CAN ARSENAL DO THE IMPOSSIBLE?

As Arsenal prepare for the daunting task of overturning the 5-1 first leg deficit against Bayern Munich tonight, let's look back at eight of the greatest second leg comebacks in European Champions Leagues annals:

*FC Barcelona lost 2-0 to AC Milan in the first leg, but won 4-0 in the second leg (2012/13 round of 16)

*FC Barcelona lost 3-1 to Chelsea in the first leg, but won 5-1 in second leg (1999/2000 quarter-finals)

*Chelsea FC lost 3-1 to Napoli in the first leg, but won 4-1 in the second leg (2011/12 round of 16)

*Deportivo La Coruna lost 4-1 to AC Milan in first leg, but won 4-0 in second leg (2003/04 quarter-finals)

*Monaco lost 4-2 to Real Madrid in first leg, but won 3-1 in the second leg (2003/04 quarter-finals)

*Manchester United lost 2-0 to Olympiacos in the first leg, but won 3-0 in the second leg (2013/14 round of 16)

*Chelsea lost 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, but won 2-0 in the second leg (2013/14 quarter-finals)

*Bayern Munich lost 3-1 to Porto in the first leg, but won 6-1 in the second leg (2014/15 quarter-finals)

NB: No team has been able to recover from a 5-1 deficit, but nothing is impossible in football. Arsenal will set a new record if they achieve that at the Emirates tonight

2015/16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BATTLE ROYALE

The coming season which kicks off today will be one of the most interesting in the history of the English Premier League. The desperation to wrest the title from Chelsea and the flood of new signings will no doubt emblazon the season.


Last season, the chase for the title turned into a foregone conclusion fairly early as a disciplined Chelsea ran away with the league. This time out, a much tougher fight looms. Again Chelsea will be the favourites, in my reckoning, and a very good bet indeed to achieve something special with back-to-back titles. Manager Jose Mourinho is targeting consistency ahead of an unnecessary overhaul, with Radamel Falcao the only arrival of note. But can Falcao be able to exorcise his injury demons, that's the question to be asked, as the season gets underway. Seriously agitating to challenge Chelsea will be the usual suspects, Man City, Man United, Arsenal, and from the outside, Liverpool.

Attempt by City at defending its crown went poorly last season, so the chequebook has been opened in this transfer window as the oil-rich club looks to propel itself back to the top. Raheem Sterling has arrived from Liverpool for a club record fee, and Kevin De Bruyne could be next in line for potentially another record fee. But the problems may be at the back, Vincent Kompany seems to be losing his grit,  as massive preseason losses to Real Madrid and, worryingly, Stuttgart have suggested. Work is still to be done for City.

Meanwhile, United has been busy as every preparing for a very important season. After two years out of the title race, it is imperative Louis Van Gaal gets United back into it in this campaign, and the incomings have reflected that urgency, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin are among the first wave of new United players, with Angel Di Maria's departure and David De Gea looking to be on the way out, there could be a seriously expensive second wave on the way. Depending on how quickly the new signings gel, United could be either a genuine threat for the title or in a scrap for the Champions League.

Liverpool are always there or thereabouts, and yet another spending spree makes them somewhat of an unknown quantity ahead of the new season. Liverpool struggled last season after the sale of Luis Suarez inspired a squad overhaul, and the off-season has appeared remarkably similar, they will struggle to finish among the top four again.

Tottenham, Southampton and Everton will again fight it out for European slots. As the the newly-promoted sides, Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford, staying up will be their priorities.  Provided all three teams don't go straight back down, the Premier League will have to lose something of a mainstay, with Aston Villa top of the list of candidates. Poor last season but saved largely by Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph - players who are no longer at Villa Park - Tim Sherwood desperately needs his new signings to make an immediate impact.

Overall, the season is going to be interesting. Again it is Chelsea's title to lose, United could only provide a stern challenge by signing a centre back and a proven goal scorer before the transfer window closes. Arsenal is in the same region, if the can get Karim Benzema Monsieur Wenger could swing surprises. City will be desperate, but I don't see them winning the title with Kompany, Mangala and Demichelis at the heart of their defense. The trio might turn a new leaf, if they do Chelsea will be in danger of losing the title.

