Having been the only team to take three points from the Gunners in the league this season, Gareth Southgate's side set themselves up for a famous double after 25 minutes, albeit in controversial fashion.
They scored against the run of play when a ball forward was met by Tuncay. Jeremie Aliadiere was alongside the Turkish star but was in an offside position.
The linesman's flag stayed down though and Tuncay accelerated into the box as the former Gunner peeled away to get into position to meet the resultant cross and redirect the ball into the net from five yards out.
All was going to plan as far as the visitors were concerned. Southgate had set his team up to defend in numbers and hit the Gunners on the break.
The resistance was determined and, with the pace of Aliadiere and the guile of Tuncay, the counter-attack threat was a worry.
Better officiating in the opening minutes too could also have put a completely different complexion on the match.
Emmanuel Adebayor showed a cool head to slot the ball past Mark Schwarzer after only five minutes, but his goal was chalked off for offside.
True, the Togo striker was in an offside position when he received the ball, but he was put in possession by Boro's George Boateng.
Adebayor's protestations fell on deaf ears and all the early signs pointed to it not being Arsenal's day, particularly as they needed a win to climb back above Manchester United in the table.
The Gunners had their chances. Emmanuel Eboue hit the bar, while Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas had efforts that were too tamely struck to worry Schwarzer.
The Australian keeper had more of a challenge with an Eboue shot that he could only half-clear after 15 minutes and, seconds earlier, Robin van Persie should have converted a volley from just six yards out, but instead completely mis-kicked his effort.Middlesbrough stuck to their game plan in the second half and stood firm under increasing pressure from the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger made a double substitution on the hour by bringing on Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner for van Persie and Bacary Sagna.
Crosses began to immediately rain in on the Boro goal and Bendtner headed high and wide from one such delivery when he really should have hit the target.
Schwarzer kept his team ahead on 67 minutes when Fabregas was through on goal.
However, the Boro keeper was quick to narrow the angle and spread himself well to save with his legs.
Fabregas went close again seven minutes later when his header from Adebayor's cross bounced off the right upright with the visitors keeper beaten.
Wenger's team were camped in the Boro half for most of the remainder of the game, but they could not find a way through.
The visitors were resolute in defence and the Gunners seemed to want to walk the ball into the net.
However, the breakthrough finally came on 86 minutes when Kolo Toure rose highest to meet a Fabregas corner. He powered his header towards goal but the ball took a deflection off Andrew Taylor before going in off Schwarzer.
The temperature in the ground rose even higher just seconds later when Mido kicked Gael Clichy in the head and was shown a red card after only being on the pitch for nine minutes.
Arsenal lay siege on the visitors goal but, despite going close, could not find a dramatic winner.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "The result is disappointing and I don't think we got the result we deserved.
"We played against a side that played very deep and defended very well. We were caught for the first goal and then it became very difficult.
"Today the team gave absolutely everything to win the game.
"Hopefully we will not regret these dropped points. It is not going for us at the moment but we have to go through a patch like this and show our strengths."
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate said after the draw: "We're disappointed because we've got so close to winning, although we've had to defend for 65 minutes.
"Arsenal are a fantastic team but the character my players have shown this week is incredible.
"To give that sort of effort and commitment was brilliant. They've played ever so well, scored a fantastic goal and just dug in and managed to find the energy to hang on.
"We were wounded last week when we lost to Cardiff City in the FA Cup, and there are two ways you can respond. To come here and take a point off what's an outstanding team is a good performance."
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Arsenal: Manuel Almunia, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy (Philippe Senderos 89), Emmanuel Eboue, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna (Nicklas Bendtner 61), Mathieu Flamini, Aleksandr Hleb, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie (Theo Walcott 61), Emmanuel Adebayor,
Subs not used: Gilberto Silva, Jens Lehmann
Booked: Emmanuel Eboue 90
Middlesbrough: Mark Schwarzer, Emanuel Pogatetz, David Wheater, Luke Young, Robert Huth, George Boateng, Mohamed Shawky (Lee Cattermole 45), Stewart Downing, Gary O'Neil, Tuncay Sanli (Andrew Taylor 68), Jeremie Aliadiere (Ahmed Hossam Mido 78),
Subs not used: Julio Arca, Ross Turnbull
Booked: David Wheater 27, Gary O'Neil 80
Sent off: Ahmed Hossam Mido 88
Referee: Mark Halsey
Attendance: 60084
Saturday, March 15, 2008
MANCHESTER TOPS THE PREMIERSHIP
Ronaldo Takes United TopSaturday 15 Mar 2008
The anticipated avalanche of goals at Pride Park did not arrive and Manchester United were made to sweat before Cristiano Ronaldo finally floored spirited Derby County with a late strike.
