SIR ALEX

BEST TEAM
FERGUSONSʼ
by Sachit Gupta
 SIR ALEX

BEST TEAM
FERGUSONSʼ
by Sachit Gupta
“Manchester is my heaven”
- Sir Matt Busby
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 1

introduction
Manchester United, an English football
club based at the Old Trafford stadium
in Trafford, Greater Manchester, is one
of the most successful and the most
popular club in the world.
As a club, Manchester United has had
a rich history spanning more than a
hundred years. From the Busby days to
the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, the most
successful manager in United’s history,
the club has come a long way from its
humble beginnings as Newton Heath
L&YR F.C.
I fell in love with Manchester United as
one seems to fall in love with women:
suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giv-
ing no thought to the pain or disrup-
tion it would bring with it. From the tre-
ble in 1999 to the days of the so-called
Arsenal and Chelsea domination, and
then back to the top in 2007, I have
laughed and cried as the Manchester
United has won and lost.
Sir Alex Ferguson has carved a place
for himself in the history books, as the
most successful manager in the his-
tory of the game. On his completion of
twenty one years at the helm, this book
is a tribute to the greatest manager I
have ever witnessed. In it, I present an
introduction to the man, and explore
what I feel is his greatest team, which
was no small task considering the qual-
ity of players who have played under
him. Read on!
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 3

sir alex ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British
football history – winning 18 major trophies during his time
in charge of the Reds. Yet despite almost two decades at the
Old Trafford helm he remains focused on increasing that tally,
bringing yet more silverware to Manchester United.
The Reds boss enjoyed a playing career north of the border
that saw him take in spells with Queen’s Park, St Johnstone,
Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. But it
is not for his playing of the game that Sir Alex was to become
a success.
Following a spell out of the game he moved into coaching,
taking up the role of manager of East Stirlingshire, St Mirren
then Aberdeen. It was his time at Pittodrie where he earned
his reputation as a top coach. He broke the Glasgow domi-
nance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish
titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European
Cup Winners’ Cup. Following the sacking of Ron Atkinson
as manager of Manchester United, the Old Trafford hierar-
chy moved quickly for his services. They got their man on 6
November 1986.
4 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

Ferguson inherited a dispirited team of underachievers who

had consistently, to their supporters’ discontent, failed to
break Liverpool’s domination. Stuck in the bottom four of the
Division One table, Ferguson immediately set about attempt-
ing to stave off the very real threat of relegation. Without
resorting to the transfer market, he guided United up the
table to and eleventh place finish.
By now it was clear to Ferguson that he faced a major job
in turning the club around. United were an entertaining side
but one that seemed unable to cope with the more physical
aspects of League football. In his second season the Reds
fared better finishing second behind Liverpool, but the posi-
tion painted a false picture. The turning point came in the
1989/90 season.
Following a run of games in which the Reds were drawn
away in every round, United picked up their first silverware of
the Ferguson era. Lee Martin scoring the only goal in a final
replay against Crystal Palace to in the FA Cup.
This first trophy opened the flood gates. The European Cup
Winners’ Cup was won the following season in Rotterdam,
Barcelona defeated 2-1 thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes.
Then in 1991/02 the League Cup was added to United’s list
of honours.
Sadly the title remained elusive. It was the Holy Grail to United
fans, the 26 championships free years being exacerbated by
Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic and European game.
In 1992/93 the long wait for the League championship came
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 5

to an end. The Reds, inspired by £1m

signing Eric Cantona, pipping Aston
Villa in the final weeks of the season.
The shackles were broken: the double
followed in 1993/94, the double-Dou-
ble (with ‘kids’) in 1995/96, and an-
other title in 1997. Finally United were
matching off-field might with on-field
success. Liverpool’s dominance was
well and truly over.
Sir Alex’s greatest achievement came in
1998/99. No side before or since has
achieved a treble haul of Premiership
title, FA Cup and European Cup. On
an unforgettable night in Barcelona his
decision to throw on substitutes Teddy
Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
assured history was made. The pair
scoring injury-time goals to win the
Champions League and complete the
treble.
Ferguson was knighted following that
success and some suggested he should
retire, believing his desire would wane
following the realisation of a dream.
Not a bit of it. Another title followed
in 1999/2000 and he made it three-in-
row in 2000/01. His eighth remiership
6 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

duly arrived in 2002/03; his fourth FA Cup a year later came

against Millwall in Cardiff.
The Reds had by now entered a period of rebuilding. The side
of homegrown players he’d first put together in 1995/96 was
now breaking up and he’d recruited new stars like Wayne
Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, brought in to spark a new
era of success.
The rebuilding paid off with victory in the Carling Cup in
2005/06 and a ninth Premiership trophy in 2006/07. And
the success looks set to continue, with Sir Alex swooping for
three players - FC Porto’s Anderson, Sporting Lisbon’s Nani
and Bayern Munich’s Owen Hargreaves - in May 2007 to bol-
ster an already strong side.
With the Premiership back at Old Trafford, the attention now
will turn to Europe where Sir Alex hopes to win his second
Champions League trophy in 2007/08.

