Cantona's Kung Fu Kick

The shortness of Eric Cantona's fuse had been well established by the time Manchester United met Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on a clear January evening in 1995 needing a win to overtake Blackburn at the top of the Premier League. So it was no great surprise when, early in the second half, the Frenchman reacted to a challenge from Richard Shaw by aiming a kick at the Palace defender. He was promptly sent off. Plus ça change. But then, as Cantona was being escorted past the Main Stand by United's kit man, he suddenly leapt into the crowd with a kung-fu kick worthy of Bruce Lee. The object of his rage was a 20-year-old self-employed glazier, Matthew Simmons, who had rushed from his seat to hurl abuse at the United player. Simmons was later fined £500 for threatening language and behavior. For the moment, however, Cantona held center stage.

Enter Jean Pearch, a former music teacher, a mother of three, and the chairperson of Croydon Magistrates who now earned her 15 minutes of fame by jailing Cantona for a fortnight after he had pleaded guilty to common assault. Eight days later the sentence was reduced to 120 hours' community service. Cantona mystified the ensuing press conference when giving his reaction to the sentence by saying only that: "when the seagulls follow the trawler it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea." Presumably he felt the assembled hacks were akin to gannets. At least it made a change from vultures.

Hoping to pre-empt any punishment handed out by the Football Association, Manchester United banned Cantona for the rest of that season and were furious when the FA extended it to the end of September. Graham Kelly, the FA's chief executive, described the Frenchman's behavior as "a stain on our game" but there were many among the general public who supported Cantona's response to the verbal assault he had received from Simmons.

Without Cantona's inspiring presence Manchester United, having drawn 1-1 with Palace, lost the Premier League title to Blackburn but regained it on his return. He then captained United against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final and scored the goal that completed the double.

Of the kung-fu incident Sir Alex Ferguson said that "over the years since then I have never been able to elicit an explanation of the episode from Eric, but my own feeling is that anger at himself over the ordering-off and resentment of the referee's earlier inaction combined to take him over the brink." At least Cristiano Ronaldo confines himself to the occasional pout.

rf.buzzle.com

1993–94 Manchester United F.C. season

Chairman                              :England Martin Edwards
Manager                               :Scotland Alex Ferguson
FA Premier League               :1st
FA Cup                                :Winners
Coca-Cola Cup                     :Runners-up
Charity Shield                       :Winners
UEFA Champions League     :Second round
Top goalscorer        
League                               :Eric Cantona (18)
All                                     :Eric Cantona (25)
Highest home attendance    :44,751 vs Liverpool (30 March 1994)
Lowest home attendance     :35,781 vs Kispest Honvéd (29 September 1993)
Average home attendance    :43,515

The 1993–94 season was Manchester United's second season in the Premier League, and their 19th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1]  Manchester United won the Premier League and FA Cup to become only the fourth club in the 20th century to win the Double. Only a 3–1 defeat to Aston Villa in the League Cup Final prevented them from winning a domestic treble.

They led the Premier League table from the fourth game onwards, and ended up winning the league by eight points over nearest rivals Blackburn Rovers. French striker Eric Cantona scored 25 goals in all competitions and was voted PFA Player of the Year. Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe and Andrei Kanchelskis also hit the headlines with their brilliant form. In the FA Cup Final, United crushed Chelsea 4–0 thanks to two penalties from Eric Cantona and single goals from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair.

Roy Keane justified his tag as the most expensive footballer in England, while veterans Mark Hughes, Brian McClair and Steve Bruce continued to excel despite their advancing years. The end of the season saw the club's longest serving player and joint captain, Bryan Robson, quit Old Trafford after 13 years to become Middlesbrough's player-manager. Also heading out of the exit door at the end of the season were Les Sealey, Clayton Blackmore, Mike Phelan, Colin McKee, Neil Whitworth and Giuliano Maiorana. With United's squad arguably the finest in England, Ferguson's only close-season signing was David May from Blackburn Rovers. May, 24, was signed by Ferguson in hope that he would develop into an eventual long-term successor to Steve Bruce.

