Manchester United 1998–99 football season
The 1998–99 season was Manchester United ‘s seventh season in the FA Premier League and their 24th consecutive season in the clear division of English football. After finishing the former season without winning any titles, United won the Treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in 1998–99, the first and to date lone english in English football to do then. During the campaign, United lost alone five times : in the Charity Shield against Arsenal ; in the fifth round of the League Cup against eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur ; and three times in the league, including their merely dwelling loss all temper, against Middlesbrough in December 1998. A run of 33 games unbeaten in all competitions began on 26 December at home to Nottingham Forest, whom they besides beat 8–1 away from home in February 1999, Manchester United ‘s record away win in the Premier League. The season was characterised by comebacks, peculiarly in the FA Cup fourth round against Liverpool and the semi-finals of the Champions League against Juventus, but none more therefore than in the Champions League final, when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær scored in injury time to overturn Bayern Munich ‘s early lead.
Veteran players Gary Pallister and Brian McClair had left the club before the season began, but their replacements ( Dutch defender Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven and trinidadian hitter Dwight Yorke from Aston Villa ) were both signed for club record fees. In November 1998, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel announced his purpose to leave the baseball club after eight years at Old Trafford, joining Sporting CP at the end of the season. The club was at the concentrate of a takeover bid of more than £600 million from BSkyB early in the temper, but that was blocked by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in March 1999. Fans and writers regard the Treble as coach Alex Ferguson ‘s greatest accomplishment. In realization of his success, Ferguson was awarded a knighthood, and handed the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in November 1999. David Beckham was named UEFA Club Footballer of the year for the 1998–99 season, and was runner-up to Rivaldo for 1999 ‘s Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the year awards .
Friendlies [edit ]
Manchester United played four pre-season matches ahead of the 1998–99 campaign, starting with a 4–3 defeat away to Birmingham City. 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 ). After the season began, they besides played a friendly against a Europe XI selected by former striker Eric Cantona as a belated memorial to the Munich atmosphere disaster, which happened 40 years early ; Cantona played for both teams during the match, which Manchester United won 8–4. A testimonial for Teddy Scott was scheduled against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in January ; United lost 7–6 on penalties after a 1–1 trace in 90 minutes. [ 1 ]
Colours: Green = Manchester United win ; Yellow = pull ; Red = opponents win .
FA Charity Shield [edit ]
The inaugural competitive game of the season was the Charity Shield on 9 August 1998 at Wembley Stadium in movement of a crowd of 67,342, which United lost 3–0 to the previous season ‘s double winners Arsenal. [ 2 ] Roy Keane made his rejoinder after about a year out hurt and Jaap Stam made his debut in cardinal defense .
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1998 | Arsenal | N | 0–3 | 67,342 |
FA Premier League [edit ]
August [edit ]
On the open weekend of the season, Manchester United faced Leicester City at Old Trafford, and went a goal down within seven minutes, when Emile Heskey turned in Muzzy Izzet ‘s cross via the crossbar. Tony Cottee – the scorer in the former temper ‘s correspond fixture – added a moment with 15 minutes remaining. A long-range inject from David Beckham deflected in off Teddy Sheringham three minutes subsequently, before Beckham himself got on the scoresheet with a direct free kick to salvage a luff for the home side, setting a common law for things to come. [ 3 ] The team ‘s first gear away crippled followed at West Ham United, but despite the debut of striker Dwight Yorke, United were held to a scoreless drawing card. Beckham, who had become a national hate trope after his dismissal at the World Cup, received a ardent reception by the home supporters, with every tint of the testis made by him jeered at. Bottles and stones were directed at the team busbar prior to kick-off. [ 4 ] After the game, Ferguson, his players, and the Manchester United staff refused to be interviewed by the press or television receiver. [ 5 ]
September [edit ]