"My greatest challenge is not what's happening

at the moment, my greatest challenge was knock-
ing Liverpool right off their fucking perch. And
you can print that." - Sir Alex Ferguson responding to Alan
Hansen questioning Sir Alex Ferguson’s future as Manchester United
manager in September 2002 in the Guardian
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 7

the best team

goalkeeper
Peter Schmiechel

defenders
Denis Irwin
Jaap Stam
Rio Ferdiand CANTONA ROONEY
Gary Neville

midfielders
Ryan Giggs
Roy Keane
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
GIGGS BECKHAM
strikers
Eric Cantona KEANE SCHOLES
Wayne Rooney

substitutes
Van Der Sar
Steve Bruce
Bryan Robson IRWIN NEVILLE
Cristiano Ronaldo STAM FERDINAND
Ole Solskjær

SCHMEICHEL
8 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

peter schmiechel
This hulking figure – one who was
seemingly forever barking out orders at
his defence – is arguably the best trans-
fer deal Sir Alex Ferguson ever struck.
The boss paid just £550,000 to Brond-
by for the 27 year-old Danish interna-
tional in August 1991. It was football’s
equivalent of daylight robbery: within
a year Schmeichel and his compatriots
had struck gold in the 1992 European
Championships, given a tournament
wild card as a last-minute replacement
for civil war-torn Yugoslavia.
Success on the international stage –
Schmeichel made two corking saves in
the final – was clearly no flash in the
pan. Any great team starts from solid
foundations, and it was immediately
obvious that none were more solid
than Schmeichel. His eight seasons at
Old Trafford were dripping in gold: the
European Cup and Super Cup, five Pre-
miership titles, three FA Cups and the
League Cup, as well as four Charity
Shield successes.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 9

Quite simply, Schmeichel was often unbeatable. With aston-

ishing agility for his 6ft 4in frame he could stop shots from
all angles, staying on his toes until the last moment. He was
equally confident claiming crosses and could set up wave af-
ter wave of attacks with his remarkable distribution, often
bowling the ball 50 yards to a team-mate’s feet. And he was
a threat up front, too! He holds the distinction of a European
goal for the Reds to his credit, heading home against Rotor
Volgograd in the UEFA Cup in 1995/96 to preserve the club’s
then unbeaten home European record.
Schmeichel left United on the ultimate high. Captain in the
absence of the suspended Roy Keane, he led the side to glory
at the Nou Camp in the 1999 Champions League final. A truly
inspirational figure, he remains a familiar face in Manchester
– and his son Kasper is a goalkeeper on City’s books.
10 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

denis irwin
One of the modern Manchester United greats, Denis Irwin’s
career was one of steady progression to the biggest stage
for club and country – where he proved a natural, if often
underrated performer, offering sterling service at left-back,
with a keen eye for goal.
The former Leeds United trainee was a £625,000 capture
from Oldham Athletlc in 1990, having impressed during
that year’s epic FA Cup semi-final tussle against the Reds.
His first season with United, 1990/91, presaged by a World
Cup quarter-final with Jack Charlton’s unfancied Repubic of
Ireland, culminated in European Cup Winners’ Cup glory in
Rotterdam.
But it was the 1992/93 Championship-winning season
in which Irwin really established himself. Ever-present, he
weighed in with five goals, chief among them a 30-yard
belter against Coventry City.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 11

He was the solitary ever-present dur-

ing the Double-winning campaign of
1993/94, and was a cornerstone of the
side that repeated the feat in 1996.
Forced to miss the FA Cup leg of 1999’s
Treble through suspension, he was back
for the Nou Camp Champions League
showdown with Bayern Munich, mak-
ing a mockery of his 34 years.
Further title deeds followed in 2000 –
Denis calling time on his international
career to prolong his domestic future.
A 500th appearance for the Reds ar-
rived during his 10th year of service
in 2001 – fittingly enough on St Pat-
rick’s Day, when he skippered the side
to home victory over Leicester City. He
was given the armband again for the
final home game against Derby County
– and hoisted the trophy – his seventh
title.
Having extended his one-year deal
by another 12 months, he eventually
brought the curtain down on a glitter-
ing 12 years against Charlton Athletic
at Old Trafford in May 2002. He re-
mains United’s second most-decorated
player, with 13 winner’s medals.

