Allen Hamilton
A short conversation with Gary Neville is enough to appreciate the feelings of hate and frustration brought on by growing up as a Manchester United fan during the Liverpool glory years. When Sir Alex Ferguson took charge at Old Trafford back in 1986, the league title count was 18-7 in favour of Liverpool. But 25 years later, United have regained the ultimate bragging rights with their 19th title.
It took an array of stars, a dose or two of luck and every ounce of managerial quality but Ferguson did it. Inside Futbol takes a look back at the 12 league titles the Scottish boss has brought to Old Trafford.
1. 1992/93; 84 Points
The 1992/93 season will go down as the one that began the Manchester United era of dominance. After a shaky start, the Red Devils took charge after Christmas, inspired by the signing of Eric Cantona from Leeds United, and played flawlessly down the stretch to finish 10 points clear of second placed Aston Villa. A defence that conceded just 31 goals was just as key as the Cantona-Mark Hughes partnership at the other end.
Star men: Cantona, Hughes, Steve Bruce
2. 1993/94; 92 points
The end of season smiles were back just one season later as United cantered to a second straight title. Cantona was the spark but this was another team effort, with Ryan Giggs and Russian winger Andrei Kanchelskis in devastating form of the flanks and Roy Keane, signed in the summer from Nottingham Forest, thriving in the spotlight. Blackburn Rovers were the closest challengers; United though finished eight points clear.
Star Men: Cantona, Keane, Giggs
3. 1995/96; 82 points
Selling Paul Ince, Hughes and Kanchelskis and replacing them with youngsters was a bold move from Ferguson. But it was a masterstroke. The experienced core nursed the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Neville through some testing afternoons and leaders Newcastle United wilted under the pressure after leading the league by 12 points in January. A year after missing out on the title on the last day to Blackburn, United had silenced their critics.
Star Men: Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Andy Cole
4. 1996/97; 75 points
This title was clinched with the lowest points total of the four won at the time under Ferguson as United lost five games and drew 12. Not at their best, they were still too strong for the chasing pack as new Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer proved an instant hit and the young charges continued to blossom. The only blemish on the campaign was Cantona’s shock retirement in the summer.
Star Men: Solskjaer, Beckham, Schmeichel
5. 1998/99; 79 points
The Treble winners (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League) were Ferguson’s best ever squad. Four proven strikers – Cole, Dwight Yorke, Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham – plus a midfield that had everything and a back four packed with proven internationals. Still, the team had nothing easy, clinching the title on the final day with a win over Tottenham Hotspur. After losing out to Arsenal the previous season, old scores were settled.
Star Men: Yorke, Beckham, Keane
6. 1999/2000; 91 points
Rarely have United steamrolled the opposition to this extent. Champions by 18 points, Ferguson’s men scored 97 goals and lost just three games. Yorke and Cole combined for 39 league goals and it barely mattered that the Old Trafford outfit had yet to find the perfect replacement for Schmeichel, who left the club after the Treble success.
Star Men: Yorke, Beckham, Scholes, Keane
7. 2000/01; 80 points
Three in a row. Despite falling short in Europe, United were still streets ahead domestically. Ferguson’s men lost their final three games yet still won the title by 10 points. Arsenal were thumped 6-1 in February yet the Gunners proved the most legitimate title threat. United cruised for much of the seaso, but only Sheringham made it into the top 10 Premier League goalscorers list.
Star Men: Sheringham, Beckham, Scholes
8. 2002/03; 83 points
After trailing Arsenal by as many as eight points, United produced one of their strongest ever finishes, going unbeaten after Boxing Day. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club in 2001, was unstoppable, Scholes contributed goals and assists from midfield and the defence stepped up down the stretch. Ferguson’s decision not to retire the previous summer was vindicated and United were simply mentally tougher than the Gunners.
Star Men: Van Nistelrooy, Keane, Scholes, Mikael Silvestre
9. 2006/07; 89 points
Halting Chelsea’s monopoly over the title took a big effort from Ferguson’s men and should be considered among his biggest achievements. Jose Mourinho’s squad seemed to be establishing a strangehold on the Premier League but a terrific start coupled with Cristiano Ronaldo’s breakout season – following the World Cup controversy with Wayne Rooney – saw the title clinched by six points.
Star Men: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar, Rooney
10. 2007/08; 87 points
United will remember the 2007/08 season more for their Champions League triumph than the Premier League crown. But majestic performances from Cristiano Ronaldo made this United side a joy to watch. The winger finished with 42 goals, including 31 in the league, and Rooney and Carlos Tevez were both just shy of the 20-goal mark. Ferguson secured the title on the final day with a win over Wigan.
Star Men: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Ferdinand
11. 2008/09; 90 points
Ferguson’s second title hat-trick pulled the club level with Liverpool’s record mark of 18 league triumphs. And it was Liverpool themselves that provided the toughest challenge, losing just two league fixtures all season to finish second. United were blessed with a staggering attacking quartet of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and new face Dimitar Berbatov, but it was the defence that pushed United over the line as Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic dominated. Ferguson’s men won the title by four points.
Star Men: Giggs, Vidic, Ronaldo
12. 2010/11; 80 points
United were repeatedly written off this season for not having enough spark going forward, but had the last laugh with a record 19th title. Without Ronaldo, Ferguson’s men relied more on grit and organis ation, with Vidic inspiring at the back. Giggs rolled back the years with some vintage displays and young Mexican striker Javier Hernandez became a fan favourite with his predatory finishing. Ferguson faced challenges – Rooney’s off-field issues and transfer request, injuries to Ferdinand and Antonio Valencia – but magnificent home form was the decisive factor.
Star Men: Vidic, Giggs, Hernandez
Ferguson has overseen a phenomenal collection of players and memories. He has achieved his goal of passing Liverpool’s record title haul and few would bet against him adding to that tally in the coming years.
