Manchester United 1998-1999
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Preceding article: Manchester United 1986-1998
Succeeding article: Manchester United 1999-present
The 1998-99 season was the most successful in the history of Manchester United Football Club. United won the FA Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. This made them the first club from the big five European domestic leagues to complete the treble. In particular, United went undefeated from December 1998 – May 1999, a run of 33 matches.
United gained a reputation for winning matches after being behind. Some of their more notable come-backs were the FA Cup Fourth Round tie at home to Liverpool, which Liverpool led from the third to the 85th minute, and both legs of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Juventus F.C.. Most dramatic was the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich, in which two goals in stoppage time gave United a 2–1 win. It should be noted that United had already gained a reputation for late goals, stretching back many years.
United suffered just five defeats all season – three in the league, one in the Charity Shield and one in the League Cup. They defeated every other Premiership team at least once and were undefeated in the Champions League — Barcelona were the only team that United played in Europe without beating at least once.
Around this time, United was the world's richest club, with turnover at £110.[1][2]
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[edit] Pre-season and Charity Shield
The previous season had been disappointing, with United having failed to win a trophy for only the second time in the 1990s.. This was also made worse for United fans as bitter rivals Arsenal took both the Premiership and FA Cup. The start of the season will also be remembered for the return of David Beckham to competitive action following the 1998 World Cup, where he had attracted enormous criticism following his red-card against Argentina, and the threat of a takeover by Rupert Murdoch and BSkyB. United signed three new players before the beginning of the 1998-99 season: Dwight Yorke was brought in from Aston Villa, Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven became the world's most expensive defender and the Swedish left winger Jesper Blomqvist was signed from Parma.
The opening game of the season was the Charity Shield, in which United lost 3-0 to the previous season's double winners Arsenal. The game saw the return of club captain Roy Keane after almost a year out injured, and Jaap Stam was heavily criticised after a poor performance. Due to Arsenal's performance the previous year (equally Manchester United's poor display in the final months of the 1997-1998 season) and their convincing 3-0 defeat of Manchester United in the Charity Shield, many pundits predicted that the league title would be staying with Arsenal for another year.
[edit] F.A Premier League
Manchester United began their League challenge well, and were soon placed in the top two positions, competing with Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Crucial games for United included a 1–1 draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford and a valuable 2–2 draw at Liverpool.
One of United's most notable matches was at Nottingham Forest, where Ole Gunnar Solskjær came on as a substitute and scored four goals the last 12 minutes of an 8–1 victory, the biggest away victory to date in the Premier League. Some of United's most important results came in games against Leeds United, with United winning 3–2 win at home and drawing 1–1 away. In contrast, Arsenal's penultimate game of the season was a 1–0 defeat at Leeds which left United with a one-point lead over them, meaning that an identical result to Arsenal's in the final match would guarantee United the Premiership. United would play Tottenham at home at the same time as Arsenal played Aston Villa at Highbury. Spurs took the lead in the first half, but David Beckham scored for United just before half time and Andy Cole's second half goal gave United a 2–1 win and the League Championship. Arsenal had beaten Aston Villa 1–0 but it was not enough for them to overtake United. Manchester United had edged out Arsenal by a single point (79-78) to capture the Premiership with a record number of goals scored (80).
[edit] League Cup
As in the previous four seasons, United rested many of their first-team players in the League Cup, instead using the competition to provide first team experience to the club's younger players and reserves. In the third round of the competition United required extra-time to see off Bury, eventually winning 2-0 with goals from Erik Nevland and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. In the fourth round, two more goals from Solskjær gave United a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest (then a Premier League team), earning them a place in the quarter-finals for the first time since they reached the final in 1994. However United were beaten in the quarter-finals by 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.
[edit] FA Cup
Despite receiving a home draw in each of their first four rounds (3rd - 6th), United were paired against difficult opponents throughout the competition. En route to lifting the trophy they defeated five Premier League teams: Middlesbrough , Liverpool , Chelsea , Arsenal and Newcastle United. The only non-Premiership team that United played in the competition was Fulham, who at the time played in what was then the third tier of English football, Division Two.
