Manchester United has established itself as a powerhouse of European football since its inception over a century ago. But “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, and so wasn’t Manchester United. The club was renamed after its present name by John Henry Davies along with three other businessmen who brought the (earlier called) Newton Heath LYR FC to life from its financial crisis and a winding-up order. From that moment on, the club has only been about glory and overcoming the lack of it.
The club has provided inspiration to those in dire need of one, and excitement to the football fraternity that craved for one; besides grooming countless players into superstars whose jerseys are worn by those who might not even understand a feather or a fig about football.
This club hasn’t only been about playing extraordinary football, winning trophies and making a name for themselves. But they have redefined ways of living with a philosophy that has so often metaphorically manifested in their gameplay. It is the same hated, adored but never ignored style of football which has left us mesmerised by many great moments.
We look at five of the greatest moments in Manchester United’s history in chronological order.
#1 The Busby Babes in the 1950s
The end of second World War didn’t just bring back peace, but naturally, resumption of activities like football. And along with it, came the introduction of Sir Matt Busby who would eventually shape not only Manchester United but also the future of British football in ways more than one. One of the bold changes brought about by the manager was playing a team bloodied with a bundle of youthful energy at the expense of experienced professionals.
The Busby Babes took English football by storm in the 1950s. Sir Matt Busby put his indefatigable assistant Jimmy Murphy to training youngsters in a parallel to his “iron-fist” model of football. Duncan Edwards, Sir Bobby Charlton were amongst those who made their debuts aged under 20 and in a team which won consecutive titles in 1955/56 and the following season.
It was the first time Manchester United defended their title and the moment could easily have been greater had the Munich tragedy not happened, as they were on course to win the 1958 title.
#2 European Champions, 1968
Sir Matt Busby had a dream for Manchester United to be crowned as European Champions. Filled with guilt after defying the FA and challenging the calendar with his desire, the Munich air disaster was a consequence that he blamed himself for. With a provoking thought of resigning as manager, Busby instead decided to not let the deaths of his babes go in vain as he rebuilt a team in 10 years to complete his dream on the aluminium anniversary of the tragedy.
By rediscovering his will power and intensity, Busby helped Manchester United win the European Championship for the first time, by any English club. After beating Real Madrid in the semi-final, Bobby Charlton scored two goals and George Best was at his sublime best as Manchester United thrashed Benfica 4-1 at Wembley to win the prestigious trophy.
#3 It hurt 26 years until Sir Alex Ferguson broke the deadlock in 1992/93
The Red Army waited for The Busby Babes, then for their revival and then the famous European Cup Dream; and in the 1990s another long wait was over when there came another Scot who finally won the title at the advent of the Premier League. It ended 26 years of title drought and also marked a new era at the club called the ‘Sir Alex Ferguson’ era, which interestingly also lasted for 26 years.
Early in the 1992/93 season, Manchester United wasn't as convincing as their previous years under Ferguson’s regime. But in the later half of the season, it would all change historically after the manager signed Eric Cantona from Leeds United.
Cantona acted as a catalyst influencing the Young Player of the Year Ryan Giggs and the team to the famous title. His influence was so tremendous that Cantona world take over captain Bryan Robson’s no. 7 jersey following season.
#4 The Treble, 1999
Manchester United was the first English club to win the European Cup, but despite Sir Alex Ferguson establishing his supremacy at the club and in the Premier League in the 1990s, European glory once again seemed like a dream. In 1999, Ferguson had already steered Man United to the title and also completed a domestic double by winning the FA Cup with ease, before the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Never before had any English club managed to win a treble and history beckoned the club, however, it wouldn’t be anywhere close to being easy as their domestic victories. This was especially since Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were both suspended for the final. And it proved to be so for major part of the game as Bayern took the lead and nearly added a second only for the woodwork to deny them.
The game was seemingly sealed at the end of 90 minutes until the world witnessed one of the greatest comebacks. In stoppage time, two corners from David Beckham were tenaciously processed to reach a destination that was the back of the net. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer scored goals that left The Red Devils with goosebumps and the rest of the world shell-shocked. Manchester United had completed a historic treble of 1999.
#5 Knocking Liverpool right off their f****** perch, 2011
Sir Alex Ferguson had one big dream as a Manchester United manager, that of restoring the club to being the best club in England. Before his arrival in 1986, Liverpool had dominated the English football scene of the 1970s and the 1980s.
At the time when Ferguson was building a team chasing his dream, United only had seven titles while Liverpool had amassed an incredible 18 trophies in their cabinet. So one of the most memorable moments was recorded when Manchester United became the most successful club in England.
As Sir Alex Ferguson said, in order to do so it was necessary to end their domination by “knocking Liverpool off their f****** perch.” Man United drew level with Liverpool in 2009, beating their rivals to the top spot by just four points. And it was only a matter of time before Manchester United won their 19th title in 2011, and later extending their record with another league win in 2013 after which Ferguson retired.
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