2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

The 21st season of the English Premier League is upon us like a bang! It is hard to believe that as I'm writing this in barely 24 hours proceedings in the English elite football league will resume. Manchester United will be the defending champions as pretenders to the crown will attempt to wrest the trophy that has virtually been the property of United since the commencement of the Premier League era. 

This season will be seemingly unpredictable with the managerial changes at United, Citeh and Chelski. The return of Jose Mourinho will not only brighten the league, but will also add to the competitive edge. Chelski, Citeh and Spurs have spent big while United and Arsenal have kept hold of their key players. 

United put themselves into the driving seat last summer after signing Robin van Persie. The Dutchman did not disappoint as his goals steered the team to yet another premiership title. As at today the new manager David Moyes is yet to make his marquee signing. Chelski have already signed Cristian Cuevas, Stipe Perica, Andre Schurrle, Mark Schwarzer and Mario van Ginkel. Citeh have in their books these new players: Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo. These are substantial additions to these teams, but as we've seen over the years, it is the team, not the quality of big money signings, that wins the league. 

My prediction: I often don't like to predict which team will ultimately claim the EPL title in May 2014, but I see it finishing this time with the following preferences: 1. Chelski 2. Citeh 3. United 4. Arsenal...in that order. Same old, same old, you might say. 

MARIO BALOTELLI: THE REBEL RETURN HOME TO ROOST

Mario Balotelli's height of eccentricity came to the fore when as an Inter Milan player he appeared on a live television programme wearing AC Milan's shirt, when asked why he replied, tongue in cheek, that he was an AC Milan fan. That act of bizarre defiance invariably showed 'Super' Mario the exit door. Inter Milan's fans were obviously agitated and cannot condone that recalcitrance.

Roberto Mancini, buoyed by the affluence at his disposal at Manchester City, decided to bring the Italian prodigy to Lancashire. Balotelli is a brilliant footballer, but unmanageable even by his fellow Italian. The altercation the pair had in that infamous training ground burst up was the last straw that broke Balotelli's capricious sojourn at Manchester City.

Manchester City fans, and by extension the followers of the English Premier League, will be relieved to see the back of the lad who had finalised a move to a team he claimed to support, AC Milan. Whether he can be managed at the red heart od Milano is a different matter, but I would love to watch the next Milan derby: The quantum of hoot he will receive from Inter Milan fans can only be compared to that received by Luis Figo from Barcelona fans when he moved to bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2000. When Figo to the Nou Camp for a league match, he was accorded a heated reception from the fans that hitherto adored him, many started throwing objects at him, including, if I can remember correctly, a pig's head.

2012/2013 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEW

Another English Premier League season will unfold this weekend. It's hard to believe it's been just over three months since the end of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season. Who can forget that unbelievable final day when Manchester City scored two late goals against QPR to wrest the title from Manchester United’s grasp? This weekend marks the start of the Premier League 2012-2013 season, with the league welcoming new boys Southampton, Reading and West Ham United to the show.

If the Olympian heights represent Shangri-La, a wonderful land to aspire to, then the extraordinary mix of vibrancy and venality that is English professional football simply reflects life in the real world where money talks. Last season alone, the elite clubs paid £900 million tax on (admittedly crazy) wages, £100 million on VAT on (admittedly expensive) tickets and £50 million on stadium business rates.

But now is also the time for footballers to tone down the swearing and consider occasionally smiling, remembering the game is supposed to be about spreading joy as well as reaping in the glittering silverware and salaries. It promises to be another classic season, brimming with incident.

A House of Horrors to its critics, a House of Fun for the rest of us, the Premier League is a luxury abode divided into five levels.

Fighting it out in the penthouse again are the two Manchester teams, Manchester City and Manchester United, whose duel last season gave us one of the most compelling title races.

The television audience probably still has Martin Tyler’s memorable commentary still ringing in its ears. As Sergio Aguero scored, Tyler declared: “I swear you will never see anything like this ever again — stupendous.’’