Manchester United fans referred to Denis Irwin

as Mr. Dependable.
12 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

rio ferdinand
Armed with elegance, pace and an incredible reading of the
game, Rio Ferdinand is undoubtedly one of the finest de-
fenders in world football.
The Peckham-born star burst onto the Premiership scene
with West Ham United under the guidance of Harry Red-
knapp before being snapped up by Leeds United for £18mil-
lion in November 2000.
The 2002 World Cup provided Rio with the stage to make
the transformation from budding talent to accomplished
defender, and his performances in Japan convinced Sir Alex
Ferguson to part with a massive £30million.
Although initially hampered by injury and loss of form, Rio
found his feet towards the end of his first season, as United
came back from the dead to overtake Arsenal and win their
fifteenth League title.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 13

In September 2003 disaster struck. The defender missed a

routine drugs test and, despite appealing, was banned from
football for 8 months in January 2004.
Since returning from his suspension, Rio has consistently jus-
tified his tag as a world-class defender. He also rediscovered
his goal touch, most dramatically with an injury-time winner
against Liverpool in January 2006. Although an increasingly
potent threat from set-pieces, Rio’s main asset remains his
leadership in defence – a skill that has made him a solid
foundation for both United and England.

“I've heard people say it looks as if

I don't care and I've certainly read
that, but the way I play is natu-
ral. I don't think I can change it.
I know I'm working as hard as the
next man, even if it doesn't always
look that way.” - Rio Ferdinand
14 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

jaap stam
By his own admission, Jaap Stam felt the £10.75 million Unit-
ed paid PSV Eindhoven for his services in the summer of 1998
was an “absurd” amount of money. But then the Dutchman
was a remarkable talent. A World Cup semi-finalist with Hol-
land that year, he adapted to English football with astonish-
ing speed, the defensive rock on which United’s Treble suc-
cess was built.
Imposing and shaven-headed, Stam’s muscular physique – all
6ft 3in and 14 stone of it – suggested nothing so much as an
old-fashioned bruiser, yet this was a player schooled in the
traditional Dutch methods, one who could create as well as
destroy attacks.
Rather than commit himself to risky tackles, Stam’s patience
and ability to read situations well enabled him to drive strik-
ers into blind alleys, often by dint of his huge strength.
An under-rated ball-player too, he quickly endeared him to the
Old Trafford faithful after a few early teething problems and
his ability to dovetail neatly with a host of regularly changing
partners was another impressive aspect of his game. During
the Treble-winning season – an astonishing achievement for
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 15

his first campaign in English football –

he shared central defensive duties with
Henning Berg, Ronny Johnsen, Phil
Neville and David May.
His sterling performances saw him vot-
ed European defender of the year by
UEFA (he repeated the feat the follow-
ing year) and in a poll of Premiership
managers, he was named the player
most would like to sign. Stam’s time at
Old Trafford may have been short – he
stayed for just three seasons before a
surprise switch to Lazio – but it was
sweet. He followed the Treble with Pre-
miership successes in 2000 and 2001
and mention of his name still conjures
up some of the great Manchester Unit-
ed memories.
16 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

gary neville
Gary Neville belongs to an elite group
of players who have skippered the Reds
to the Premiership title. Following on
from Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Eric
Cantona and Roy Keane, Neville rea-
lised a lifelong dream as he became
the fifth United captain to lift the Pre-
miership trophy following the Reds’ re-
cord ninth triumph at the end of the
2006/07 campaign.
The only real disappointment to be tak-
en from United’s thrilling title charge
was the fact that the Reds’ were miss-
ing their inspirational captain for the
final stages of the campaign. Neville
suffered ankle ligament damage just 11
minutes into the visit of Bolton to Old
Trafford on 17 March 2007, an appear-
ance that was to be his last of the sea-
son. But if he wasn’t able to influence
matters on the pitch, you can be sure
his presence was felt in the dressing
rooms and from the stands. No-one,
but no-one, wants United to win more
than Gary Neville.
The defender, who has made over
500 appearances in a United shirt,
was handed the armband during the
2005/06 season following Roy Keane’s
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 17

departure. Being one of United’s most consistent and com-

mitted performers since establishing himself in the side in
1994/95, Neville was a natural choice.
He enters every game refusing to contemplate defeat. The
fans love him for it. His heart on his sleeve approach doesn’t
endear him to everyone, however – notably the football au-
thorities. His badge-clenching celebration following Rio Fer-
dinand’s last-minute winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford
in January 2006 saw him charged with improper conduct by
the FA and fined £5000.
There was no such censure for Gary’s next high-profile cel-
ebration – at the 2006 Carling Cup Final. He lifted his first
trophy as captain and collected the one domestic medal that
had eluded him in his career. Vocal and determined, he gives
his all in every game, demanding the same from his team-
mates. No excuses.

