Sir Alex team builder

One reason Sir Alex Ferguson is considered one of the game’s greatest-ever managers is because he has built all-conquering teams not just once or twice, but three times.

While aware of the immediacy and short-term nature of modern football – fans and media demand success now, not tomorrow – he has always nurtured a careful succession plan, meaning the next generation is lining up ready to step forward just as the heroes of today are in their pomp.

His challenge now, of course, is to build a fourth ‘great’ team – and the foundations are well in place…

The class of ’94
This era’s first-choice XI boasted a 100 per cent record in the games they played together in the 1993/94 Double season, built on a spine of talent bought in over a period of six seasons. Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin would become defensive bedrocks of that first great Ferguson outfit, aided by Paul Parker at full-back. Roy Keane and Paul Ince provided the bite and creativity to augment Bryan Robson in his swansong season; Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes were homegrown and Andrei Kanchelskis was a fleet-footed find from Russia. Then there was Eric Cantona – the catalyst who turned a very good team into a great one.

The Treble winners
The new clutch of youngsters were good enough, so they were old enough, and they were eased into a winning line-up over a transitional (but still successful) period in which seven of the above-mentioned 1994 XI departed. Key signings were added in the shape of Jaap Stam at centre-back and a rotating firing squad of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Solskjaer. United had more strength in depth than ever, and long-awaited European glory was the reward.

The 2008 vintage
From the arrival of key men like Rio Ferdinand in 2002 through to Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic in 2005/06, a winning line-up came together, helped in no small part by the ripening of two truly world-class performers in the shape of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Added to the winning mentality buried in the DNA of homegrown veterans like Paul Scholes, Giggs, Gary Neville and Wes Brown, it was a formidable blend of youth and experience, raw talent and solid reliability. Moscow was surely their finest hour.

The current crop

2011 and beyond
The da Silva brothers. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans. Ashley Young, Nani, Tom Cleverley, Antonio Valencia, Anderson. Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Rooney. And Dimitar Berbatov. All have emerged since 2008. Can Sir Alex’s fourth generation be the best yet? Here’s hoping…

Sir Alex 2006 - 2011

Sir Alex's reign: 2006-2011

Even Sir Alex was slightly surprised his emerging team were able to overcome Chelsea in 2006/2007, rating his ninth Barclays Premier League triumph as one of his very best.

A thrilling comeback at Everton, displaying the sort of spirit that has become the hallmark of the boss' sides, set up a first title success in three years with a derby win at Manchester City prompting the deposed champions to form a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge in May. But the Goodison triumph drained the Reds and a 3-2 lead against AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final was surrendered in the second leg.

"I have no hesitation putting the championship win at the top of the tree because, for me at any rate, it was the least expected," conceded the manager. "We had three blank years in the league and a lot of fans seemed to think it was the end of the road but there was rebuilding to do and I am just pleased that we have got our house back in order so speedily." Chelsea exacted some revenge in the first FA Cup final back at Wembley, with Didier Drogba, settling a tight, dour match in extra time, but Sir Alex's thoughts were already focused on another Champions League win. "Don't worry, success in Europe will come," he predicted.


Twelve months later - late into the Moscow night on 21 May, 2008 - another incredible season was completed when Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick. The Reds had already been crowned English league champions again, Ryan Giggs fittingly scoring the clincher at Wigan on the final day while equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record. To become kings of Europe again, the Reds had to edge out Barcelona over two tense semi-finals with Paul Scholes' stunner setting up the date with Chelsea in owner Roman Abramovich's native Russia.

Of course, this was the season when Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed his status as a world-class talent - scoring a remarkable 42 goals including the opener in the Champions League final. There were poignant scenes ahead of the derby with City that marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster - even if the result was a surprise defeat - and two wins over Arsenal at Old Trafford (4-0 in the FA Cup and 2-1 in the league) were among the high points. "Our players have a good future ahead of them and though I will be gone before some of them reach their peak, I want to be part of it," enthused the boss. "It's too exciting to leave it all behind!"