So that’s football for you, providing the season’s definitive moment 40 seconds from the end. And how did Sir Alex Ferguson react to City’s title triumph?

As only the great man knows how: picking up the gauntlet. So in comes Robin van Persie to partner Wayne Rooney in an attacking axis sure to disturb the sleep of all centre-halves.

A glance at the all-time Premier League scoring charts shows Rooney in ninth place and rising fast, having amassed 144 goals from his 10 seasons and he could overtake Teddy Sheringham (146), Michael Owen and Les Ferdinand (both 149) within the month. Van Persie needs only four more for his century. Like that well-known United fan Usain Bolt, Van Persie won’t take long.

The next level down in the Premier League tower block is occupied by Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs, contesting the two remaining Champions League places.

Now free of Didier Drogba’s long, imposing shadow at Chelsea, Fernando Torres should flourish.

Eden Hazard appears to possess the strength of mind and technique to prosper but Oscar may take a while to bed in. Arsenal will need Olivier Giroud to settle fast in the post-RVP world, although Lukas Podolski should adapt immediately.

When last seen in London, Andre Villas-Boas resembled a tourist who had lost his map and Oyster card. After a chastening experience at the Bridge, the Lane offers AVB the chance of rehabilitating his reputation.

Let me close this short preview by quoting the expectations of managers of the front row teams:

Alex Ferguson
Manchester United
“Last year was a different type of year, it’s the first time anyone has beaten us on goal difference. That is what cost us the league and It won’t happen again, trust me on that.”

Roberto Mancini
Manchester City
“United are favourites – they have played for the title always, every year for 20 years. Although we won the last championship, we can’t change this in one year.”

Roberto Di Matteo
Chelsea
“We have to try, for sure. It’s not that we’re not going to try. We have to try to challenge ourselves with the other teams, so I wouldn’t say there is no expectation [from Roman Abramovich].”

Arsene Wenger
Arsenal
“At the moment I believe we have what is needed to be ambitious and to play our game. We have to be even more of a team and work even more together to compensate for the loss of Van Persie.”

Andre Villas-Boas
Tottenham
“It’s different for us this year. It’s a new start under a new management team, but we want to build on last year. The spirit is good and the motivation is high.”

Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool
“The top four is certainly not something we’ll shy away from. It’s where a club of this status wants to be, but it’s always easier said than done. The reality over the past three seasons or so hasn’t been that.”

HOW DO 19 SOUND?

When Alex Ferguson took over the management of Manchester United from Ron Atkinson in November 1986, he made a big statement of intent promising to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’. United by then had won only 7 league trophies, as compared to Liverpool’s 16. Liverpool went on to win two additional titles in 1988 and 1990 to get their tally to 18.  And then they hit a stumbling block.

Alex Ferguson was renowned for breaking the Rangers-Celtic stranglehold on Scottish football as the manager of Aberdeen. Under his leadership, Aberdeen were crowned Scottish champions three times, they won the Scottish Cup four times (achieving the double in 1984) and the Scottish League Cup once.  They were also triumphant in Europe, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983.

It was that fabulous record that persuaded Manchester United’s board to sign Ferguson, and in 1986, following a sojourn as Scotland caretaker manager at the World Cup, he was installed in the Old Trafford hot seat. Success was elusive in the early years of Ferguson’s managerial reign, but his resolute spirit and foresight in developing the club’s youth system ultimately yield reward.

The FA Cup win in 1990 saved Ferguson’s job, and spurred the Scot with the determination to overturn Liverpool’s record, a record they thought unassailable.  The Premier League era, which began from the 1992/93 season, gave United the springboard to dominate the English League.  Despite huge challenges posed by the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, United went on the claim the inaugural Premier League trophy, and retained it the following season.