Manchester United recorded their first win of the season on 9 September, beating newly promoted Charlton Athletic 4–1. [ 6 ] Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjær each scored a pair to overturn the visitors ‘ early leave. The peer was marred by demonstrations in and around Old Trafford against the proposed coup d’etat of the club by BSkyB. [ 7 ] Obscene chants were directed at chair Martin Edwards, who had given his patronize to the fusion. [ 6 ] A 2–0 victory against Coventry City the following workweek, thanks to goals from Yorke and Ronny Johnsen, gave United confidence ahead of their UEFA Champions League undoer against Barcelona, [ 8 ] but a 3–0 frustration to champions Arsenal left the team in 10th place after five matches. [ 9 ] This was Arsène Wenger ‘s third straight league victory over Ferguson ( four in all competitions ) ; goals from Tony Adams, Nicolas Anelka and Freddie Ljungberg condemned Manchester United to their heaviest away kill in more than two years. To compound the misery, midfielder Nicky Butt, who had been sent off in the Champions League couple earlier in the week, was handed a irregular red batting order in the quad of four days for a filthy on french international Patrick Vieira. [ 9 ] United ended the calendar month with a win, beating rivals Liverpool 2–0 to move into fifth spotlight. [ 10 ]
October [edit ]
A trip to face Southampton at The Dell on 3 October was taken with caution given United ‘s recurrence from Munich in the Champions League and winless record at the grind. United had lost to Southampton on each of their last three visits, including a 6–3 kill in 1996. [ 11 ] Andy Cole was paired with Yorke for alone the moment clock time in the season, a tactic that paid off as both got on the scoresheet. Substitute Jordi Cruyff added a third in the 75th moment to move United into second place in the board, four points behind leaders Aston Villa going into the external unwrap. [ 12 ] Raimond van five hundred Gouw who deputised for hurt goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel at Southampton featured again at home to Wimbledon, a pit that Manchester United won 5–1, the biggest win of the temper at Old Trafford. [ 13 ] Ryan Giggs, Beckham, Yorke and Cole ( twice ) all scored ; Ferguson in finical hailed the contribution of 19-year-old defender Wes Brown. [ 13 ] United earned a distributor point away at Derby County on 24 October, [ 14 ] and beat Everton 4–1 at Goodison Park on Halloween to cut the opening at the top to merely a point. [ 15 ]
November [edit ]
Manchester United failed to score at home for the first and merely time of the season against Newcastle United, [ 16 ] but made amends with a 3–2 victory over bottom team Blackburn Rovers. [ 17 ] Defensive frailties, most notably from Schmeichel, who had announced his purpose to leave Manchester United at the end of the temper, [ 18 ] were on show away to Sheffield Wednesday as the team missed the gamble to go top of the table, losing 3–1. [ 19 ] A couple from winger Niclas Alexandersson and a introduction finish scored by Wim Jonk consigned Ferguson to his irregular frustration in the league and extended a barren run at Hillsborough ; United had won merely a individual game in their last eight visits. [ 19 ] On 29 November, Manchester United hosted Leeds United ; Leeds opened the scoring with equitable under half an hour play, but a goal either side of half-time gave United the lead. Leeds equalised in the 52nd minute, but a consequence of glare from Butt secured the three points for the Red Devils and kept up the blackmail on the challengers. [ 20 ]
December [edit ]
Three heterosexual draw followed in December, the first aside to league leaders Aston Villa. [ 21 ] United were fortunate to pick up a compass point given their opponents ‘ authority in the second half, and were careless at Tottenham Hotspur, throwing aside a 2–0 lead. [ 22 ] Solskjær put United two goals ahead, but in the 39th minute Gary Neville received a crimson circuit board for a second bookable umbrage, tugging on David Ginola ‘s shirt. Spurs captain Sol Campbell brought his team bet on into the match with 20 minutes remaining and on the cusp of stop meter powered a header in the clear left-hand corner, sparking exultant scenes at White Hart Lane ; despite losing the lead, the leave put United circus tent of the league on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa, who faced Arsenal the follow day. Chelsea grabbed a creditable draw at Old Trafford to venture their championship credentials four days by and by [ 23 ] and United, who were without their director Ferguson for the Middlesbrough bet on [ 24 ] were beat 3–2 ; it was their last defeat of the season. [ 25 ] On Boxing Day, the team collected their alone acquire in the month of December against Nottingham Forest [ 26 ] followed by a scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge in the last match of 1998 to solidify their placement in the acme four. [ 27 ]
January [edit ]
A power cut at Old Trafford delayed proceedings against West Ham on 10 January, a equal that ended 4–1 to Manchester United. The partnership of Yorke and Cole was starting to click, discernible in the 6–2 win at Leicester City. Five goals were scored in the second gear half – including a hat-trick for Yorke and Stam ‘s entirely goal for the club – cutting Chelsea ‘s head at the top to two points. [ 28 ] On 31 January, Manchester United moved a point clear at the top of the league for the first time in the season. [ 29 ] Yorke ‘s former heading in the 89th minute made the 1–0 victory at Charlton Athletic their third consecutive league winnings ( fifth in the month ). Ferguson praised the team ‘s dissolve, adding, “ It ‘s a good leave for us, because there are games where you have to dig in and find a result. ” [ 29 ]
