Ferguson is lured south from Aberdeen and
appointed manager to replace Ron Atkinson on November 6, 1986. Manages a
win at Liverpool, but an unremarkable 11th-placed finish indicates the
work needed to be done.
It seems progress is being made with a first top-two finish in seven
years. But United are light years behind Liverpool, and Ferguson knows
it. New signing Brian McClair becomes first player to score 20 league
goals since George Best in 1967-68.
The
momentum of the previous season is lost, despite the emergence of
Fergie’s Fledglings. A home FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Nottingham
Forest is a savage blow. The pressure is on.
The
breakthrough season. Signings of Paul Ince, Gary Pallister, Mike Phelan
and Neil Webb are making no discernible difference to league form.
Ferguson’s worst day comes in a 5-1 defeat to Manchester City and fan
holds sign up saying, ‘3 YEARS OF EXCUSES AND IT’S STILL C**P - TA RA
FERGIE’ after home defeat to Crystal Palace. But Mark Robins’ goal at
Forest begins run in FA Cup that ends in Wembley glory.
The
trophies continue as United claim the Cup Winners’ Cup with two Mark
Hughes goals against Barcelona in Rotterdam. Agony at Wembley against
Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup Final though, and only marginal
improvement in the league.
1991-92:
Dramatic collapse with three successive
defeats costs United the title and raises questions about whether they
will ever win it. League Cup success is scant consolation.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: 4th Round
LEAGUE CUP: Winners
EUROPE: Cup Winners’ Cup, 2nd Round
Star Man: Peter Schmeichel
1992-93:
United are contenders for the first Premier League title and the
arrival of Eric Cantona in November becomes the catalyst for everything
that is to follow. Two dramatic Steve Bruce headers help overcome
Sheffield Wednesday in key end of season encounter and Ferguson learns
on the golf course he is a champion.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: 5th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: UEFA Cup, 1st Round
Star Man: Eric Cantona
1993-94:
Almost
the perfect domestic season. Title is retained and the FA Cup is won in
some comfort against Chelsea. Only defeat to Aston Villa in League Cup
final prevents clean sweep. United starting to become dominant force.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Winners
LEAGUE CUP: Finalists
EUROPE: Champions League, 2nd Round
Star Man: Ryan Giggs
1994-95:
Cantona launches himself into the crowd at Selhurst Park and gets
eight-month ban that overshadows a dramatic conclusion to the campaign.
Andy Cole gets five against Ipswich but United fail to win at West Ham
to hand the championship to Blackburn, and are then beaten in the FA
Cup final by Everton. Europe a disappointment too.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: Runners-up
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: Champions League Group stage
Star Man: Andy Cole
1995-96:
Cantona’s
return catapults the Red Devils back to the top with the team of kids
Alan Hansen said you could never win anything with. Frenchman scores a
succession of key goals to reclaim the league and the FA Cup Final
winner against Liverpool. Europe continues to disappoint and bizarre
League Cup defeat by York, but the momentum is forwards.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Winners
LEAGUE CUP: 2nd Round
EUROPE: UEFA Cup, 1st Round
Star Man: Eric Cantona
1996-97:
With domestic supremacy assured, Ferguson sets his sights on the
Champions League. They come up short though, beaten in the semi-finals
by Borussia Dortmund. David Beckham makes his mark though, with a goal
from the halfway line at Wimbledon.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: 4th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, semi-finals
Star Man: David Beckham
1997-98:
Arsenal’s emergence under Arsene Wenger catches Ferguson out. With
Cantona now retired, United win just four games out of 11 in a dreadful
mid-season run and other competitions equally disappointing by their
high standards.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: 5th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: Champions League, quarter-finals
Star Man: Gary Neville
1998-99:
The
greatest season in United’s history as they become the first English
team to win the Treble. Victories over Tottenham and Newcastle secure
title and FA Cup on successive weekends. But it is the injury-time
defeat of Bayern Munich, and those late, late goals from Teddy
Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that will never be forgotten.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Winners
LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round
EUROPE: Champions League winners
Star Man: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
1999-2000:
Most
famous part of this season is United not defending the FA Cup in favour
of a woeful performance at the clashing Club World Championship.
Ferguson claims the break in Brazil was the determining factor in
United’s comfortable title triumph.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Did not enter
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals
Star Man: Dwight Yorke
2000-01:
Another
title cruise but more frustration in Europe. Slowly Old Trafford is
changing as Jaap Stam’s abrupt departure is followed by the reduction in
roles for Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Fabien Barthez’s arrival does not
solve United’s goalkeeping concerns.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: 4th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, quarter-finals
Star Man: Teddy Sheringham
2001-02:
The arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron are
supposed to extend United’s domestic dominance and bring further success
in Europe. Van Nistelrooy scores 36 times but Veron flatters to deceive
and United win nothing. Ferguson abandon’s retirement plans.