Manchester United fans had high hopes of a first league title in 26 years when the 1992/93 season got underway.  Before the season begun, there was disappointment for the fans. England’s most successful striker, Alan Shearer, snubbed United, opting to join Newcastle from Southampton, while popular forward Mark Robins was sold to Norwich. The arrival of Dion Dublin proved scant consolation when the former Cambridge striker broke his leg just three games into his United career.  At the beginning of the inaugural Premier League season, there were few signs that this would be the campaign to end the wait for glory. However the signing of the charismatic, if somewhat temperamental, striker Eric Cantona from Leeds sparked a revival at Old Trafford. Ironically, the best 1.2 million pounds ever spent in the history of the transfer market was initially considered a risk. Cantona came to United on the back of a career in France that encompasses half a dozen acrimonious partings. Cantona scored five goals in six games to help United climb up the table. Cantona’s presence in the club brought a renewed vigor, confidence and flair that had not always been evident before the Frenchman’s arrival.

United went on to sweep five of the seven Premier League titles in the 1990s (including earning the double in 1994 and 1996, and the treble in 1999). Key players in that era include, apart from Cantona who retired in 1997, were Peter Schmeichel, Bryan Robson, Brian McClair, Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe, Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Ole Gunner Solskjaer, Jaap Stam, Teddy Sheringham, Karel Poborsky, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Roy Keane.

In the mid-1990s it was widely known that Ferguson felt that United had a number of young players who were ready to play in the first team. The youngsters, who would be known as "Fergie's Fledglings", included Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham,  Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who would all go on to be important members of the team. Blackburn had beaten United to the 1994/95 league title, and Everton managed a 1-0 victory against United in the FA Cup final, and so the 1995/96 season began without a major signing, at a time when the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United were making the headlines with big money signings.

When United lost the first league match of the 1995/96 season- 3–1 to Aston Villa, the media swooped upon Ferguson with undisguised glee. They wrote United off because Ferguson's squad contained so many young and inexperienced players.  Match of the Day pundit, Alan Hansen proclaimed that "you can't win anything with kids".

However, the young players performed well and United won their next five matches, exacting their revenge over Everton for the FA Cup defeat with a 3–2 win at Goodison Park and achieving a 2–1 away win over defending champions Blackburn Rovers who were now looking rather like relegation battlers than title contenders.

Cantona's return from suspension was a boost, but they found themselves 10 points behind Newcastle by Christmas 1995. A 2–0 home win over the Tynesiders in December narrowed the gap to seven points and a subsequent win over struggling QPR narrowed it to four points, but a 4–1 defeat for United at Tottenham on New Year's Day 1996 and a 0–0 home draw with Aston Villa saw the Magpies re-establish their wide lead and it looked certain that the league title was Newcastle's.

However a series of good results starting in mid January 1996 saw the gap close, and when United travelled to Newcastle and won 1–0 in March, the gap was down to a single point. United went top of the league soon after the win at Newcastle, who continued to drop points in crucial games.

Early April saw Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan's famous outburst on live television ("I'd love it if we beat them! Love it!"), and is generally regarded as the moment that Ferguson gained the upper hand against his opponent. United's Premier League title success was confirmed on the final day of the season, when they defeated a Middlesbrough side managed by former United captain Bryan Robson  in a game which ended in a 3–0 win despite strong displays by Boro confounding pre-match reports that Robson would give his old team an easy ride.

Other success stories of the 1996/97 season were two Norwegian signings, striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (the club's top scorer that season) and defender Ronny Johnsen, who were bargain buys as they were little known outside the Premier League on their arrival the previous summer but went on to be key factors in United's fourth Premier League title.

The turn of century saw United achieving a remarkable laurel in the Premier League, including a record three consecutive titles on two separate occasions (1999, 2000 and 2001 as well as 2007, 2008 and 2009). The acquisition of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Laurent Blanc (both in 2001), Rio Ferdinand (2002), Cristiano Ronaldo (2003), Wayne Rooney (2004), Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra (both in 2005) proved pivotal in the century.

In the 2002/03 season, United won their 8th Premier League title, just over two months before the end of the season they were eight points behind leaders Arsenal. But an improvement in form for United, and a decline for Arsenal, saw the Premier League trophy gradually slip out of the Londoners' grasp and push it back in the direction of Old Trafford. Ferguson described the season’s title triumph as his most satisfying ever, due to the nature of a remarkable comeback. The excellent run-in had produced 10 wins and a draw (including 4–0 home win over Liverpool and a 6–2 away demolition of Newcastle United) from the final 11 games, and no defeats since Boxing Day.

