MANCHESTER UNITED FC

[Nosferatu]

Erm...da, moral sam... bilo je i vrijeme...

Nikad prikladnije nego nakon gledanja veličanstvene pobjede 2-4 nad Evertonom u gostima, nakon vodstva Evertona još u 50. minuti 2-0...

Kao što rekoh Čezu, to je klub koji voliš jer nikad ne odustaju, koji
grizu do kraja, za koji i kad gube koliko god, uvijek vjeruješ da se mogu
vratiti!!!!

By the way čelzi je remizral tak da je 3 kola prije kraja + 5 za United...
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

A sad na izradu topica...ahhhh

[Nosferatu]

Manchester United F.C.
Full name Manchester United Football Club
Nickname(s) The Red Devils, United
Founded 1878, as Newton Heath LYR FC
Ground Old Trafford
Capacity 76,312
Chairman Flag of United States Joel & Avram Glazer
Manager Flag of Scotland Sir Alex Ferguson
League Premier League
2005-06 2nd

Manchester United Football Club are an English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide.[1][2] Manchester United are one of the most successful clubs in the world and are second only to Liverpool F.C. in terms of trophies won by an English club. They have won the Premier League/Football League 15 times, the FA Cup a record 11 times, the League Cup twice, the European Cup/UEFA Champions League twice, the UEFA Cup Winners Cup once, the Intercontinental Cup once, and the European Super Cup once. The club has had the highest average attendance in English football for the past 34 seasons, with the exception of 1987-89.[3] Among European clubs, they have been perennial revenue leaders for the late 1990s and early 2000s, they are still the fourth richest (in terms of revenue) in the world.[4]

Since 1991, the club had been run as a public limited company, with an attempted takeover by Rupert Murdoch in 1998 blocked by the British Government.[5] During the late 1990s, the club's value floated to a peak of £1 billion, making a takeover unlikely. However, in May 2005 Malcolm Glazer completed a hostile takeover of the club and delisted it from the stock exchange.[6]

The current club captain of Manchester United is Gary Neville, who took over from Roy Keane on 16 November 2005.
Contents

History

Early years (1878-1945)

Main article: Manchester United pre-1945

The Manchester United team at the start of the 1905/6 season in which they were runners up in Division 2 and promoted
The Manchester United team at the start of the 1905/6 season in which they were runners up in Division 2 and promoted

The club was formed as Newton Heath LYR F.C. in 1878 as the works team of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath, then started to sever it's links with the rail depot in 1890, becoming Newton Heath F.C.. After nearing bankruptcy in 1902, the club was taken over by J H Davies who changed its name to Manchester United, chosen over Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic. The Old Trafford Football Ground was bombed during the Second World War, leading the club to seek charity from their then more-illustrious neighbours Manchester City, who allowed them to play their games at Maine Road for a period.

The Busby years (1945-1969)

Main article: Manchester United 1945-1969

Matt Busby was appointed manager in 1945 and took a then-unheard of approach to his job, joining the players for training as well as performing administrative tasks. He was immediately successful, with the club finishing second in the league in 1947 and winning the FA Cup in 1948.

He adopted a policy of bringing in players from the youth team whenever possible, and the team won the league in 1956 with an average age of only 22. This youth policy has now become instrumental in the club's success. The following season, they won the league again and reached the FA Cup final, losing to Aston Villa. They also became the first English team to compete in the European Cup, and reached the semi-final.
A plaque at Old Trafford in honour of the players who died in the Munich Air Disaster.
A plaque at Old Trafford in honour of the players who died in the Munich Air Disaster.

Tragedy struck the following season, when the plane carrying the team home from a European Cup match crashed on take-off at a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany. The Munich air disaster of 6 February 1958 claimed the lives of eight players and another fifteen passengers. There were rumors of the club folding and withdrawing from competitions, but with Jimmy Murphy taking over as manager while Busby recovered from his injuries, the club continued playing with a makeshift side. Despite the accident, they reached the FA Cup final again, where they lost to Bolton. At the end of the season, UEFA offered the FA the opportunity to submit both United and the eventual champions, Wolverhampton, for the 1958-59 European Cup as a tribute to the victims, but the FA declined.

Busby rebuilt the team throughout the early 1960s, signing players such as Denis Law and Pat Crerand. The team won the FA Cup in 1963, then won the league in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968, being the first English club to do so. This team was notable for containing three European Footballers of the Year: Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. Busby resigned as manager in 1969 and was replaced by the reserve-team coach and former United player, Wilf McGuinness.

1969-1986

Main article: Manchester United 1969-1986

Manchester United FC badge in the 1970s
Manchester United FC badge in the 1970s

United struggled to replace Busby, and the team struggled under Wilf McGuinness and Frank O'Farrell before Tommy Docherty became manager at the end of 1972. Docherty, or 'the Doc', saved United from relegation that season but United were relegated in 1974. The team won promotion at the first attempt and reached the FA Cup final in 1976, but were beaten by Southampton. They reached the final again in 1977, beating Liverpool. In spite of this success, and his popularity with the supporters, Docherty was sacked soon after the final when he was found to have had an affair with the physiotherapist's wife.

Dave Sexton replaced Docherty as manager in the summer of 1977, and made the team play in a more defensive formation. This style was unpopular with supporters, who were used to the attacking football preferred by Docherty and Busby, and after failing to win a trophy Sexton was sacked in 1981, despite winning his last seven games in charge.

He was replaced by the flamboyant Ron Atkinson who immediately broke the British record transfer fee to sign Bryan Robson from West Brom. Atkinson's team featured new signings such as Jesper Olsen and Gordon Strachan playing alongside the former youth-team players Norman Whiteside and Mark Hughes. United won the FA Cup in 1983 and 1985 and were overwhelming favourites to win the league in the 1985-86 season after winning their first ten league games, opening a ten-point gap over their rivals as early as October. The team's form collapsed, however, and United finished the season in fourth place. The poor form continued into the following season, and with United on the edge of the First Division's relegation zone, Atkinson was sacked.

Alex Ferguson era, pre-Treble (1986-1998)

Main article: Manchester United 1986-1998

Alex Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen to replace Atkinson and guided the club to an 11th place finish. The following season (1987-8, United finished second, with Brian McClair becoming the first United player since George Best to score twenty league goals in a season.

However, United struggled throughout the next two seasons, with many of Ferguson's signings not reaching the expectations of the fans. Alex Ferguson was reportedly on the verge of being sacked at the beginning of 1990 but a Mark Robins goal gave United a narrow 1-0 win in the third round of the FA Cup over Nottingham Forest kept the season alive and the team went on to win the competition, beating Crystal Palace in a replay in the final.

United won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1990-91, beating that season's Spanish champions Barcelona in the final, but the following season was a disappointment for United as a late season slump saw them miss out on the league to rivals Leeds United. Meanwhile in 1991, the club floated on the London Stock Exchange with a valuation of £47 million[7], bringing its finances into the public eye.

The arrival of Eric Cantona in November 1992 provided the crucial spark for United, and blending with the best of trusted talent in Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Paul Ince, as well as budding stars like Ryan Giggs, they finished the 1992-93 season as Champions for the first time since 1967. They won the double (the league and the FA Cup) for the first time the following season, aided by the capture of Roy Keane, a determined midfielder from Nottingham Forest, who would go on to become the team captain. In the same year however, the club was plunged into mourning following the death of legendary manager and club president Matt Busby, who died on 20 January 1994.

In 1994-95, Cantona received an eight month suspension for jumping into the crowd and assaulting Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons for racial abuse, in United's game at Selhurst Park. Drawing their last league match and losing to Everton in the FA Cup final left United as runners-up in both the league and FA Cup. Ferguson then outraged the supporters by selling key players and replacing them with players from the club's youth team, including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes. The new players, several of whom quickly became regular internationals for England, did surprisingly well and United won the double again in 1995-96. This was the first time any English club had won the double twice, and the feat was nicknamed the "Double Double".[8]

They won the league in 1997, and Eric Cantona announced his retirement from football at the age of 30. They started the following season (1997-9 well, but they finished the season in second place, behind the double-winning champions Arsenal.

The Treble (1998-99)

Main article: Manchester United 1998-1999

1998-99 was when Manchester United had the most successful season in English club football history as they became the first and only English team to win The Treble - winning the Premiership, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season. After a very tense Premier League season, Manchester United won the title on the final day beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, whilst Arsenal won 1-0 against Aston Villa. Winning the Premiership was the first part of the Treble in place, the one part that manager Alex Ferguson described as the hardest. In the FA Cup Final United faced Newcastle United and won 2-0 with goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. In the final match of that season, the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final they defeated Bayern Munich in what was then considered one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed, losing going into injury time and scoring twice to win 2-1. Ferguson was subsequently knighted for his services to football. Rounding out that record breaking year, Manchester United also won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Palmeiras 1-0 in Tokyo.

After the Treble (1999-present)

Main article: Manchester United 1999-present

United won the league in 2000 and 2001 but the press saw these seasons as failures as they failed to regain the European Cup. In 2000, Manchester United became one of 14 founder members of the G-14 group of leading European football clubs. [9] Ferguson adopted more defensive tactics to make United harder to beat in Europe but it was not a success and United finished the 2001-02 Premiership season in third place. They regained the league the following season (2002-03) and started the following season well, but their form dropped significantly when Rio Ferdinand received a controversial eight month suspension for missing a drugs test. They did win the 2004 FA Cup, however, knocking out Arsenal (that season's eventual champions) on their way to the final in which they beat Millwall.

The 2004-05 season was characterised by a failure to score goals, mainly due to the injury of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and United finished the season trophyless and in third place in the league. This time, even the "consolation prize" of the FA Cup eluded them as Arsenal beat United on penalties after a goalless draw after 120 minutes. Off the pitch, the main story was the possibility of the club being taken over and at the end of the season, Tampa businessman Malcolm Glazer, (who also owns the American football team Tampa Bay Buccaneers), acquired a controlling interest in the club. United made a poor start to the 2005-06 season, with midfielder Roy Keane leaving the club to join Celtic after publicly criticising several of his teammates, and the club failed to qualify for the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade after losing to Portuguese team SL Benfica. Their season was also dealt cruel blows with injuries to key players such as Gabriel Heinze, Alan Smith, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. However, they were prevented from being left empty handed in successive seasons - a disappointment not endured in the last 17 years - by winning the 2006 League Cup beating newly-promoted neighbours Wigan Athletic in the final 4-0. United also ensured a second-place finish and automatic Champions League qualification on the final day of the season by defeating Charlton Athletic 4-0. At the end of the 2005-2006 season, one of United's key strikers, Ruud van Nistelrooy, left the club to join Real Madrid, due to a row with Alex Ferguson.[10]

The 2006-07 season saw United return to the attacking style of football that was the cornerstone of their years of success in the late 1990s, scoring almost 20 more goals in 32 matches than second placed side Chelsea. In January 2007, United signed Henrik Larsson on a two-month loan from Swedish side Helsingborgs, and the striker played an important role in positioning United on course for a second Treble. United advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions' League on 11 April 2007.[11]

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Manchester United's entry into European competition, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, Manchester United played Marcello Lippi's European XI at Old Trafford on 13 March 2007. United won the game 4-3, including two goals from Wayne Rooney[12].

United are still on course to complete another Treble, having set up a meeting with Chelsea at the first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday 19 May 2007, following a 4-1 defeat of Watford in the semi-final. United could also meet Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final should both sides win their semi-finals against AC Milan and Liverpool respectively.

The Malcolm Glazer takeover

Main article: Malcolm Glazer takeover of Manchester United

On 13 May 2005, American businessman Malcolm Glazer acquired a controlling interest in the club through his investment vehicle Red Football Ltd. in a takeover valuing the club at approximately £800 million (approx. $1.5 billion). On 16 May, he increased his share to the 75% necessary to delist the club from the Stock Exchange, making it private again, and announced his intention to do so within 20 days. On 8 June he appointed his sons to the board of Manchester United as non-executive directors.

In July 2006 the club announced a refinancing package. Previously the debt taken on by the Glazers to financing the club was split between the club and the family, but now it will all be in the club. The total amount will be £660 million, on which interest payments will be £62 million a year. This is a 30% reduction in interest charges.

Club crest and colours

During its Newton Heath days, the club's home jerseys were yellow and green; this strip was revived as an away kit in the early 1990s to commemorate the club's 100 year anniversary. Manchester United's most recognised home strip is red jerseys, white shorts and black socks. Away strips are usually white jerseys with black shorts and white socks.

Third kits are usually all blue but the club has also used all black and on one occasion in the 1995-96 season they used all grey. This kit was dropped after Manchester United failed to win a single game while wearing it. At half-time during a game against Southampton, when Manchester United were already 3-0 down, they switched to another blue and white kit, eventually lost 3-1. According to the players, the grey kit wasn't visible enough which led to the poor results. [13][14]

Their jerseys now sport their main sponsor AIG. Currently, Manchester United's jerseys are red with gold stripes going down the side. The sleeves are capped with white and the AIG and Nike logos are also white. The MUFC embroidery at the bottom of the shirt is in gold. The club crest sits on a white shield. The away jerseys are white with black panels down the side. The crest sits on a black shield. The sleeves and collar are capped in gold and the AIG, Nike, and MUFC symbols are black.