“Gary has been at United all his life, he’s been

tremendous. He’s come through the youth sys-
tem and won every honour.” - Alex Stepney
18 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

ryan giggs
Ryan Giggs is the club’s most decorated
player with 18 major honours, yet he
might never have graced Old Trafford
had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s
intervention. Cardiff-born Giggs was
attending Manchester City’s School of
Excellence in his early teens, but Sir
Alex made a personal visit to his house
on his 14th birthday and Ryan jumped
at the chance to sign for his boyhood
club.
He turned professional at United in No-
vember 1990. He made his League de-
but in the old Division One against Ever-
ton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 as
a substitute for Denis Irwin. The follow-
ing season his first League start proved
a memorable occasion, scoring his first
ever United goal (albeit via a deflection)
in a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Injury to Lee Sharpe enabled Giggs to
pin down a regular place at the start
of the 1991/92 campaign, thanks to his
mesmerising dribbling skills and blister-
ing pace. His first trophy arrived in April
1992 as United beat Nottingham Forest
in the League Cup final, and the fol-
lowing season saw Giggs claim the first
of his record nine Premiership winners’
medals.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 19

His impressive trophy haul also contains European Cup, Euro-

pean Super Cup and Inter-Continental Cup winners’ medals,
while he has played a part in four of Sir Alex Ferguson’s five
FA Cup triumphs. The prestigious cup competition will for-
ever be synonymous with the Reds winger after his superb
solo effort in the semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa
Park in April 1999.
Ryan Giggs bagged his 100th career goal in the 2-2 draw
with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2002, while he became

only the second ever player to play 700 games for United
when he helped the Reds to a dramatic 1-0 win over Liver-
pool at Anfield in March 2007.
The Welsh captain played a significant role in United’s
2006/07 title-winning season. It was a record ninth triumph
for Giggs and edged him ahead of previous record holder
Alan Hansen, who scooped eight titles during his Liverpool
days.
20 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

paul scholes
You’ve got to have something pretty special if you can make
the great Bobby Charlton purr with satisfaction. And since
he appeared on the scene as a teenager in the mid-1990s,
part of the new wave of Old Trafford talent that ushered in
David Beckham and the Neville brothers, Scholesy has been
crucial to the Reds’ successes. He scored twice on his debut
in the League Cup at Port Vale in 1994/95 – and on his first
League outing against Ipswich – and didn’t look back.
A host of golden seasons at Old Trafford include 1995/96’s
Double-winning campaign, finishing second behind Eric
Cantona in the scoring charts with 14; he was a cornerstone
of 1999’s Treble-winners, although suspension ruled him out
of the Champions League final, and in United’s Premiership
success in 2003, his 20-goal haul was vital.
Neat and compact, with an ever-industrious workrate, a mis-
placed Scholes pass remains one of the rarest sights in the
modern game. His superb eye for goal and late runs from
midfield also served his country superbly on 66 occasions.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 21

Persistent eye trouble kept the man the

fans dubbed the ‘Ginger Prince’ out of
action for a large part of 2005/06, but
he burst back onto he scene during the
2006/07 title-winning campaign, play-
ing a key role in helping the Reds re-
claim the Premiership crown. Personal
highlights included his opener in the
2-0 win over Liverpool in October 2006
and a volley of the highest calibre in the
3-0 win at Aston Villa two months later,
which earned him the Goal of the Sea-
son Award at the club’s Player Awards
ceremony.
His contribution was recognised by
players and press alike - he finished
third in the PFA Player of the Year cat-
egory and fourth in the Football Writ-
ers’ vote - both of which were won by
team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now in the top seven highest ever ap-
pearance makers and the top twelve
highest goalscorers at the club, Scholes
is, indisputably, one of the finest talents
in United’s history.
22 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

roy keane
Roy Keane epitomised the unwavering
spirit and desire to succeed Manchester
United stands for. The Cork-born mid-
fielder began his career with Cobh
Ramblers, Brian Clough took him to
Nottingham Forest before he complet-
ed a then-record £3.75 million switch
to Old Trafford in the summer of 1993.
The gladiatorial Keane won the first of
seven Premiership medals that season,
adding a European Cup, Intercontinen-
tal Cup and four FA Cup winners’ med-
als along the way.
He took over the United captaincy from
Eric Cantona at the start of the 1997/98
campaign, but his season was cut short
by a cruciate knee ligament injury sus-
tained in a tackle with Leeds’ Alf-Inge
Haaland at Elland Road in September
1997. The 1998/99 season saw Keane
experience a range of mixed fortunes.
On his way to leading United to their
historic Treble, a sending-off in the FA
Cup semi-final replay victory over Ar-
senal was followed by a yellow card
during arguably his greatest display in
a Red shirt in the Champions League
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 23

semi-final second leg against Juventus, forcing him to miss

that unforgettable night in Barcelona when United were
crowned European champions.
Aside from his influential displays for United, Keane - who
scooped Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year
awards in 2000 - proved an inspiration to his country. Fol-
lowing Ireland’s failure to qualify for the 2006 finals, Keane
announced his international retirement.
He was still out of action on Friday 19 November when Man-
chester United issued a statement through ManUtd.com de-
claring that Keane’s Old Trafford career was over. The Reds
had reached agreement with Keane to end his contract im-
mediately, enabling him to join Celtic. “Whilst it is a sad day
for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe the
time has now come for me to move on,” said Roy on the day
of his departure. Six months after joining Celtic and helping
them secure the Scottish Premier League title and Scottish
League Cup, Keane announced his retirement from profes-
sional football on 12 June 2006 following medical advice
and was named manager of Sunderland in August 2006.