There followed three futile seasons, Arsenal won the title in 2003/04 and a Roman Abramovich-bankrolled Chelsea claimed the next two titles. But Alex Ferguson charged the players to make history; they obliged and went on to win another three consecutive titles.

In 2008 Liverpool fans mocked United with a banner at Anfield ‘Come Back When You Get 18’, reiterating their bragging right as the team with most league titles in the English top division. The 2008/09 season saw United winning an 18^th league title to equal Liverpool’s record haul. In the 2009/10 season, Chelsea denied United a record 19^th title, winning by just one point, after beating Liverpool at Anfield in a game many conspiracy theorists want to believe Liverpool made it soft for Chelsea, especially after Steven Gerrard made an uncharacteristic back-pass to allow Frank Lampard to pounce and score.

In the season that follows, clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and new mega-rich Manchester City, spent heavily in the transfer market. But Alex Ferguson went for a little known Mexican striker, Javier Hernandez in a bargain worth 6 million pounds. Chicharito, as he liked to be called, proved mercurial in front of goal, scoring 20 goals in his inaugural season. Dimitar Berbatov finished as the season joint top scorer and Wayne Rooney reversed his earlier decision to leave the club. A solid backline led by Vidic catapulted United to the 2010/11 league title, finishing 9 points ahead of Chelsea. As United upended Liverpool’s record by winning a 19^th league title, it is befitting enough to boomerang Liverpool’s ridicule with an apt question: ‘How Do 19 Sound?’

Alex Ferguson: The manager with the Midas touch

Midas, in Greek mythology, was a King of Phrygia in Asia Minor. For his hospitality to the satyr Silenus, Dionysus, god of wine, offered to grant Midas anything he wished. The king requested that everything he touched be turned to gold.

In his 36 years as a football coach, virtually everything Alex Ferguson touches turned to gold. At the beginning, it had not been easy for the Scot, but bout of successes came in leap and bounds. Fergy has been notching success long before he joined Manchester United some 24 years, 1 month and 25 days ago on his 69^th birthday (December 31^st 2010). On December 19^th 2010, Ferguson became United’s longest serving manager in history, overtaking Sir Matt Busby’s record of 24 years, 1 month and 12 days in charge of the club.

The pathos of football management is that most great careers end badly. Bill Shankly faded into a regretful ghost, Jock Stein died on the job, Sir Bobby Robson's great Newcastle repatriation finished with the sack from Freddy Shepherd and Brian Clough hit the bottle.

Even Matt Busby presided over disintegration as his last act. Prolonged exposure to the strains of satisfying players, spectators and directors while also fighting to subdue mighty rivals empties most men out in the end. But if you look at Ferguson now, after those successful years, you see a 69-year-old who has reversed the old law of diminution to grow stronger with every trial.

The miracle of his survival is that each test has tightened his grip on power. There is a formidable litany of challenges faced and overcome. Some were external: Liverpool, back in the 1980s, then Arsène Wenger's Arsenal and Roman Abramovich's wealth. These days United are the second richest club in Manchester but Ferguson welcomes City's provocations because they reaffirm his own team's most cherished values: experience, unity and the faith in youth that connects him to Busby.

Ferguson’s successes as the manager of Manchester United could easily fool one into assuming all his career has been with United and as a manager. The Scot has been a prolific striker, and has managed three other clubs before coming to Old Trafford. He supported Rangers as a young man, but got his baptism of fire at Queen’s Park, for whom he scored on his debut, aged 16. He went on to score 20 goals in 31 games for Queen’s Park. He also played for St Johnstone and Dunfermline before joining Rangers for £65,000 in 1966 (a then record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs). His incredible goal tally in the 1965/65 season-he was top scorer with 31 league goals and 45 in all competitions-prompted Rangers to sign him. In 1969 he left Rangers to join Falkirk as a player/coach, and in 1974 he finished his playing career at Ayr United having scored a total of 170 goals in 317 appearances for the six clubs.

