First Premier League title and the start of an era – 1993
A new name, a new era and a new superpower in English football. Liverpool had been the conquerors of England throughout the 1980s but now it was time for Ferguson’s Manchester United.
The Red Devils played the first ever match in the new Premier League – a 2-1 win over Sheffield United – and by the end of the 1992/93 season they were also the maiden winners.
Ferguson had delivered the English league title to Old Trafford for the first time since 1967. The Scot could do no wrong in United fans’ eyes and things were about to get a whole lot better.
The treble – 1999
As the world was on the cusp of a new millennium, Fergie was about to bring something to Manchester that not even the great Sir Matt Busby had ever achieved at the club.
As the 1998/99 season rolled on it was becoming apparent the Red Devils were on the brink of something truly special – the treble win of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
The Scot pipped his latest rival Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal to the league by one point, beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup final and then recorded perhaps the most dramatic win in Champions League history.
As the final with Bayern Munich approached extra time at the Nou Camp, United trailed the Germans 0-1 following a sixth minute goal from Mario Basler.
Cue two goals in the 91st and 93rd minute as successive corners from David Beckham first found Teddy Sheringham and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Fergie had won the European Cup for the first time at Old Trafford since 1968 and earned a knighthood in the process.
David Beckham ‘boot’ and high profile departure – 2003
The most famous man in world football and perhaps even the whole of sport was shown by Ferguson that no player is too big for Manchester United.
Beckham, like a impressive group of players that included Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, had come through the United youth system and had enjoyed enviable success under Sir Alex.
Yet it was clear that things were not as they had been between master and apprentice and the tabloids went wild when a boot kicked by Fergie hit the midfielder in the head, following a 0-2 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal.
In 2003 Beckham was sold to Spanish giants Real Madrid for £28.2million, but despite being at the ‘Galaticos’ the former England captain would never again enjoy the success he had at Old Trafford.
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