“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” -

Keane on his professional attitude
24 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

david beckham
A decade spent marauding up United’s
right wing contributed to the most
successful period in the club’s history.
The story began in July 1991 when
he moved north from Leytonstone to
sign apprentice forms for the Reds. He
formed part of the Class of ‘92 along
with Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles but
had to wait till 2 April, 1995 for his
league debut. After the departure of
Andrei Kanchelskis, Beckham made the
right wing his own. The season ended
with United winning a second Double.
Beckham began the 1996/97 cam-
paign with THAT goal from the half-
way line at Selhurst Park and a month
later made his Engliand debut against
Moldova. That season brought another
Premiership medal, but in 1998 Arsenal
took the title back as Beckham headed
for the World Cup in France. A bad year
was about to get a whole lot worse.
Facing Argentina in the second round,
he was sent off for a foul on Diego Sim-
eone and England were knocked out.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 25

Mocked by the press and vilified by fans across the country,

he was welcomed back into the arms of the United family.
Beckham responded by scoring a trademark free-kick against
Leicester City in the first League game of the 1998/99 sea-
son, and went on to enjoy a campaign that would have
been beyond his - or any other Red’s - wildest dreams... the
Treble.
The following season brought his fourth Premiership win-
ner’s medal and Beckham was voted second best player in
Europe and the World. 2000/01 was another Premiership-
winning season. Beckham broke his foot in a Champions
League match against Deportivo la Coruna but recovered in
time to score a redemptive penalty against Argentina in the
World Cup.
The 2002/03 season proved to be his final. His relationship
with Sir Alex Ferguson was at a crossroads, and became even
more strained following an FA Cup defeat at home to Arse-
nal. After months of speculation, Beckham made the switch
to Real Madrid but not before picking up his fifth Premier-
ship medal and signing off in style with a final free kick goal
in his last game against Everton.
26 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

eric cantona
No.7 shirt collar as stiffly upright as if it had been starched,
that imperious look, theatrical swagger and poise, Eric Can-
tona was born to play for Manchester United – and, even
better, he was pinched from across the Pennines to do so.
Astonishingly, given his success in Yorkshire and a Charity
Shield hat-trick against Liverpool during the 1992/93 curtain
raiser, Sir Alex Ferguson’s enquiry as to whether the mercu-
rial Frenchman might be for sale was met with a nod in De-
cember. A £1.2 million deal – no, that’s not a misprint – was
promptly done, and Cantona went to work.
The next four-and-a-half seasons would see him stamp his
name indelibly on the club’s history, his
heart and soul seemingly in tandem
with it: his prophetic pronouncements,
his pure, well, Frenchness, finding a
spiritual home on the turf where George
Best had strutted his stuff so majestical-
ly two decades earlier. The missing piece
in the long-awaited championship jig-
saw, Cantona’s nine goals in 22 league
games helped bring home the inaugural
Premiership trophy of 1992/93.
With his probing presence, United
would fail to win the trophy just once in
the following four campaigns, Cantona
leading scorer in two and second in the
other. It wasn’t just his technical ability
that fired the imagination, it was his
talismanic qualities. He led by example,
defiant, never giving in. It was a three-
way relationship between player, team-
mate and fans – if he thought it was
possible, so did you.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 27

When the FA threw the book at him

with a nine-month ban in the 1994/95
season following his infamous Kung-Fu
spat with a Crystal Palace fan at Sel-
hurst Park, Cantona retained his dignity
and did his 120 hours’ community ser-
vice with no complaints. And of course,
he scored on his return – against the
old enemy Liverpool in October, netting
a penalty to salvage a point at Anfield.
With Cantona orchestrating the talents of a young David
Beckham and Ryan Giggs, and Roy Keane in his pomp as
midfield general, United proved irresistible in 1995/96. Can-
tona led the way with 19 goals in all competitions, one of
four men to reach double figures. And it was Cantona again,
firing through a crowd scene at Wembley, to see off Liver-
pool in the FA Cup final to complete a second Double in
three seasons. That season was the pinnacle of his time at
Old Trafford.
At the end of the 1996/97, another title in the bag, but with
the disappointment of a European semi-final exit proving
a tough cross to bear, he exited stage left. His deeds burn
brightly and will never fade. Vive la resistance!