Ferguson cut his managerial teeth with East Stirlingshire aged 32 in 1974 with an initial wage of £40 a week. In his first managerial season, he immediately gained reputation as disciplinarian. Club forward Bobby McCulley once remarked that Fergy had “never been afraid of anyone, but he was frightening from the start”. He later managed St Mirren between 1974 and 1978 with whom he won the first division title in 1976. St Mirren was the only club to sack him and they will be made to rue that after his remarkable success his next club, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, prior to securing the services of Ferguson, had won the league only once in 1955 under Dave Halliday. With Aberdeen, Ferguson broke the 15 years dominance of the Old Firm clubs, Rangers and Celtic, on the league by winning the titles in 1979/80, 1983/84 and 1984/85. Since leaving Aberdeen to join Manchester United, no team outside those Glasgow clubs has come close to winning the Scottish Premier League title.

He led the club to even a greater success in 1983 by winning the European Cup Winners Cup by beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the final, becoming only the 3^rd Scottish team to win a European trophy. After the European triumph, Fergy felt he had “done something worthwhile with his life”. He was awarded OBE in the 1984 honours list.

Owing to the untimely death of Jock Stein in 1986, Alex Ferguson agreed to handle the Scottish national team on part time basis, and after the world cup he rejected lucrative offers from Rangers, Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers. During the summer of 1986, there had been speculation that he would take over from Ron Atkinson at Manchester United, who had slumped to 4^th in the English top flight after a 10-match winning start had made the title glory seem inevitable.

Atkinson was sacked in November 1986 and Fergy took over. He moved the club to finish in 11^th place, having been 21^st (2^nd from bottom) when he took over. His first game in charge was a 2-0 defeat at underdogs Oxford United on November 8; his first win was a 1-0 home victory against QPR on November 22. By the time he recorded what would be the team’s only away win of the league campaign at title challengers and fierce rivals, Liverpool on Boxing Day, it was clear that United were on the road to recovery.

At the beginning of the 1987/88 season, Ferguson made several major signings, including Steve Bruce, Viv Anderson, Brian McClair and Jim Leighton. These players made great contribution to the club, who finished in 2^nd place, 9 points behind Liverpool. United lost only 5 games that seasons, but had drawn 12.

In the 198/90 season, Ferguson signed  Neil Webb, Mike Phelan, Paul Ince, Gary Pallister and Danny Wallace. But United had an early woeful run of 6 defeats and 2 draws in 8 games (including a 5-1 drubbing by bitter rivals Manchester City). This had prompted the fans to hoist a banner at Old Trafford declaring “three years of excuses and it’s still crap. Ta ra Fergy”. Various journalists and fans called for Ferguson to be sacked. Ferguson later described December 1989 as the “darkest period (he had0 ever suffered in the game”, as United ended the decade just outside the relegation zone.

Despite the calls for his sack, United’s board of directors gave him the assurance that they were not considering dismissing him. Fergy’s reprieve came in the season’s FA Cup. Following a run of 7 games without a win in the league, United were drawn away to Nottingham Forest in the 3^rd round of the FA Cup. Forest were flying high that season and were about to retain the league title, they expectation was United will lose the match and the press alleged (but perennially denied by then-Chairman Martin Edwards) that Ferguson would have been sacked had United lost and gone out of the Cup, as they were 15th in the league by this stage and had already been eliminated from the Football League Cup. But United went on to win the game 1-0 with the winner coming from greenhorn Mark Robbins. Robbins also scored the winner in the semi-final replay against Oldham Athletic. United went on to the trophy, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in the final replay, giving Ferguson his first of 35 major trophy as United manager.

Even after 1990 FA Cup triumph, some still had doubts about Ferguson’s ability to succeed where all others since Matt Busby had failed-to win the league. They were runners-up in the League Cup and went on to win the European Cup winners Cup, beating Barcelona 2-1 in the final. The 1991/92 saw Fergy making three major signings-goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, full back Paul Parker and winger Andrei Kancheskis. But the league title defied him again with rivals Leeds United emerging victorious.