His 31st goal of the season in the 76th minute was cruel on the home side who at last produced a performance their long suffering fans could cheer.They recovered from an early pummeling to give the title holders a real scare and, but for Ben Foster, would have taken the lead.
The goalkeeper made two excellent saves on his debut to deny Kenny Miller and United's wastefulness in front of goal threatened to prove costly until Ronaldo finally made one count.
But at least Derby will be encouraged by the way they bounced back from their 6-1 thrashing at Chelsea in midweek to give United a searching examination.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team knew they had been in a game and the way they celebrated the goal showed how relieved they were to escape an embarrassing result against the Premiership's bottom club.
It should have been so much easier for the visitors who missed a string of early chances as Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney cut through Derby's defence.
Ryan Giggs twice blazed over, Ronaldo struck a post and brought a fine save out of Roy Carroll with a curling right-foot shot in the 33rd minute.
But Derby came back strongly and, in the 38th minute, Eddie Lewis got the better of John O'Shea to cross from the left and Miller's low shot was pushed away by Foster.
A minute later, Miller skipped past Wes Brown but Foster plunged low to his left to keep out the Scot's drive. It was a fine save but Miller should have scored.
Derby kept snapping away at United in the second half but the best chances still fell to the visitors.
Ronaldo had a 35-yard free-kick parried by Carroll and he held his head in frustration when he dragged another shot wide of the right-hand post.
The home fans were starting to dream of a draw or even better when United at last broke through.
Dean Leacock had been superb but his clearance with 14 minutes left was quickly played back in and Rooney reacted first to reach the ball on Derby's left.He got past Jay McEveley and delivered a cross which Ronaldo placed past Carroll's right hand and into the bottom corner of the net.
Derby never gave up but Ronaldo could have scored again near the end although that would have been hard on Paul Jewell's team who gave one of their best performances of the season.
After the match Rams boss Paul Jewell said: "There are ways to lose matches, and today we lost with a bit of dignity and went down fighting.
"On Wednesday against Chelsea it really was men against boys, whereas the players showed character today. We rode our luck early on because if a goal had gone in it might have been a different story.
"But it didn't and we grew into the game, and we probably created more chances today than we have in a lot of games this season.
"It was a pleasing performance and, although we've lost again, I can accept it, and we have to take heart from it."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "In the first 20 minutes we should have been four or five up, and that would have made it much, much easier for us.
"You have to admire the second half from Derby. They made a real battle of it.
"But the name of the game is to win, and we have to thank Ronaldo again. It was a fantastic goal because it wasn't easy to take.
"The ball bounced up off the turf and he had to get up and over it and make sure he kept it down. It was a really good finish.
"It was probably his hardest chance of the match because he had a lot of tremendous chances throughout the game."
The anticipated avalanche of goals at Pride Park did not arrive and Manchester United were made to sweat before Cristiano Ronaldo finally floored spirited Derby County with a late strike.
His 31st goal of the season in the 76th minute was cruel on the home side who at last produced a performance their long suffering fans could cheer.They recovered from an early pummeling to give the title holders a real scare and, but for Ben Foster, would have taken the lead.
The goalkeeper made two excellent saves on his debut to deny Kenny Miller and United's wastefulness in front of goal threatened to prove costly until Ronaldo finally made one count.
But at least Derby will be encouraged by the way they bounced back from their 6-1 thrashing at Chelsea in midweek to give United a searching examination.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team knew they had been in a game and the way they celebrated the goal showed how relieved they were to escape an embarrassing result against the Premiership's bottom club.
It should have been so much easier for the visitors who missed a string of early chances as Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney cut through Derby's defence.
Ryan Giggs twice blazed over, Ronaldo struck a post and brought a fine save out of Roy Carroll with a curling right-foot shot in the 33rd minute.