The Manchester United crest has been altered on a few occasions, but the basic form remains similar. The badge is derived from the crest of the city of Manchester. The devil on the club badge stems from the club's nickname "The Red Devils", which was adopted in the early 60s after Sir Matt Busby heard it in reference to the red-shirted Salford rugby league side. By the end of the 1960s, the devil had started to be included on club programmes and scarves, before it was finally incorporated into the club badge in 1970, holding its unmistakable trident. In 1998, the badge was once again redesigned, this time removing the words "Football Club".[15]

Recent sponsorship

On 23 November 2005 Vodafone ended their £36 million, four year shirt sponsorship deal with Manchester United. On 6 April 2006, chief executive David Gill announced AIG as the new shirt[16] sponsors of Manchester United in a British record shirt sponsorship deal of £56.5 million to be paid over four years (£14.1 million a year). Manchester United now have the most valuable sponsorship deal in the world, due to the £15 million-a-year deal Juventus had with oil firm Tamoil being renegotiated. [17][18] The four-year agreement has been heralded as largest sponsorship deal in British history, eclipsing Chelsea's deal with Samsung. Other companies that Manchester United currently have sponsorship deals with include:

* AIG - Principal Sponsor
* Nike - Official Sportswear Partner
* Audi - Official Car Supplier and Dugout Seat Provider
* Budweiser - Official Beer
* AirAsia - Official Low Fare Airline
* Betfred - Official Betting Partner
* Tourism Malaysia - Official Destination Partner
* Century Radio - Official Radio Station
* viagogo - Secondary Ticketing Partner
* Royal Resorts - Official Leisure Property Development Partner

Support

Before World War II, few English football supporters travelled to away games because of the time, cost, and the fact that few had cars at the time. As City and United played home matches on alternate Saturdays, many Mancunians would watch United one week and City the next. After the war, a stronger rivalry developed and it became more common for a supporter to choose one team to follow exclusively.

When United won the league in 1956, they had the highest average home attendance in the league, a record that had been held by Newcastle United for the previous few years. Following the Munich air disaster in 1958, more people began to support United and many started to go to matches. This caused United's support to swell and is one reason why United have had the highest league attendances in English football for almost every season since then, even as a second division side in 1974-75.

A 2002 report, Do You Come From Manchester? showed that a higher proportion of Manchester City season ticket holders live in the Manchester postal districts, whilst United had the higher absolute number of season ticket holders living in the same area.[19]

In the late 1990s and early part of the 2000s, an increasing source of concern for many United supporters was the possibility of the club being taken over. The supporters’ group IMUSA (Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association) were extremely active in opposing a proposed takeover by Rupert Murdoch in 1998. Another pressure group, Shareholders United Against Murdoch (which became Shareholders United and is now the Manchester United Supporters' Trust) was formed at around this time to encourage supporters to buy shares in the club, partly to enable supporters to have a greater say in the issues that concern them, such as ticket prices and allocation, and partly to reduce the risk of an unwanted party buying enough shares to take over the club. However, this scheme failed to prevent Malcolm Glazer from becoming the majority share holder. Many supporters were outraged, and some formed a new club called F.C. United of Manchester.

Despite the anger towards the new owners, attendances have continued to increase, and the team's excellent performances have re-kindled the enthusiasm of the supporters. In recent years there has been much debate about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford for some games but during the 2006/7 season there have been several passionate and raucous occasions, possibly unsurpassed anywhere in European football.

The vocal United fans have a reputation for being innovative with a plethora of newly-created chants becoming established each season. Academic studies have confirmed that United's fans are likely to use a bigger repertoire of songs and chants at each game than any of their rivals.[20]

Players

First-team squad

As of 11 March 2007, according to combined sources on the official website: [1] [2] [3]. All loans until 30 June 2007 unless otherwise stated.
No. Position Player
1 Flag of Netherlands GK Edwin van der Sar
2 Flag of England DF Gary Neville (captain)
3 Flag of France DF Patrice Evra
4 Flag of Argentina DF Gabriel Heinze
5 Flag of England DF Rio Ferdinand
6 Flag of England DF Wes Brown
7 Flag of Portugal MF Cristiano Ronaldo
8 Flag of England FW Wayne Rooney
9 Flag of France FW Louis Saha
11 Flag of Wales MF Ryan Giggs (vice-captain)
13 Flag of South Korea MF Park Ji-Sung
14 Flag of England FW Alan Smith
15 Flag of Serbia DF Nemanja Vidić

No. Position Player
16 Flag of England MF Michael Carrick
18 Flag of England MF Paul Scholes
20 Flag of Norway FW Ole Gunnar Solskjær
21 Flag of People's Republic of China FW Dong Fangzhuo
22 Flag of Republic of Ireland DF John O'Shea
23 Flag of England MF Kieran Richardson
24 Flag of Scotland MF Darren Fletcher
27 Flag of France DF Mikael Silvestre
29 Flag of Poland GK Tomasz Kuszczak (on loan from West Bromwich Albion [21])
32 Flag of Northern Ireland DF Craig Cathcart
33 Flag of England MF Chris Eagles
38 Flag of England GK Tom Heaton

On loan

All loans until 30 June 2007 unless otherwise stated.
No. Position Player
19 Flag of Italy FW Giuseppe Rossi (on loan to Parma)
26 Flag of England DF Phil Bardsley (on loan to Aston Villa until 19 May 2007)
28 Flag of Spain DF Gerard Piqué (on loan to Real Zaragoza)
–– Flag of England GK Ben Foster (on loan to Watford)

Reserves and academy squad

See Manchester United F.C. Reserves & Academy Squad.

Ladies team

Manchester United Ladies were founded in 1977, and officially became a part of Manchester United FC at the start of the 2001/2 season. They played in the Northern Combination league (the third tier of women's football in England) until they were controversially disbanded before the start of the 2004/5 season for financial reasons. The decision was met with considerable criticism given the huge profits made by Manchester United and also due to the fact that the teams were withdrawn from all their leagues before the players were even informed of the decision. [4]

Former players

See List of Manchester United F.C. players and Category:Manchester United F.C. players

Player records

European Footballer of the Year winners (Ballon d'Or)

* Denis Law - 1964
* Bobby Charlton - 1966
* George Best - 1968

Most appearances for Manchester United

As of match played 24 April 2007 and according to official site. Players in bold are still currently playing for Manchester United.
# Name Career Appearances Goals
1 Flag of England Sir Bobby Charlton 1954 - 1973 759 249
2 Flag of Wales Ryan Giggs 1990 - present 711 140
3 Flag of England Bill Foulkes 1952 - 1970 688 9
4 Flag of England Gary Neville 1992 - present 540 7
5 Flag of England Alex Stepney 1966 - 1978 539 2
6 Flag of Republic of Ireland Tony Dunne 1960 - 1973 536 2
7 Flag of England Paul Scholes 1993 - present 531 137
8 Flag of Republic of Ireland Denis Irwin 1990 - 2002 529 33
9 Flag of England Joe Spence 1919 - 1933 510 168
10 Flag of Scotland Arthur Albiston 1974 - 1988 485 7

Most goals scored for Manchester United
# Name Career Appearances Goals Goals/Game
Ratio
1 Flag of England Sir Bobby Charlton 1954 - 1973 759 249 0.328
2 Flag of Scotland Denis Law 1962 - 1973 404 237 0.587
3 Flag of England Jack Rowley 1937 - 1955 424 212 0.500
4= Flag of Northern Ireland George Best 1963 - 1974 470 179 0.381
4= Flag of England Dennis Viollet 1949 - 1962 293 179 0.611
6 Flag of England Joe Spence 1919 - 1933 510 168 0.329
7 Flag of Wales Mark Hughes 1980 - 1986, 1988 - 1995 466 164 0.352
8 Flag of Netherlands Ruud van Nistelrooy 2001 - 2006 220 150 0.682
9 Flag of England Stan Pearson 1935 - 1954 347 148 0.427
10 Flag of Scotland David Herd 1961 - 1968 265 145 0.547

Club officials

Board of Directors

* Owner: Malcolm Glazer
* Honorary Life President: Martin Edwards
* Joint Chairmen: Joel Glazer & Avram Glazer
* Chief Executive: David Gill
* Chief Operating Officer: Michael Bolingbroke (will take up post at the end of May 2007)
* Group Commercial Director: Lee Daley (will take up post mid-April 2007)
* Non-Executive Directors: Bryan Glazer, Edward Glazer, Kevin Glazer & Darcie Glazer
* Football Board Directors: Martin Edwards, Sir Bobby Charlton, Maurice Watkins, Michael Edelson & Ken Merrett (Secretary)

Senior club staff

* Company Secretary: David Beswitherick
* Assistant Company Secretary: Ken Ramsden
* Director of Communications: Phil Townsend
* Director of Commercial Enterprises: Ben Hatton
* Director of Marketing: vacant
* Director of Financial Services: Steve Falk
* Director of Finance & IT: Steve Deaville
* Director of Facilities: Clive Snell

Management

* Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
* Assistant Manager: Carlos Queiroz
* First Team Coach: Mike Phelan
* Goalkeeping Coach: Tony Coton
* Fitness Coach: Valter di Salvo
* Strength & Conditioning Coach: Mick Clegg
* Caretaker Reserve Team Coach: Brian McClair
* Chief Scout: Jim Lawlor
* Chief European Scout: Martin Ferguson

Academy coaching staff

* Director of Youth Academy: Brian McClair
* Director of Youth Football: Jimmy Ryan
* Assistant Director for 17-21 Year olds: Paul McGuinness
* Assistant Director for 9-16 Year olds: Tony Whelan
* Under 18's Coach: Paul McGuinness
* Under 13-16's Coach: Mark Dempsey
* Under 11-12's Coach: Tony Whelan
* Under 9-10's Coach: Eamon Mulvey
* Technical Skills Development Coach: René Meulensteen
* Director of Goalkeeping Training: Richard Hartis
* Academy Coaches: Eddie Leach, Tommy Martin, Mike Glennie & Andy Welsh

Medical staff

* Club Doctor: Dr. Steve McNally
* Assistant Club Doctor: Dr. Tony Gill
* First Team Physiotherapist: Rob Swire
* Reserve Team Physiotherapist: Neil Hough
* Senior Academy Physiotherapist: Mandy Johnson
* Academy Physiotherapists: John Davin & Richard Merron
* Masseurs: Gary Armer & Rod Thornley
* Club Dietician: Trevor Lea

Managerial history
Name Period
Flag of England A. H. Albut 1892-1900
Flag of England James West 1900-1903
Flag of England J. Ernest Mangnall 1903-1912
Flag of England John Bentley 1912-1914
Flag of England Jack Robson 1914-1922
Flag of England John Chapman 1921-1927
Flag of England Lal Hilditch 1926-1927
Flag of England Herbert Bamlett 1927-1931
Flag of England Walter Crickmer 1931-1932 & 1937-1945
Flag of Scotland Scott Duncan 1932-1937
Flag of Scotland Sir Matt Busby 1945-1969 & 1970-1971
Flag of England Wilf McGuinness 1969-1970
Flag of Republic of Ireland Frank O'Farrell 1971-1972
Flag of Scotland Tommy Docherty 1972-1977
Flag of England Dave Sexton 1977-1981
Flag of England Ron Atkinson 1981-1986
Flag of Scotland Sir Alex Ferguson 1986—

Honours

Domestic

League

* Premier League (including (Old) First Division)[22] titles: 15
o 1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03
* (Old) Second Division[23] 2
o 1935-36, 1974-75

Cups

* FA Cup 11¹
o 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
* League Cup 2
o 1992, 2006
* FA Charity/Community Shield 15¹
o 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003 (* joint holders)

European

* European Cup / UEFA Champions League 2
o 1968, 1999
* UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1
o 1991
* European Super Cup 1
o 1991

International

* Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship 1¹
o 1999

Club records

* Record League victory: 10-1 v Wolves, Division 1, 15 October 1892
* Record Premiership victory: 9-0 Ipswich Town 4 March 1995
* Record European Cup victory: 10-0 v Anderlecht, European Champion Clubs' Cup, Preliminary Round, 26 September 1956
* Record European Cup (Champions League era) victory: 7-1 v AS Roma 10 April 2007
* Record home win 10-0 v Anderlecht 26 September 1956
* Record away win: 8-1 v Nottingham Forest 6 February 1999
* Record League defeat: 0-7 v Blackburn Rovers, Division 1, 10 April 1926 / v Aston Villa, Division 1, 27 December 1930 / v Wolves, Division 2, 26 December 1931
* Record Cup defeat: 1-7 v Burnley, FA Cup, 1st Round, 13 February 1901
* Record 'Home' attendance: 83,250 v Arsenal, Division 1, Maine Road, 7 January 1948
* Record League attendance (at Old Trafford): 76,098 Manchester United vs. Blackburn Rovers, 31 March 2007.
* Longest unbeaten run : 45 (All competitions), 24 December 1998 to 3 October 1999
* Most Appearances : 754 Bobby Charlton
* Most League appearances: 606 Bobby Charlton
* Most goals scored : 247 Bobby Charlton
* Most League goals: 199 Bobby Charlton
* Most League goals in a season: 32 Dennis Viollet, Division 1, 1959-60
* Most goals in a season in all competitions: 46 Denis Law, 1963-64
* Most goals scored in a match: 6 George Best v Northampton Town, 7 February 1970 / Harold Halse v Swindon Town, 25 September 1911
* Most goals scored in European competition: 38 Ruud van Nistelrooy
* Goals in consecutive league matches: 10 Consecutive Matches Ruud van Nistelrooy, 22 March 2003 to 23 August 2003
* Most League goals in a season (by team): 103 1956/57, 1958/59
* Most points in a 42 game season: 92 - 1993/94
* Most points in a 38 game Season: 91 - 1999/2000
* Most capped player: 129 Peter Schmeichel - Denmark
* Fastest goal: 15 seconds Ryan Giggs v Southampton, Premiership, 18 November 1995

Stadium information

* Name - Old Trafford
* Location - Greater Manchester
* Capacity - 76,312 (all-seater stadium)
* Inauguration - 19 February 1910
* Pitch Size - 106 x 69.5 metres
* Record Attendance - 76,962; Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Grimsby, 25 March 1939.[24]
* Record Attendance (all-seater stadium) - 76,098; Manchester United vs. Blackburn Rovers, 31 March 2007.[25]
* Address - Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA
* Nickname(s) - The Theatre of Dreams

Following the near-bankruptcy of the team as Newton Heath, the club renamed as Manchester United in 1902, though still with a desire for a proper ground. Old Trafford was named as the home of Manchester United in 1910, following the purchase of the necessary land for around £60,000. Original plans indicated that the stadium would hold around 100,000, though this was scaled back to 60,000. Despite this, a record attendance of 76,962 was recorded, which is more than even the current stadium officially supports. The inaugural game was played against Liverpool F.C., resulting in a 4-3 win for the visitors.