Events of the season

The 1992-93 season saw United end their 26-year wait for the league title, fighting off competition from Aston Villa (managed by former United boss Ron Atkinson) and surprise title contenders Norwich City to seal the title by a 10-point margin.

Almost as soon as the season was over, United were reported to be in the hunt for 21-year-old Nottingham Forest and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane. After weeks of speculation and fighting it out with Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers, Keane joined United for a national record fee of £3.75 million on 19 July.

His debut came on 7 August in the FA Charity Shield against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium, in which Mark Hughes put United ahead before Ian Wright equalised for the Gunners and forced extra time then penalties. United won the shoot-out to add the shield to their trophy cabinet.

A week later, their defence of the Premier League title began with a 2–0 win at Carrow Road over Norwich City, followed three days later by a 3-0 home win over Sheffield United in which Roy Keane scored his first United goal.

United then defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on 23 August to go top of the league ahead of Everton in which Lee Sharpe scored twice. United would not be headed in the league all season from this point.

15 September 1993 was a landmark date for United - their first European Cup tie for 25 years. They travelled to Hungary for a first round first leg tie with Honved, and came away 3-2 winners with two goals from Roy Keane and the other from Eric Cantona.

A week later, United travelled to Stoke City (managed by former United forward Lou Macari) in the Football League Cup second round first leg at the Victoria Ground, but suffered a 2-1 defeat in which Dion Dublin scored United's only goal - his first goal since returning from a leg injury suffered 12 months earlier.

At the end of the month, Manchester United progressed to the second round of the European Cup by winning the return leg against Honved 2-1 at Old Trafford, with Steve Bruce scoring both goals.

The return leg against Stoke in the League Cup saw United win 2–0 at Old Trafford and earn a place in the third round.

October saw the next stage of the European Cup, where United drew 3–3 at home to Galatasaray in the second round first leg after taking a 2-0 lead.

On 3 November, Manchester United went out of the European Cup on away goals after drawing 0–0 with Galatasaray in Istanbul. By this stage, however, they were maintaining a runaway lead in the league, standing 11 points clear at the top of the table. Their excellent form continued into November, which they began with a remarkable 3-2 derby win over Manchester City at Maine Road after being 2-0 down.

With United still way ahead at the top of the league, December began with a visit to Old Trafford by one of their nearest rivals hoping to topple them. Norwich City came away with a point after holding United to a 2-2 draw, but the real challenge came on Boxing Day when Blackburn Rovers very nearly took all three points and only an equaliser by Paul Ince saved United from defeat and preserved their 16-point lead.

The first game of 1994 was an uneventful goalless draw at home to Leeds United, followed three days later by a dramatic 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Anfield after United had taken a 3-0 lead. Then came a 1-0 away win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round, in which Mark Hughes scored the only goal of the game before being sent off.

Old Trafford was turned into a shrine on 20 January 1994 when Sir Matt Busby, who had served the club for almost 50 years as a manager, director and club president, died at the age of 84. Within 48 hours of his death, United took on Everton at Old Trafford in the league and the examplary behaviour of Everton fans during the minutes silence before kick-off was followed by a fitting game in which United won 1-0, with Ryan Giggs scoring the only goal of the game. United were still looking uncatchable as leaders. Before the month was over, United dispatched of Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round.

February was a quiet month for league action, the only games being a 3-2 away win over QPR and a 2-2 draw at West Ham United. Another visit to London came in the FA Cup fifth round, which United won 3-0 over Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

United were still going in the League Cup, and ended February with a comprehensive victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup semi-finals to book their second Wembley final in three seasons.

However, March was a precarious month for United, whose treble challenge appeared to be on the rocks and fans were left wondering whether the team might end the season with nothing.

The month began with a 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea in the league - only their second of the season. Then they took on Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford, winning 3-1 but having goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel sent off, ruling him out of the League Cup final. A comprehensive 5-0 league win over Sheffield Wednesday stemmed fears that their title role would be seized by Blackburn Rovers, but 2-2 away draws with Swindon Town and then Arsenal cost them four valuable points and fears over the title challenge were further heightened by the fact that Eric Cantona was sent off in both of these games, earning himself a five-match ban.