“Collar turned up, back straight,

chest stuck out, he glided into the
arena as if he owned the fucking
place. Any arena, but nowhere
more effectively than Old Trafford.
This was his stage. He loved it, the
crowd loved him.”- Roy Keane
28 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

wayne rooney
Wayne Rooney is a player in a hurry.
He burst onto the Old Trafford stage in
September 2004, just as he had burst
into the Premiership with Everton, and
has become arguably United’s most im-
portant player.
Much was expected of the England’s
18-year-old hero of Euro 2004 when
he swapped Everton, his boyhood club,
for the Reds in August of that year. In
his very first game at Old Trafford he
produced a stunning display, to blast
an unforgettable debut hat-trick past
a shell-shocked Fenerbahce. It was a
fairytale start to his United career and
very much a sign of what was to fol-
low. By the end of the 2004/05 cam-
paign he’d amassed 17 goals in 43 ap-
pearances. He was rightly named PFA
Young Player of the Year.
Rooney’s second season at Old Trafford
saw him again take huge strides, jus-
tifying his billing as one of the world’s
most exciting young talents. He netted
the Reds first goal of the season against
Debreceni and ended the season with
19 goals in 48 matches. It was a con-
tribution that saw him named both
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year by
fans and PFA Young Player of the year
(again) by his fellow professionals.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 29

The young striker openly endeavours to better his goals tally

each season, and the 2006/07 campaign saw Rooney achieve
his aim with 23 strikes as he shook off a difficult World Cup
with England. Rooney’s red card during England’s quarter-
final defeat to Portugal caused a media storm in Britain,
not least because of the involvement of United team-mate
Cristiano Ronaldo, but Wayne rose above the controversy to
register another excellent year at United.
A long goalscoring drought was emphatically ended with a
stunning hat-trick at Bolton, while doubts over his ability to
find the net in Europe were well and truly banished as he
netted four goals in the Champions League latter stages;
home and away against Roma and a brace at Old Trafford
against AC Milan.
The development of the man Sir Alex describes as “the best
young player I have seen in my time” continues at a rate
which causes either exhilaration or consternation, depend-
ing on who you support.
30 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

edwin van der sar

The No.1 slot at United has had its fair
share of pretenders since Peter Schme-
ichel vacated his throne in 1999, but
the willowy Dutchman has easily come
closest to filling the great Dane’s size-
able gloves.
Although the two differ in style –
Schmeichel was, of course, famed for
furiously bellowing at his back four as
well as his brilliant saves - Edwin’s ex-
perience and calm assurance has un-
doubtedly been a key component in
regaining the Premiership crown from
Chelsea in his second season at the
club.
Twelve clean sheets in the league in
what became, towards the end of the
season, an ever-changing back four, is
an impressive feat. It saw him make the
2007 Premiership Team of the Year, as
voted for by his fellow professionals.
Most notably among them was Chel-
sea stopper Petr Cech, who expressed
deep admiration for the former Ajax
and Fulham keeper’s performances in
2006/07.
Signed for an undisclosed signing from
Fulham in the summer of 2005, van
der Sar has brought all the wisdom and
know-how between the sticks that you
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 31

would expect to find from a goalkeeper that is his nation’s

most-capped player and a former UEFA Cup and Champions
League winner with his former club Ajax in the earlier nine-
ties.
A UEFA Cup and Champions League winner with the Dutch
club in 1992 and 1995, he also won four league titles and
three domestic cups with the Amsterdam outfit, before
spending two seasons in Serie A with Juventus. With the
arrival of Gianlugi Buffon at the Stadio delle Alpi threaten-
ing his first-team chances, he made a £5 million switch to
Fulham in 2001 at the outset of the Londoners’ Premiership
adventure, but after four seasons at Craven Cottage United
came knocking.
Edwin’s move to Manchester was given the thumbs up by
Schmeichel and in his first season at OT he started all but five
of United’s 56 games, keeping an impressive 24 clean sheets,
including five on the spin from his debut.
Van der Sar’s solid presence, agility and reliability have been a
major plus to United this term, while his quick and inventive
distribution aid the team’s speedy attacking style. Age may
not be on his side, but experience counts, and he will be
hoping to add to his Carling Cup and Premiership winners’
medals.
32 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

steve bruce
Pound for pound, the £825,000 Alex
Ferguson paid Norwich City for this
craggy, uncompromising centre-half
two weeks short of his 27th birthday
in December 1987, was one of the best
deals Manchester United have ever
done.
Bruce’s central defensive partnership
with Gary Pallister – the pair were af-
fectionately dubbed ‘Dolly and Daisy’
– was the bedrock on which three
Championship-winning sides were built
(1993, 1994 and 1996), as well as suc-
cesses in the European Cup Winner’s
Cup (1991), FA Cup (1994, 1996) and
the League Cup (1992). It was arguably
Bruce’s two critical late, late goals – a
pair of towering headers – against
Sheffield Wednesday that tipped the
1992/93 Premiership title race in Unit-
ed’s favour and really got the ball roll-
ing for United’s dominance of the mod-
ern game.
Bruce’s was a steady climb to the foot-
ball summit. A product of the famous
Wallsend Boys Club that gave the game
talents like Alan Shearer, Peter Beard-
sley and more recently United transfer
target Michael Carrick, he represented
Newcastle schoolboys, but was rejected
at 16 by his boyhood idols, as well as
Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Shef-
field Wednesday and Southport ¬be-
cause he was perceived to be too small.
He subsequently got a job at the Swan
Hunter shipyard as a trainee plumber
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 33

