Manchester United has been the dominant power of the English Premier League for the last two decades. Under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, United was the dynasty of the 1990s — the club won five league titles in seven years — and has now earned the crown for three years in a row.
Quick Facts
- Founded: 1878
- Home Ground (Capacity): Old Trafford (76,212)
- Nicknames: Red Devils, the Reds
- Home Colors: Red jersey, white shorts, black socks
- Top Goalscorer All-Time: Bobby Charlton (1967-1973)
- First Division/Premier League Titles: (19) 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992-93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
- F.A. Cup Titles: (11) 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
- European Cup/Champions League Titles: (3) 1968, 1999, 2008
The Team
- Current Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
- Top Goalscorer 2008-2009: Cristiano Ronaldo (25 in all competitions)
- Captain: Gary Neville
- 2008-2009 League Finish: 1st (Premier League)
A Little History
The summit of the Ferguson years came in 1999 when United won a legendary treble, meaning the Premier League, F.A. Cup, and Champions League in dramatic fashion. Their victory in the Champions League final, for instance, came courtesy of two goals in the last 90 seconds to turn a 1-0 deficit against Bayern Munich into a 2-1 advantage.
But United’s success is nothing new. The Reds have been a powerhouse since the 1960s when they became the first English team to lift the Champions League trophy (or the European Cup, as it was known at the time). That triumph came in 1968, a decade after Manchester United fell victim to one of the greatest tragedies in sports.
In 1958, an airplane crash in Munich claimed the lives of eight players and was dubbed the Munich Air Disaster. Then-manager Sir Matt Busby rebuilt the side around the talented, mercurial Number 10 George Best, who made them one of the most attractive sides in Europe over the next decade. From there, the Manchester United legend has only grown through players like Denis Law, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Cristiano Ronaldo.