The treble dream ended at Wembley on 27 March, where United were beaten 3-1 by Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa. The following weekend, their lead at the top of the table was cut down to goal difference by Blackburn Rovers, whose striker Alan Shearer scored both of the goals as Kenny Dalglish's team were looking as though they might make a late run to their first top division title since 1914.

Two days after the defeat at Ewood Park came the visit of relegation threatened Oldham Athletic to Old Trafford. With Eric Cantona still suspended, Dion Dublin took the advantage of a rare first team start and opened up the scoring in a pulsating 3-2 win which extended United's lead of the title race. Six days later, United and Oldham met again at Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. This game was relatively disappointing, and when Oldham's Neil Pointon put the underdogs ahead it looked as though the biggest FA Cup upset in years was in the making. However, with only a minute to go, Mark Hughes scored a spectacular late equaliser to force a replay at Maine Road three days later, which United won 4-1. This game was memorable for being the one where Bryan Robson scored the last of his 97 goals in 13 years at the club before departing to Middlesbrough at the end of the season as player-manager of the Teesside club.

In the league, meanwhile, there was another scare on 16 April as United lost 1-0 at Wimbledon, but luckily they were still ahead of a Blackburn side who had endured a setback of their own. Subsequent wins over Leeds United and Manchester City meant that United ended the month just one win away from championship glory with three games remaining.

The visit to struggling Ipswich Town on Portman Road on 1 May 1994 came on a day when the sporting world was overshadowed with the death of racing driver Ayrton Senna in the San Marino Grand Prix, but the football world was focused on United's attempts to seal a second successive league title. It was a narrow 2-1 victory for United, with goals from Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs, but enough to seal the title.

On 14 May 1994, United took to the pitch at Wembley with only Chelsea standing in their way of their first double. Before the game, however, Alex Ferugson had made one of the hardest decision of his managerial career - omitting Bryan Robson from the squad of 14.

United were firm favourites to win but were taking nothing for granted, not least due to the fact that Chelsea were the only side to have beaten them twice in the league that season and the only side to have beaten them at Old Trafford in a competitive game. For half of the game it was touch and go as the half time whistle blew and the deadlock had yet to be broken. However, United were awarded two penalties in quick succession, with Eric Cantona converting them both to secure a 2-0 lead. Any hopes of Chelsea overturning that lead were effectively ended when Mark Hughes put United 3-0 up, and a late goal from substitute Brian McClair gave United a 4-0 win and a place in the history books.

Bryan Robson was not the only player to exit Old Trafford in the 1994 close season. Fellow veterans Les Sealey, Mike Phelan and Clayton Blackmore were released on free transfers, while youngster Craig Lawton was transferred to Port Vale and Giuliano Maiorana, the forgotten winger who hadn't played a game in nearly five years due to injury, was finally given a free transfer. During the season, Danny Wallace had called time on four injury plagued years at United (the last two of which had barely brought any first team action) and signed for Birmingham City in a £250,000 deal, while 1990 FA Cup final hero Lee Martin put an end to a similarly long period in the shadows and joining Lou Macari's Celtic for the same fee.

The 1994 close season saw two arrivals at Old Trafford. David May, the young Blackburn Rovers defender, was signed for £1.2million as Alex Ferguson saw him as a potential long-term replacement for the ageing Steve Bruce, who had just agreed to remain at the club for another three seasons. The other signing was 18-year-old Bradford City striker Graeme Tomlinson, who had impressed after six goals in 17 games for the Division Two club and cost United a £500,000 fee as Ferguson looked for possible long term replacements for the likes of Mark Hughes.

There was also talk that winger Andrei Kanchelskis would be on his way out of the club, but this was quickly silenced when the player put pen to paper in a new contract that would keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 1998-99 season.