Bombing during the Second World War - 11 March 1941 - destroyed much of the stadium, notably the main stand. Though this was rebuilt in 1949, it meant that a game had not been played at Old Trafford for nearly 10 years as the team played all their "home" games in that period at Manchester City's ground Maine Road.

Subsequent improvements occurred, including all the stands being covered (as opposed to just the main stand originally), and proper floodlight installation. In 1990, though, following the Hillsborough disaster, a report was issued which demanded all stadia must be all-seater stadia. Subsequent renovation dropped capacity to around 44,000. However, the club's popularity ensured that further development would occur. In 1995, the North Stand was redeveloped into three tiers, bringing the capacity up to approximately 55,000. This was followed by expansions of the East and West Stands to reach a total capacity of 68,000. The most recent, and possibly the last expansion without buying out local residents land and relocating the adjacent railway line, was completed in 2006, when the North-East and North-West Quadrants were opened, allowing the current record of 76,098.

See also

* List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors
* AirAsia

Supporters' organisations

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[Nosferatu]

Stadion

Old Trafford (Theatre Of Dreams)




Location Sir Matt Busby Way,
Old Trafford,
Greater Manchester,
England
Broke ground 1909
Opened 1910
Owner Manchester United
Operator Manchester United
Construction cost £60m GBP
Architect Archibald Leitch
Tenants
Manchester United (Premier League) (1910-present)
Capacity
76,212[1]

Old Trafford (given the nickname The Theatre of Dreams by Sir Bobby Charlton) is an all-seater football stadium in the Greater Manchester borough of Trafford, and is the home of Manchester United F.C.. The ground has been United's permanent home since 1910, bar an eight year absence from 1941 to 1949 following the bombing of the stadium in the Second World War, during which the club ground-shared with Manchester City at Maine Road. The stadium is located close to Old Trafford cricket ground.

The ground has frequently hosted FA Cup semi-final matches (as a neutral venue), and hosted several England international fixtures whilst Wembley was under reconstruction. It also hosted 1966 FIFA World Cup matches, Euro 96 matches and the Champions League final in 2003. With London winning its bid for the 2012 Olympics, the stadium will be used for some preliminary men's and women's football matches during the Summer Games. Since 1998, when rugby league adopted play-offs and a Grand Final to determine the Super League champions, Old Trafford has staged the Grand Final. Also, in its early days, the ground also hosted games of shinty, the traditional sport of the Scottish Highlands.

Behind Wembley Stadium, Old Trafford has the largest ground capacity of any English football stadium, with a capacity of just over 76,000, and it is the one of only two UEFA 5-star stadia in England. It will also host matches of the Olympic football tournament during the 2012 Olympics.
Contents

* 1 Creation
* 2 Expansions
* 3 Manchester United Museum
* 4 Trivia
* 5 External links

Creation

Prior to 1902, Manchester United were known as Newton Heath, in which time they played their football matches at Bank Street, Clayton. This proved unsatisfactory, and as the club renamed to Manchester United, following near bankpruptcy, the club underwent financial restructuring, and thus had funds for a new ground.

Original plans suggest the ground would hold 100,000 (not seated), though this was scaled back to 80,000. The ground was developed at the then substantial cost of £60,000, featuring seating in the south stand under cover, with the east, west and north stands uncovered. Designs were drawn up by famous Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, who also designed stands at Hampden Park, Ibrox Stadium and White Hart Lane.

Development was completed in 1909, and its inaugural game was played against Liverpool F.C., resulting in a 4-3 win for the visitors.

Expansions

Bombing during the Second World War on the 11th March 1941 destroyed much of the stadium, notably the main stand. Though this was rebuilt in 1949, it meant that a game had not been played at Old Trafford for nearly 10 years.

Subsequent improvements occurred, including all the stands being covered (as opposed to just the main stand originally), and proper floodlight installation. Following the 1959 reconstruction of the Stretford End in line with the style of the original ground, the club then embarked on a radical new direction to create a bowl-style stadium. The first cantilever stand came in 1964 with the opening of the United Road (North) Stand and with it, the first private boxes at a British football ground. In 1973 the cantilever was extended to the Scoreboard End, reconstruction of the South Stand followed from 1978 to 1984 and in 1986 the southeast corner, still little altered up to that point from the original construction, was replaced with a similar cantilever.
The redeveloped East Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2000-2001 season
The redeveloped East Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2000-2001 season

The next stage would have been replacement of the Stretford End with a new all-standing terrace with a cantilever roof to link with the three already-redeveloped sides of the ground. In 1990, though, following the Hillsborough disaster, the Taylor Report recommended, and the government demanded, a move to all-seater stadia. Subsequent rebuilding of the Stretford End and conversion of the paddocks on the other three sides of the ground in line with the Taylor Report dropped capacity to around 44,000. However, the club's popularity ensured that further development would occur. In 1995, the North Stand was rebuilt as a three tier stand, bringing the capacity up to approximately 55,000, and upper tiers were added in 1999-2000 to both ends as well raising the capacity to around 68,000.

The ground's most recent expansion saw the addition of around 8,000 seats by "filling-in" the second tier of the north-west and north-east quadrants of the ground. The South Stand remains the only single-tiered stand, its development hindered by a railway line located directly behind it. Although the line could be built over, at least fifty residential properties would have to be demolished for any expansion to be possible, making improvements to the other stands the cheaper option. Further development, taking the capacity to 96,000, would require this expensive house demolition and engineering. [2]

Part of the new seating was used for the first time on 26 March 2006, when an attendance of 69,070 became a new Premiership record. However, this lasted just 3 days before 69,522 people watched United play West Ham on 29 March, and was re-broken on a frequent basis as more sections of the new quadrants were opened. The latest Premiership attendance record to be set was set on 31 March 2007 when 76,098 spectators saw United comprehensively beat Blackburn Rovers 4-1. The stadium's record attendance remains at 76,962, set on 25 March 1939 for a FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.

Manchester United Museum

Manchester United's club museum is located in the North Stand. According to the club's website, it attracts over 200,000 visitors a year.

Trivia

* The ground featured in the 1967 Albert Finney film Charlie Bubbles where a child is disappointed at missing out on fully being involved in the match due to watching from behind the glass window of one of the private boxes.

* Old Trafford was the first English ground to have to install a perimeter fence to counter fan violence and hooliganism in the 1970s

[Nosferatu]

Vratari:


Edwin van der Sar


Tim Howard - posuđen Evertonu


Thomas Heaton


Tomasz Kuszczak

Braniči:


Gary Neville


Patrice Evra


Gabriel Heinze


Rio Ferdinand


Wes Brown


Nemanja Vidić


John O'Shea


Phillip Bardsley - posuđen Aston Villi


Mikael Silvestre


Gerard Pique - posuđen Barceloni B

Vezni:


Cristiano Ronaldo


Ryan Giggs


Park Ji-Sung


Michael Carrick


Paul Scholes


Kieran Richardson


Darren Fletcher

Napadači:


Wayne Rooney


Louis Saha


Alan Smith


Giuseppe Rossi - Posuđen Parmi


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer


Fangzhuo Dong

[Nosferatu]

2-4

United took a massive step towards Premiership glory with an extraordinary second-half performance at Goodison Park.

Sir Alex Ferguson's remarkable side, trailing 1-0 to Everton at half-time, went a further goal behind before finding their own shooting boots to go five points clear of Chelsea who were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Bolton.

First Half

United kicked off the first of their final four Premiership fixtures without the PFA Player of the Year. Reds fans inside Everton’s sunkissed ground pondered Sir Alex Ferguson’s selection – was it tactical ahead of the Milan trip, or had Ronaldo been struck down by the injury jinx that’s wreaked havoc in the defensive ranks?

It proved to be the latter, though only a mild case thankfully – a knock that needed protection, rather than the prolonged treatment that will keep Ji-sung Park, a capable replacement for Ronaldo, out of action at least until August.

Everton won their first corner in the 2nd minute with an attack down the right flank and almost snatched the lead when defender Jolean Lescott pounded a free header against the bar from Mikel Arteta’s setpiece.

Lescott’s miss was a let-off for United but they had no such luck from another deadball situation in the 12th minute. When Arteta was fouled by Patrice Evra, Alan Stubbs stepped up to drill a low free-kick past Edwin van der Sar, via a cruel deflection off Michael Carrick’s outstretched leg. More cruelty threatened as the teams restarted – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemed to be struggling with an injury.

As a team, the Reds were struggling to get a grip of the game. The Blues were buzzing in front of a passionate, partisan crowd who demanded nothing less than a victory in memory of Everton legend Alan Ball, who died during the week, aged 61.

Another former Goodison hero, Wayne Rooney, almost levelled the scores with United’s first real chance after 20 minutes. Receiving a superb crossfield pass from Paul Scholes, he rifled a powerful shot towards the near post where Iain Turner, making his first Premieship start of the season, made a confidence-building save.

Rooney’s partner in attack, Alan Smith, had an even better opportunity when he combined with Ryan Giggs at the edge of the Everton area. United’s skipper for the day flicked a ball between Stubbs and Carsley but Smith dragged his shot wide.

The physical battle between James Vaughan and Gabriel Heinze was the pick of the head-to-heads in the first half with both players fully committed to their cause. It was largely honours even between the pair until the 29th minute when Vaughan, Everton’s solitary fit striker, found himself on a tightrope after referee Alan Wiley booked him for a foul on his Argentine adversary.

Scholes produced another peach of a pass in the 37th minute, swinging the ball from right to left for Giggs to volley a first-time centre into the Everton box. Again, there was no end-product as Rooney just failed to connect as he stretched to reach it. Wazza's former team-mates breathed again, their slender lead still intact - just.

Everton had been living dangerously for some time, but for all the pressure they were under, there was little direct threat to Turner's goal. Even an inswinging Giggs free-kick couldn't test the inexperienced Everton keeper moments before the break - instead it curled beyond the far post with Heinze the only man in a red shirt mounting a challenge to its path.

The half ended with Heinze in trouble at the other end of the park, clattering into Arteta to earn United's first yellow card. He was fortunate the resulting free-kick didn't bring double the punishment for his recklessness.

Turner was started the second half brightly, forcing a brace of left-wing corners and firing a couple of shots that needed desperate blocks from the Everton rearguard to prevent Rooney, then Scholes from gaining parity. But then from out of the blue, Manuel Fernandes fired the home side into a shock 2-0 lead by steering Arteta’s through-ball away from Wes Brown and hammering an unstoppable shot into van der Sar’s top left-hand corner. Five minutes into the second half and United were two goals down.

Turner was called upon for some serious action moments later and the keeper did well, spreading himself to block Rooney’s stab from Giggs’ threaded pass. A free-kick from the Welshman was also dealt with by Turner, who clutched the ball comfortably without any pressure from onrushing United players.

Sir Alex made his first switch in the 56th minute but not the one United fans might have expected or hoped for. It was Kieran Richardson who replaced the below-par Patrice Evra, stirring speculation that Ronaldo’s problem may be more than just a knock. Or perhaps the Reds boss was just keeping his Portuguese gunpowder dry, in the knowledge that Chelsea had just been pegged back by Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

The pendulum title swung another stroke towards United when Turner, again under no pressure, contrived to spill the ball from Giggs’ right-wing corner and John O’Shea, the scourge of Merseyside, pulled one back with a simple but priceless goal. Just as he was on the other side of Stanley Park in March, at Anfield, the big Irishman was in precisely the right place at the right time.

O’Shea’s former team-mate Phil Neville was in exactly the wrong place – from Everton’s point of view, mind you – when Ronaldo, at last on the pitch, powered a header down and goalwards from Giggs’s left-wing corner. The initial effort was blocked but Neville couldn’t complete the job and instead diverted the loose ball into his own net. The Reds fans roared with relief at drawing level, while the press corps wondered what Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was thinking.

Wayne Rooney then scored to make it 2-3, superbly controlling a
deflected cross, shimmied past Hibbert's despairing lunge and coolly dispatched United's glorious third goal. The away section, not to mention the dug-out, erupted in ecstasy as the Reds edged in front for the first time in the match and took a giant leap ahead of Chelsea, who were still being held at home by Bolton.

Ronaldo had two chances to grab a fourth goal for United but he was twice denied by decent Turner saves. Instead it was Chris Eagles, on for Solskjaer, who made it 4-2 by cutting inside to bend a glorious shot inside the far post.

United were five points clear and within one victory of winning the league.

