. After meeting chairman, James Gibson in early 1945, Busby, who had previous ties with both Manchester City and Liverpool, demanded a five year contract instead of the three years on offer. The Scot also demanded more authority in his position, a level that hadnt really been seen before in English football. Busby wanted to freely choose his own staff and act on his own judgements on all matters regarding football. Such an iron-fist model would later become the norm across the country and was one that Alex Ferguson used to achieve so much success. 3. The Busby Babes Win Consecutive Titles, 1956/1957 The Busby Babes took English football by storm in the 1950s. Sir Matt Busbys assistant Jimmy Murphy had been working tirelessly to shape a generation of future stars, the likes of which included Duncan Edwards, Eddie Colman and David Pegg. Edwards made his first team debut at just 16-years-old in 1953, while several of the others also made their professional bow whilst still teenagers. The clubs methods turned many heads, as a reliance on talented young players rather than experienced professionals was a new and exciting occurrence. In 1956 the Babes won the First Division by an astonishing margin of 11 points. Their dominance was backed up a year later when the team successfully retained their title by a similarly healthy margin of 8 points. Significantly, it was the first time in Uniteds history that the club had successfully defended a league title, later a hallmark of the Alex Ferguson era. United were also well on course for a third consecutive title in 1958, until the Munich Air Disaster cruelly cut short the lives of eight players. 4. Best Destroys the Mighty Benfica, 1966 George Best was an exceptionally talented teenager, making his United debut at the tender age of 17 in September 1963. By the next season he was already first team regular and one of the best players in England, but his real breakout was to come spectacularly in the European Cup. In 1965/66 a new United team, reborn after Munich, played their first European Cup campaign since 1958, coming up against Benfica in the quarter finals. The Portuguese were a formidable opponent and had twice been European champions earlier in the decade, as well boasting an overwhelmingly successful domestic record. United held a one goal lead following the the first leg at Old Trafford, but nobody could have expected what happened next. The young Best ran riot, scoring twice as United romped to an unprecedented 5-1 win in Lisbon. Such a win confirmed that United could once again consider themselves among Europes very best. After his dominant performance, the 19-year-old Best was dubbed the fifth Beatle by the Portuguese media, arguably first real step on his journey to superstardom. 5. European Champions, 1968 Sir Matt Busby had always dreamed of his club becoming European champions. The scot had been a European pioneer in England, defying the demand of the FA in order to compete on the continent. However, the fateful events on the icy runway in Munich had consumed him with guilt. Busby had considered quitting as he felt he couldnt go on, but was eventually persuaded to stay so that those who died had not done so in vain. A full 10 years after Munich, Busby finally got his closure in the European Cup. A United team inspired by George Best and Bobby Charlton had seen off Real Madrid in the semi finals. Two strikes from Charlton and another stellar performance and an iconic goal from the young Best, still only 22-years-old, helped beat Benfica 4-1 at Wembley. In doing so, United had become European Champions for the first time, the first English club to lift the famous trophy. 6. 26 Years of Hurt Comes to an End, 1993 Alex Ferguson endured troubled times during his early years as United manager and was at one point allegedly just a single game from the sack in Janaury 1990. But, though United had won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1990 and 1991 respectively, the club had still not won a league title since the days of Busby, Best, Law and Charlton. By the time the Premier League era began in 1992/93, it was 26 years since Uniteds last national crown, a period which had seen Liverpool dominate England and Europe. United didnt start the season well, failing to win any of their opening three games in August 1992 and suffered another poor run between late September and early October. However Eric Cantonas arrival from Leeds in December gave the team a much needed impetus and two controversially late goals from Steve Bruce against Sheffield Wednesday in April put United on course for the title. In early May, Bruce lifted the Premier League trophy alongside Bryan Robson as United were crowned champions of England for the first time in a generation. 7. Solskjaer Seals the Treble, 1999 Under the guidance of Alex Ferguson, United dominated English football in the 1990s, winning four of the first five Premier League titles, including two league and cup doubles. But European glory still proved elusive. Despite being the first English team to win the European Cup, United had since seen Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all match, and in some cases better, their record. Prior to the 1999 Champions League final United had seen off the challenge of Arsenal in the Premier League and had already secured a domestic double after a routine win over Newcastle in the FA Cup final, which meant a treble, unprecedented in English football, was on the cards. However, with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes suspended the task was less than straightforward. Bayern grabbed an early lead and were unfortunate not to extend it later in the game as efforts rebounded off post and bar. As the game ticked over into stoppage time, United won a corner and Teddy Sheringham scrambled a dramatic equaliser. Just a few moments later Sheringham got his head to another corner and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stuck out a boot to net an even more dramatic winner. 8. Kings of Europe in Moscow, 2008 Coming at the end of a season which had seen United narrowly beat Chelsea to the Premier League title, the 2008 Champions League Final showdown between the two clubs highlighted the strength of English football in Europe. Though fans were spared the same intense stoppage time drama from Barcelona 9 years earlier, destiny was once again on Uniteds side on a rain soaked night in Moscow. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 42nd goal of an incredible season to give United the lead, though the advantage was later cancelled out by Frank Lampards equaliser. Similar to Bayern in 1999, Chelsea then saw an effort come back off the woodwork. With the scores still level at the close, the game went to extra time and then penalties. Of all people, Ronaldo missed his kick in the shootout, presenting John Terry with the opportunity to win it. But the Chelsea captain slipped at the worst moment and saw his penalty hit the post. United went on to win in sudden death of the shootout to be crowned champions of Europe for the third time. 9. CHAMP19NS, 2011 For a long time Alex Fergusons motivation at United was knocking Liverpool right off their f***ing perch. When the Scot first arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, United had won just 7 league titles. By 1990 Liverpool had amassed an incredible 18 wins after two decades of dominance in the 1970s and 1980s. After ruling the Premier League era, United finally drew level with Liverpools record tally in 2009, having beaten the Anfield club to top spot by just 4 points. A year later, though Cristiano Ronaldo had departed for Real Madrid, United came within a solitary point of winning a 19th title and many sensed it wouldnt be long before Fergusons dream became a reality. The record breaking 19th win came in 2011, sealed with a single point away at Blackburn as United beat Chelsea to top spot. As a result, United were officially and outright the most successful club in the history of English football, a record only extended with another league win in 2013.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 21:15:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015