United went close to repeating a domestic and European Double again the following year, only to be undone in the Champions League final by Barcelona, emerging as one of the all-time great teams under Pep Guardiola, in Rome. Domestic superiority, for a third successive year, was underlined not only by a four-point winning margin at the top of the table but also by the breathtaking demolition of Arsenal at the semi-final stage of Europe's premier competition. Ronaldo continued to shine after being convinced by Sir Alex to postpone thoughts of a move to Real Madrid and a goalless draw at Arsenal clinched the title following another vital win at the happy hunting ground that was the JJB (now DW) Stadium.

The Carling Cup also sat proudly in the trophy cabinet despite a reliance on some of the fringe performers in the squad with one of them, Ben Foster, the hero in the penalty shoot-out after a goalless final with Spurs. Meanwhile, the FIFA Club World Cup ensured yet more silverware was on show at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney hitting the winner against LDU Quito, even if Zenit St Petersburg ruined hopes of landing the UEFA Super Cup by beating the ten-man Reds in Monaco.

The outstanding run in the league came to an end - albeit by only one point - as Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea did the Double in 2009/2010. Didier Drogba's eventual winner in a key game in M16 in April looked clearly offside and the only goal at Stamford Bridge between the two sides, claimed by John Terry, was also hotly disputed. United refused to give up the trophy without a struggle, Scholes scoring in the dying seconds at City for instance, but a draw at Blackburn was ultimately to prove costly with Chelsea emphatically ending any thoughts of some last-day drama by walloping Wigan 8-0.

There were some painful defeats - at home to League One Leeds in the FA Cup and against an Arjen Robben-inspired Bayern Munich in Europe after Rafael was sent off - but it was all about fine margins as always. At least Wayne Rooney really stepped up to the plate after Ronaldo's summer departure to Madrid for a record £80million, and it was his headed winner at Wembley that at retained the Carling Cup to ensure the season was not to be a trophyless one. So, despite the disappointment against Barcelona, the boss was right to say: "Now we have put our regrets behind us, I've got to say I believe we had a pretty decent season."

Obviously that was the case, even without hindsight, and the feat of moving ahead of Liverpool in terms of league title wins was only delayed by a year. The burning desire to make it 19 and 'knock the Scousers off their perch' as the manager had famously once alluded to, drove

Sir Alex 2001 - 2006

Sir Alex's reign: 2001-2006

With the manager's impending retirement casting a cloud over the season, it was perhaps inevitable that the Reds would struggle to hit the heights in 2001/02. The solution was provided by Sir Alex himself as, in February, he reversed his decision to quit following consultation with his wife Cathy.

The manager had designs on what could have been a glorious swansong in the Champions League final in Glasgow and, although his team came agonisingly close to fulfilling that wish, the campaign was a trophyless one with Arsenal claiming the title as United lost nine times in the league. Although some memorable games were played out (including a 4-3 defeat at Newcastle, 4-3 success at Leeds and amazing 5-3 wins at Spurs and West Ham), the season as a whole was not one of Ferguson's finest even if the best news possible came with his decision to stay on and sign a new contract. Injuries to Roy Keane and David Beckham proved crucial as, despite Ruud van Nistelrooy's explosive debut term, United had to settle for third place behind the Gunners and old foes Liverpool.

Bayer Leverkusen put paid to dreams of a Real Madrid-United Champions League final with their surprise semi-final aggregate win and it clearly haunted the boss. "While I was disappointed personally that the chance to win the European Cup in my native city had passed, the fact that we as a club had failed narrowly to reach our own goal was even more distressing," he stated.

The manager's retirement U-turn began to reap dividends the following season - even if some critics were writing him off in the first half of the campaign. Defending champions Arsenal were eight points clear of the Reds at one point with defeats to Leeds and Manchester City proving particularly painful. Typically, United dug in - Diego Forlan's double at Liverpool, a 2-0 win against Arsenal and, an incredible last-gasp New Year's Day victory against Sunderland warmed all the Red Army's hearts. A Worthington Cup final defeat to Liverpool in Cardiff was followed a month later by a European exit to Real Madrid, even if it was in exhilirating circumstances. A spellbinding 4-3 triumph at Old Trafford wasn't enough to overturn the 3-1 first-leg deficit and the visitors' Brazilian hat-trick hero Ronaldo was afforded a standing ovation which said much about the true nature of the home fans.

