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Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the greatest manager of all time in football. In a coaching career spanning over three decades, he has won a lot of trophies. The majority of those trophies were won while he was in charge of Manchester United. In an incredibly long tenure of 27 years, Ferguson won 38 titles for United including 13 Premier Leagues and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues.
Like all supremely successful managers, Ferguson was usually flawless with his tactics, instinctive with his substitutions and judicious with his signings. His teams managed to win a lot of close matches by scoring goals in the dying minutes of the match as the concept of “Fergie time” was introduced in football. Needless to say, United played a lot of memorable matches under Sir Alex. We would have a look at the top 5 matches during his tenure at the club.
#1 Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1999 Champions League final)
United’s maiden European triumph under Sir Alex was also quite possibly their most memorable match under him. The mighty Bayern Munich led through a Mario Basler strike from a direct free-kick in the first half and were decidedly the better team in that match.
However, Bayern’s coach Ottmar Hitzfeld decided to take off Lothar Matthaus with a few minutes remaining in order to ensure a standing ovation for the German legend by the spectators.
Hitzfeld must still rue that decision as it slackened Bayern’s defense to an extent and allowed United to come back into the match. Teddy Sheringham scored in typical fashion to put United level in the injury time.
No sooner had the applause stopped and the sense of relief sunk into the minds of the United supporters, than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the current United boss who had come in as a substitute, flicked home from inside the Bayern penalty box from a set-piece.
The United supporters were almost lost for words and the trophy was won in the space of a few crazy minutes of football. United supporters still cherish the memories of that night at Camp Nou and it has to be the greatest match United have played under Sir Alex.
#2 Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea - United won on penalties (2008 Champions League final)
United’s second European triumph under Sir Alex was not as dramatic as their first, but was still memorable as it featured a stiff contest between the two English clubs. United were the better team in the first half and put ahead by a Cristiano Ronaldo header from a cross by Wes Brown. However, Frank Lampard entered into the United penalty box with one of his characteristic runs from the deep and equalized for Chelsea in the 45th minute.
What followed was a battle of attrition between two cautious sides and ultimately the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Ronaldo missed his penalty, but John Terry and Nicolas Anelka could also not convert theirs for Chelsea.
Edwin Van Der Sar’s heroics ensured the 3rd Champions League win for United, which was also their 2nd under Sir Alex Ferguson. They made it to two more Champions League finals in the next three years, but lost to Barcelona on both the occasions.
#3 Juventus 2-3 Man United (1998-99 Champions League quarter final)
Juventus had earlier drawn 1-1 with United in the first leg at Old Trafford. They had also featured in the three previous Champions League finals and were the favorites to advance to the semi-final by winning their home match at Delle Alpi.
Juve managed to score two goals within the first 11 minutes of the match through Filippo Inzaghi and looked certain to qualify for the semi-final.
However, United captain Roy Keane had other ideas and pulled one back for them with a brilliant strike in the 24th minute. He then inspired his team as they scored two more goals to notch up a memorable win. Keane was directly involved in the other two goals, scored by Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, as well. That match is still remembered fondly by the United supporters as “Roy Keane’s match”.
#4 Man United 8-2 Arsenal (2011-12 English Premier League)
Arsenal were going through a rough patch and were the underdogs going into the match at Old Trafford. United, on the other hand, were leading the group table and hoped to win the match easily.
However, even the staunchest of United supporters did not expect the flurry of goals that were seen in that match. United led 3-1 at half-time and actually managed to score eight past a hapless Arsenal defense weakened by the departure of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell.
Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick for United including a penalty and tormented Arsenal’s defense with his clever turns, quick dribbling and powerful shots. However, it was Ashley Young who really caught the eye for United by scoring a brace in that match.
Nani, Danny Welbeck and Park Ji-Sung compounded Arsenal’s misery by scoring a goal each and the strikes from Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott only managed to salvage some pride for the Gunners.
#5 Man United 4-3 Real Madrid (2002-03 Champions League quarter-final)
Real Madrid had beaten United 3-1 in a convincing win at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the quarter-final. United faced an uphill task at home against the much-vaunted Galacticos of Real who had the likes of Ronaldo Luiz, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Raul in their side. However, United went gung-ho and scored 4 goals in the match, but Ronaldo’s genius ensured that Real qualified by winning 6-5 on aggregate.
Ronaldo was unstoppable that day and scored a hat-trick with one of the finest displays by a striker in the modern era. He ran past and harrowed the United defenders repeatedly and beat Fabian Barthez, the United goalie, with powerful shots.
David Beckham came off the bench to score twice in the second half for United. Ruud Vaan Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron also scored to register a memorable victory for them, but it was not enough to secure qualification for Sir Alex’s side. Still, it was a classic in every sense of the word and remains one of the finest matches during his tenure at United.
