10th league title and second Champions League – 2008
In the mid-2000s Manchester United had resumed the now unrecognisable seat as second best in England.
There was a new kid in town called Jose Mourinho and with a blank cheque-book from a Russian billionaire at Chelsea, the ‘Special One’ was taking Fergie on and winning.
Yet after the departure of the Portuguese in 2007 the Glasgow-born boss proved his durability by regenerating his United team and making them the leaders once more.
The 2007/08 season was particularly special for the Scot, as he pipped the Blues to the Premier League title by two points (winning his tenth as boss at Old Trafford) and then further rubbed it in at stamford Bridge by beating the Blues in the Champions League final.
A 1-1 draw in Moscow sent the match into extra time and then penalties, with Chelsea captain John Terry slipping and blazing his shot over, before Edwin Van Der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s effort and made the trophy was Fergie’s once more.
Unknown Ronaldo becomes £80million wonder – 2009
In 2003 Fergie decided that it would be worthwhile to pay £12.2million for little known ‘wonderkid’ Cristiano Ronaldo, a 17-year-old from Sporting Lisbon.
Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford fresh-faced, with blonde highlights and earrings and succeeded greats such as George Best, Cantona and Beckham as the No.7 at United. The Portuguese had a lot to prove.
In his early career in Manchester Ronaldo was criticised for too many stepovers and not enough final quality.
It was starting to seem like the winger would join the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron and Kleberson as expensive flops under Fergie, but the Scot had clearly seen something he liked.
In 2006 Ronaldo started to show that he was better than perhaps even Ferguson had realised. 93 goals in three season for the Red Devils made the then 24-year-old one of the most revered footballers on the planet.
The Portugal international had swapped stepovers for lethal goal scoring and after three league titles, an FA Cup and Champions League winners medals, Real Madrid came knocking.
Ronaldo’s £80million transfer fee was truly astronomical, even for football, but despite the success the forward has undoubtedly had at the Santiago Bernabeu it is still Ferguson he refers to as a ‘father figure.’
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