But Derby came back strongly and, in the 38th minute, Eddie Lewis got the better of John O'Shea to cross from the left and Miller's low shot was pushed away by Foster.
A minute later, Miller skipped past Wes Brown but Foster plunged low to his left to keep out the Scot's drive. It was a fine save but Miller should have scored.
Derby kept snapping away at United in the second half but the best chances still fell to the visitors.
Ronaldo had a 35-yard free-kick parried by Carroll and he held his head in frustration when he dragged another shot wide of the right-hand post.
The home fans were starting to dream of a draw or even better when United at last broke through.
Dean Leacock had been superb but his clearance with 14 minutes left was quickly played back in and Rooney reacted first to reach the ball on Derby's left.He got past Jay McEveley and delivered a cross which Ronaldo placed past Carroll's right hand and into the bottom corner of the net.
Derby never gave up but Ronaldo could have scored again near the end although that would have been hard on Paul Jewell's team who gave one of their best performances of the season.
After the match Rams boss Paul Jewell said: "There are ways to lose matches, and today we lost with a bit of dignity and went down fighting.
"On Wednesday against Chelsea it really was men against boys, whereas the players showed character today. We rode our luck early on because if a goal had gone in it might have been a different story.
"But it didn't and we grew into the game, and we probably created more chances today than we have in a lot of games this season.
"It was a pleasing performance and, although we've lost again, I can accept it, and we have to take heart from it."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "In the first 20 minutes we should have been four or five up, and that would have made it much, much easier for us.
"You have to admire the second half from Derby. They made a real battle of it.
"But the name of the game is to win, and we have to thank Ronaldo again. It was a fantastic goal because it wasn't easy to take.
"The ball bounced up off the turf and he had to get up and over it and make sure he kept it down. It was a really good finish.
"It was probably his hardest chance of the match because he had a lot of tremendous chances throughout the game."
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE 15/3/08
Premier League
01. Man United
played 29 67points
02. Arsenal
30 67
03. Chelsea
29 64
04. Liverpool
30 59
05. Everton
29 56
06. Portsmouth
30 50
07. A Villa
30 49
08.Blackburn
30 46
09. Man City
29 45
10. West Ham
30 43
11. Tottenham
28 35
12. Middlesbro
30 31
13. Wigan
29 28
14. Reading
30 28
15. Newcastle
29 28
16. Sunderland
30 27
17. Birmingham
29 26
18. Bolton
28 25
19. Fulham
29 20
20. Derby
30 10
01. Man United
played 29 67points
02. Arsenal
30 67
03. Chelsea
29 64
04. Liverpool
30 59
05. Everton
29 56
06. Portsmouth
30 50
07. A Villa
30 49
08.Blackburn
30 46
09. Man City
29 45
10. West Ham
30 43
11. Tottenham
28 35
12. Middlesbro
30 31
13. Wigan
29 28
14. Reading
30 28
15. Newcastle
29 28
16. Sunderland
30 27
17. Birmingham
29 26
18. Bolton
28 25
19. Fulham
29 20
20. Derby
30 10
Friday, March 14, 2008
HENRY REGRETS LEAVING ARSENAL
FC Barcelona's Thierry Henry is not the player he was at Arsenal.
Henry said so himself Wednesday in response to press reports that he was unhappy with his playing time under coach Frank Rijkaard.
Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer said Rijkaard and Barcelona's 4-3-3 system were not to blame for his current, even season-long, slump.
"I played for eight years with a team and a determined position and now I'm at another club, playing another position with another tactical scheme. Stop comparing the Henry of Barcelona with the Henry of Arsenal,'' the France striker said.
"This is the Henry you will see here.''
Former Arsenal teammate Robert Pires told reporters Sunday after Villarreal's 2-1 win at the Camp Nou that Henry was frustrated at being substituted so often this season after never being so at Arsenal.
Henry, who has been replaced 12 times during the campaign, was swapped for Bojan Krkic in the 65th minute -- moments before the Catalans scored to tie it at 1-1.
"I always expect more from myself and I'm never satisfied when a game ends,'' the 31-year-old Henry said. "But I'm used to living with criticism.''