but a week before he was due to start was offered an ap-

prenticeship with Gillingham.
After making his league debut for the Gills at the start of
the 1979-80 season while still just 17, he went on to make
more than 200 league appearances for the Kent club before
Norwich paid £135,000 for his services in August 1984. At
Carrow Road, Bruce won a League Cup winner’s medal in
1985 and the Second Division Championship medal the fol-
lowing year. Remarkably, for all his subsequent honours at
Old Trafford, Bruce was never selected for a full England cap,
though he did lead the side at B level.
He finally left the Reds on a free transfer for Birmingham City
in the 1996 close season after nine years, 414 appearances
and a prolific 51 goals. Assisted by his accuracy from the
penalty spot he had remarkably finished as the club’s joint
top scorer in 1990/91 with 19 goals in all competitions.
In 1998 he started out on the management trail with Shef-
field United as player-manager, and has also been in charge
at Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace. He
is currently boss at Birmingham City, mounting a bid for a
swift Premiership return in 2006/07 after taking the Blues
up and spending four seasons in the top flight. Don’t bet
against it.
34 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

bryan robson
It was a fitting climax to United's 1992/93 FA Premier League
championship season when Bryan Robson scored the cam-
paign's last goal to clinch a 2-1 victory against Wimbledon
at Selhurst Park. Six days earlier 'Captain Marvel' had jointly
accepted the FA Premier League trophy with Steve Bruce as
the curtain came down on an Old Trafford season in which a
26-year wait for the game's ultimate domestic honour was
finally over.

Back and hamstring problems had blighted Robson's season,

but in typical fashion he fought bravely to reclaim his place.
Indeed, various injuries plagued so much of his remarkable
career for club and country, that it was laughably suggested
at times by the media that he should ease up! For such a
fiercely committed and courageous player it was perhaps just
an inevitable price that had to be paid.
He had appeared in close on 200 league games for West
Bromwich Albion, scoring 39 goals, when new United boss
Ron Atkinson returned to his former club and paid a joint fee
of around £2 million to bring both Robson and Remi Moses
to Old Trafford in October 1981. The deal rated 'Robbo' at a
then-record £1.5 million.
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 35

Robson scored well over a century of

league goals in his career – many from
steaming late blind side runs into the
area. But perhaps above all, he was
an inspiring captain for both club and
country, uniquely leading United to a
hat-trick of FA Cup wins in 1983,1985
and 1990. In the 1983 final against
Brighton and Hove Albion he scored
twice in the 4-0 replay victory.
He was a League Cup finalist in 1991
and collected a prized European medal
when he lifted the Cup Winners' Cup
in the same season. In his final two sea-
sons Robson started only 15 Premier-
ship matches, but usually made a tell-
ing contribution when called upon and
could hardly have ended his illustrious
career on a more satisfying note than
seeing United complete the coveted
League and Cup Double in 1994.
Robson was quickly snapped up on a
lucrative contract by Middlesbrough
when he announced his impending exit
from Old Trafford. After seven seasons
there as manager in June 2001, and
following a relegation battle, Robson
left in June 2001.
He later resurfaced with his first club,
West Bromwich Albion with whom he
completed a remarkable escape from
Premiership relegation in 2004/05.
However, a year later the Baggies
dropped down to the Championship.
Robson left the club by mutual consent
on 18 September 2006.
36 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

cristiano ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has just about ex-
hausted all superlatives, except to say
that having developed and matured
from a young and inexperienced winger
when he joined from Sporting Lisbon in
2003, he's now among the best and
most dynamic attacking forces in the
world.
Signed as a largely unknown 18-year-
old for £12.24m, the story goes that Sir
Alex was persuaded to sign him by his
players on the plane home from a pre-
season friendly against Sporting that
summer. In truth, the boss had long
been aware of his ability. The urgency
to sign him stemmed from interest from
other top European clubs. This was a
target Sir Alex simply couldn’t let slip
through the net.
Ronaldo wasted little time in showing
off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-
minute debut against Bolton at Old Traf-
ford in August 2003. After 39 appear-
ances and eight goals, he was named
the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for
2003/04. His second season never quite lived up to his first.
But some late season form saw him end the 2004/05 cam-
paign with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny
again reserved his best form for the latter half of the season,
a clear sign that, despite his undoubted talent, this was a
player still honing his talent.
Then came the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, a tru-
ly defining moment. In the quarter finals against England,
Cristiano was blamed for Wayne Rooney’s sending off, the
scapegoat for England’s exit. Some wondered if he would
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 37

even return to Manchester. But Sir Alex’s calming words as-

sured him. The best players respond to adversity, and he did
just that.
United’s title success was undoubtedly a team effort, but
one player was central to almost every major plotline. It be-
gan with the barnstorming 5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo
and Rooney running the show and very publicly rubbishing
claims the two were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed
with regular assists and crucial goals, including seven in five
games over Christmas and then a last-gasp winner against
Fulham in February.
His form brought renewed interest from Spain, but United’s
No.7 signed a new five-year deal until 2012 insisting, “I’m
happy here.” In 2006/07 he claimed 14 individual awards
and, most crucially, his first Premiership medal. The sound-
track to Cristiano’s campaign may have begun with a chorus
of boos, but it ended with cacophonous applause.