In the third round of the cup, United were drawn against Middlesbrough, who had recently beaten them in the league. Andy Townsend gave Middlesbrough the lead at half time, but goals from Andy Cole, Denis Irwin and Ryan Giggs gave United a 3-1 victory.
United were drawn at home to rivals Liverpool in the fourth round. Liverpool took the lead from a Michael Owen header after three minutes. United created plenty of goalscoring chances and had a shot cleared off the line by their former player Paul Ince but did not equalize until the 86th minute when Dwight Yorke finished off a clever David Beckham free-kick. In the second minute of stoppage time, Ole Gunnar Solskjær hit a shot which sent Liverpool's goalkeeper David James the wrong way to give United a 2–1 win.
Andy Cole scored the only goal as United knocked out Fulham in the fifth round. United then played Chelsea in the quarter-final at Old Trafford. Although there were no goals, Paul Scholes and Roberto Di Matteo were both sent-off and missed the replay at Chelsea's ground, Stamford Bridge. In the replay, Dwight Yorke, who had scored both goals in United's 2–0 win over Internazionale a week earlier, repeated the feat, scoring both of United's goals in another 2–0 win.
United also played Arsenal in the semi-final replay at Villa Park. Although the semi-final proper finished with no goals and a debatable disallowed Roy Keane goal, the teams could not be separated after 120 minutes and the game had to be replayed three days later.
The replay was described as one of the best games ever in English football. It had everything from the greatest goal in FA Cup history, scored by Ryan Giggs, another questionably disallowed goal, a red card, a penalty (saved) and a nail-biting finale. In addition, the rivalry between United and Arsenal had not been greater before this game, Arsenal having won the Double the season before and having had the better results between the two teams prior to the game.
The game's first goal was scored by David Beckham, a sublime long-range effort from outside the penalty area. After chances for both teams, Dennis Bergkamp drew the Gunners level with a shot that deflected off United's centre-back Jaap Stam. Arsenal then thought they had taken the lead when Nicolas Anelka put the ball in the back of United's net. Just as in the first game though, the goal was ruled out for offside. United's captain Roy Keane was red-carded for two bookable offences and United played the last thirty minutes with ten men (excluding extra-time). More drama came in regular stoppage time when Phil Neville brought down Ray Parlour in the penalty area and Arsenal were awarded a penalty. Peter Schmeichel parried away Dennis Bergkamp's resultant spot kick and the game went into Extra Time.
Part way through the second-half of Extra Time, Ryan Giggs scored what many consider to be the best ever goal in the history of the World's oldest cup competition. He picked up possession on the halfway line after Patrick Vieira had given the ball away. Giggs ran away from the half-way line, dribbling past the whole Arsenal backline, including Tony Adams, Martin Keown, and [[Lee Dixon] before launching his left-footed strike just under David Seaman's bar and beyond him. Giggs ran celebrating towards the United fans and Man United held on to beat the Gunners 2-1 after extra time. The goal proved to be the last ever scored in FA Cup semi-final replays, which were abolished the following season.
United met Newcastle United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, the penultimate FA Cup final to be held there before it was closed for rebuilding. Newcastle had lost the 1998 FA Cup final 2-0 to Arsenal, but hoped for better luck against United.
Less than 10 minutes into the match, United's captain Roy Keane was injured and replaced by Teddy Sheringham. He and Paul Scholes combined beautifully for United and each finished with a goal apiece in the 2–0 win. United had now completed their third "Double", but hoped that another trophy awaited them.
[edit] Champions League
[edit] Qualifying round and group stage
United began their UEFA Champions League campaign against LKS Łódź in the qualifying round. Goals from Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole in the home leg gave them a 2-0 win, and a goalless second leg ensured their qualification for the group stage.
In the group stage United were drawn together with Spanish giants F.C. Barcelona, German Champions Bayern Munich and Danish side Brøndby IF.
United were involved in two classic games against Barcelona; both home and away games ended 3–3. At Old Trafford, Beckham scored a sublime free-kick while the visitors had to rely on Luis Enrique and Giovanni penalties to earn them a point. In the return game at Camp Nou, Man United produced a superb display as goals from Yorke and Cole helped United to another 3-3 draw.