Though Henry said Pires' words weren't completely accurate, he admitted he has endured a tough patch since his $32 million transfer last June.
Henry pointed to his divorce in September, which had left him unable to see his daughter more than "five times in the last eight months.''
"If I can see my daughter a little more, it will help me,'' Henry said.
Barcelona was expected to be an offensive juggernaut after adding Henry to a roster that already included Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o. Barcelona trails bitter rival Real Madrid in the Spanish league by eight points.
Henry scored 214 goals in eight seasons at Arsenal. He has notched 13 goals in 33 appearances since his move to Spain.
Henry said so himself Wednesday in response to press reports that he was unhappy with his playing time under coach Frank Rijkaard.
Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer said Rijkaard and Barcelona's 4-3-3 system were not to blame for his current, even season-long, slump.
"I played for eight years with a team and a determined position and now I'm at another club, playing another position with another tactical scheme. Stop comparing the Henry of Barcelona with the Henry of Arsenal,'' the France striker said.
"This is the Henry you will see here.''
Former Arsenal teammate Robert Pires told reporters Sunday after Villarreal's 2-1 win at the Camp Nou that Henry was frustrated at being substituted so often this season after never being so at Arsenal.
Henry, who has been replaced 12 times during the campaign, was swapped for Bojan Krkic in the 65th minute -- moments before the Catalans scored to tie it at 1-1.
"I always expect more from myself and I'm never satisfied when a game ends,'' the 31-year-old Henry said. "But I'm used to living with criticism.''
Though Henry said Pires' words weren't completely accurate, he admitted he has endured a tough patch since his $32 million transfer last June.
Henry pointed to his divorce in September, which had left him unable to see his daughter more than "five times in the last eight months.''
"If I can see my daughter a little more, it will help me,'' Henry said.
Barcelona was expected to be an offensive juggernaut after adding Henry to a roster that already included Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o. Barcelona trails bitter rival Real Madrid in the Spanish league by eight points.
Henry scored 214 goals in eight seasons at Arsenal. He has notched 13 goals in 33 appearances since his move to Spain.
PREMIERSHIP IS OURS SAYS SCHOLES
Midfielder Paul Scholes claims Manchester United are in pole position to win the Premiership -- so long as they avoid the pitfalls of the title run-in.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men face bottom club Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday knowing that anything other than a comfortable victory against a team destined for relegation will be regarded as a potentially fatal blow to their chances of retaining the title.
Derby, promoted from the Championship via the play-offs last season, were on the wrong end of a 6-1 hammering at Chelsea on Wednesday and United will be keen to inflict a similar defeat on Paul Jewell's men.
But United midfielder Scholes admits that Arsenal's surprise draw at Wigan last Sunday proved that nothing can be taken for granted in the Premiership.
He said: "Arsenal drawing at Wigan last week was a really good result for us. I know the pitch at the JJB Stadium was horrendous and that Arsenal had just had a really tough game in Milan, but we have to be pleased with the outcome.
"We've got the experience to know we must do the business in our games, though. If we do that, we've got a great chance to win the league.
"Whether or not it's the right thing to do, you do look at games coming up. You have to focus on one game at a time, but you do tend to look ahead.
"You watch opponents' matches too and that's just the nature of being in a title race. It's that time of the season where you watch every game hoping your rival drops points."
United go into the Derby game on the back of the unexpected FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Portsmouth.
And Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, insist that United must prove their credentials by bouncing back against Derby.
Queiroz said: "We were very down after the FA Cup game against Portsmouth last Saturday. It was a bad feeling because we felt the trophy escaped from our grasp.
"There was a lot of frustration and sadness amongst the team and the staff, but the most important thing now is to show the right attitude, the Manchester United attitude and bounce back from what happened. We need to keep moving forward.
"We cannot rely and expect other teams to make mistakes in our favour. It is up to us to do our job. This is a crucial part of the season and there is no room for error on our part. Now is the time to deliver."
Derby's only league win so far this season came at home to Newcastle last September and the club's Australian midfielder Mile Sterjovski admits they face a tough task if they to bounce back from the Chelsea mauling against United.
He said: "I'm still a little bit dazed after conceding six goals. It was a big game, but unfortunately the result didn't go our way. We can still learn from it, though, and try to do better in the next game on Saturday which is another big one.