Those supporters were rewarded with immense joy and satisfaction in the league as van Nistelrooy struck in a vital draw at Arsenal and again to wrap up a 2-0 victory against the Gunners' rivals Spurs that took United to the brink of glory. "I have got to be honest and say that the success was extra sweet and satisfying because it was achieved against all the odds," crowed the boss. Van Nistelrooy hit a treble against Charlton to race to 79 goals in his first 100 appearances and the Dutchman scored again at Everton, even if the final match was more memorable for being Beckham's last in a Red shirt.

So the 2003/2004 started without the homegrown midfield talent, who was allowed to join Real Madrid after much speculation that the boss had grown tired of his increasing celebrity status. Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in his place as a raw, exciting prodigy but this was the season of the so-called 'Invincibles' as Arsenal went the whole league programme unbeaten to emerge as worthy champions. Arsene Wenger's Gunners may not have beaten United (0-0 and 1-1) but there was to be no customary surge in the second half of the campaign as Rio Ferdinand's lengthy suspension for missing a drugs test ripped the heart out of the defence. Van Nistelrooy continued to score goals aplenty and Tim Howard earned a place in the PFA Team of the Season, even though he was at fault for Porto's last-minute winner in the Champions League that would ultimately change the course of history.

Jose Mourinho's shock European triumph catapulted the charismatic Portuguese coach into wealthy owner Roman Abramovich's thoughts at Chelsea and new title rivals were to emerge. For now, Arsenal were unbeatable in the league and third-placed United had to settle for a slice of success in the FA Cup, for the first time in five years. Much of the hard work was done at the semi-final stage when inflicting a rare reverse on Wenger's team thanks to Paul Scholes' winner at Villa Park as Millwall were swept aside in the Millennium Stadium final with Ronaldo showing an obvious thirst for the big stage with a fine display.

Starting the 2004/05 season with a 1-0 defeat in Mourinho's first game in charge of Chelsea, this was one game of catch-up the team were unable to ever look capable of pulling off. A new Stretford End idol was purchased on deadline day, Wayne Rooney signing from Everton after shining at Euro 2004, and the teenager introduced himself to his new fans with a stunning debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce. With Ronaldo starting to mature, the two youngsters offered a glimpse of a bright future but Chelsea simply proved too powerful, not only romping the league by 12 points with United a further six points adrift of runners-up Arsenal, but also winning twice at Old Trafford - including in the Carling Cup semi-finals.

AC Milan put paid to any European aspirations so it was left to the FA Cup to provide some solace again. After a barnstorming run, during which the only semi-scare came against non-league minnows Exeter, United dominated the final against Arsenal but were beaten on penalties with Jens Lehmann decisively saving Scholes' spot-kick.

There was plenty to ponder for the boss, who had overseen his 1,000th game in charge of the club during a Champions League tie against Lyon, but, unfortunately, Chelsea proved impossible to peg back the following season, which was hardly surprising considering Mourinho's team won 15 of their first 16 matches en route to retaining the title. Mourinho, backed by Abramovich's millions, had laid down a taxing challenge and the consistency of his side led to the doom-mongers prophesising that United would never be able to regain any dominance of the English game. The Reds were good enough to finish second but were still eight points away from the West Londoners and a 3-0 loss at Stamford Bridge at the champions' coronation was made even more painful by a serious injury to Rooney that threatened his involvement in the World Cup.

It felt like the end of an era in many respects. George Best, the iconic Old Trafford legend, passed away in November

Sir Alex 1996 - 2001

Sir Alex's reign: 1996-2001

Some felt the wheels had come off for United during the 1996/97 season with heavy defeats to Newcastle (0-5) and Southampton (3-6) coming around the same time as the first-ever European home loss to Beskitas.

"What our country's media seem to fail to recognise is that every club, no matter how successful they are, will find themselves in that sort of situation at some stage during a season," said the boss. "For some reason, though, when it happens to United it attracts more coverage."