February [edit ]
That winning streak extended to five matches in February, starting with a 1–0 victory at home to Derby County on 3 February to move four points ahead of Chelsea, [ 30 ] followed by an 8–1 win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground ; after Yorke and Cole had scored two goals each, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came off the bench and scored four times in the outer space of ten minutes to record the biggest away win in Premier League history, a criminal record that would stand for more than 20 years. [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Ron Atkinson, the director of Nottingham Forest and Alex Ferguson ‘s harbinger as Manchester United director, declared Manchester United to be the best team in the league by “ a area mile ”, [ 33 ] and Ferguson was now handed a selection dilemma ahead of the clash against Arsenal on 17 February. The Gunners were without Dennis Bergkamp, Emmanuel Petit and Martin Keown, [ 34 ] and conceded an early penalty when Ray Parlour brought down Johnsen. Yorke missed, shooting across-the-board of the right-hand stake, and was made to pay early in the second base half as Nwankwo Kanu ‘s through-ball found striker Anelka, who put his team into the lead. Given Arsenal ‘s defensive criminal record, [ 35 ] another clean sheet looked to be on the cards until a header by Cole just after the hour score drew the game level. From then on, United had respective chances to win the plot, but a point each left the deed subspecies finely balanced. Back-to-back wins, starting with a 1–0 victory at Coventry on 20 February, [ 36 ] followed by a 2–1 winnings at family to Southampton a week subsequently, [ 37 ] maintained United ‘s bag on crown spot .
March and April [edit ]
cup duties were the chief precedence in March as United played merely two league fixtures : away to Newcastle and at home to Everton. Two wins out of two, including two goals by Cole against his former club, Newcastle, [ 38 ] helped United become the first team to reach 60 points in the season. Manchester United could merely manage a 1–1 draw at Wimbledon on 3 April as Beckham ‘s well-drilled shot cancelled out Jason Euell ‘s undoer in the one-fifth infinitesimal. [ 39 ] Despite several of the first-team members being rested for the Juventus tie, United won 3–0 at Old Trafford against Sheffield Wednesday [ 40 ] and battled well to earn a item against Leeds at Elland Road after the midweek draw at Juventus ; [ 41 ] however, the result allowed Arsenal to move to the top of the postpone for the first gear time in the season, albeit having played one game more, after scoring six against Middlesbrough at the Riverside. [ 42 ]
May [edit ]
The team celebrate winning the FA Premier League deed after their victory over Tottenham on 16 May 1999. Another victory over Aston Villa on 1 May put United back on top of the league, but Arsenal ‘s gain at Derby the adjacent day restored the champions ‘ slender advantage. Against Liverpool at Anfield, Ferguson restored the Cole–Yorke strike partnership, and within 23 minutes the latter scored the opener from a Beckham cross. In the second base half, United were awarded a penalty for a challenge on Jesper Blomqvist by Jamie Carragher, which Denis Irwin successfully converted ; however, Irwin was sent off in the 75th moment for a second base bookable offense just after Jamie Redknapp scored through a penalty to give Liverpool hope. Former United midfielder Paul Ince scrambled the counterweight two minutes from clock. The United coach did not hide his discomfort, adding that he thought “ the referee handed it to them ”. [ 43 ] On the lapp night, Arsenal convincingly beat rivals Tottenham to move three points clear up, having still played a game more. [ 44 ] Wenger was adamant that United were fringy favourites, [ 44 ] but it was clear the championship race would be decided on the final day, as it had been in 1995. With three games remaining, Yorke scored his 29th goal of the season at Middlesbrough to help his team render to the exceed of the postpone. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink ‘s late winner against Arsenal two days late all but ended Wenger ‘s chances of retaining the league backing. [ 45 ] United now needed only four points, one of them gained at Ewood Park, in the process relegating Blackburn Rovers, who were nowadays managed by former United assistant director Brian Kidd. Manchester United finally secured the backing, their fifth in seven seasons, on the final examination day ; after Les Ferdinand had put Tottenham ahead, goals from Beckham and Cole either side of half-time gave United a 2–1 winnings that rendered Arsenal ‘s victory over Aston Villa irrelevant. [ 46 ]
Colours: Green = Manchester United gain ; Yellow = describe ; Red = opponents win .