"It won't be easy but we need to step it up because United will be even harder to play against.
"There's always room for improvement, Chelsea were very good but we didn't do enough. We were doing our best, but they're a quality team and we have to aim for a higher level if we want to compete - and we didn't do that enough. We need to work a lot harder."
Sir Alex Ferguson's men face bottom club Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday knowing that anything other than a comfortable victory against a team destined for relegation will be regarded as a potentially fatal blow to their chances of retaining the title.
Derby, promoted from the Championship via the play-offs last season, were on the wrong end of a 6-1 hammering at Chelsea on Wednesday and United will be keen to inflict a similar defeat on Paul Jewell's men.
But United midfielder Scholes admits that Arsenal's surprise draw at Wigan last Sunday proved that nothing can be taken for granted in the Premiership.
He said: "Arsenal drawing at Wigan last week was a really good result for us. I know the pitch at the JJB Stadium was horrendous and that Arsenal had just had a really tough game in Milan, but we have to be pleased with the outcome.
"We've got the experience to know we must do the business in our games, though. If we do that, we've got a great chance to win the league.
"Whether or not it's the right thing to do, you do look at games coming up. You have to focus on one game at a time, but you do tend to look ahead.
"You watch opponents' matches too and that's just the nature of being in a title race. It's that time of the season where you watch every game hoping your rival drops points."
United go into the Derby game on the back of the unexpected FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Portsmouth.
And Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, insist that United must prove their credentials by bouncing back against Derby.
Queiroz said: "We were very down after the FA Cup game against Portsmouth last Saturday. It was a bad feeling because we felt the trophy escaped from our grasp.
"There was a lot of frustration and sadness amongst the team and the staff, but the most important thing now is to show the right attitude, the Manchester United attitude and bounce back from what happened. We need to keep moving forward.
"We cannot rely and expect other teams to make mistakes in our favour. It is up to us to do our job. This is a crucial part of the season and there is no room for error on our part. Now is the time to deliver."
Derby's only league win so far this season came at home to Newcastle last September and the club's Australian midfielder Mile Sterjovski admits they face a tough task if they to bounce back from the Chelsea mauling against United.
He said: "I'm still a little bit dazed after conceding six goals. It was a big game, but unfortunately the result didn't go our way. We can still learn from it, though, and try to do better in the next game on Saturday which is another big one.
"It won't be easy but we need to step it up because United will be even harder to play against.
"There's always room for improvement, Chelsea were very good but we didn't do enough. We were doing our best, but they're a quality team and we have to aim for a higher level if we want to compete - and we didn't do that enough. We need to work a lot harder."
PREMIERSHIP IS OURS SAYS SCHOLES
Midfielder Paul Scholes claims Manchester United are in pole position to win the Premiership -- so long as they avoid the pitfalls of the title run-in.
ADVERTISEMENT
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Sir Alex Ferguson's men face bottom club Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday knowing that anything other than a comfortable victory against a team destined for relegation will be regarded as a potentially fatal blow to their chances of retaining the title.
Derby, promoted from the Championship via the play-offs last season, were on the wrong end of a 6-1 hammering at Chelsea on Wednesday and United will be keen to inflict a similar defeat on Paul Jewell's men.
But United midfielder Scholes admits that Arsenal's surprise draw at Wigan last Sunday proved that nothing can be taken for granted in the Premiership.
He said: "Arsenal drawing at Wigan last week was a really good result for us. I know the pitch at the JJB Stadium was horrendous and that Arsenal had just had a really tough game in Milan, but we have to be pleased with the outcome.
"We've got the experience to know we must do the business in our games, though. If we do that, we've got a great chance to win the league.
"Whether or not it's the right thing to do, you do look at games coming up. You have to focus on one game at a time, but you do tend to look ahead.
"You watch opponents' matches too and that's just the nature of being in a title race. It's that time of the season where you watch every game hoping your rival drops points."
United go into the Derby game on the back of the unexpected FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Portsmouth.
And Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, insist that United must prove their credentials by bouncing back against Derby.
Queiroz said: "We were very down after the FA Cup game against Portsmouth last Saturday. It was a bad feeling because we felt the trophy escaped from our grasp.