“There have been a few players described as the

new George Best over the years, but this is the
first time it's been a compliment to me”
- George Best
38 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

ole gunnar solskjær

Dubbed the baby-faced assassin cour-
tesy of young looks and a ruthless abil-
ity to find the net, Ole’s clinical finishing
touch was, of course, best exhibited
at the climax of the 1999 Champions
League final. Deep into injury time his
instinctive toe-poke from Teddy Sher-
ingham’s flick-on beat Bayern Munich’s
Oliver Kahn to complete United’s ex-
traordinary comeback from 0-1 down
to complete the Treble and cement his
place in United folklore.
Yet there was to be no greater come-
back in Ole’s career than the one he
achieved in December 2005. His ap-
pearance as a substitite in the 2-2 draw
at Birmingham City followed a gruel-
ling 20 months of rehabilitation from a
serious knee injury.
The start of the following season saw
Ole make another emotional return,
this time to the scoresheet. His goal in
United’s away win at Charlton was his
first for the senior side in almost three
years and he admitted afterwards: “I
have been dreaming about this day
and now it has finally arrived, I just feel
relief.” Solskjaer made a hugely impres-
sive contribution to the title-winning
cause in 2006/07 and richly deserved
his seventh Premier League winners’
medal.
Solskjaer ended the 2006/07 season
with eleven goals, the most important
of which came in January 2007 at Old
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 39

Trafford when, on as a late substitute, he fired a dramatic last

minute winner in the FA Cup third round tie against Aston
Villa.
Ole’s sad decision to retire after continuing problems with his
knee was announced just weeks into the 2007/08 campaign.
On 28 August 2007, the club released a press statement with
warm tributes from Sir Alex Ferguson - “Ole has achieved
everything a player could ever wish to achieve” - and chief
executive David Gill - “Ole will be dearly missed as a player,
but will go on to serve the Club as an Ambassador and a
valuable coach.”
Ole himself said, “I feel proud to have represented Man-
chester United for 11 years and have some very special
memories.” United supporters also have special memories of
Solskjaer in a red shirt, and will remain forever grateful.
40 SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM

conclusion
In the last twenty one years, a large
CANTONA ROONEY number of great players have played
under Sir Alex Ferguosn. Picking sixteen
out of those was no easy task. There
are so many players who didn’t make
it to this team, but still contributed im-
GIGGS BECKHAM mensely to United’s history and could
KEANE SCHOLES
walk into any team. Some notable
mentions inlude Fabian Barthez in goal,
Gary Pallister and and Nemanja Vidic in
defense, Paul Ince in the middle, and
IRWIN NEVILLE any of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Mark
STAM FERDINAND
Hughes or Ruud van Nisttlerooy attack-
ing the opposition.
SCHMEICHEL But this team has got it all, from the
flair of Cantona and Ronaldo to the
sheer physical presence of Keane and
Rooney. With Stam and Ferdinand in
goalkeeper strikers the center and Irwin and Neville on the
Peter Schmiechel Eric Cantona sides, supported by Schmiechel in goal,
Wayne Rooney this is a defense any manager would
defenders substitutes love to have in his team. A midfield of
Giggs, Keane, Scholes and Beckham,
Denis Irwin which won United the treble, along
Jaap Stam Van Der Sar
Steve Bruce with Rooney and Cantona would de-
Rio Ferdiand
Bryan Robson stroy any opposition. A bench consist-
Gary Neville
Cristiano Ronaldo ing of Van Der Sar, Bruce, Robson, Ron-
midfielders Ole Solskjær aldo and Solskjær is something every
manager hopes to have. This would be
Ryan Giggs a truly great team.
Roy Keane
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
SIR ALEX FERGUSONS’ BEST TEAM 41

all about the book

body text
All body text has veen taken from
Player and Legend profiles on
www.manutd.com

typography
The book uses a combination of
Glasgow for headings, Frutiger
for body text, Garamond for
text call-outs, and Futura for the
cover.

software
The book was made using a
combination of Adobe InDesign,
Illustrator and Photshop exclu-
sively on a Macintosh running
Mac OS X. Text editing was done
in Apple iWork - Pages.

images
The images in the book are
from all across the web and
were found using Google Image
Search, Flickr, wikipedia and
Yahoo Image Search. The ‘best
eleven’ graphic was created using
Adobe InDesign.

priniting
The book was printed at Fedex
Kinkos located in the basement
of the University Center.