Ferguson felt that his failure to sign Mick Harford from Luton Town had cost United the league, and that he needed “an extra dimension” to the team if they were to win the league. He thus went on the hunt for a new striker. He first attempted to sign Alan Shearer from Southampton, but Shearer opted to join Blackburn.

After a sluggish start to the 1992/93 season, it began to look as if United were throwing away the title again. However, the purchase of Eric Cantona from Leeds United brightened United’s future and Ferguson’s position as manager. Cantona formed an impressive partnership with Mark Hughes and fired the club to the top of the league, ending United’s 26-year wait for the league title, and also making them the first ever Premier League champions. United had emerged champions with a 10-point margin over Aston Villa and Alex Ferguson won the first of his many Manager of the Year awards.

In the following season, 1993/94, United led the Premier League season virtually from start to finish. Ferguson was the first to the Premier League Manager of the Month award (he had so far won a record 24 of those awards), introduced for the start of the 1993/94 season, Cantona was top scorer with 25 goals despite sent off twice in the space of 5 days.

In the ensuing 17 seasons, Fergy led United to win the league title on 10 other occasions, on two occasions, United won it three consecutive times between 1999-2001 and 2007-2009. These victorious seasons saw the breakthrough of a number of young players: Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes (in 1994/95); Phil Neville and David Beckham (1995/96). They would be known as “Fergy’s Fledglings”, the decision to give them first team opportunities received heavy criticisms among sections of the media, notable among whom was former Liverpool defender and BBC’s Match Of The Day pundit, Alan Hansen, who famously proclaimed “Fergy, you can’t win anything with kids”.  The youngsters went on to prove Hansen wrong by going on to be integral members of the team that won several laurels.

Ferguson’s greatest season as a football manager was the 1998/99 treble winning season. The season was characterised by highly dramatic matches. In the Champions League semi-final second leg, United conceded two early goals away to Juventus; however, inspired by Roy Keane, who would later miss the final through suspension, United came back to beat Juventus 3–2 and reach their first European Cup final since 1968. In the FA Cup semi-final, United faced close rivals Arsenal and appeared to be heading for defeat when Keane was sent off and Arsenal were awarded a last-minute penalty. Peter Schmeichel saved the penalty, and in extra time Ryan Giggs ran the length of the pitch to score perhaps the most memorable goal of his career to win the match. They then defeated Newcastle United 2–0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. The European triumph was the most incredible of all. With 90 minutes on the clock they were 1–0 down to Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp following a Mario Basler free kick, but in 3 minutes of injury time allowed by referee Pierluigi Collina, Teddy Sheringham, a substitute, equalised and extra time looked certain. But with just seconds left on the clock, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, also a late substitution, scored the winning goal and history was made. In June 1999 Alex Ferguson becomes Sir Alex Ferguson, having received a knighthood in recognition of his services to the game.

          On May 21^st 2008, Fergy won his 2^nd European Champions’ League trophy with, United beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. It was the first ever all-English UEFA Champions’ League final.

After the presentation ceremony of United’s 11^th Premier League title, and 18^th overall, in 2009, Ferguson conceded that he would stay on at United for as long as his health permitted him and that he would be glad to win the league title once more.

One recurring theme of Ferguson's management of Manchester United has been his view that no player is bigger than the club. He has consistently taken a "my way or the highway" approach in his dealings with players and the pressure of this management tactic has often been the cause of many notable players' departures. Over the years, players such as Gordon Strachan, Paul McGrath, Paul Ince, Jaap Stam, Dwight Yorke, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gabriel Heinze have left the club after varying degrees of conflict with Ferguson. It is also suggested that one of the most inspirational players in the club's history, Roy Keane, was a victim of Ferguson's wrath following damning criticism of his team mates on the club's in-house television channel, MUTV. This disciplinary line that he takes with such highly paid, high-profile players has been cited as a reason for the ongoing success of Manchester United.

With 46 major trophies under his belt, Sir Alex Ferguson has became the most successful post-war football manager in British history and deserve all the tribute variously vented on him. His was a feat unlikely to be repeated this era.