The Reds rallied and a win at Liverpool helped set up another Premier League title triumph with success being sealed by defeats for the Merseysiders, despite a Michael Owen goal on his debut, and Newcastle while the champions were not in action. There was more European disappointment when Borussia Dortmund won the two-legged Champions League semi-final, even if the 4-0 pummeling of Porto had many predicting glory on the continent for the Reds.

Eric Cantona's shock retirement at the end of the season again had pundits predicting the end of an era and, as had occured in 1995, United finished trophyless when being forced to compete without the talismanic Frenchman.

Sir Alex 1991 - 1996

Sir Alex's reign: 1991-1996

Maybe Sir Alex was starting to believe talk of a 'curse' at Old Trafford after coming heartbreakingly close to ending a 25-year wait for the league title in 1992.

The championship had never seemed so close and yet so far away as United wilted in the run-in and Leeds came out on top, despite losing in both cup competitions to the Reds after the League Cup and FA Cup draws, on the same day, set up two fixtures at Elland Road. After winning the League Cup and Super Cup for the first time, with Brian McClair scoring both winners, a fixture pile-up contributed to the team's downfall and the excrutiating defeat at Anfield provided the final nail in the coffin.

The boss prophetically said: "We've got the biggest and the best team in the game. If we all stick together, there is no limit to what we can achieve." He was also safe in the knowledge that the Class of '92 lifted the FA Youth Cup and would go on to supply a wealth of first-team options.

The inaugural Premier League season followed. Conceding the opening goal of the new era, to Brian Deane of Sheffield United, was an inauspicious start and a second successive defeat, 3-0 at home to Everton, was hardly the stuff of potential

champions.

"There were troughs, of course, and, during those sticky patches, our confidence did not waiver," stated the manager, who raided the transfer market in dramatic fashion to sign Eric Cantona from Leeds. Although the final winning margin was 10 points ahead of runners-up Aston Villa, the nerves were jangling again - none more so than when Sheffield Wednesday led at Old Trafford. Two late Steve Bruce headers sparked wild celebrations and the belief became stronger following wins against Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Sir Matt Busby was amongst the crowd to celebrate in style with a 3-1 win against Blackburn at Old Trafford but this was only the start of a period of domination.

With a huge weight of expectation lifted off the boss' shoulders, he led the team to their first-ever Double in the following season. Remarkably, only a Coca-Cola Cup final defeat to Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa denied a domestic clean sweep of trophies for the 1994 Reds - the side is often reckoned to be one of the best in the club's history.

The extraordinary campaign provided a fitting tribute to Busby, who passed away in February, and United were favourites for the championship all season - even if a defeat to an Alan Shearer-inspired Blackburn in April put the cat amongst the pigeons. When Oldham were on the brink of winning the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and putting the skids under the entire Double bid, Mark Hughes hit the most spectacular of volleys to force a replay, which the Reds won at a canter.

Nothing was going to stand in the team's way, not even Chelsea, who had beaten United home and away with the only goal on both occasions coming from Gavin Peacock. The same player hit the woodwork at Wembley but Glenn Hoddle's Blues were simply swept aside - 4-0 with Cantona nervelessly converting two penalties to rubber-stamp his emergence as the main man in a team full of big personalities. Some of the Reds' football was truly breathtaking, even if the boss, predictably demanded more. "The disappointment of Europe was immense and no-one was more upset by it than I was," he recalled. Yet football is always a game about fine margins and the following year, 1994/95 was to be a particularly cruel one with genuine cause for frustration.

Deprived of the talismanic Cantona due to his lengthy ban for the incident involving a Crystal Palace fan at Selhurst Park, United still pushed themselves to the brink of a second successive Double. Highlights included a record 9-0

annihilation of Ipswich - with Andy Cole, an overnight signing from Newcastle, scoring five times - and the 5-0 mauling of Manchester City in the derby as Andrei Kanchelskis grabbed a hat-trick.

But it all came down to the final two games of a long, hard season. Ludek Miklosko performed heroics as United failed to add to Brian McClair's equaliser at West Ham on the last day of the Premier League campaign despite laying siege to the home goal. It meant Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn lifted the trophy despite a 2-1 defeat to his former club Liverpool. Unable to recover sufficiently for the FA Cup final a week later, the Reds again came up against a keeper in top form in Neville Southall as Paul Rideout's header exacted revenge for the Toffees' Wembley defeat 10 years earlier.