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
( C ) Champion source : Premier League Rules for classification : 1 ) points ; 2 ) goal remainder ; 3 ) issue of goals scored.Champion
FA Cup [edit ]
Despite receiving a home draw in each of their first four rounds ( Third to Sixth ), United were paired against unmanageable opponents throughout the competition. En path to the final they defeated four Premier League teams : Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. The merely team from outside the lead flight that United played in the rival was Fulham, who at the meter played in the Second Division, the third grade of English football, but even they were not considered pushovers, having claimed shock absorber wins over Southampton and Aston Villa in the previous rounds. In the one-third circle, United were drawn against Middlesbrough, who had recently beaten them in the league. Andy Townsend gave Middlesbrough the lead early in the second half, but goals from Cole, Irwin and Giggs gave United a 3–1 victory. [ 47 ] United faced Liverpool at home in the play along rung, where the visitors took the lead from a Michael Owen header inside three minutes. In cattiness of creating batch of goalscoring chances, the team failed to equalise until the 86th moment, when Yorke scored after a Beckham barren kick was headed into his path by Cole inside the six-yard box. In the second hour of arrest time, Solskjær hit a film through the legs of Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher that beat goalkeeper David James at his approximate post to give United the acquire. [ 48 ] Cole scored the winner against Fulham on Valentine ‘s Day to set up a quarter-final clash at home to Chelsea. [ 49 ] Although there were no goals, Paul Scholes and Roberto Di Matteo were both sent off and missed the replay three days late at Stamford Bridge. [ 50 ] Yorke kept up his ever-improving goalscoring record, scoring two goals against the Blues on 10 March. [ 51 ] United played cup holders Arsenal in the semi-final at Villa Park on 11 April. Neither team was able to score even after extra meter had been played, although Keane had a goal ruled out in the foremost half for a controversial offside decision against Yorke in the build-up, and Nelson Vivas was sent off for Arsenal, so the match was decided in a replay four days late. Beckham opened the score for United with a long range feat, but Dennis Bergkamp drew Arsenal level with a shooting that deflected off United ‘s concentrate back Jaap Stam. [ 52 ] Arsenal then thought they had taken the star when Nicolas Anelka put the ball in the second of United ‘s net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. United ‘s captain Roy Keane was red-carded for two bookable offences and United played the last half-hour of normal time with 10 men. In injury time at the end of the second half, Phil Neville fouled Ray Parlour in the penalty area. Peter Schmeichel parried away Bergkamp ‘s vector sum blemish kick and the game went into extra time. Giggs scored partway through the second half of extra time. Picking up possession on the center telephone line after a loose passing from Patrick Vieira, he dribbled past the entire Arsenal back line before shooting just under goalkeeper David Seaman ‘s bar. Giggs ran celebrating towards the United fans, and United held on to beat the Gunners 2–1. [ 53 ] The goal was the last ever scored in a FA Cup semi-final replay, as they were abolished the follow season. United met Newcastle United in the concluding at Wembley Stadium, the penultimate FA Cup final to be held there before it was closed for rebuilding. Less than 10 minutes into the match, Keane was injured and replaced by Sheringham. He and Scholes both finished with a goal each in the 2–0 winnings that sealed the doubling. [ 54 ]
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January 1999 | Round 3 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–1 | Cole 68′, Irwin 82′ (pen.), Giggs 90′ | 52,232 |
| 24 January 1999 | Round 4 | Liverpool | H | 2–1 | Yorke 88′, Solskjær 90′ | 54,591 |
| 14 February 1999 | Round 5 | Fulham | H | 1–0 | Cole 26′ | 54,798 |
| 7 March 1999 | Round 6 | Chelsea | H | 0–0 | 54,587 | |
| 10 March 1999 | Round 6 replay | Chelsea | A | 2–0 | Yorke (2) 4′, 59′ | 33,075 |
| 11 April 1999 | Semi-final | Arsenal | N | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | 39,217 | |
| 14 April 1999 | Semi-final replay | Arsenal | N | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Beckham 17′, Giggs 109′ | 30,223 |
| 22 May 1999 | Final | Newcastle United | N | 2–0 | Sheringham 11′, Scholes 52′ | 79,101 |
Colours: Green = Manchester United win ; Yellow = draw ; Red = opponents win .
