1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That

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Totally unlike today, nearly every player was a character with leadership skills - a team of 11 captains. In the summer of 1998, Man Utd looked to bounce back from Arsenal's maiden Premier League title triumph with the additions of Jesper Blomqvist, Dutch centre-back Jaap Stam and Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke, while Gianluca Vialli brought Marcel Desailly to Chelsea after he starred in France's 1998 FIFA World Cup triumph. Liverpool were then on the brink of dumping Ferguson’s men out in round four, but for an 88th minute equaliser from Yorke and a 90th minute winner from Solskjaer. Driven by the indomitable will of skipper Roy Keane, supported by a nucleus from the Class of 92 - Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, the Nevilles and Paul Scholes - who had grown up at the club, they went on a long unbeaten and unbeatable run, featuring some of the most dramatic games in English football history. The Irish defender started his United career in 1990, moving from Oldham Athletic, and went on to play for Ferguson until 2002 collecting 368 appearances.

1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That eBook by 1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That eBook by

The Dutch centre-back was arguably the most important figure in the defence as he brought stability and leadership, recovering from an Achilles injury to play in the Champions League final. They then went on a three-match tour of Scandinavia, starting with a 2–2 draw against Vålerenga, before comprehensive wins over Brøndby (6–0) and Brann (4–0). For the very same reason, BSkyB replicated Fox's formula and went ahead with a takeover of a Premier League club.

Roy Keane made his comeback after almost a year out injured and Jaap Stam made his debut in central defence. His previous book, Bobby Moore: The Man in Full, was a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year prize. Manchester United, the Treble and All That is so much more than a book for United fans; it is an insight into team building, the will to success and a tale of local pride.

1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That eBook

On Boxing Day, the team collected their only win in the month of December against Nottingham Forest [27] followed by a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in the last match of 1998 to solidify their position in the top four. Perhaps the significance of the protests was the formation of Shareholders United Against Murdoch, more commonly known as Manchester United Supporters' Trust today, by journalist Michael Crick.Giggs then scored in stoppage time in the semi-final first leg against Juventus to give United a foothold in the tie, before the team as a whole fought back from 2-0 down in the second leg to win 3-2 on the night and 4-3 overall. Despite receiving a home draw in each of their first four rounds (Third to Sixth), United were paired against difficult opponents throughout the competition. Yorke was brought down by the Juve keeper Angelo Peruzzi in the area as he went round him, but the referee played the advantage and Cole tapped in from an acute angle. David Beckham fired in a brilliant equaliser and Andrew Cole's perfectly executed chip sealed Man Utd's title.

1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That by Matt

Wenger was adamant that United were marginal favourites, [45] but it was clear the title race would be decided on the final day, as it had been in 1995. Driven by the indomitable will of skipper Roy Keane, supported by a nucleus from the Class of 92 - Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, the Nevilles and Paul Scholes - who had grown up at the club, they went on a long unbeaten and unbeatable run, featuring some of the most dramatic games in fans memories.

A few days later Teddy Sheringham fired the Red Devils to an FA Cup final win against Newcastle and then a sensational stoppage-time comeback in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich made United first English club to win the prestigious trio of honours in the same season. The striker got a crucial touch to scoop the ball past Kahn and into the bottom corner to leave Bayern stunned before then turning provider for Solskjaer’s winner moments later.

the treble - Premier League 1998/99 Season Review: Man Utd seal the treble - Premier League

To compound the misery, midfielder Nicky Butt, who had been sent off in the Champions League match earlier in the week, was handed a second red card in the space of four days for a foul on French international Patrick Vieira. United were no longer an independent entity, [99] and major decisions affecting the club looked increasingly likely to be taken on the other side of the globe. In 2007 The Daily Telegraph in association with World Soccer Magazine published a list of the 20 greatest football teams of all time: United were ranked in last position, behind Liverpool's double winners of 1977. The England midfielder settled the final seven minutes into the second half with a tidy, drilled finish. Giggs became United’s record appearance maker with 936 games and wears the crown for the most Premier League titles won at 13.Early signs weren’t promising, despite record spending to bring in new stars, among them Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke, but soon things began to change. Manchester United played four pre-season matches ahead of the 1998–99 campaign, starting with a 4–3 defeat away to Birmingham City. But long before the final, when Sheringham and Solskjaer stunned Bayern in stoppage time, the team preserved an unbeaten record with a number of late goals. He landed the ball on the head of Sheringham who nodded it to Solskjær who in turn toe-poked it into the roof of the net. Villa compensated for the loss of Yorke by recruiting Dion Dublin and Paul Merson, and they flourished under the tutelage of John Gregory, spending much of the first half of the season at the top of the table.