LEAGUE: 3rd
FA CUP: 4th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: Champions League, semi-finals
Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy
2002-03:
Rio
Ferdinand becomes the latest big-money recruit as the title is
reclaimed once more. Van Nistelrooy scores an incredible 44 times but a
row between Ferguson and David Beckham leaves the England skipper with a
cut eye and heralds his exit from Old Trafford. Personal row erupts
with major shareholders over ownership rights to Rock of Gibraltar.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: 5th Round
LEAGUE CUP: Runners-up
EUROPE: Champions League, quarter-finals
Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy
2003-04:
Cristiano
Ronaldo’s arrival did not yield instant dividends and Kleberson, David
Bellion and Eric Djemba-Djemba are a reminder that Ferguson doesn’t
always get it right. A first meeting with Mourinho also ended unhappily
as United were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.
LEAGUE: 3rd
FA CUP: Winners
LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, last 16
Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy
2004-05:
After
Arsenal’s Invincibles, Mourinho’s formidable Chelsea outfit raise the
bar even further. United endure only their fourth trophyless season in
17, as they are beaten in the FA Cup final by Arsenal, although the
arrival of Wayne Rooney is a statement of intent.
LEAGUE: 3rd
FA CUP: Runners-up
LEAGUE CUP: Semi-final
EUROPE: Champions League, last 16
Star Man: Wayne Rooney
2005-06:
The low point in recent times. Out of
Europe at the group stage, Vodafone quit as sponsors and Roy Keane
booted out after strong criticism on MUTV following defeat at
Middlesbrough and Van Nistelrooy also shoved out. Season is saved by
Carling Cup triumph and strong league finish.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: 5th Round
LEAGUE CUP: Winners
EUROPE: Champions League, group stage
Star Man: Rio Ferdinand
2006-07:
With Cristiano Ronaldo starting to show the form that would soon see
him become the world’s best player. United reclaim the title and go
agonisingly close in Europe. Edwin van der Sar proves to be a
significant addition.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Runners-up
LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, semi-final
Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo
2007-08:
Ronaldo dazzles spectacularly as Ferguson lands his second Champions
League in the year of the 50th anniversary of Munich. Carlos Tevez also
makes a telling contribution as United retain their title.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: 6th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round
EUROPE: Champions League winners
Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo
2008-09:
Ferguson persuades Ronaldo to stay for another year, signs Dimitar
Berbatov and gets another title. League Cup added as well as United go
within one game of a complete domestic and european season - the FA Cup
final being the only match they did not reach. Chastening experience in
Champions League final though as United are badly beaten by Barcelona.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Semi-final
LEAGUE CUP: Winners
EUROPE: Champions League, finalists
Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo
2009-10:
Ronaldo leaves, as does Tevez but Rooney revels on centre stage. United
fall just short though, missing out on the title by a point and losing
to Bayern Munich in Europe, in controversial circumstances. League Cup
is retained though.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: 3rd Round
LEAGUE CUP: Winners
EUROPE: Champions League, quarter-final
Star Man: Wayne Rooney
2010-11:
Ferguson becomes longest serving manager in United’s history and team
equal club record of 29 games unbeaten. Late season stutter does not
cost them a record 19th championship but yet again, find Barcelona too
good in what proves to be the Scot’s last European final.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Semi-final
LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, finalists
Star Man: Nemanja Vidic
2011-12:
United suffer an unexpected mishap in Europe, and then a rare
trophyless season on the domestic front as a late season slump allows
Manchester City to seize the initiative, before winning it in stoppage
time on the final day. Ferguson tells his players never to forget how
they feel.
LEAGUE: 2nd
FA CUP: 4th Round
LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round
EUROPE: Champions League group stage, Europa League last 16
Star Man: Wayne Rooney
2012-13:
Red Devils motor to their 20th title with four games to spare after the
arrival of Robin van Persie proves the catalyst for their superiority.
At one stage, the Treble looks on, but Ferguson’s last European campaign
ends in acrimony following Nani’s red card against Real Madrid and
Chelsea end hopes of another FA Cup.
LEAGUE: Winners
FA CUP: Quarter-final
LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round
EUROPE: Champions League, last 16
Star Man: Robin van Persie
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