League Cup [edit ]
As in the previous four seasons United rested many of their first-team players in the League Cup, rather using the contest to provide first team experience to their younger players and reserves. In the third base orotund of the competition United required extra-time to defeat Bury, finally winning 2–0 with goals from Erik Nevland and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. [ 55 ] In the fourth round, two more goals from Solskjær gave United a 2–1 victory over Nottingham Forest, earning them a place in the quarter-finals for the beginning clock since they reached the final in 1994. [ 56 ] United were beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur ; two goals from Chris Armstrong and one from David Ginola gave Spurs a 3–1 victory, with ex-Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham scoring the consolation for United on his return to White Hart Lane. [ 57 ]
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 October 1998 | Round 3 | Bury | H | 2–0 (a.e.t.) |
Solskjær 106′, Nevland 115′ | 52,495 |
| 11 November 1998 | Round 4 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–1 | Solskjær (2) 57′, 60′ | 37,337 |
| 2 December 1998 | Round 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–3 | Sheringham 70′ | 35,702 |
Colours: Green = Manchester United win ; Yellow = draw ; Red = opponents win .
UEFA Champions League [edit ]
The golf club used a different home kit for european matches .
second modification round [edit ]
Manchester United began their UEFA Champions League campaign against polish champions ŁKS Łódź in the second qualify circle. Goals from Giggs and Cole in the home branch gave them a 2–0 gain, [ 58 ] and a scoreless second gear leg ensured their reservation for the group stage. [ 59 ] This gave Łódź the distinction of being the lone side to keep a clean and jerk sheet against the eventual champions american samoa well as being the only opponents failing to score against them .
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 August 1998 | Second qualifying round First leg |
ŁKS Łódź | H | 2–0 | Giggs 16′, Cole 81′ | 50,906 |
| 26 August 1998 | Second qualifying round Second leg |
ŁKS Łódź | A | 0–0 | 8,000 |
Colours: Green = Manchester United acquire ; Yellow = draw ; Red = opponents win .
Group phase [edit ]
United were drawn in Group D, quickly labelled the contest ‘s “ group of end “, along with spanish club Barcelona, german champions Bayern Munich and Danish side Brøndby. [ 60 ] Both games against Barcelona ended in drawing card. Despite Giggs, Scholes and Beckham putting the team into a 3–2 head at Old Trafford, the visitors were awarded a late penalty after Butt was sent off for handling the ball. Luis Enrique converted the ball into the web to leave both teams with a point on Matchday One. [ 61 ] In the return game on 25 November at the Camp Nou, a regular that Barça needed to win to avoid elimination, Dwight Yorke ‘s goals put United ahead 3–2, but Barça star Rivaldo equalized and closely scored again but his effort hit the crossbar. [ 62 ] United were denied victory by Bayern Munich twice, home and away. In Munich, the home slope equalised with two minutes to go with United leading 2–1, after Schmeichel uncharacteristically went for and missed Bixente Lizarazu ‘s throw-in, allowing Giovane Élber to tap in from a few yards out and score his second of the match. [ 63 ] The return key branch ended in a stalemate ; Roy Keane scored merely before half-time via a low header before Hasan Salihamidžić equalised for the visitors. [ 62 ] United inflicted two heavy defeats on Brøndby, beating them 6–2 in Copenhagen [ 64 ] and 5–0 at Old Trafford. [ 65 ]
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Results in the early groups meant that a second-place finish was enough for United to progress into the quarter-finals, joining group leaders Bayern Munich .
Colours: Green = Manchester United win ; Yellow = draw ; Red = opponents win .