"There was a lot of frustration and sadness amongst the team and the staff, but the most important thing now is to show the right attitude, the Manchester United attitude and bounce back from what happened. We need to keep moving forward.
"We cannot rely and expect other teams to make mistakes in our favour. It is up to us to do our job. This is a crucial part of the season and there is no room for error on our part. Now is the time to deliver."
Derby's only league win so far this season came at home to Newcastle last September and the club's Australian midfielder Mile Sterjovski admits they face a tough task if they to bounce back from the Chelsea mauling against United.
He said: "I'm still a little bit dazed after conceding six goals. It was a big game, but unfortunately the result didn't go our way. We can still learn from it, though, and try to do better in the next game on Saturday which is another big one.
"It won't be easy but we need to step it up because United will be even harder to play against.
"There's always room for improvement, Chelsea were very good but we didn't do enough. We were doing our best, but they're a quality team and we have to aim for a higher level if we want to compete - and we didn't do that enough. We need to work a lot harder."
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Sir Alex Ferguson's men face bottom club Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday knowing that anything other than a comfortable victory against a team destined for relegation will be regarded as a potentially fatal blow to their chances of retaining the title.
Derby, promoted from the Championship via the play-offs last season, were on the wrong end of a 6-1 hammering at Chelsea on Wednesday and United will be keen to inflict a similar defeat on Paul Jewell's men.
But United midfielder Scholes admits that Arsenal's surprise draw at Wigan last Sunday proved that nothing can be taken for granted in the Premiership.
He said: "Arsenal drawing at Wigan last week was a really good result for us. I know the pitch at the JJB Stadium was horrendous and that Arsenal had just had a really tough game in Milan, but we have to be pleased with the outcome.
"We've got the experience to know we must do the business in our games, though. If we do that, we've got a great chance to win the league.
"Whether or not it's the right thing to do, you do look at games coming up. You have to focus on one game at a time, but you do tend to look ahead.
"You watch opponents' matches too and that's just the nature of being in a title race. It's that time of the season where you watch every game hoping your rival drops points."
United go into the Derby game on the back of the unexpected FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Portsmouth.
And Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager, insist that United must prove their credentials by bouncing back against Derby.
Queiroz said: "We were very down after the FA Cup game against Portsmouth last Saturday. It was a bad feeling because we felt the trophy escaped from our grasp.
"There was a lot of frustration and sadness amongst the team and the staff, but the most important thing now is to show the right attitude, the Manchester United attitude and bounce back from what happened. We need to keep moving forward.
"We cannot rely and expect other teams to make mistakes in our favour. It is up to us to do our job. This is a crucial part of the season and there is no room for error on our part. Now is the time to deliver."
Derby's only league win so far this season came at home to Newcastle last September and the club's Australian midfielder Mile Sterjovski admits they face a tough task if they to bounce back from the Chelsea mauling against United.
He said: "I'm still a little bit dazed after conceding six goals. It was a big game, but unfortunately the result didn't go our way. We can still learn from it, though, and try to do better in the next game on Saturday which is another big one.
"It won't be easy but we need to step it up because United will be even harder to play against.
"There's always room for improvement, Chelsea were very good but we didn't do enough. We were doing our best, but they're a quality team and we have to aim for a higher level if we want to compete - and we didn't do that enough. We need to work a lot harder."
Thursday, March 13, 2008
MANCHESTER UTD PROFILE AND HISTORY
Club Details:
Full name: Manchester United Football ClubPrevious Name: Newton Heath LYR FCNickname(s): Red Devils
Ground / Stadium:
Old Trafford, Manchester, England.Capacity: 76,212
Founded:
1878 - as Newton Heath LYR FC
Notable Staff:
Chairman: Joel & Auram GlazerManager: Sir Alex Ferguson
English Premiership Champions:
1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07.