[Rev]

[Nosferatu]

Tako je, osvojit će sve!... još ću dodat neke stvari na topic, kaj predlažeš?

Mislim stavit još legende, slike utakmice s Evertonom.

[Nosferatu]

LEGENDE:


Billy Meredith - 1. velški čarobnjak


Busbijeve bebe


Momčad 1968 (Best, Charlton, Law) - Kup Prvaka!


Ole zabija protiv Bayerna za pobjedu!


Redom: Cantona, Best, Charlton, Keane


Steve Bruce - legendarni branič
Rejected by several professional clubs as a young midfielder, Newcastle born Bruce finally found a footballing home in the south of England at third division Gillingham. This dogged perseverance was to become a large part of the players make-up, as he fought his way up from unpromising beginnings to become one of United's most successful captains.
Bruce, fashioned into a central defender at Gillingham, left for Norwich City in 1984 after more than 200 appearances and lifted the Football League Cup with them in 1985 before winning the second division Championship the following season. Alex Ferguson decided he was just the man to add steel to United's back four and splashed out £825,000 in December of 1987.
Given his debut against Portsmouth, Bruce suffered the first of his many broken noses playing in the famous red shirt and his never say die attitude found an immediate place in the fans' hearts. Tough and combative, Bruce's burly approach typified United under Ferguson and major honours were just around the corner.
He scored an amazing 16 goals in all competitions, 10 of which were penalties, from the centre of defence, as United won the Cup Winners' Cup after their 1990 FA Cup triumph over Crystal Palace had given them a route into Europe.
League Cup honours followed 12 months later, but Bruce's proudest moment came in 1993 when he became the first United captain to lift the League title in 26 long years.
The back bone of the side along with Gary Pallister, Bruce who was never capped at international level, skippered United to their first double in 1994. He did likewise for the majority of their historic second double season in the 1995-'96 season, though he struggled for his place towards the end after being injured. He moved to Birmingham soon after, having played 407 games.


Bill Foulkes - korpulentni bek
Bill Foulkes' name may not roll off the tongue as readily as that of legendary team-mates Bobby Charlton, he survived the Munich air disaster in 1958 to perpetuate the dream of the Busby Babes and bring the European Cup back to Old Trafford a decade later.
Foulkes, was discovered playing for Whiston Boys Club in 1949, turning professional two year later. Once in the team at the turn of 1953. he remained a first choice for the next 18 seasons.
Four Championships, an FA Cup Winners' medal and that historic European triumph, as captain, are just reward for his consistency. When he bowed out in 1970, Bill Foulkes had made and incredible 679 appearances for the Reds, a total bettered only by Bobby Charlton
A superb header of the ball and physically strong despite being under six foot, Foulkes became the defensive rock on which Matt Busby built after the cruel demolition of his 1958 team. He skippered the makeshift side beaten by Bolton in the FA Cup final of that year, and proved invaluable as United painstakingly rebuilt their empire.
Foulkes played just once for England, and this less than two years after his United debut. It was at right back, the position he first adopted at Old Trafford before moving to the centre of defence.
Foulkes played alongside some of the best players ever to grace Old Trafford from the tragic Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor to Charlton, Law and Best. Even now he remains the epitome of Manchester United under Busby.


Paul Mcgrath
McGrath earned a place in United fans' affections, if occasionally providing his managers with a headache or two thanks to a self-confessed hellraising lifestyle.
Born in England of Irish parentage, McGrath re-crossed the Irish sea at the end of April 1982, costing United £300,000. The former St. Pat's Athletic youngster wouldn't make his debut until the following November, though, with Moran, McQueen and Bucham already contesting the two central defence berths. It proved a one-off appearance, but once he forced his way back in March 1983, McGrath played out the rest of a successful campaign.
Tow more part-seasons followed as he grappled with injuries, before he became a first-team regular in 1985-86 - the same year he pushed Gay Lineker for PFA player of the year. Yet his off-pitch antics didn't endear him to Alex Ferguson and once Gary Pallister came on the market, McGrath was on his way.
A transfer to Aston Villa where he'd play again under former boss Ron Atkinson, proved he still had it in him to compete for honours, though his suspect knees were always a cause for concern. Even so, he helped Villa to the League (Coca-Cola) Cup in both 1994 and 1996 to prove doctors wrong.
In 1993 McGrath did this time pick up the PFA Player of the Year award, proving to be one of Ireland's greatest ever players.


Gary Pallister
Gary Pallister's central defensive partnership with Steve Bruce wasarguably the most successful reargaurd link forged in decades, with eight major trophies including two Doubles, arriving at Old Trafford in five years during the early 1990s.
But this level of achievement looked a million miles away back in 1989, when the lanky Pallister arrived from Middlesborough for £2.3 million, a British record at the time. Despite his calm measured appearence, he looked hisitant under pressure and the media were quickly doubting the widom of the move. How wrong time proved them to be.
Pallister's confidence grew as his partnership with Bruce developed, the latter's experience a crucial factor. Tremendously powerful in the air - as Liverpool found to their cost when he converted two corners at Anfield in April 1997 - and suprisingly swift for a six-foot-four-inch giant, Pallister was named PFA Palyer of the Year in 1992 and rejuvinated an England career which had begun at Boro. However he suffered a rare setback when injury ruled him out of Terry Venables' squad for Euro '96.
The defender who began his playing days with Billingham Town almost moved to Darlington when his Middlesbrough career took a wobble in 1985.
Deprived of his usual defensive partner when Steve Bruce left for Birmingham in the summer of 1996, Gary understandably found teething problems with his new partner David May, yet still picked up his fourth Championship medal in 1996-97. Pallister appeared over 400 hundread times for United in all competitions and that £2.3 milion was money well spent until Pallister left to return to Middlesbourgh in 1998.


Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE (IPA: [pʰeːd̥ɐ̥ boːlɛslɑʊ̥ smɑːɪ̥g̊l̩], born November 18, 1963 ) is a Danish former professional footballer who played the position of goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993. He experienced his most successful years in English club Manchester United, with whom he won the 1999 UEFA Champions League to complete The Treble. He was a key member of the Denmark national football team which won the 1992 European Championship (Euro 92) tournament.

Schmeichel is famous for his intimidating physique (he wears an XXXL shirt and stands 6ft 4 tall) and his attacking threat. Throughout his career, Schmeichel scored 11 goals, a great feat for a keeper. He is the most capped player for the Denmark national team, with 129 games and one goal between 1987 and 2001. Apart from Euro 92, he played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and three additional European Championship tournaments. He captained the national team in 30 matches.

Today, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever. The IFFHS ranked Schmeichel as the seventh best keeper of the 20th century in 2000,[1] and in 2001 Schmeichel won a public poll held by Reuters, when the majority of the 200,000 participants voted him as the best goalkeeper ever, ahead of Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks.[2] In 2003, Schmeichel was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact on the English game. In March 2004, he was named as one of the "125 greatest living footballers", at the FIFA 100 celebrations.

He holds the record for the greatest games-clean sheets ratio in the Premiership, and possibly the world, with 42% of the games he played in the Premiership ending without his team conceding. Although David James holds the record for most clean sheets, he has played many more games than Schmeichel, and so his ratio percentage is lower.

Playing style

At his peak he was arguably the world's best goalkeeper; a charismatic keeper with presence and excellent shot-stopping skills, but equally famous for his temper. He was a perfectionist, never afraid to vent his feelings or anger at his own defenders if he thought they made an error. He would frequently shout at defenders, especially Steve Bruce at Manchester United, although the two have remained firm friends, and Marc Rieper for Denmark. From his deep position he could spot threats and dangers that his defenders could not always see - and alert them. He would co-ordinate the whole defence, instilling confidence by his constant vocal presence.[3]

When it came to shot stopping from long-range, Schmeichel was unrivalled. He was rarely ever beaten from outside the box during his tenure at Manchester United. Not only that, but from close range he was the master. In his school days playing Handball, he had perfected a strange star-shaped jump to cover as much of the goal as possible, allowing him to excel in one-on-one attacker versus goalkeeper situations. If an opposing player managed to break through the United defence, Schmeichel would come charging out to narrow the angle. Spreading his huge frame high and wide in a star shape, this both put the player off and made the net more difficult to hit.

One of his key strengths was the long throw-out - which means he could throw the ball from inside his penalty box all the way to the oppositions penalty box - used to launch quick counter-attacks. As soon as Schmeichel gained control of the ball from the opposing team in the United penalty area, he would search out Manchester United's two wingers Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis and throw the ball to them in order to catch the opposing team off balance.

Despite being a goalkeeper, he could also single-handedly provide a deadly offensive threat as well. He would run into the attack on corner kicks if his team was behind. The sight of him going up for the corner was a great distraction to opposing defenders. He once scored a goal in this fashion, for Manchester United, in a 1995 UEFA Cup match against Rotor Volgograd. He scored in the last minutes of the game, though to no avail as United was eliminated from the tournament on the away goals rule. His presence in the opposition penalty area arguably also led to United's equaliser in the final of the 1999 UEFA Champions League. During his short spell at Aston Villa in the 2001/02 season, he became the first ever goalkeeper to score in a Premier League match (excluding own goals).

[edit] Biography

Schmeichel was born in Søborggård parish, Gladsaxe in Denmark. His father was Polish and his mother was Danish, and Peter Schmeichel was a Polish citizen until 1970 when he, his father, and his siblings became Danish citizens.[4] Schmeichel played his first years at local teams in Gladsaxe before moving to Hvidovre IF in the top-flight Danish 1st Division championship in 1984. He made his debut for the Denmark under-21 national football team in May 1984. He worked as a carpet fitter before becoming a professional footballer. In February 2007 he became the host in a new quiz, on TV3 (Denmark) named 1 mod 100 (the Danish version of 1 vs. 100).

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Brøndby

Despite the fifth best defense in the league, conceding 40 goals in 30 games,[5] Schmeichel and Hvidovre finished in 14th place and were relegated in 1985. After only a single season, the club bounced right back to the 1st Division, but Schmeichel was lost by Hvidovre. He moved to Danish vice-champions Brøndby IF before the 1987 season. Winning the Danish league in his first year, he joined a club which he helped turn into a success. He debuted for the Danish national team in May 1987, under national manager Sepp Piontek, and was selected for the Euro 88 tournament, where he eventually became Denmark's starting goalkeeper.

In all, Schmeichel and Brøndby won four championships in five seasons. The climax of his Brøndby career would come in the European 1991 UEFA Cup competition, which saw Schmeichel as an important part of the team that reached the semi-finals. The club was eliminated by AS Roma with a last-minute goal by Rudi Völler. Following the tournament, Schmeichel was voted 10th in "The World's Best Goalkeeper 1991" poll by the IFFHS.[6]

[edit] Manchester United

Following his showings on the international scene, Manchester United bought him in 1991 for £530,000,[7] a price which was described in 2000 by United manager Alex Ferguson as the "bargain of the century".[8] Schmeichel played the bulk of his career for United, eight years in total. With United, Schmeichel won five FA Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

He and United finished runners-up in his first season, but Schmeichel would experience personal success with the Danish national team under new national manager Richard Møller Nielsen. Schmeichel was Denmark's starting goalkeeper at the Euro 92 tournament which they won. He saved a penalty kick from Marco van Basten in the semi-final, and most notably held a cross with one hand in the final. He made a string of important saves during the tournament, and was elected "The World's Best Goalkeeper 1992".[9]

In the 1992-93 season, 22 clean sheets from Schmeichel helped United win the FA Premier League championship for the first time in 28 years. Schmeichel was once again named "The World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1993. In January 1994, Schmeichel fell out with Ferguson, as United had squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Liverpool FC. The two had a row where Schmeichel "said the most horrible things",[10] and he was subsequently sacked by Ferguson. A few days later, Schmeichel made an improvised apology to the other players. Unknown to him, Ferguson was eavesdropping on this, and he let Schmeichel stay at Manchester United.[8] Schmeichel and United repeated the Premier League championship win at the end of the season. Schmeichel competed with Denmark at the Euro 96 hosted by England. The defending European Champions went out in the preliminary group stage, despite delivering results equivalent to the Euro 92 tournament.[11]

Following a February 1997 match against Arsenal FC, Schmeichel was accused of racism by Arsenal striker Ian Wright. During the game, Schmeichel and Wright had a number of controversies, and at the end of the game, the two players confronted each other on their way off the pitch. After the game, news emerged of a police inquiry into a November 1996 match between the two clubs, where it was alleged that Schmeichel had made a racist remark. After months of politicizing by The FA and The PFA, who wanted a "converted" Schmeichel as their posterboy of the "Kick Racism out of Football" campaign, no evidence was found and the case was dropped.[12]

Under new national manager Bo Johansson, Schmeichel was a part of the Danish squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was one of the leading members of the Danish campaign, which ended in a 2-3 quarter-final defeat to Brazil.

Schemichel ended his Manchester United career on the highest note, when Schmeichel and United won the Treble, the FA Premier League title, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, in the same season. In that year's FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal FC, Schmeichel saved a penalty kick by Dennis Bergkamp in the last minutes of the game, to send the game into extra time. In the absence of the suspended Roy Keane, he captained United in the UEFA Champions League final in May 1999. German opponents Bayern Munich had a 1-0 lead until the dying minutes of the game, when United received a corner kick. Schmeichel ran into the attack, to attempt creating confusion, and Teddy Sheringham scored the equalising goal. A few minutes later, Ole Gunnar Solskjær scored the 2-1 winner for United, Schmeichel's last game for the club.