Squad

No.   Pos.     Name        

1     GK     Peter Schmeichel    

2     DF     Paul Parker    

3     DF     Denis Irwin    

4     DF     Steve Bruce    

5     MF     Lee Sharpe    

6     DF     Gary Pallister    

7     FW     Eric Cantona

8     MF     Paul Ince

9     FW     Brian McClair

10   FW     Mark Hughes

11   MF     Ryan Giggs

12   MF     Bryan Robson

13   GK     Les Sealey

14   MF     Andrei Kanchelskis

15   DF     Clayton Blackmore

16   MF     Roy Keane

17   MF     Colin McKee

18   MF     Darren Ferguson

19   MF     Nicky Butt

20   FW     Dion Dublin

21   DF     Lee Martin

22   MF     Craig Lawton

23   MF     Mike Phelan

24   MF     Paul Scholes

25   GK     Gary Walsh

26   DF     Chris Casper

27   DF     Gary Neville

28   MF     David Beckham

29   MF     Ben Thornley

30   DF     John O'Kane

31   MF     Keith Gillespie

32   DF     Neil Whitworth

fr.wikipedia.org

1992–93 Manchester United F.C. season

Chairman                                 : Martin Edwards
Manager                                  : Alex Ferguson
Premier League                        : 1st
FA Cup                                   : Fifth Round
League Cup                             : Third Round
UEFA Cup                              : First Round
Top goalscorer     League
                                               : Mark Hughes (15)
All
                                               : Mark Hughes (16)
Highest home attendance         : 40,447 vs Blackburn Rovers (3 May 1993)
Lowest home attendance          : 19,998 vs Torpedo Moscow (16 September 1992)
Average home attendance         : 33,898

The 1992–93 season was Manchester United's first season in the newly-formed Premier League, and their 18th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1]

The season was marked by the club winning the inaugural Premier League title, ending their 26-year run without an English league title. They ended up winning the title by a 10-point margin over runners-up Aston Villa, but had fought a three-horse race for much of the season with both Villa and Norwich City, not topping the table until January. The arrival of Eric Cantona from Leeds United for £1.2 million in late November helped boost United's title challenge, after they had been as low as 10th in the league shortly before. Cantona's arrival came just weeks after new striker Dion Dublin had been ruled out for six months with a broken leg, and Cantona was the catalyst in United's triumph.

Mark Hughes topped the goalscoring charts with 15 league goals, while the brilliant Ryan Giggs was voted PFA Young Player of the Year for the second year in succession. Steve Bruce was United's captain for much of the season, as the veteran Bryan Robson missed many games due to injury. The arrival of Eric Cantona saw former striker Brian McClair switched into midfield, further restricting Robson's first team chances.

In the UEFA Cup, United bowed out on penalties to Torpedo Moscow of Russia, after two goalless draws. Their League Cup campaign ended in the Third Round with defeat at Aston Villa. The FA Cup bid ended in the Fifth Round when they lost 2–1 to Sheffield United in a game where Steve Bruce uncharacteristically missed a penalty.

Events of the season

After a shortage of goals in the second half of the previous season had cost United the league title, Alex Ferguson began the hunt to sign a new striker. A name which had been strongly linked with United for months was Alan Shearer, the 21-year-old Southampton and England striker. United's hopes of signing Shearer were given a boost on 7 July when Southampton manager Ian Branfoot announced that Shearer could leave the Hampshire club if the price was right.

While the hunt was on for one striker to join United, another was on his way out of the club. Striker Mark Robins, who had rarely played in 1991-92, was on the transfer list and finally signed for Norwich City, whose new manager Mike Walker paid £800,000 as he looked to build an attack capable of scoring the goals to keep the Canaries in the new FA Premier League. Few people could have imagined then that Robins and his new team would give United a serious run for their money throughout the season.

The race to sign Alan Shearer was lost on 23 July, when the player opted for a national record £3.6million move to newly promoted Blackburn Rovers, managed by Kenny Dalglish and bankrolled by steel baron Jack Walker, who were looking set to re-establish themselves as a top club in their first top flight campaign since the 1960s.

The hunt to find a new striker ended on 7 August, eight days before the start of the new season, when Dion Dublin signed from Cambridge United for £1million as United's only close season signing. Dublin, 23, had been one of the most competent goalscorers outside the top flight during the last three seasons as Cambridge soared from the Fourth Division to the brink of the Premier League, though it was clear that he would start off his time at Old Trafford as an understudy to Mark Hughes and Brian McClair.