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bayern Munich
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Manchester United
|
6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 10 | |
| 3 |  Barcelona
|
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 8 | |
| 4 |  Brøndby
|
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 18 | −14 | 3 |
Knockout phase [edit ]
In the hard stage United played two italian sides in the quarter and semi-finals, Internazionale and Juventus respectively ; United had never won on an italian deliver. In the quarter-finals, Beckham faced Diego Simeone for the first time since the 1998 World Cup. In the first peg at Old Trafford, United beat Inter 2–0 with two about identical goals from Yorke, both from crosses by Beckham ; Simeone ‘s second-half goal was disallowed for pushing. [ 66 ] At the San Siro, Scholes scored a former away goal to level the game at 1–1 as United advanced 3–1 on aggregate. [ 67 ] In the semi-finals, Juve ‘s captain Antonio Conte met Edgar Davids ‘ pass to give Juventus an away goal. United equalised in injury-time through Giggs, who converted a Beckham traverse : a Teddy Sheringham goal a few minutes earlier had been disallowed. [ 68 ] A trace mean that United either needed to win in Italy, or get a score-draw of 2–2 or greater. At the Stadio delle Alpi, Filippo Inzaghi scored doubly in the first base 11 minutes to give Juve a 3–1 aggregate lead. team captain Roy Keane, however, who was shown a jaundiced batting order preventing him from playing the final examination, headed in a Beckham hybrid. Dwight Yorke added a moment to level the match just before the break. In the second half, Cole put United ahead for the first meter in the pit and the connect. Yorke was brought down by the Juve keeper Angelo Peruzzi in the area as he went round him, but the reviewer played the advantage and Cole tapped in from an acute fish. [ 69 ] United held on for their beginning victory in Italy and booked their topographic point in the Camp Nou for the final, against group opponents Bayern Munich .
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 March 1999 | Quarter-final First leg |
Internazionale | H | 2–0 | Yorke (2) 6′, 45′ | 54,430 |
| 17 March 1999 | Quarter-final Second leg |
Internazionale | A | 1–1 | Scholes 88′ | 79,528 |
| 7 April 1999 | Semi-final First leg |
Juventus | H | 1–1 | Giggs 90+2′ | 54,487 |
| 21 April 1999 | Semi-final Second leg |
Juventus | A | 3–2 | Keane 24′, Yorke 34′, Cole 84′ | 60,806 |
| 26 May 1999 | Final | Bayern Munich | N | 2–1 | Sheringham 90+1′, Solskjær 90+3′ | 91,000 |
Colours: Green = Manchester United acquire ; Yellow = draw ; Red = opponents win .
final [edit ]
United were without first-choice central midfielders Keane and Scholes, as both were suspended after receiving a second jaundiced card in the rival. Ferguson reorganised the team, with Blomqvist and Butt replacing Keane and Scholes, Beckham moving from rightist to centre-midfield and Giggs moving from the leave to the correctly wing. United lined up in their normal 4–4–2 formation. [ 70 ] This was the final examination match for Peter Schmeichel, who captained the team. [ 70 ] Mario Basler ‘s detached recoil after six minutes opened the score for Bayern Munich. Bayern then had the luck to extend their lead with Mehmet Scholl hitting the military post and Carsten Jancker the crossbar, forcing Peter Schmeichel to make numerous saves. In reaction to going a finish down, Ferguson substituted in Solskjær and Sheringham. As the bet on went to injury fourth dimension, referee Pierluigi Collina indicated that three minutes would be played. In about the survive fire of the game, United won a corner, which Beckham took and goalkeeper Schmeichel went up front for. The ball was partially cleared by the Bayern defense before being played back to Giggs, who sent a low volley into the way of Sheringham, whose scuff shot squeezed broken inside the mail. [ 70 ] about immediately after the counterweight United won another recess, again taken by Beckham. He landed the ball on the oral sex of Sheringham who nodded it to Solskjær who in call on toe-poked it into the roof of the web. Oliver Kahn, the Bayern goalkeeper, was inactive on the line. United had completed the come-back. Bayern scantily had time to restart the game, which referee Collina brought to a conclude just a few seconds late. [ 70 ] Schmeichel and Ferguson were presented with the trophy by UEFA president of the united states Lennart Johansson. Despite their suspensions, both Keane and Scholes received winners ‘ medals on the snout. Keane claims that to date he has not looked at the decoration, feeling that his absence had tainted the skill to the extent that he “ did n’t deserve the decoration ”. [ 71 ] Substituted Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus removed his runner-up decoration adenine soon as he received it, and late remarked that United were “ golden ” to win the final. [ 72 ] Manchester United became the first gear English team to win the Champions League since it was rebranded in 1992, and the first to win the european Cup overall since Liverpool beat Roma in 1984. [ 70 ] Coincidentally, the final was played on what would have been Sir Matt Busby ‘s ninetieth birthday ; he had died five years earlier and never saw the club repeat his accomplishment of 31 years earlier. [ 70 ]
bequest [edit ]
Manchester United celebrating their triple acquire in Deansgate in May 1999
I ca n’t believe it. I ca n’t believe it. Football, bloody hell .