[edit] Sporting Clube de Portugal

Schmeichel decided to leave English football at the end of the 1999 season, as the gruelling 60 game league and cups season, which came with playing with a successful club, was threatening to undermine his high standards at the age of 35. He moved to Sporting, where he won the 1999-2000 Portuguese Premier League title in his first season with the club. He scored his only goal for the Danish national team, a penalty kick against Belgium, in a June 2000 warm-up match for the Euro 2000. He represented Denmark at the Euro 2000, where the team was eliminated in the group stage. He retired from the national team in April 2001, when he played a planned farewell match against Slovenia.

His second year with Sporting would be remarkable in that it was the first time in 14 years, since his Hvidovre days, that Schmeichel's club would finish below second place in the domestic league competition. Schmeichel stated his wish to activate a contract option of a further year at Sporting in January 2001,[13] but eventually decided to leave the club when his contract ran out in June 2001.[14] He considered a number of options for the future, before deciding to keep on playing.

[edit] Return to England

He returned to England with Aston Villa in July 2001.[15] On October 20, 2001, Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score a Premiership goal, in a 3-2 defeat away to Everton. A goalkeeper scoring in the Premier League is a feat only repeated twice, by Blackburn Rover's Brad Friedel on February 21, 2004, also from a corner kick, and by Tottenham Hotspur's Paul Robinson from a free-kick on March 17, 2007. Schmeichel failed to complete his single season at Villa due to having a clause in his contract stipulating that he had to play in every game if he was fit to do so. After a string of poor performances, Graham Taylor decided to release Schmeichel from his contract in order to be able to play Peter Enckelman.

Schmeichel played his last active year for Manchester City during the 2002-03 season. Schmeichel's record in the Manchester derby is exceptional, in that he was never on the losing side. During his nine years with Manchester United, they were unbeaten against Manchester City, while in his single season with City, they won at Maine Road and drew at Old Trafford. Ironically, his last major action in football was to make a world class save against Liverpool at Anfield, in a game which City went onto win. This ultimately led to Liverpool missing out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the season.

[edit] Retirement

In December 1999, Schmeichel became the club owner of his childhood club Hvidovre IF. He withdrew from the club in June 2002. He has worked as a pundit for the BBC since then, a frequent studio pundit when Manchester Utd are playing. He began hosting live UEFA Champions League-matches at Danish television channel TV3+, with Preben Elkjær and Brian Laudrup the studio pundits. However, he is working again as a pundit for the BBC in the English FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United, his former club, and Aston Villa alongside host Gary Lineker, and pundits Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer.

He has a son, Kasper Schmeichel, who plays as goalkeeper for Manchester City (currently on loan at Falkirk F.C.). Kasper was called up for the Danish U-19 squad in August 2003 and he got his first experience of first team football on loan at League 2 side Darlington FC in 2005.

His popularity in Britain is perhaps best measured by Chesney Battersby-Brown on the soap Coronation Street naming his former dog (a Great Dane) 'Schmeichel'. He also took part in Soccer Aid, and played for the Rest of the World team, who lost 2-1 after he was substituted at half-time. Schmeichel was a contestant on the 2006 series of the BBC's popular Saturday night TV programme Strictly Come Dancing, but was voted out by the public on his 43rd birthday. He recently appeared on The Weakest Link in The UK, He was voted off as the weakest link in the first round.


Denis Law

Denis Law (born February 24, 1940, in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Law's career as a football player began at Second Division Huddersfield Town in 1956. After four years at Huddersfield, Manchester City signed him for a transfer fee of £55,000, setting a new British record.[1] Law spent one year there before Torino bought him for £110,000, this time setting a new record fee for a transfer between an English and an Italian club.[2] Although he played well in Italy, he found it difficult to settle there and signed for Manchester United in 1962, setting another British record transfer fee of £115,000.[3]

He is best known for the eleven years that he spent at United, where he scored 236 goals in 409 appearances and was nicknamed The King[4] and The Lawman by supporters. He won the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award in 1964, and helped his club win the First Division in 1965 and 1967. Law left Manchester United in 1973 and returned to Manchester City for a season, then represented Scotland in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Law played for Scotland a total of 55 times and jointly holds the Scottish international record goal tally with 30 goals.[5] Law is also United's second highest goalscorer behind Bobby Charlton



Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona (born May 24, 1966 in Marseille) is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premiership titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup "doubles". Cantona is often regarded as having played a major talismanic role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse and he enjoys iconic status at the club. In 2001 he was voted their player of the century, and to this day United fans refer to him as "The King".


Sir Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Serving as manager of the club from 1945-1969 and again for the 1970-1971 season, he is longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United, ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson.


Andy Cole
Andrew Alexander Cole (born 15 October 1971 in Nottingham) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premiership side Portsmouth, and is one of the highest scoring players in the game's history. He is most well known by the name Andy Cole (which he was universally known as in the '90s) but in 2000 he asked to be known as Andrew Cole.[1]

Currently ranked second in the all time scoring charts of the FA Premier League, in his career Cole has scored a total of 188 Premier League goals, 2nd behind Alan Shearer who has 260 goals. Cole currently plays for Portsmouth F.C. having joined them from Manchester City on transfer deadline day at the start of the 2006-07 season. Cole has the distinction of being one of the few players in England to have swept all possible honours in the English game, including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as the coveted UEFA Champions League title. Cole was also capped fifteen times for England between 1995 and 2001, scoring once.


Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes OBE (born November 1, 1963 in Ruabon, Wrexham, Wales), nicknamed Sparky, is a legendary former Welsh football player and currently a manager at Blackburn Rovers. As a Welsh international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals. He was a talented forward, who was without peer at holding up the ball for himself and fellow strikers to profit.


George Best - meni najdraži igrač Uniteda u povijesti uz Giggsa
George "Gred and Forge" Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a football player from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He won the European Cup with Manchester United, and was himself named the European Footballer of the Year, in 1968, his annus mirabilis. He was a Swinger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders.[1] When fit, he was an automatic choice for the Northern Ireland team, but he was unable to lead them to the World Cup and display his talent on the world stage.

In 1999, Best was voted 11th, behind Marco van Basten, at the IFFHS European Player of the Century election and 16th, behind Lothar Matthäus, in the World Player of the Century election.[2] Pelé named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list and Best was named 19th, behind Gerd Müller, at the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. Nevertheless, in his native Northern Ireland the admiration for him is summed up by the local saying: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best."[3]

He was one of the first celebrity footballers, but his extravagant lifestyle led to problems with alcoholism which curtailed his playing career[4] and eventually led to his death, at the age of 58, from a kidney infection, a side-effect of the immuno-suppressive drugs he was required to take after a liver transplant. Best's lovable, cheeky image won him many fans, during his career and after, but public drunkenness on TV, his convictions for drunk driving and assaulting a policeman, allegations of domestic violence, and his inability to give up drinking even after the transplant, meant that not everyone was so well disposed towards him. Nonetheless, 100,000 people turned out on a rainy day for his funeral in East Belfast.


Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson, OBE (born January 11, 1957) is a former England, West Bromwich Albion, and Manchester United footballer who also captained his country. He was born and brought up in Witton Gilbert, County Durham. The family moved to the nearby town of Chester-le-Street when he was six. He was regarded by many[attribution needed] as perhaps the most complete English midfield player of the modern era, based on his all-round game. Robson had a good goal-scoring record, tackled and passed well and was also a good header of the ball. Towards the end of his playing career he moved into management as player-manager with Middlesbrough.

His most recent appointment was as manager of Championship (then Premier League) side West Bromwich Albion. He left the post on 18th September 2006, due to a very poor run of form including relegation.


Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham (born April 2, 1966 in Highams Park, London) is a veteran English footballer. He plays as a striker, and has had an exceptionally successful career at club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs (most notably 'The Treble' with Manchester United). He also represented England at international level. He currently plays for West Ham United. His son, Charlie Sheringham, is also a footballer, currently at Crystal Palace and Sheringham says he wants to share the field with son Charlie before he retires from playing.[1] Sheringham holds the record (which he continues to set) of being the oldest man to score in the Premiership. He is also the oldest outfield player ever to play in the Premiership.


Dennis Irwin
For many years Irwin was Manchester United's "Mr. Dependable". He started his career with Leeds United, before moving on to Oldham. In 1990 his services were secured by Manchester United for a fee of £625,000. There he would go on to make 296 Premiership appearances, winning seven championship medals, as well as two FA Cup winners medals (1994 and 1996), a League Cup winner's medal and Champions League and Cup Winners' Cup honours. He was comfortable in either of the full back positions and an expert at free kicks and penalties.

Irwin made his last appearance for Manchester United in the penultimate league home game at Old Trafford against Charlton Athletic in May 2002, which ended in a 0-0 draw. For his final game as a Manchester United player, Alex Ferguson awarded him the captain's armband.

Irwin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2002, coincidentally at the same time as his former Manchester United teammate Paul Ince made the move to the west midlands club.

After Wolves won promotion to the Premiership in 2003, Irwin was applauded by the Manchester United supporters when he walked onto the pitch at Old Trafford, despite the fact that he was playing for the opposition. At the end of the 2003-04 season, and at the age of 38, Irwin retired from professional football.


Sir Bobby Charlton

Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. He is arguably the greatest English footballer to have lived.[citation needed] He played almost all of his club football at Manchester United, where he became renowned for his attacking instincts from midfield and his ferocious long-range shot.

He began to play for United's first team in 1956, and over the next two seasons gained a regular place in the team, during which time he survived the Munich air disaster of 1958. After helping United to win the football league in 1965, he won a World Cup medal with England in 1966 and another football league title with United the following year. In 1968, he captained the Manchester United team that won the European Cup, scoring two goals in the final to help his team be the first English side to win the competition. He had scored more goals for England and United than any other player. He also made more appearances for Manchester United than any other player, records which are still standing at the end of 2006. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest players of all time.

He left Manchester United in 1973, becoming player-manager of Preston North End,[1] but decided management was not for him and left after one season.

After assuming the post of the director at Wigan Athletic F.C. for some time, he became a member of Manchester United's board of directors in 1984[2] and remains one as of April 2007.


Jaap Stam
akob Stam (known as Jaap Stam, born July 17, 1972 in Kampen in the Netherlands) is a Dutch football player, currently playing for Ajax Amsterdam. His nickname is de Rots van Kampen (the Rock of Kampen). He was voted best defender in the 1999 and 2000 UEFA Champions League. [1]

Stam started his career with local amateur football club DOS Kampen. In 1992, Stam made his professional debut for FC Zwolle. Stam's breakthrough came in his first season at Willem II. A shock 1-0 home victory over Ajax Amsterdam led to Stam's transfer to PSV Eindhoven. Two and a half years later, Stam became the then most expensive Dutch football player in history and the most expensive defender in history, when Manchester United bought him for ƒ36m. Stam spent three seasons at Manchester United and won the Premiership, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League while with them.

During the 2001-02 season, Stam was controversially sold to S.S. Lazio in Italy, after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly furious with allegations Stam had made in his autobiography Head to Head. The hasty exit left Ferguson with a defensive dilemma as the defence was built around the prolific Stam, Roy Keane often times had to drop back from his midfield position to fill his departure. Stam's only goal during his United career was the sixth goal in a 6-2 victory away to Leicester City FC at Filbert Street.

During his time with Lazio, Stam was found guilty of having the banned steroid nandrolone in his system following a Serie A game, and received a 5-month ban, which was eventually reduced by a month after appeals.

Stam made his debut for Holland on April 24, 1996, in the 1-0 defeat to Germany. He has played 67 matches for the Netherlands, scoring 3 goals and was an important player in the Dutch team that finished fourth in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. At Euro 2000, Stam missed an important kick in the penalty shootout in the semi-finals, which led to defeat against Italy. Stam retired from international football after the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal, saying he wanted to focus on A.C. Milan and his family. On January 30, 2006, it was announced that he would return to the Eredivisie and play for Ajax, where he signed a two-year contract. This came as a surprise to many, as it was expected he would return to either his former club PSV Eindhoven, or SC Heerenveen. He was immediately named team captain upon his arrival in Amsterdam.


Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971, Cork, Ireland) is the current manager of English Championship club Sunderland, who are currently second in the Championship. He is also a former professional footballer, well known and respected for his roles playing for, most notably, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic during a sixteen-year career. He also played internationally for the Republic of Ireland, and was captain for much of that time.


David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE (IPA: ['bɛkəm]) (born 2 May 1975) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid. Beckham was named as a member of Pelé's FIFA 100.[3] In addition to his success on the pitch, Beckham has been recognized by Time magazine as one of 2004's Time 100 (Heroes & Icons),[4] as well as an elite global advertising brand.[5]

Beckham is the fifth most capped English player of all time, has twice been the runner up in the FIFA World Player Of The Year Award in 1999 and 2001 and in addition to being the only Englishman to score in three different World Cups, is also only the ninth player in World Cup history to score twice from direct free kicks. He was captain of the English national team from 15 November 2000 to 2 July 2006.

Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first first-team appearance in 1992, at the age of 17. While with Manchester United he played a key role in their dominance of the FA Premier League in the 1990s and early 2000s, being pivotal in accomplishing The Treble of the League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in 1999. He left the club to become only the third Englishman to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, after Laurie Cunningham and Steve McManaman.