FA Cup Winners:
1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup Winners:
1992, 2006
European Cup Winners:
1968, 1999
Other Club Honours:
European Cup Winners' Cup Winners: 1991Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship: 1999European Super Cup: 1991FA Charity/Community Shield: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007 (* joint holders)
About Manchester United:
Manchester United were founded in 1878 as Newton Heath, the works team for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway workers in the local area. It was in 1902 following a brush with insolvency that the club changed hands and became Manchester United Football Club. It was under manager Matt Busby during the 1950s that Manchester United really came to the fore though as Scotsman Busby built a side based on players he had groomed through United's youth structure and fashioned a great side which became known as the "Busby Babes" due their precocious talents at young ages. Tragedy was to befall the club and the Busby Babes before they truly reached their peak though as the players and staff were involved in a plane crash at Munich in 1958 resulting in eight players and fifteen other passengers losing their lives and many others seriously injured including talismanic manager Matt Busby. The club recovered slowly under Busby's return following his recuperation and in the early 1960s began to piece together a side including players like Bobby Charlton (a survivor of the Munich crash), Denis Law (a Scottish goal machine striker) and the mercurial Northern Irishman George Best. An FA Cup win in 1963 was followed by English league title wins in 1965 and 1967 and was capped off by winning the European Cup in 1968 at Wembley, with Manchester United becoming the first English club to get their hands on Europe's premier club trophy. The side began to fall apart after this and following Busby's resignation in 1969 and several failed replacements the club found themselves relegated to the second division in 1974. Despite several FA Cup wins over the next ten years and a quick promotion back to the First Division, United didn't find a natural successor to Busby's legend until 1986 when Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson as manager and began a new dynasty. The impatient Manchester United board may have been close to sacking Ferguson a few times in his first few years but once he found his rhythm there was no stopping his sides with eight Premiership titles in ten years between 1993 and 2003 to show for their domestic dominance. In 1999, they also completed a treble of Premiership, FA Cup and a second European Cup win as Ferguson finally laid Matt Busby's ghost to rest. Now owned by American billionaire Malcolm Glazer, Manchester United are arguably the world's best known sporting brand and undeniably world football's biggest club.
Full name: Manchester United Football ClubPrevious Name: Newton Heath LYR FCNickname(s): Red Devils
Ground / Stadium:
Old Trafford, Manchester, England.Capacity: 76,212
Founded:
1878 - as Newton Heath LYR FC
Notable Staff:
Chairman: Joel & Auram GlazerManager: Sir Alex Ferguson
English Premiership Champions:
1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07.
FA Cup Winners:
1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup Winners:
1992, 2006
European Cup Winners:
1968, 1999
Other Club Honours:
European Cup Winners' Cup Winners: 1991Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship: 1999European Super Cup: 1991FA Charity/Community Shield: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007 (* joint holders)
About Manchester United:
Manchester United were founded in 1878 as Newton Heath, the works team for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway workers in the local area. It was in 1902 following a brush with insolvency that the club changed hands and became Manchester United Football Club. It was under manager Matt Busby during the 1950s that Manchester United really came to the fore though as Scotsman Busby built a side based on players he had groomed through United's youth structure and fashioned a great side which became known as the "Busby Babes" due their precocious talents at young ages. Tragedy was to befall the club and the Busby Babes before they truly reached their peak though as the players and staff were involved in a plane crash at Munich in 1958 resulting in eight players and fifteen other passengers losing their lives and many others seriously injured including talismanic manager Matt Busby. The club recovered slowly under Busby's return following his recuperation and in the early 1960s began to piece together a side including players like Bobby Charlton (a survivor of the Munich crash), Denis Law (a Scottish goal machine striker) and the mercurial Northern Irishman George Best. An FA Cup win in 1963 was followed by English league title wins in 1965 and 1967 and was capped off by winning the European Cup in 1968 at Wembley, with Manchester United becoming the first English club to get their hands on Europe's premier club trophy. The side began to fall apart after this and following Busby's resignation in 1969 and several failed replacements the club found themselves relegated to the second division in 1974. Despite several FA Cup wins over the next ten years and a quick promotion back to the First Division, United didn't find a natural successor to Busby's legend until 1986 when Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson as manager and began a new dynasty. The impatient Manchester United board may have been close to sacking Ferguson a few times in his first few years but once he found his rhythm there was no stopping his sides with eight Premiership titles in ten years between 1993 and 2003 to show for their domestic dominance. In 1999, they also completed a treble of Premiership, FA Cup and a second European Cup win as Ferguson finally laid Matt Busby's ghost to rest. Now owned by American billionaire Malcolm Glazer, Manchester United are arguably the world's best known sporting brand and undeniably world football's biggest club.
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