The Champions League also failed to provide any glory as a 4-0 battering by Barcelona, not aided by being forced to field a weakened team due to controversial selection rules, and 3-1 reverse to IFK Gothenburg put paid to any hopes of getting beyond the group stages. At least a 4-0 win against Galatasaray illustrated the potential coming through the ranks with David Beckham on the scoresheet.

Sir Alex 1986 - 1991

Sir Alex's reign: 1986-1991

Rome wasn't built in a day and, when Sir Alex took over in 1986, he inherited a team that was struggling near the foot of the old First Division.

Keen to give the existing staff a chance to prove themselves, the boss took his time to assess the players and waited before stamping his authority on the club. Nonetheless, small signs of progress were evident with a Boxing Day victory against Liverpool in front of the largest league attendance of the season an obvious highlight. A disappointing FA Cup defeat to eventual winners Coventry, however, provided proof that an overhaul was needed at Old Trafford. Ron Atkinson's team may have lifted the famous trophy only a year earlier but a culture of success was required and a shake-up would take time to deliver. A 4-0 thumping at Tottenham was a harsh lesson and the reality was United only won once away from home all season in the league and finished 11th behind the likes of Norwich, Wimbledon, Luton and Watford.

Sir Alex's first full season in charge left him with "mixed emotions" although Viv Anderson and Brian McClair, in particular, proved shrewd acquisitions. Liverpool were worthy champions, finishing nine points clear, but a second-placed finish was no mean feat for the Reds.

Sir Alex - 25 Years as boss Manchester United

Sir Alex: The beginning

In November 1986, Manchester United was a club skulking in its own shadow. Fresh from a 4-1 defeat at Southampton, the Reds languished in the top flight’s relegation zone a year after being apparent title certainties.

With the club’s demands of excellence scarcely realised since Sir Matt Busby’s departure, the United board recognised the time for change had again arrived.

In five years at the helm, manager Ron Atkinson had won two FA Cups and had never finished below fourth in the league, but it was Big Ron’s inability to top second spot which proved his undoing.

He was relieved of his role, but the board knew his replacement faced mounting pressure and diminishing patience to rediscover past glories. There was only one man for the job.

“Taking over a club of Manchester United’s magnitude is an awesome task,” said Alex Ferguson in his very first matchday programme notes. “I am not really interested in what has happened here in the past.

“I don’t mean any disrespect to the great achievements of Manchester United over the years. It’s simply that there is now only one way to go, and that is forward. The aim at this club must clearly be to win the championship. That is the only real way to lay the ghosts of the past.

“I am going to love every minute of it here.”

Sunday 6 November 2011 is Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary in charge of Manchester United.

To mark that incredible milestone, and to honour the myriad achievements of the most successful manager in the game, we've produced the video above.

It looks back at some of Sir Alex’s finest moments (there are so many to choose from!) in his quarter-century at the helm at Old Trafford.

Enjoy, and here’s to many more triumphs with the Reds before the manager’s remarkable career comes to an end. Well done, Sir Alex.

To mark Sir Alex's 25th anniversary as United manager, we relive a few memorable moments from an illustrious career...
Manager since: 6 November 1986
Games: 1409 (won 836, drawn 326, lost 247)
Honours
Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
Champions League: 1999, 2008
Club World Cup: 2008
Super Cup: 1992
Cup Winners' Cup: 1991
Inter-Continental Cup: 1999
Charity / Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Glory...Glory Man Utd...

tahniah pada team fav. MANCHESTER UNITED telah menang 3 game berturut2 setelah di malukan oleh Man City di Old Trafford pada 23 oct lepas...berikut adalah senarai perlawanan Man Utd selepas tewas kepada man city..

Man Utd vs Aldershot 3-0 Piala F.A
Man Utd vs Everton 1-0 Piala Liga
Man utd vs Otelul Galati 2-0 UEFA Champions League

glory Man utd...i will always support for my best team....