In 2006, after England's quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Germany, he stood down as captain.[6] He was then succeeded by Chelsea captain John Terry.[7] Beckham was dropped from the England national team squad selected by coach Steve McClaren on 11 August 2006.[8]

On 10 January 2007 Real Madrid Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic announced Beckham would leave the club when his contract expired in June 2007. On 11 January 2007, Beckham agreed to a move to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Los Angeles Galaxy on a five year contract beginning on 1 July 2007, after his current deal with Real Madrid expires.[9] Late Monday (15 January), after speculation in the UK and Spanish press on a possible early exit for Beckham from Real Madrid, MLS Commissioner Don Garber denied that his league was attempting to secure an early MLS debut for Beckham.[10]


Ruud van Nistelrooy
Rutgerus Johannes Martinius van Nistelrooy (originally spelled Van Nistelrooij) (born July 1, 1976 in Oss, North Brabant) is a Dutch footballer who plays in the position of centre forward for Real Madrid. He has previously starred for the Dutch national team and Manchester United, where he holds the record for being the club's top scorer in the European Cup.

Ima ih još bar toliko...

[Nosferatu]

Pjesme

United Road

Tune: Country Road
Recorded at Upton Park: 2002-03-16 United Road, take me home
To the place, I belong;
To Old Trafford, to see United;
Take me home, United road

Pride of All Europe

tune: just one of those songs
We are just one of those teams,
That you see now and then;
We often score six,
But we seldom score ten,
"We beat 'em at home,
And we beat and we beat 'em away,
We kill any b*stards,
That get in our way.
We are the pride of all Europe,
The cock of the North,
We hate the Scousers, the
Cockneys of course;
We are United,
Without any doubt,
We are the Manchester boys."
United Calypso "If ever they are playing in your town,
You must get to that football ground;
Take a lesson come and see,
Football taught by Matt Busby;
Manchester, Manchester United;
A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes,
They deserve to be knighted!"
Poor Little Scouser
recorded by Ian Schofield He's only a poor little scouser
His face is all tattered and torn
He made me feel sick
So I hit him with a brick
And now he can't sing anymore!

The Red Flag United's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded all our Munich dead,
Before their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their heart's blood dyed it's ev'ry fold.

Then raise United's banner high,
Beneath it's shade we'll live and die,
So keep the faith and never fear,
We'll keep the Red Flag flying here.

We'll never die, we'll never die,
We'll never die, we'll never die,
We'll keep the Red flag flying high,
'Cos Man United will never die

Glory Glory Man United Glory, glory, Man United,
Glory, glory, Man United,
Glory, glory, Man United,
And the reds go marching on, on, on.
Just like the Busby Babes in Days gone by
We'll keep the Red Flags flying high
You've got to see yourself from far and wide
You've got to hear the masses sing with pride

United! Man United!
We're the boys in Red and we're on our way to Wem-ber-ly
Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!
We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly
Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!
We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

In Seventy-Seven it was Docherty
Atkinson will make it Eighty-Three
And everyone will know just who we are
They'll be singing 'Que Sera Sera'

United! Man United!
We're the boys in Red and we're on our way to Wem-ber-ly
Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!
We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly
Wem-ber-ly! Wem-ber-ly!
We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wem-ber-ly

Glory Glory Man United
Glory Glory Man United
Glory Glory Man United
As the Reds Go Marching On! On! On! (3x)

City Are a Massive Club

Tune: He's got the whole world in his hands
They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
Oh! city are a massive club!

They've got the widest pitch in the land
They've got 54 players and they're no fucking good
They've got Curly Watts as a celebrity fan
They play at Gresty Road and Edgerly Park
They go to Wrexham and Cardiff on Euro-aways
They had the future England Captain, but his cruciate went
They won the Shamrock Trophy in 92
They've got 3 stars on their new club badge
They've got exec boxes with a balcony
They've had seventeen managers in twenty years
They take 25,000 to every away
You can see Old Trafford from the Kippax Stand
They've got the best goalie the world has ever seen
They're the second-best team in Division Two
They have a civic reception when they've won fuck all
They had a continental Laser Blue Kappa Kit
They're going to turn Manchester into Milan
They signed Spencer Prior on deadline day
They've got the Gallagher brothers in the Guvernors
They took a quarter of a million to Ewood Park
They've got 3007 in a temporary stand
They've got the tallest corner flags in the world
They invade their pitch when they win 3 points
They won the Shamrock Trophy in '92
They had Ryan Giggs on schoolboy forms
They've got a farmyard animal and they play him up front
They've got three million fans in Manchester
It's been 27(28..29..) years and they've won fuck all
They've got a dirty old slapper with a rusty bell
They'll stay up for 3 seasons - autumn, winter and spring
They empty Stockport when they play at home
They've got four different stands from a Meccano kit
They're the only team that come from Manchester
All their fans live 10 minutes from Maine Road
They've got the biggest bananas in the land
They've got a centre forward with grooves in his head
Their managers got a papier mache head
They'll be relegated by bonfire night
They've got salt and pepper on their hot dog stands
They've got greenalls bitter in the kippax stand
They've got the greenest grass in the whole of the world
They hounded Swales' mam into an early grave
They've got a gypsy curse on their massive pitch
Their best player ever played for Ajax reserves
They had a derby match with Macclesfield
They had Colin Bell who was better than Best(!)
They've been relegated ten times
They had a chairman and a manager that wore a wig
They bought Steve Daly for a million quid
They tried to sign Geoff Thomas and he turned 'em down
They've got Bernard Manning as their fattest fan
They used to be little, but now they're large
They sing racist chants, coz they've got no class

Tune: Oh my darling Clementine
Build a bonfire,
Build a bonfire,
Put the Scousers on the top,
Put City in the middle,
And we'll burn the f*cking lot
tune: this is how it feels
(Inspiral Carpets) This is how it feels to be City
This is how it feels to be small
This is how it feels when your team wins nothing at all
Nothing at all...
tune: bad moon rising I see the Stretford End arising
I see trouble on the way
Don't go out tonight
Unless you're red and white
I see there's trouble on the way.
tune: Yellow Submarine City's goin' down with a Russian on the wing,
a Russian on the wing, a Russian on the wing...
tune: US Marine Corps marching chant
(call and repeat) We're Man U and we are loud,
Loyal fans and totally proud,
Beat 'em at home beat 'em away,
Kill any b*stards that get in our way,
We hate City, Scouse, Leeds scum,
And we make the b*stards run,
With this team we shall go far,
Hughes, Giggs, Sharpe and Cantona,
Won the league let's do it again,
By just one point instead of ten,
We'll keep the red flag flying high,
'Coz Man United will never die.

Hello, hello, we are the the Busby boys,
Hello, hello, we are the the Busby boys,
And if you are a City fan,
Surrender or you'll die.
We all follow United.

Tune: The Wild Rover
And it's Man United,
Man United F.C.
We're by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen.

Stretford End Picnic

Tune: Teddy Bear's picnic
If you come down to the Stretford End
You'd better not come alone
If you come down to the Stretford End
You'd better be in disguise
For all the fans that ever was
Are gathered here today because
Today's the day that we play Man City
We love United, we do,
We love United, we do,
We love United, we do,
Oh, United we love you.

Manchester is Wonderful

Tune: When the Saints go marching in
Oh Manchester, Oh Manchester,
Oh Manchester is wonderful,
It's full of t*ts, f*nny, and United,
Oh Manchester is wonderful.

When The Reds go marching in

Tune: When the Saints go marching in
Oh when the reds, oh when the reds,
Oh when the reds go marching in,
I wanna be in that number,
Oh when the reds go marching in.

We Shall Not be Moved

Tune: We shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved,
We shall not, we shall not be moved,
Just like the team, that's gonna win the Football League - again!
We shall not, we shall not be moved.

We're Gonna Win The League

Tune: For he's a jolly good fellow
We're gonna win the league,
We're gonna win the league,
And now you're gonna believe us,
And now you're gonna believe us,
And now you're gonna believe us,
We're gonna win the league

Player Songs:

John O'Shea

Tune: Into The Ark
When Johnny goes marching down the wing, O'Shea, O'Shea
When Johnny goes marching down the wing, O'Shea, O'Shea
When Johnny goes marching down the wing, the Stretford End will f****ng sing
'Cause we all know that Johnny's going to score...
(sanitized version: ...the Stretford End will rise and sing...)

Rio Ferdinand

Tune: Hi-Ho (Snow White)
Rio, Rio,
He is a Red you know,
He met El Tel,
And said "farewell"
Rio, Rio, Rio, Rio.....

Eric Cantona

Tune: What a Friend we have in Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus
He`s a saviour from afar
What a friend we have in Jesus
And his name is Cantona....
Ooh Aah Cantona,
Ooh Aah Cantona
Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah
Cantona....
Ooh Aah Cantona

Ryan Giggs

Tune: Robin Hood
Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, running down the wing,
Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, running down the wing,
Feared by the blues, loved by the reds,
Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs.

Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs, running down the wing
Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs, crosses like The King
Beats one and two, beats three and four,
He will score, he will score, he will score.

Ryan Giggs Ryan Giggs, greatest ever goal
Semi-Final Villa Park, ran right through them all
Beat half the team, straight in the net
Won't forget, won't forget, no we won't forget.

Gary Neville

Tune: Rebel Rebel
Neville Neville, You're future's immense,
Neville Neville, You play in defence,
Neville Neville, Like Jacko you're bad,
Neville Neville, Is the name of your dad.

Tune: London Bridge Is Falling Down
Gary Neville is a Red
is a Red, is a Red,
Gary Neville is a Red,
he hates scousers.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Tune: you are my sunshine
You are my Solskjaer,
my Ole Solskjaer,
You make me happy,
when skies are grey,
Oh Alan Shearer,
was f*ckin dearer,
please don't take,
my Solskjaer away!

[Nosferatu]

Svi dresovi kroz povijest:

[Nosferatu]

Sir Alex Ferguson - najbolji i najtrofejniji trener u novijoj povijesti...



Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE (born 31 December 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United F.C. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and been in charge of Manchester United for more than 1,000 matches. With 20 years under his belt, he is the second-longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United after Sir Matt Busby.

He has previously managed East Stirlingshire and St. Mirren, before a highly successful period as manager of Aberdeen. He was briefly the manager of the Scotland national team, in a temporary capacity owing to the death of Jock Stein, before becoming the manager of Manchester United in 1986.

At Manchester United, Sir Alex has become the most successful manager in the history of English football, having guided the team to eight league championships. In 1999, he became the first manager to lead an English team to the treble of league championship, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. As well as being the only manager to win the FA Cup five times, he is also the only manager ever to guide a club to three successive league championships in the top flight in England (1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001).

One recurring theme of Sir Alex Ferguson's management of Manchester United has been his view that no player is bigger than the club. He has consistently taken a "my way or the highway" approach in his dealings with players and the pressure of this management tactic has often been the cause of many notable players' departures. Over the years players such as Gordon Strachan, Paul McGrath, Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis, Jaap Stam, Dwight Yorke, David Beckham and more recently, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy have left the club after varying degrees of conflict with Ferguson. This disciplinary line that he takes with such highly-paid, high-profile players has been mentioned as a reason for the ongoing success of Manchester United.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Playing career
* 2 Early managerial career
o 2.1 East Stirlingshire
o 2.2 St Mirren
* 3 Managing Aberdeen
o 3.1 Early disappointment
o 3.2 Silverware at last
o 3.3 European success
* 4 Managing Manchester United
o 4.1 First seasons at United
o 4.2 First trophy in England
o 4.3 European success, but a disappointment in the league
o 4.4 1992-93: Champions at last
o 4.5 1993-94: The Double
o 4.6 1994-95: Trophyless season
o 4.7 1995-96: The Double Double
o 4.8 1996-97: Another title
o 4.9 1997-98: No silverware
o 4.10 1998-99: 'The Treble'
o 4.11 1999-2000: Title number 6
o 4.12 2000-01: Title number 7
o 4.13 2001-02: Trophyless season
o 4.14 Retirement?
o 4.15 2002-03: Title number 8
o 4.16 2003-04: FA Cup glory
o 4.17 2004-05: Trophyless season
o 4.18 2005-06: League Cup triumph, European failure
o 4.19 2006-07 - Ferguson's 20th full season in charge
* 5 Managerial honours
o 5.1 Aberdeen 1978–1986
o 5.2 Manchester United 1986-
* 6 Trivia
* 7 Managerial stats
* 8 References
* 9 External links

[edit] Playing career

Ferguson grew up in Govan and supported Rangers. He began as an amateur at Queen's Park, making his debut at 16 as a striker. He described his first match as a "nightmare"[1] but scored Queen's Park's goal in a 2-1 defeat against Stranraer. As Queen's Park were an amateur team he also worked in the Clyde shipyards as an apprentice tool-worker, where he became an active trade union shop steward.

Although he scored 20 goals in his 31 games for Queen's Park, he could not command a regular place in the side and moved to St. Johnstone in 1960. Although he continued to score regularly at St. Johnstone, he was still unable to command a regular place and regularly requested transfers. Although he was out of favour at the club, their failure to sign a forward led the manager to select Ferguson for a match against Rangers, in which he scored a hat trick in a surprise victory. Dunfermline signed him the following summer (1964), and Ferguson became a full-time professional footballer.

The following season (1964-65), Dunfermline were strong challengers for the Scottish League and reached the Scottish Cup Final, but Ferguson was dropped for the final after a poor performance in a league game against St. Johnstone. Dunfermline lost the final 3-2 to Celtic, then failed to win the League by one point.