United's first game in the new Premier League was against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and was a major disappointment as they lost 2-1 and the South Yorkshire club's striker Brian Deane earned the distinction of scoring the very first goal of the new league.

Two days later, 21-year-old winger Lee Sharpe was diagnosed with viral meningitis and was ruled out for over three months, leaving United with a major crisis in midfield and on the flanks.

The first Premier League game at Old Trafford was on 19 August, against Everton, but was a huge disappointment as United lost 3-0 in their second worst home defeat since Alex Ferguson took over as manager in November 1986.

The first point came at the third attempt on 22 August, but United only managed a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Ipswich Town, casting serious doubt among fans and the media as to whether United were capable of ending their long wait for the title this season. Unfortunately, one of those games (a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace) saw United striker Dion Dublin suffered a horrible leg fracture which ruled him out for six months.

United's first Premier League win came at the fourth attempt on 24 August, when Dion Dublin scored his first United goal in a 1-0 win at Southampton. The next four games were all won as United climbed to third place by mid September, with Norwich City top of the table and Blackburn Rovers second. However, a five-match run of league draws followed, and during that run of draws came a first hurdle exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Russian side Torpedo Moscow, when they lost on penalties after two goalless draws. The first leg at Old Trafford saw the debut of 17-year-old defender Gary Neville.

Later that month, United began their defence of the League Cup with a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round first leg, in which another player - 17-year-old David Beckham - made his debut. United won the return leg 1-0 at Old Trafford but their hopes of retaining the trophy ended on 28 October when they suffered a 1-0 exit to Aston Villa in the third round at Villa Park. Villa, managed by former United boss Ron Atkinson (who had guided his old club Sheffield Wednesday to a shock 1-0 win over United in the League Cup final 18 months earlier), were also emerging as title contenders. United's run of draws ended on 31 October - in defeat, as they were beaten 1-0 at home by a Wimbledon side who had beaten United and several other clubs on a number of occasions since their promotion in 1986. The scorer that day was Lawrie Sanchez, the midfielder whose goal at Wembley in May 1988 had seen Wimbledon (undoubtedly the smallest club in the top flight in terms of fans and finances) defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup final. A week later, United's winless run extended to seven matches when Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa inflicted another defeat on them at Villa Park. United were now 10th in the league, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and also behind unfashionable sides including Norwich City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town, who had been widely tipped as sides more likely to be battling against relegation rather than challenging for the title.

Ferguson realised that something had to be done if United were to remain in the title race. He made a £3million bid for Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst, but the bid was rejected. He then received an offer from defending champions Leeds United (along with fellow pre-season title favourites Liverpool, now in the bottom half of the table) for defender Denis Irwin, but rejected the offer. However, he did ask manager Howard Wilkinson if he was willing to part company with 26-year-old French striker Eric Cantona. On 26 November, Cantona signed for United in a £1.2million deal, and slotted into the strikeforce alongside Mark Hughes, with Brian McClair being drafted into central midfield alongside Paul Ince.

By the time Cantona arrived, United had returned to their winning ways with a 3-0 home win over strugglers Oldham Athletic, in which 17-year-old midfielder Nicky Butt made his debut as a substitute. The winning form continued a week later when a Mark Hughes goal gave United a 1-0 win at Highbury over an Arsenal side who were now struggling to score goals and looking doubtful as long term title challengers.

A week after the win at Highbury, the Manchester derby at Old Trafford ended in a 2-1 win for United in a game where Eric Cantona made his debut. His first goal for the club came on 19 December in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Arguably the most exciting league game of the season was against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Boxing Day, when United fought back to draw 3-3 (after being 3-0 down at half time) with Brian McClair scoring twice and Eric Cantona once. They had now climbed up to third place in the table, five points behind leaders Norwich City and two points behind second placed Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal's title challenge was now looking dead as they had slid down to eighth and failed to halt the shortage of goals, while Liverpool and Leeds United remained in the bottom half of the table.

The resurgence continued into the new year and United's unbeaten run ended at the end of that month as they lost 2-1 to an Ipswich Town side who were emerging as surprise title contenders and now stood fourth, while United stood second when a draw would have been enough to put them ahead of Ipswich's East Anglian rivals Norwich City. January had also seen United dispose of Bury and then Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup.