– Alex Ferguson, speaking moments after winning the Champions League [ 73 ]
Less than 24 hours after the dramatics in Barcelona, a crowd of 500,000 people turned up on the streets of Manchester to greet the United players, who paraded through the city with their trophies in an open-top bus. [ 74 ] As champions of Europe, Manchester United played against 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners ‘ Cup winners Lazio in the 1999 UEFA Super Cup, but lost the match 1–0. On the evening of that game, David Beckham was named as the winner of the UEFA Club Footballer of the year, adenine well as UEFA ‘s Best Midfielder award. [ 75 ] Beckham was besides voted as the runner-up for the 1999 Ballon d’Or and the 1999 FIFA World Player of the year awards. [ 76 ] [ 77 ] Manchester United were besides invited to play in the Intercontinental Cup against the winners of the 1999 Copa Libertadores, brazilian side Palmeiras, in Tokyo. Roy Keane scored the winner, making the team the foremost and last british side to win the trophy before it was abolished in 2004. [ 78 ] [ 79 ] Having been led to believe it would help The Football Association with their bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup, United controversially withdrew from the 1999–2000 FA Cup, the first time the holders had done so, [ 80 ] in order to play in the inaugural Club World Championship. They did not progress past the group stage, and Ferguson late regretted how they handled the situation. [ 81 ] Along with the Busby Babes, the 1999 Treble-winning team is regarded by supporters as the benchmark of Manchester United team. [ 82 ] In 2007 The Daily Telegraph in association with World Soccer Magazine published a list of the 20 greatest football teams of all meter : United were ranked in last position, behind Liverpool ‘s double winners of 1977. [ 83 ] The extra-time winner scored by Ryan Giggs in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal topped a poll for the best finish in the competition [ 84 ] and Channel 4 viewers rated the team ‘s rejoinder in the Champions League final at count four on the list of 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. [ 85 ] Winning the Treble is besides considered the greatest accomplishment in the career of director Alex Ferguson, although he has disagreed with that assessment. [ 86 ] In recognition of the team ‘s success, Ferguson was made a Knight Bachelor and besides received the Freedom of his home city of Glasgow. [ 87 ] [ 88 ] On 26 May 2019, Manchester United and Bayern Munich legends sides played each other in a charity equal at Old Trafford to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of United completing the Treble. Manchester United won the match 5–0, with goals from Solskjær, Yorke, Butt and Beckham, american samoa good as Louis Saha, who played for the clubhouse from 2004 to 2008. [ 89 ]
Attempted coup d’etat by BSkyB [edit ]
[90] After a meet with Silvio Berlusconi in jump 1998, Rupert Murdoch ( pictured ) informed BSkyB of the motivation to buy a football club if the ship’s company wanted to hold on to their Premier League rights. In September 1998 Manchester United were the aim of a proposed coup d’etat by British Sky Broadcasting, a subordinate of Rupert Murdoch ‘s News Corporation. [ 91 ] Negotiations between both sides had begun during the summer, but had stalled after disagreements over the necessitate price. [ 92 ] The satellite group ‘s master bid of £575 million – initially thought to be their final offer – was deemed besides low by two members of United ‘s board ( president Martin Edwards and Professor Sir Roland Smith ), who pressed for a higher design. [ 91 ] Two days of talks followed and in an undertake to close the deal, BSkyB made a final bid of £623.4 million. A year earlier, Murdoch ‘s Fox Entertainment Group purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $ 311m. [ 93 ] Fox besides held exclusive rights to Major League Baseball which meant from a strategic target of position, Murdoch ‘s acquisition looked more sympathetic. He was now able to control both programming message on his network and distribution rights to the Dodgers. [ 94 ] For the very same reason BSkyB replicated Fox ‘s formula and went ahead with a coup d’etat of a Premier League baseball club. Manchester United therefore was the solid choice of Murdoch and board members. The club was the most valuable in English football, [ 95 ] making £30.1 million from gate receipts and programmes in 1997 alone. At the like time, more than 200 supporters ‘ groups were established global and the club ‘s fanbase exceeded 100 million, despite only a million having been to Old Trafford to watch the first team play. [ 96 ] As a think of of capitalising on this growing marketplace, MUTV, a television station operated by the baseball club was launched in August 1998. In co-operation with Granada Media Group and BSkyB it was the populace ‘s first impart dedicated to a football club, [ 97 ] funded entirely through subscriptions. On the flip United ‘s success was largely down to the rear talents of coach Ferguson, who assembled a team adequate to of dominating in the long haul. [ 96 ]
