Alex Ferguson’s three great Man United teams: can he build a fourth?
As Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for his 25th full season in charge at Old Trafford, Rio Ferdinand believes another great Man United team is emerging. “I think we’ve still got an experienced nucleus who have been here four or five years and have won things consistently,” Ferdinand told the Daily Mirror. “That breeds confidence, which is invaluable. We’ve also added three hungry players, who all want to win trophies.”
The signings of David De Gea, Ashley Young and Phil Jones would appear to signal the start of another new era at Old Trafford, as Fergie comes to terms with the loss of Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown, John O'Shea and Gary Neville, not to mention a second bad defeat to Barcelona in a Champions League final. Can Sir Alex build a fourth great United team? He's certainly been there and done that before.
talkSPORT looks back at three great eras under Old Trafford's greatest ever manager…
FERGIE'S FIRST GREAT MAN UNITED TEAM: 1992-1995
Key signing: Eric Cantona
Typical line-up: (4-4-2) GK Peter Schmeichel, LB Denis Irwin, RB Paul Parker, CB Steve Bruce CB Gary Pallister, CM Roy Keane, CM Paul Ince, LW Ryan Giggs, RW Andrei Kanchelskis, F Mark Hughes, F Eric Cantona.
Other key players: Brian McClair, Lee Sharpe, Bryan Robson
Glory season: 1993/94
Fergie's first great Man United team peaked with their 1994 double success, the first time the club had won both major domestic honours in the same season. They led the Premier League from the fourth game to the finish, picking up 92 points from 42 games with a style of football that married exciting, fast attacking play – utilising the wings through Giggs and Kanchelskis – with a rugged edge epitomised by the beating heart of Ince and Keane in the midfield. Cantona was the conductor, as United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final and only a shock defeat to Aston Villa in the League Cup final prevented what would have been a unique domestic treble.
FERGIE'S SECOND GREAT UNITED TEAM: 1995-1999
Key signing: Dwight Yorke
Typical line up: (4-4-2) GK Peter Schmeichel, LB Denis Irwin, RB Gary Neville, CB Jaap Stam, CB Ronny Johnsen, CM Roy Keane, CM Paul Scholes, LW Ryan Giggs, RW David Beckham, F Dwight Yorke, F Andy Cole
Other key players: Henning Berg, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Glory season: 1998/99
While losing veterans like Eric Cantona, Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister over several seasons and selling the likes of Ince, Hughes and Kanchelskis, Fergie set about building his second great United side. The double was won again in 1996 with the emerging youth of Scholes, Beckham, Butt and the Neville brothers, while the title was retained – just – in 1997, as only a few of the 1994 side remained. At this time, Fergie and United were being taught some harsh lessons in the Champions League, but they learnt from their mistakes and with his young team maturing and a few key additions in the right positions, the club was ready for their finest hour. Jaap Stam added defensive class at the back and Dwight Yorke came in to provide an irresistible attacking force alongside Andy Cole, as United rode a roller coaster season to clinch the Premier League by a point from Arsenal, following it up with the FA Cup and – thanks to never-to-be-forgotten goals from Solskjaer and Sheringham – the Champions League.
FERGIE'S THIRD GREAT UNITED TEAM: 2006-2009
Key signing: Cristiano Ronaldo
Example line up (4-3-3/4-5-1 – note, Man United used a variety of players and formations during this era): GK Edwin van der Sar, LB Patrice Evra, RB Wes Brown, CB Nemanja Vidic, CB Rio Ferdinand, CM Michael Carrick, CM Paul Scholes, CM Anderson, RF Park Ji-sung, LF Wayne Rooney, F Cristiano Ronaldo
Other key players: John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Owen Hargreaves, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Carlos Tevez
Glory season: 2007/08
As first Arsenal and then Chelsea became the dominant force in England, some of the more premature pundits predicted that Fergie had had his day. Fools. With the signing of teenage talent Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003, followed by the arrival of Wayne Rooney in 2004, Fergie set about building his third great side at Old Trafford. Trophies like the FA Cup in 2004 and League Cup in 2006 kept the silverware coming in what were considered lean years for the club, but all the while the likes of van der Sar, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Rooney and Ronaldo were gelling with old hands like Scholes, Giggs and Wes Brown. Te result? In 2007 the Premier League title headed back to United. A chastening 3-0 semi-final defeat to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League served as motivation the following season, as Fergie's side swept to the final and beat Chelsea on penalties, giving them the sweetest of trophy doubles.
Do you think Fergie can build another team good enough to challenge these great sides for a place in the Old Trafford history books? Which of Ferguson's United teams do you rate as the greatest ? Have your say by commenting below…