However, the FA Cup quest ended on 14 February when Steve Bruce missed a penalty as United 2-1 at Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round, ending their double hopes, though it freed them up to concentrate on the league. They finally went top on 6 March with a 2-1 win at Anfield over a Liverpool side who were now 15th in the table and just three points above the relegation zone, though this result was arguably the catalyst for United's fierce north western rivals who then turned their season around to climb to sixth place in the final table.

However, a four match winless run (a defeat and three draws) then dragged United down to third place as Norwich City and Aston Villa gained a slim lead over them by the end of March. United then dealt a major blow to Norwich's title hopes on 5 April with a 3-1 win over them at Carrow Road, before two injury time goals from Steve Bruce inspired a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford five days later to return United to the top of the table. United's final six games all ended in victory, with Aston Villa's surprise 1-0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic on 2 May meant that United were now uncatchable at the top of the league and the 26-year wait was over. The next day, they proved themselves as worthy champions with a 3-1 home win over fourth placed Blackburn Rovers, whose title challenge had faded away when Alan Shearer was ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury four months earlier.

The campaign ended at Selhurst Park on 9 May when United won 2-1 against Wimbledon, in a game where Bryan Robson scored his first goal in a competitive match for 18 months. Robson, now 36, was now United's longest serving player with 12 years of unbroken service (though Mark Hughes had begun his career at Old Trafford a year earlier he did have two seasons away from the club at FC Barcelona and then Bayern Munich) but his days were looking numbered as it became clear that a younger central midfield partner was needed for Paul Ince. By the end of May, a name strongly linked to United was Roy Keane, the 21-year-old Nottingham Forest and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane was being strongly linked with United, and even stated that Old Trafford was his preferred destination. However, Alex Ferguson faced competition from Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers for Keane's signature. The deal was finally done on 22 July, when Keane completed his move to United for an English record fee of £3.75million.

Squad

GK      Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)   
GK      Gary Walsh (England)   
DF      Clayton Blackmore (Wales)   
DF      Steve Bruce (England)   
DF      Denis Irwin (Republic of Ireland)   
DF      Lee Martin (England)    
DF      Gary Neville (England)    
DF      Gary Pallister (England)    
DF      Paul Parker (England)   
MF      David Beckham (England)   
MF      Nicky Butt (England)   
MF      Darren Ferguson (Scotland)    
MF      Ryan Giggs (Wales)   
MF      Paul Ince (England)   
MF      Andrei Kanchelskis (Russia)   
MF      Mike Phelan (England)   
MF      Bryan Robson (England)   
MF      Lee Sharpe (England)   
MF      Neil Webb (England)   
FW      Eric Cantona (France)   
FW      Dion Dublin (England)   
FW      Mark Hughes (Wales)   
FW      Brian McClair (Scotland)   
FW      Danny Wallace (England)

en.wikipedia.org

Profile Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson

Full name           : Alexander Chapman Ferguson
Date of birth      : 31 December 1941 (age 69)
Place of birth     : Glasgow, Scotland

Sir Alex Ferguson, an eminent football manager, was born to Alexander and Elizabeth on December 31, 1941 in Glasgow, Scotland. He married Cathy and they have three sons; Mark and twins, Darren and Jason. Of his sons, only Darren has followed his father’s profession and is the manager of the Peterborough United FC.

He managed the Scotland national football team for a brief period in 1986 before he moved to the Aberdeen Football Club.

Between 1957 and 1974, Sir Alex Ferguson spent his playing career with the Queen’s Park FC (1957-60), St. Johnstone FC (1960-64), Dunfermline Athletic FC (1964-67), Rangers FC (1967-69), Falkirk FC (1969-73) and Ayr United FC (1973-74). Being a talented striker, he helped the Saints’ to win the Scottish First Division in 1962-63 and the Bairns to secure the Scottish First Division in 1969-70. By the end of the 1973-74 season, Sir Alex Ferguson completed his stint as a player scoring 167 goals in 327 appearances that he made for various clubs.