formation of Shareholders United [edit ]
When BSkyB publicised their intentions to take over Manchester United, supporters reacted angrily to the news. many felt the club ‘s traditions, built on a patriotic fanbase and the attractive football played under Matt Busby and now Alex Ferguson would be tarnished. [ 98 ] United were no longer an mugwump entity, [ 98 ] and major decisions affecting the baseball club looked increasingly likely to be taken on the other side of the ball. [ 98 ] As a means of rallying supporters to get behind their cause, awareness campaigns against the takeover were launched. bolshevik Issue issued pamphlets to fans [ 99 ] and demonstrations in and around Old Trafford took place before the equal against Charlton Athletic on 9 September. [ 6 ] Football fans across the United Kingdom besides lent support by lobbying their local MPs into passing a legislation, preventing promote sport takeovers in the future. [ 100 ] possibly the meaning of the protests was the geological formation of Shareholders United Against Murdoch, more normally known as Manchester United Supporters ‘ Trust today, by journalist Michael Crick. Working aboard IMUSA ( Independent Manchester United Supporters Association ), their roast aim was to seek for the fusion to be referred by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [ 101 ] Both groups therefore submitted papers to the Office of Fair Trading, stressing the importance of why the amalgamation should not be carried out. [ 101 ] IMUSA in particular argued that BSkyB ‘s main purpose was not that of United ‘s but their already dominant status. [ 102 ] Sky Television ‘s relevant market was premium subscription channels and by buying an established Premier League team when they already had rights to the division was strictly for fiscal gain. furthermore, Manchester United ‘s market was on the lurch and an learning by a media organization – particularly one run by Murdoch – may create damaging damage to the sport in the long term. [ 103 ] Bowing down to public coerce, the trade repository Peter Mandelson referred the hand to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in October 1998. [ 104 ] The report, finalised in April 1999, found that BSkyB acted egotistically and blocked the broadcaster ‘s bid. [ 105 ] [ 106 ] Figures announced during the season named Manchester United as the rich in populace football, with a dollar volume of £88 million for 1996–97, 50 % more than Barcelona in second plaza at £59 million. [ 107 ] [ 108 ]
Squad statistics [edit ]
- ^ Some players were assigned a different team number specifically for the Champions League .
Transfers [edit ]
Manchester United ‘s first departure of the 1998–99 season was Ben Thornley, who joined Huddersfield Town for £175,000 on 3 July 1998. [ 109 ] A day subsequently, Leon Mills signed for Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee, and Adam Sadler was released. Two of the cabaret ‘s longest-serving players, Brian McClair and Gary Pallister, besides left. McClair had been at United since 1987, and opted for a return to Motherwell [ 110 ] in the scottish Premier League ; he had played at Fir Park in the early 1980s. Pallister agreed to return to Middlesbrough in a £2.5 million cope, nine years after he had left them for a £2.3 million transfer to Old Trafford. [ 110 ] On 4 November 1998, Chris Casper signed for Reading for a tip of £300,000. Addressing the loss of Pallister, Ferguson signed Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven, becoming the earth ‘s most expensive defender in a £10 million cope. [ 111 ] Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist soon followed, completing a £4.4 million transmit in July [ 112 ] before Dwight Yorke was controversially drafted in from Aston Villa to become the club ‘s record sign. [ 113 ] Dutch hitter Patrick Kluivert, who impressed during the World Cup, was on the verge of finalising a £9 million motion from Milan, only for talks to fall through. [ 114 ] A£5.5 million offer for Ole Gunnar Solskjær from Tottenham Hotspur was accepted, but Solskjær himself turned down the transfer after a meet with Alex Ferguson. [ 115 ] On 24 March, Michael Ryan signed for Wrexham for an undisclosed fee. A day later, Paul Gibson signed for Notts County, and on the lapp day, Philip Mulryne signed for Norwich City. On 16 April, Terry Cooke signed for United ‘s crosstown rivals, Manchester City. On 30 June, United released Gerard Gaff and Jason Hickson, the same day that Peter Schmeichel signed for Sporting CP, [ 116 ] John Thorrington joined Bayer Leverkusen, and Lee Whiteley departed for Salford City. [ 117 ] United ‘s entirely winter arrival was Bojan Djordjic, who signed for an undisclosed fee on 17 February. [ 109 ]
In [edit ]
Out [edit ]
lend out [edit ]
References [edit ]
bibliography [edit ]
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