United were denied victory by Bayern Munich twice home and away. In Munich, the home side equalized with two minutes to go with United leading 2-1, after Schmeichel failed to hold a throw-in, which was tapped in from a few yards out. In the return leg, Bayern came back from behind again when Roy Keane's goal was cancelled out by Hasan Salihamidžić.
United inflicted two heavy defeats on Brondby, thrashing them 6-2 in Copenhagen and 5-0 at Old Trafford.
Finishing undefeated, Uniteds's results in the group stage were as follows:
- Manchester United 3–3 Barcelona
- Bayern Munich 2–2 Manchester United
- Brøndby 2–6 Manchester United
- Manchester United 5–0 Brøndby
- Barcelona 3–3 Manchester United
- Manchester United 1–1 Bayern Munich
Results in other groups meant that the second place finish was enough for United to progress to the Quarter Finals. Bayern Munich finished top of the group and went through to the Quarter Final stage as well.
[edit] Knock-out stage
In the knock-out stages, United played two Italian sides in the quarter- and semi-finals; Internazionale and Juventus respectively. Prior to 1999, United had never won on Italian soil.
In the Quarter-Final, David Beckham was playing against Diego Simeone for the first time since the 1998 World Cup. In the first leg at Old Trafford, United beat Inter 2-0 with two almost identical goals from Yorke, both from crosses by Beckham, while Simeone's second half goal was disallowed for pushing. In the San Siro, Paul Scholes settled United nerves with a late, vital away goal to level the game at 1-1. United advanced 3–1 on aggregate but still hadn't won in Italy.
Juve's captain Antonio Conte met Zinedine Zidane's pass to give Juventus an away goal in the semi final first leg. United, as they did so many times in the season, waited until the 91st minute to equalize through Ryan Giggs who converted a Beckham cross, after a Teddy Sheringham goal a few minutes earlier had been disallowed. United were happy to take a draw but to qualify for the final, they would either have to win in Italy, or get a score-draw of 2-2 or greater.
At the Stadio delle Alpi, Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the first 11 minutes to give Juve a 3-1 aggregate lead. United seemed dead and buried (commentator, Clive Tyldesley said "United need a minor miracle") and their Treble dream seemed to be over. Undeterred, however, Roy Keane headed United a lifeline as he diverted Beckham's corner into the net. Keane's performance on that night has been seen by many analysts as one of the greatest individual performances of all time. Despite being booked for tripping Zidane and knowing full well that he would miss the final in Barcelona, he seemed to redouble his efforts in what could only be described as herculian fashion to get his team to the final. Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his autobiography about Keane's Turin performance: "I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player".
Dwight Yorke scored an impressive header just before half time to level the match and the overall tie at 2-2 and 3-3 respectively. Denis Irwin had struck the post twice before Yorke's equalizer but United now had a result that would send them through to the final.
In the second half, Andy Cole put United ahead for the first time in the match and the tie (Tyldesley's comment "Full Speed Ahead; Barcelona!" summed up the feeling of many United fans at that point). Although Yorke was brought down by the Juve keeper in the area as he rounded him off, the referee played the advantage and Cole tapped in from an acute angle. United held on for their first victory in Italy and booked their place in the Camp Nou for the final against Bayern Munich.
[edit] The final
United's line-up for the final was as follows:
| GK | Peter Schmeichel |
| DL | Denis Irwin |
| DR | Gary Neville |
| DC | Jaap Stam |
| DC | Ronny Johnsen |
| ML | Jesper Blomqvist |
| MR | Ryan Giggs |
| MC | David Beckham |
| MC | Nicky Butt |
| FC | Andy Cole |
| FC | Dwight Yorke |
United were without their first-choice central midfielders, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, as both had received yellow cards in the previous match against Juventus and were suspended for the final, so Ferguson reorganised the team. Jesper Blomqvist and Nicky Butt replaced Keane and Scholes, with David Beckham moving from right-wing to centre-midfield and Ryan Giggs moving from the left to the right wing. United lined up in their normal 4-4-2 formation.