At the age of 32, Sir Alex Ferguson began his management career as a part-time job in June 1974 with the East Stirlingshire FC. It was only when he moved to the St.Mirren FC, that he started his full-time management career. With him as the coach, the Saints’ team won the Scottish First Division in 1976-77. During his stay at St.Mirren, Sir Alex Ferguson coached the team and spotted young talents like Billy Stark, Tony Fitzpatrick, Lex Richardson, Frank McGarvey, Bobby Reid and Peter Weir.

In June 1978, when he joined the Aberdeen Football Club (FC), he was younger than a few senior players of the team. Sir Alex Ferguson earned the respect and trust of his team players only after the Dons won 5-0 against the opponent team on the final day of the Scottish league that season (1979-80). Being a strict disciplinarian with brilliant managerial skills, he helped the Dons’ to become the runner-up of the Scottish League Cup in 2 seasons, 1978-80, and clinch the Scottish Premier Division title (1979-80). The outstanding team-building talent of Sir Alex Ferguson helped the Dons’ team to take the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup Winners’ Cup in 1982-83 and secure the UEFA Super Cup in 1983-84. With his guidance, the Aberdeen FC bagged the Scottish Football Association (SFA) Cup for 3 consecutive seasons, 1981-84 and also during 1985-86. After his efficient training, the Dons’ performed well to fetch the Scottish Premier Division titles for 2 consecutive seasons, 1983-85 and the Scottish League Cup in 1985-86.

On November 6, 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson took up as the manager of Manchester United. After a few initial disappointments from players, he came back with a bang when his team won the League Cup during 1991-92 and the Premier League in 1992-93. His team-building tactics, by bringing-in talent from other teams to the Red Devils’ squad showed remarkable results. Sir Alex Ferguson worked with talented players like Dwight Yorke, Ryan Giggs, Teddy Sheringham, Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjær and won the memorable the FA Cup Final against Newcastle United (2-0) in 1998-99. In that season, the Red Devils’ squad also bagged the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup. Under the efficient coaching of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United won the Premier League (10 times), the FA Cup (5 times), the League Cup twice, the FA Charity/Community Shield (8 times), the UEFA Champions League twice, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup once each.

In 1983, Sir Alex Ferguson was honoured in 1983 with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for his service to football. He received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995 and the Knight Bachelor in 1999. In recognition to his achievements with the Manchester United FC, Sir Alex Ferguson was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Being the most successful league manager, Sir Alex Ferguson became the Football Association (FA) Premier League Manager of the Year, 8 times (1993-94, 1995-97, 1998-2000, 2002-03, 2006-08). In 1996, he received the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Tribute Award for his success with the Red Devils’ team. By winning the FA Premier League Manager of the Month, 21 times, Sir Alex Ferguson became the only manager in the history of English football to have accomplished such a feat. He received the League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year in 1998-99, 2007-08 and the LMA Manager of the Decade for the 1990s. When the Red Devils’ walked away with the UEFA Champions League in 1998-99, the coach of the team, Sir Alex Ferguson was awarded the UEFA Champions League Manager of the Year for that season.

For his commendable contribution to the game of football, Sir Alex Ferguson received a number of awards in 1999, including, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award, BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award, World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year, Mussabini Medal, International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Club Coach of the Year and Onze d’Or Coach of the Year. Sir Alex Ferguson was conferred the Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (2000) and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

The year 2007 was yet another successful year for the winning manager of the Manchester United FC, Sir Alex Ferguson, who went on to claim the World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year, the Professional Footballers’ Association Merit Award and Onze D’Or Coach of the Year. 

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Profile Peter Schmeichel 'World's Best Goalkeeper'

Full name           :Peter Bolesław Schmeichel
Date of birth       :18 November 1963 (age 47)
Place of birth      :Gladsaxe, Denmark
Height                :6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position  :Goalkeeper

Affectionately known as the ‘Great Dane’, Peter Schmeichel is so popular in England that even opposition fans admit to a soft spot for him. This is in large part due to the respect the Denmark native commands, with a long and glorious career playing in clubs around Europe and winning cups, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport.