In 1967, he joined Rangers for £65,000, then a record fee for a transfer between two Scottish clubs. He was blamed for a goal that they conceded in the 1969 Scottish cup final,[2] and was forced to play for the club's junior side instead of the first team.[3] According to his brother, Ferguson was so upset by the experience that he threw his losers' medal away.[4] There have been claims that he suffered discrimination at Rangers after his marriage to his wife Cathie, who was a Catholic[5] but Ferguson himself makes it clear in his autobiography[6] that Rangers knew of his wife's religion when he joined the club and that he left the club very reluctantly, due to the fall-out from his alleged cup final mistake.

The following October, Nottingham Forest wanted to sign Ferguson,[7] but his wife was not keen on moving to England at that time so he went to Falkirk instead. He was promoted to player-coach there, but when John Prentice became manager he removed Ferguson's coaching responsibilities. Ferguson responded by requesting a transfer and moved to Ayr United, where he finished his playing career.

[edit] Early managerial career

[edit] East Stirlingshire

In June 1974, Ferguson was appointed manager of East Stirlingshire, at the comparatively young age of 32. It was a part-time job that paid £40 per week, and the club did not have a single goalkeeper at the time.[8] He immediately gained a reputation as a disciplinarian, with one of his players later saying he had "never been afraid of anyone before but Ferguson was a frightening bastard from the start."[9] His players admired his tactical decisions, however, and the club's results improved considerably.

The following October, Ferguson was invited to manage St. Mirren. Although they were below East Stirlingshire in the league, they were a bigger club and although Ferguson felt a degree of loyalty towards East Stirlingshire, he decided to join St. Mirren after taking advice from Jock Stein.[10]

[edit] St Mirren

Ferguson was manager of St Mirren from 1974-1978. Despite having to look after the team with a small budget, he was able to achieve promotion for the side from the Scottish First division in 1977. However, following a dispute with the club's chairman due to Ferguson wanting to make significant changes to St. Mirren e.g. change the club's famous black and white kit to a new one, he was sacked the following year for "unpardonable swearing at a lady on club premises" [11] and was not able to claim wrongful dismissal against the club at an industrial tribunal. St Mirren have been the only club ever to sack Ferguson. It is rumoured that Ferguson had already agreed to join Aberdeen before his dispute with St Mirren, a rumour which probably had a good deal to do with his failure to claim wrongful dismissal.
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[edit] Managing Aberdeen

[edit] Early disappointment

Ferguson joined Aberdeen as manager in June 1978, replacing Billy McNeill who had only lasted a season before he was offered the chance to manage Celtic. Although Aberdeen was one of Scotland's major clubs, they had not won the league since 1955. The team had been playing well, however, and had not lost a league match since the previous December, having finished second in the league the previous season.[12] Ferguson had now been a manager for four years, but was still not much older than some of the players and had trouble winning the respect of some of the older ones such as Joe Harper[13] The season did not go especially well, with Aberdeen reaching the semi-final of the Scottish F.A. Cup and the final of the league cup, but losing both matches and finishing fourth in the league.

The following December (1979), they lost the league cup final again, this time to Dundee United after a replay. Ferguson took the blame for the defeat, saying he should have made changes to the team for the replay.[14]

[edit] Silverware at last

Aberdeen had started the season poorly but their form improved dramatically in the new year and they won the Scottish league that season with a 5-0 win on the final day. It was the first time in fifteen years that the league had not been won by either Rangers or Celtic. Ferguson now felt that he had the respect of his players, later saying "That was the achievement which united us. I finally had the players believing in me".[15]

He was still a strict disciplinarian, though, and his players nicknamed him Furious Fergie. He fined one of his players, John Hewitt, for overtaking him on a public road,[16] and kicked a tea urn at the players at half time after a poor first half.[17] He was dissatisfied with the atmosphere at Aberdeen matches, and deliberately created a 'siege mentality' by accusing the Scottish media of being biased towards the Glasgow clubs, in order to motivate the team.[18] The team continued their success with a Scottish Cup win in 1982. Ferguson was offered the managers' job at Wolves but turned it down as he felt that Wolves were in trouble[19] and "[his] ambitions at Aberdeen were not even half fulfilled"[20]

[edit] European success

Ferguson led Aberdeen to even greater success the following season (1982-83). They had qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as a result of winning the Scottish Cup the previous season, and impressively knocked out Bayern Munich, who had beaten Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 in the previous round. According to Willie Miller, this gave them the confidence to believe that they could go on to win the competition,[21] which they did, with a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid in the final on 11 May 1983. Aberdeen became only the third Scottish team to win a European trophy and Ferguson now felt that "he'd done something worthwhile with his life".[22] Aberdeen had also performed well in the league that season, and retained the Scottish Cup with a 1–0 victory over Rangers, but Ferguson was not happy with his team's play in that match and upset the players by describing them as a "disgraceful performance" in a televised interview after the match[23] - a statement that he later retracted.

After a poor start to the 1983-84 season, Aberdeen's form improved and the team won the Scottish league and retained the Scottish Cup. Ferguson was awarded the OBE in 1984 honours list, and was offered the managers' jobs at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during the season. Aberdeen retained their league title in the 1984-85 season, but had a disappointing season in 1985-86, finishing fourth in the league, although they did win both domestic cups. Ferguson had been appointed to the club's board of directors early in 1986, but that April he told Dick Donald, their chairman, that he intended to leave that summer. After the death of Jock Stein he had also taken on the role of Scotland manager in preparation for the 1986 World Cup, appointing Archie Knox as his co-manager at Aberdeen during this time. There had been speculation that he would take over from Ron Atkinson at Manchester United, who had been struggling badly that season after a good start. Although Ferguson remained at the club over the summer, he did eventually join Manchester United when Atkinson was sacked in November 1986.

[edit] Managing Manchester United

[edit] First seasons at United

He was appointed manager at Old Trafford on November 6, 1986. Ferguson was worried that many of the players, such as Norman Whiteside, Paul McGrath and Bryan Robson were drinking too much and was "depressed" by their level of fitness, but he managed to increase the players' discipline and United climbed up the table to finish the season in 11th place. His mother died from lung cancer in late 1986.

Ferguson made several major signings in the 1987-88 season, including Steve Bruce, Viv Anderson, Brian McClair and Jim Leighton. The new players greatly improved the team and they finished in second place, nine points behind Liverpool.

United were expected to do well when Mark Hughes returned to the club, but the 1988-89 season was a disappointment for them, finishing eleventh in the league and losing 1–0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final.

[edit] First trophy in England

During the summer of 1989 United signed two new midfielders to bolster their chances of success in the 1989-90 season: Nottingham Forest's Neil Webb and West Ham United's Paul Ince. Middlesbrough's 24-year-old central defender Gary Pallister also joined the club for a British record fee of £2.3million. On the opening day of the 1989-90 season, United beat defending champions Arsenal 4-1. But in September, United suffered a humiliating 5–1 away defeat against neighbours Manchester City. Things did not improve during the rest of the 1989, and in November a banner declaring "Three years of excuses and it's still crap. Ta ra Fergie." was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked.[24] United went on a run of six defeats and two draws in eight games and Ferguson later described December 1989 as "the darkest period [he had] ever suffered in the game."[25]

In January 1990, Manchester United were drawn away to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup. Forest were one of the most feared cup teams in that era, and it was expected that United would lose the match and Ferguson would consequently be sacked, but United won the game 1–0 and eventually reached the final. This cup win is often cited as the match which saved Ferguson's Old Trafford career.

In the final United drew 3–3 with Crystal Palace. United's goalkeeper, Jim Leighton, was heavily criticised for two of Crystal Palace's goals, and his form over the whole season had been poor. Ferguson surprised many by replacing Leighton with Les Sealey for the replay, feeling that Leighton was "not in the right mental state" to play in the replay.[26] United won the match 1–0 with a goal from defender Lee Martin. As FA Cup winners, United became England's representatives in the European Cup Winners Cup the following season. However, they had finished a disappointing 13th in the league.

[edit] European success, but a disappointment in the league

Although United's league form improved greatly in 1990-91, they were still inconsistent and finished sixth. They reached the League Cup final, but lost 1–0 to Sheffield Wednesday, who were managed by Ferguson's predecessor at United, Ron Atkinson. They also reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, beating that season's Spanish champions Barcelona in the final. After the match, Ferguson announced to journalists that United would win the league the following season.[27] It was a brave prediction, considering that the club had failed to do so since 1967.

The 1991-92 season did not live up to Ferguson's expectations and in Ferguson's words, "many in the media felt that [his] mistakes had contributed to the misery".[28] They won the League Cup for the first time but lost out on the league title to Leeds United after leading the table for much of the season. Ferguson felt that his failure to sign Mick Harford from Luton Town had cost United the league, and that he needed "an extra dimension" to the team if they were to win the league the following season.[29]

[edit] 1992-93: Champions at last

After a slow start to the season (they were 10th of 22 at the beginning of November) it looked as though United would miss out on the championship again. But then Alex Ferguson paid Leeds United £1.2 million for their French striker Éric Cantona and the deal proved to be a turning point in the history of Manchester United. Cantona formed a strong partnership with Mark Hughes and fired the club to the top of the table, ending United's 26-year wait, and also making them the first ever Premiership Champions, after the league reform. Alex Ferguson was voted Manager of the Year by the League Managers' Association.

[edit] 1993-94: The Double

1993–94 brought more success. He added Nottingham Forest's 22-year-old midfielder Roy Keane to the ranks for a British record fee of £3.75million as a long term replacement for Bryan Robson, who was nearing the end of his career.

United led the 1993–94 Premiership table virtually from start to finish. Cantona was top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions despite being sent off twice in the space of five days in March 1994. United also reached the League Cup final but lost 3-1 to Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa. In the FA Cup final Manchester United achieved an impressive 4-0 scoreline against Chelsea. United had become only the sixth club ever to win the League Championship/FA Cup double. Ferguson made only one close-season signing, paying Blackburn Rovers £1.2million for David May

[edit] 1994-95: Trophyless season

1994–95 was a harder season for Ferguson. Cantona assaulted a Crystal Palace supporter in a game at Selhurst Park, and it seemed likely he would leave English football. An eight month ban saw Cantona miss the final four months of the season. He also received a 14-day prison sentence for the offence but the sentence was quashed on appeal and replaced by a 120-hour community service order. On the brighter side, United paid a British record fee of £7 million for Newcastle's prolific striker Andy Cole, with young winger Keith Gillespie heading to the north-east in exchange.

However, the championship slipped out of Manchester United's grasp as they drew 1–1 with West Ham United on the final day of the season, when a win would have given them the league. United also lost the FA Cup final in a 1-0 defeat to Everton.

[edit] 1995-96: The Double Double

Ferguson was heavily criticised in the summer of 1995 when three of United's star players were allowed to leave and replacements were not bought. First Paul Ince moved to Inter Milan of Italy for £7.5 million, long serving striker Mark Hughes was suddenly sold to Chelsea in a £1.5 million deal, and Andrei Kanchelskis was sold to Everton. It was widely known that Ferguson felt that United had a number of young players who were ready to play in the first team. The youngsters, who would be known as "Fergie's Fledglings", included Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who would all go on to be important members of the team.

When United lost their first league match 3–1 to Aston Villa, the media swooped upon Ferguson with undisguised glee. They wrote United off because Alex Ferguson's squad contained so many young and inexperienced players. Match of the Day pundit, Alan Hansen infamously proclaimed that "you can't win anything with kids". However, the young players performed well and United won their next five matches.

Cantona's return from suspension was a boost, but they found themselves fourteen points behind Newcastle. However a series of good results in early 1996 saw the gap close, and from early March onwards United led the table. This contrasted with a disastrous run of form for Newcastle, whose manager, Kevin Keegan, succumbed to the immense pressure of the title race, and the mind games Ferguson famously loves to play with opposing managers. His famous outburst on live television, "I'd love it if we beat them! Love it!" has gone down in football legend as Fergie's greatest personal victory over another manager. United's Premiership title success was confirmed on the final day of the season. They played Liverpool in that year's FA Cup final, winning 1–0 with a late goal by Cantona.

[edit] 1996-97: Another title

1996–97 saw Alex Ferguson guide Manchester United to their fourth Premiership title in five seasons. In late October, they suffered three league defeats in a row and conceded 13 goals in the process. They also lost their 40 year unbeaten home record in Europe to unfancied Turkish side Fenerbahçe. But they still reached the Champions League semi final, where they lost to Borussia Dortmund of Germany. At the end of the season, Cantona surprisingly retired from football.

[edit] 1997-98: No silverware

Ferguson made two new signings to bolster United's challenge for the 1997-98 season, 31-year-old England striker Teddy Sheringham and defender Henning Berg. However the season ended trophyless as Arsenal won the Premiership under French manager Arsene Wenger, who started a long-lasting rivalry with Ferguson. The summer of 1998 saw striker Dwight Yorke, winger Jesper Blomqvist and Dutch defender Jaap Stam join Manchester United.

[edit] 1998-99: 'The Treble'

1998–99 saw Manchester United winning an unprecedented treble of the Premiership title, FA Cup and Champions League. The season was characterized by highly dramatic matches. In the Champions League semi-final, United conceded two early goals away to Juventus in the second leg. Inspired by Roy Keane, who would later miss the final through suspension, United came back to beat Juventus 3-2 and reach their first European Cup final since 1968. In the FA Cup semi-final, United faced close rivals Arsenal and appeared to be heading for defeat when Keane was sent off and Arsenal were awarded a last-minute penalty. Peter Schmeichel saved the penalty, and in extra time Ryan Giggs ran taking the ball past 5 players from the half way line to score what is widely considered the greatest goal in Manchester United's history. They then defeated Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. The European triumph was the most incredible of all. After 90 minutes of play they were 1-0 down to Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in Barcelona thanks to a Mario Basler free kick, but in the 3 minutes of injury time allowed by referee Pierluigi Collina, Teddy Sheringham, a substitute, equalised and extra time looked certain. But with just seconds left on the clock, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, also a late substitution scored the winning goal and history was made. This dramatic finish prompted the famous words from Alex Ferguson, 'Football. Bloody hell.'