Bayern Munich opened the scoring, Mario Basler scoring a free-kick after six minutes. Bayern then had the chance to kill the game, hitting the post and crossbar (following a beautifully executed over-head kick) and forcing Peter Schmeichel into several match-saving saves.
Needing a goal to save the game, Alex Ferguson threw in Solskjær and Sheringham. As the game went to injury time, referee Pierluigi Collina indicated that three minutes would be played.
In what seemed to be the last United attack, they gained a corner, which Beckham took. Keeper Schmeichel went up front for it. After the ball had been partially cleared, it was played back in to the feet of Ryan Giggs who sent a low volley into the path of Sheringham, who sent his shot low inside the post. Lothar Matthäus the German legend, had been substituted during the game and could not believe the scene. Worse was to come for Bayern.
Almost immediately after the equaliser, United won another corner, again taken by Beckham. He sent the ball on the head of Sheringham who deflected it to Solskjær to smash it into the roof of the net. Oliver Kahn, the German goalkeeper was motionless on the line. United had completed the come-back.
The Bayern team barely managed to restart the game, which referee Collina brought to a close just a few moments later.
It has since been shown that the UEFA chairperson had already set up Bayern Munich colour ribbons on the trophy as the game went into injury time. Indeed, the cup was part way down to the touchline when the equaliser was scored. A few moments later, the cup was taken back up into the stands and the Manchester United ribbons were tied around the trophy. In addition, the majority of the Barcelona team had been in the stands (actually sat near to Teddy Sheringhams' son) but left when the injury-time was indicated, believing the game to be over. They missed the comeback by United, only returning to their seats as the game ended.
In an almost unique moment, the United captain on the night - Peter Schmeichel - and manager Alex Ferguson both lifted the trophy together to the crowd. Normally, the Captain alone lifts the trophy for the first time. Despite being suspended for the final, both Roy Keane and Paul Scholes received winners’ medals on the rostrum. Keane claims that to date he has not looked at the medal, feeling that his absence from the final had tainted the accomplishment to the extent that he didn't earn the medal. Substituted Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus removed his runner-up medal as soon as he received it and later asserted that United were "lucky" to win the final.[6]
Manchester United became the first English team to win the European Cup/Champions League since the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster, in which Liverpool lost 1-0 to Juventus. Liverpool had won the European Cup in 1984, defeating Roma on penalties.
[edit] Close season
United paraded the FA Carling Premiership (now the FA Barclays Premiership), the FA Cup (at the time, sponsored by AXA) and the UEFA Champions League trophies through the city of Manchester on an open-topped bus. A crowd reported to be over 1.5 million people lined the streets to cheer them on. That summer, David Beckham finished second in the European Footballer of the Year award and United's manager Alex Ferguson was knighted.
During the 1999-2000 season, United - as Champions of Europe, were invited to play in the Intercontinental Cup against Brazilian side, Palmeiras - a game won 1-0 thanks to a Roy Keane goal. In a controversial move, United - under pressure from the FA, UEFA and the British Government (all for different reasons) - withdrew from the 1999-2000 season FA Cup, the first time that the holders had failed to defend their trophy. Instead, they played in the inaugural World Club Championship, this time a group competition, including teams like Real Madrid, amongst others. United failed to get to the final of the competition.
[edit] Transfers during 1999 close season
[edit] In
- Mark Bosnich (Aussie Man from Aston Villa "Gday MATE")
- Matthew Bolt (shitty youth from Tampines Rovers FC)
- Jonathan Hesketh (Talented youth from Home United FC)
[edit] Out
- Peter Schmeichel (Free transfer to Sporting Lisbon)
[edit] Notes
- ↑ The other was 1994-95.
- ↑ As of February 2006.
- ↑ As of season 2006-07.
- ↑ Clubs at the top level of English football do not have to play in the early rounds of the FA Cup, which is why United began in the third round.
[edit] External links
| Manchester United Football Club |
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| Manchester United F.C. |
| History: pre-1945 | 1945-1969 | 1969-1986 | 1986-1998 | 1998-1999 | 1999-present |
| Busby Babes | Munich air disaster |
| Old Trafford | Stretford End | Manchester derby |
| Glazer takeover |
| MUTV |