In England though, Schmeichel is best known as the keystone of a Manchester United squad that topped the league again and again in the 1990s. Schmeichel is considered by many pundits to be one of the finest foreign players in the English league, and was certainly the most remarkable goalkeeper of his generation, with his great height, white-blond hair and occasionally red nose(!) ensuring he soon became a recognisable figure both on and off the pitch. His personal accolades attest to his individual prestige, even picking up consecutive titles for World and European Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992 and 1993.

Youth
Peter Boles?aw Schmeichel was born on the 18th of November 1953 in Denmark, to a Polish father and a Danish mother. As a child he played amateur football for local boys’ teams, making his international professional debut in 1984 for the Danish national team’s under 21-s. He started his club career at Hvivdovre IF. The club fared badly despite the protection afforded them by Schmeichel’s excellent defence, and was relegated in 1985. Soon after, Schmeichel moved to another Danish club, Brøndby, where his international career truly began.

Early career
Playing for Brøndby, Schmeichel won four championships in five years. The pinnacle of his career there was the team getting to the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 1991. This was what really got him noticed not only by football fans but also a certain Alex Ferguson, who bought him for Manchester United that same year. Schmeichel was purchased for little over half a million pounds, a bargain for one of the players who would go on to become one of the team’s all-time greats.

The following year would also prove to be his most successful period in the international game. As the mainstay of the Danish national side, he was central to the country's incredible triumph in the 1992 European Championships - most notably, when he saved a penalty from Holland's Marco Van Basten in the semi-final. Schmeichel's contribution was firmly acknowledged when he was voted Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1992.

Manchester United
The success kept coming in club football as well, with Schmeichel spending the greater part his career with United, becoming a much-loved figure amongst fans. During his eight years at Manchester United, Schmeichel was the stalwart of the team, rarely substituted and eventually made captain, and he reached the top of the Premier League no fewer than five times alongside his teammates. United also won three FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League.

There were few lows in this most successful of partnerships, although Schmeichel did fall out with Alex Ferguson and left the club briefly during the 1993-4 season. Ferguson reputedly forgave Schmeichel’s outburst when he heard him giving a humble apology to his team-mates in the changing rooms. More seriously though, Schmeichel was accused by Ian Wright of racism in 1997, a charge which was investigated but eventually dropped in the same year.

Schmeichel’s last season for United was perhaps his career high, as the 1998-1999 season saw the team capture the treble of the Premiership, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. As well as being an integral member of the team, he was even captain during the Champions League final in the place of the suspended Roy Keane, lifting the trophy after a dramatic 2-1 victory in Barcelona. It was truly a perfect way to round off his career at United.

After United
By now 35 years old, the gruelling English seasons had taken their toll and Schmeichel decided to make a change, signing with Portuguese club Sporting CP. He went on to win the Portuguese Premier league with them, but did not stay for long, moving again in 2001.

Instead, he remarkably returned to England where he signed for Aston Villa. That season, he befittingly became the first goalkeeper to score a goal in the Premiership, against Everton.

Manchester - Again!
His brief sojourn in Portugal over, Schmeichel remarkably returned to England with Aston Villa. However, the shock was still to come as, after one season in the Midlands, he signed with United's historic rivals, Manchester City. During what would prove his final season, he managed to keep a clean sheet in the Manchester derby and contributed to a famous victory for City. Despite such moments, Schmeichel finally called time on his career at the end of that 2002-2003 season.

Retirement
As well as being one of the many retired sports players who can constantly be found on television quiz shows, Schmeichel has worked as a football pundit for the BBC since his retirement from the game. He also, famously, put in an endearingly bad performance on the dance show, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, finally being voted off by the public on his 43rd birthday.

On a more serious note, Schmeichel has enthusiastically taken part in ‘Soccer Aid’, and invested his money in ailing Danish football clubs. In 1999 he brought his childhood club Hvidovre, and in 2007 he even attempted a bid for his old club Brøndby, which was rejected.

The Schmeichel family also continue to take part in football through Peter’s son, Kasper, who plays - surprise surprise - as goalkeeper for, ironically enough, Manchester United’s arch-rivals Manchester City. Schmeichel Sr, meanwhile, currently lives with his wife in Denmark, where he presents…a television quiz show.

fr.talkfootball.co.uk