On 12 June 1999, Alex Ferguson received a knighthood in recognition of his services to the game.

[edit] 1999-2000: Title number 6

Manchester United ended the 1999-2000 season as champions with just three Premiership defeats, and a cushion of 18 points. The massive gap between United and the rest of the Premiership caused some to wonder if the club's financial dominance was developing into a problem for the English game.

In April 2000, it was announced that Manchester United had agreed to sign Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from PSV Eindhoven for a British record fee of £18million. But the move was put on hold when van Nistelrooy failed a medical, and he then returned to his homeland in a bid to regain fitness, only to suffer a serious knee injury which ruled him out for almost a year.

[edit] 2000-01: Title number 7

29-year-old French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was signed from Monaco for £7.8 million - making him the most expensive goalkeeper to be signed by a British club, and United won the title again. During the 2001 close season Ruud van Nistelrooy joined, and soon after Manchester United again broke the British transfer record - this time paying Lazio £28.1million for Argentine attacking midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón.

Veron failed to live up to the high expectations his transfer fee suggested and he was sold to Chelsea for £15 million only two years later. Veron proved to be Ferguson's most expensive transfer mistake. Veron's career failed to recover at Chelsea, and his international career with Argentina also soon floundered.

[edit] 2001-02: Trophyless season

Two games into the 2001-02 season, Dutch central defender Jaap Stam was suddenly sold to Lazio in a £16million deal. The reason for Stam's departure was believed to have been claims in his autobiography Head to Head that he had been illegally spoken to about a move to Manchester United by Alex Ferguson, before his previous club PSV Eindhoven had been informed. Ferguson surprisingly replaced Stam with Inter Milan's 36-year-old central defender Laurent Blanc.

On 8 December 2001, Manchester United were ninth in the Premiership - 11 points behind leaders Liverpool who had a game in hand. But then came a dramatic turn around in form. Between mid-December and late January, eight successive wins saw Manchester United climb to the top of the Premiership and put their title challenge back on track but in the end, United finished third in the Premiership.

They lost the semi-final on away goals to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and failed in the domestic books. Ferguson's misery was compounded as rival Arsene Wenger clinched the Premiership title for Arsenal at Old Trafford with a 1-0 win in the penultimate game of the season.

[edit] Retirement?

The 2001-02 season was to have been Ferguson's last as Manchester United manager, and the looming date of his retirement was cited by many as a reason for the team's loss of form. Ferguson himself admitted that the decision to pre-announce his retirement had resulted in a negative effect on the players and on his ability to impose discipline. But in February 2002 he agreed to stay in charge for at least another three years.
Rio Ferdinand, who Ferguson broke the British transfer record to capture.
Rio Ferdinand, who Ferguson broke the British transfer record to capture.

The close season saw Manchester United break the British transfer record yet again when they paid Leeds United £30 million for 24-year-old central defender Rio Ferdinand.

[edit] 2002-03: Title number 8

Manchester United won their eighth Premiership title yet just over two months before the end of the season they were eight points behind leaders Arsenal. But an improvement in form for United, and a decline for Arsenal, saw the Premiership trophy gradually slip out of the Londoners' grasp and push it back in the direction of Old Trafford. Ferguson described the 2002-03 championship as his most satisfying ever, due to the nature of a remarkable comeback.

Not for the first time, Ferguson had proven to be a master of managerial mind-games, successfully rattling the composure of Arsenal and their otherwise unflappable manager Arsène Wenger (the relationship with Wenger has always been difficult to judge through the glare of media hyperbole although since the emergence of Jose Mourinho the media obsession with the Ferguson-Wenger dispute has decreased). The end of this season also brought with it the end of David Beckham's career at Manchester United, who left for Spain to join Real Madrid.

[edit] 2003-04: FA Cup glory

Ferguson guided Manchester United to their eleventh FA Cup at the end of the 2003-04 season, but it was a disappointing season which had seen them finish third in the Premiership and suffer Champions League elimination at the hands of eventual winners FC Porto. Rio Ferdinand missed the final four months of the season, as he served the beginning of an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test. New signings like Eric Djemba-Djemba and José Kleberson were disappointing, but there was at least one productive signing - 19-year-old Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

[edit] 2004-05: Trophyless season
Wayne Rooney, a teenager Ferguson signed who would go on to become one of the team's best players in later seasons.
Wayne Rooney, a teenager Ferguson signed who would go on to become one of the team's best players in later seasons.

At the beginning of the 2004-05 season, Wayne Rooney and Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze joined United while Cristiano Ronaldo continued where he had left off the previous season by putting in more match-winning performances. But the lack of a striker after Van Nistelrooy spent most of the season injured saw the club finish third for the third time in four seasons. In the F.A Cup final they lost on penalties to Arsenal.

[edit] 2005-06: League Cup triumph, European failure

Ferguson's preparations for the season were disrupted by a high-profile dispute with major shareholder John Magnier, over the ownership of the racehorse Rock of Gibraltar. When Magnier and business partner J. P. McManus agreed to sell their shares to American business tycoon Malcolm Glazer, it cleared the way for Glazer to acquire full control of the club. This sparked violent protests from United fans, and disrupted Ferguson's plans to strengthen the team in the transfer market. In spite of this, United looked to solve their goalkeeping and midfield problems. For this, they signed two crucial players, the Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar from Fulham and Korean star Park Ji-Sung from PSV.

The season was one of transition. On 18 November, Roy Keane officially left the club, his contract ended by mutual consent. United failed to qualify for the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions' League. In the January transfer window Serbian defender Nemanja Vidić and French full-back Patrice Evra were signed, and the side finished in second place in the league, behind runaway leaders Chelsea. To make matters worse, United lost at Liverpool 1-0 in the 5th Round of the F.A. Cup. Winning the League Cup was a consolation prize for lack of success elsewhere. Ruud van Nistelrooy's future at Old Trafford seemed to be in doubt after not starting in the Carling Cup final, and he departed at the end of the season to rejoin former teammate David Beckham, who had left in similar circumstances, at Real Madrid.

[edit] 2006-07 - Ferguson's 20th full season in charge

Michael Carrick was signed as a replacement for Keane for £14 million, which could rise to as much as £18.6 million depending on appearances and results. United started the season well, and for the first time ever won the first four Premiership games. They set the pace in the Premiership and to date they are top of the table. The January 2006 signings have had a huge impact on United's performances this season. Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic have come in to form a solid back line along with already existing players Rio Ferdinand and skipper Gary Neville. Vidic has scored four goals this season, a large number for a centre-half. Also, the signing of Michael Carrick has brought stability in the United midfield, forming a great partnership with Paul Scholes, while Korean Park Ji-Sung has proved to add significant pace and incisiveness in attack along with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson celebrated his 20th anniversary in charge of Manchester United on 6 November 2006. Tributes also came from Ferguson's players, both past and present,[30] as well as his old foe, Arsène Wenger,[31] his old captain, Roy Keane, and current players. The party was spoiled the following day when United endured a single-goal defeat at the hands of Southend in the fourth round of the Carling Cup. However, on 1 December it was announced that Manchester United had signed 35 year old Henrik Larsson,[32] a player that Alex Ferguson had admired for many years, and attempted to capture previously. On 23 December 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the club's 2000th goal with Sir Alex as boss.

[edit] Managerial honours

Ferguson was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a manager.

[edit] Flag of Scotland Aberdeen 1978–1986

* Scottish League: (3) 1979-80, 1983-84, 1984-85
* Runners-Up: (2) 1980-81, 1981-82
* Scottish Cup: (4) 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86
* Scottish League Cup: (1) 1985-86
* Finalists: (2) 1978-79, 1979-80

European competition

* European Cup Winners Cup: (1) 1982-83
* UEFA Super Cup: (1) 1983-84

[edit] Flag of England Manchester United 1986-

Domestic competition

* FA Premiership: ( 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03
* FA Cup: (5) 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04
* League Cup: (2) 1991-92, 2005-06
* FA Charity/Community Shield: (5) 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003

European competition

* UEFA Champions League: (1) 1998-1999
* European Cup Winners Cup: (1) 1990-91
* Intercontinental Cup: (1) 1999 (aka Toyota Cup since 1980)
* UEFA Supercup: (1) 1991-92

Notes:

* The 1990 Charity Shield Final was drawn 1-1 with Liverpool and each club kept the shield for 6 months. The penalty shoot-out decider was abolished in the 1980s and only reinstated in 1993.
o As Football League Division One

Manager Awards

* FA Premier League Manager of the Year: (6) 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2002-03

1000 games at Man Utd Ferguson's 1000th game as manager of Manchester United was a Champions League match against Lyon on 23 November 2004. The breakdown of those 1000 matches is as follows:

* League games: 707
* Charity/Community Shield: 11
* League Cup: 65
* FA Cup: 78
* UEFA Champions League: 116
* European Cup Winners Cup: 13
* UEFA Cup: 4
* Super Cup: 2
* World Club Championship: 3
* Toyota Cup: 2

[edit] Trivia

* In 2005, the Collins English Dictionary included the phrase "squeaky-bum time", a phrase coined by Ferguson to describe the tense Premiership run-in in 2002/03.
* Sir Alex Ferguson has a notorious history for playing mind games with managers during close Premiership title races - notably with the likes of Kevin Keegan in 1995/96, and indisputably with Arsène Wenger all the way back since 1997/98 up until Arsenal's last Premiership trophy in 2003/04.
* There are several stories mentioned in relation to Ferguson's hot temper which have nearly passed into folklore. The most notable of these stories involve Sir Alex's kicking a football boot at David Beckham, his throwing of teacups during motivational halftime speeches, and his famed "hair-dryer treatment" in which he vents his ire (and often abuse) directly into a recalcitrant player's face. That these anecdotes have seemingly served to enhance Ferguson's popular appeal is evidence of the clear niche that the manager has carved out for himself within his profession.
* Ferguson has refused post-match interviews with the BBC since May 2004 after a documentary, Fergie & Son, was aired showing dealings between him and his agent son Jason.
* Ferguson is an outspoken supporter of the Labour Party.
* Sir Alex Ferguson is also a dotcom entrepreneur - he is one of the founders of restaurant booking site toptable.
* Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 2000th goal under Ferguson's reign (all competitions) away to Aston Villa on 23/12/06. Incidentally, the 1st goal was scored by John Sivebæk against Queens Park Rangers on 22/11/86 just over 20 years earlier.

[Nosferatu]

Slike s utakmice koja nam je vjerojatno prvenstvo dopremila
:













Zadnja mi je najdraža, Rooney ljubi značku Uniteda protiv Evertona,
kluba u kojem je odrastao!

[Nosferatu]

NEWS

Sir Alex Ferguson says United's title chances are now marvellous, thanks to a five-point lead, a huge goal difference and his squad's attacking spirit.

The boss, barely audible above the delirious Reds fans at Goodison Park, told MUTV:

"It's been an incredible turn of events. We were two-nothing down, Chelsea were in front - and then we've turned it round to a four-two victory. What a fantastic result for us.

"The momentum is obviously back with us after Chelsea's draw. With three games left, our five-point lead and superior goal difference gives us an absolutely marvellous chance.

“But the most important thing is the players are having a go. And if you’re having a go, with the finishers we've got in our side, we’re likely to score. That is a smashing attitude to have in the latter part of the season."

Although he was delighted with Saturday's events at Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, Sir Alex won't celebrate for too long, not when there are three difficult games still to play.

"We're away to Manchester City next Saturday for a lunch-time kick-off after playing in Milan on Wednesday. We know what that can do to our players, it’s very difficult. And then we’ve got Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

"So we can't count our chickens at this moment in time because football's football but I do think the marvellous attitude of our players and the spirit in the camp is going to help us.

"These players want to win games. They want to score all the time. When I see that enthusiasm, camaraderie and team spirit in the dressing room, I can go home to my bed knowing I've got some really honest players."

Fourteen players were deployed by Sir Alex at Goodison Park, with all three substitutes making an impact. But at least one of them, Cristiano Ronaldo, might not have appeared had Everton maintained their two-goal cushion.

"At two-nil down, I wasn't contemplating using Ronaldo because he's carrying an injury," revealed Sir Alex, "but as soon as it went to two-one, I sent him on.

"Ronaldo made a difference beacuse the focus (from Everton) went on to him and it released Rooney, Giggs and Scholes. They were putting three men around Ronaldo all the time, so he did a great job for us in that way.

"Bringing Kieran Richardson on made a big difference to us also. Young Evra was sadly struggling with his injury a bit, so Kieran came on and gave us great energy on the left side of the pitch and they couldn't really handle that actually."

The third and final sub Chris Eagles also contributed to United's comeback, capping it with their fourth goal on his Premiership debut.

"He was cool, he took his time and placed it beautifully. It was a great finish."

Sir Alex reserved a note of thanks for his friend Sam Allardyce, the Bolton boss who guided an injury-hit side to an important 2-2 draw with Chelsea in West London.

"Oh, he’ll be getting a hug and a kiss (from me). Maybe two kisses!"

[-che-]

1.jebem glupog čitaj čiz...
2.neće Čelski ništa ove sezone osvojit
3. tko je Dong?
_________________

[Nosferatu]