The famous treble winning season of 1999

When the 1998-99 season kicked off few could've anticipated or expected Alex Ferguson and his Manchester side to rewrite the footbaling history books. The Reds started off their treble winning season in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Polish side LKS Lodz at Old Trafford, with United running out 2-0 winners thanks to goals by Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole. Fergie's side booked their place in the the UEFA Champions League proper with a goaless draw in the second leg.

In the draw held in Monte Carlo Manchester United were not seeded so faced the prospect of being drawn into a "group of death" and the final outcome didn't disappoint as The Reds would have to face home and away games against Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Brondby. In their first group game United faced Barcelona in Manchester. The game was one of the greatest played in Europe that season with both teams sharing the spoils with three goals a-piece.

After their second group game - which finished in a 2-2 draw - against Bayern Munich in Germany Alex Ferguson knew his team would have to win both of their games against Danish champions Brondby in order to give them a cushion for the upcoming games against Bayern and Barcelona. His Manchester United braves didn't let him down they demolished the Danes 6-2 in the away game and did likewise at home 5-0.

Going into the second game with Barcelona, United were one point ahead of Bayern Munich in second and four points ahead of the Catalans in third. So a draw at the Nou Camp would secure Alex Ferguson's men a place in the quarter-final. The game was every bit as exciting as the first one with the sides sharing six goals once again. The Draw meant United were through to the next round with one game left to spare.

The quarter-final would see Alex Ferguson pitting his wits against Inter Milan's Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu and two goals from Manchester United's Trinidadian hitman Dwight Yorke ensured the Scot finished on top with a hard fought 2-0 victory at Old Trafford. The second leg played at the San Siro was an equally tense affair and when the Italians took a lead through Diego Simeone many United fans feared the worse. That was until the brilliantPaul Scholes booked United a place in the semi-finals with an 88th minute trademark "Artful Dodger" like finish.

Manchester United's UEFA Champions League momentum was carrying them through the rounds and all that stopped Alex Ferguson from contesting his first final in the competition was Marcello Lippi and Juventus. In the first leg at Old Traffordthe Italians looked to be going back to Turin with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Antonio Conte, but Ryan Giggs was determined to have the last say as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net with seconds remaining on the clock. The second leg at the Stadio Deli Alpi was argaubly one of the greatest matches in the illustrious history of Manchester United. In a fast paced opening Juventus took a 2-0 lead through a Filipo Inzaghe brace. United would now need to score at least two goals to make it to final in Barcelona. However, unfortunately for the Italians Roy Keane was in town and he was in the mood to spoil the Juve party. On the 24th minute United's captain stole in at the near post to power a superb header past the hapless Peruzzi. However, Keane's joy would not last as he went in for a tackle to win the ball from Juventus playmaker Zinedine Zidane he misjudged the challenge and brought the Frenchman down, which resulted in the Irish midfielder picking up a yellow card, a yellow card which would see him miss the final. Most players in the same Keane's position would be forgiven for losing their focus, but they breed them pretty tough in Cork. The Manchester United captain produced one of the greatest performances the UEFA Champions League has seen. He drove the team forward and in the 34th minute Dwight Yorke pounced to put United in the driving seat. The Italians had no choice but to come out attacking and it was this action which led to Andy Cole securing United's final spot when he netted a third on the counter-attack.

Manchester United were now through to only their second European Cup final in their glorious history, but the team standing between Alex Ferguson's heroes - minus the suspended duo of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes- were three time winners Bayern Munich. When the game commenced Manchester United didn't get off to the best of starts and found themselves trailing 1-0 when Mario Basler curled a dubiously awarded free-kick passed the floundering Peter Schmeichel. As Alex Ferguson's side searched for an equaliser they left spaces at the back which the Germans nearly exploited on a few occassions, but fortunatley for Manchester United the woodwork, poor finishing and a couple of superb saves from Peter Schmeichel kept The Reds in the game.

Late in the second half Alex Ferguson made two of the best substitutions of his managerial career when he brought off the misfiring Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke and replaced them with Teddy Sherringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. As time began to run out the German bench began to celebrate, but they should've known that football has a habit of biting you on the backside when you least expect it. In the 91st minute Man United won a corner. David Beckham swung in the set-piece, which was headed clear by the German defence, but only as far as Ryan Giggs on the edge of the box. The Welshman's resulting shot was scuffed and landed at the feet of Teddy Sheringham who swivelled and guided the ball past the helpless Oliver Khan in the Bayern goal. United were now level and the Germans looked shellshocked. Alex Ferguson could now sense victory and urged his team to try and get the winner within the two minutes of stoppage time that remained. When United won a corner with one minute on the clock there was great anticipation coming from the Manchester United fans at the Nou Camp and as with the first goal David Beckham swung in the corner, which Teddy Sheringham nodded down to Solskjaer, who, as if in slow motion stuck out his right boot and diverted the ball into the roof of the net. With hardly anytime left to play, that was it, Manchester United had won the UEFA Champions League and Alex Ferguson had now got his hands on a trophy that had eluded him for twenty years.

On the domestic front Alex Ferguson's side didn't get off the best of starts in the League and found themselves trailing 2-0 to Leicester City at home, in their first game of the season, but two late goals from Teddy Sheringham and David Beckham salvaged a point for The Reds.

Although in the early part of the campaign Manchester United's away form left much to desired it that was their excellent home form which kept The Red Devils keeping pace with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Manchester United recorded their biggest victory of the season away to Nottingham Forest, trouncing them 8-1, with the exceptional Ole Solskjaer coming off the bench too bag himself 4 goals in an incredible 12 minutes. And it was this victory which set the team up for a fantastic running remaining unbeaten for the remaining 13 games of the season, with eight victories in thew process.

However, the title was hanging in the balance as Arsenal were matching Alex Ferguson and his men stride for stride. Going into the last week of the season the Gunners had their destiny in their own hands, but a favour handed to United by arch-rivals Leeds, in the form of a 1-0 victory over the Londoners swung the pendulum back Fergies way.

When the last game of the season arrived Alex Ferguson knew that if his Manchester United side were beat Tottenham Hotspur they would be crowned Champions of England - if Arsenal beat Aston Villa at Highbury. The Gunners won 1-0, so had enough points to overtake United and win the League title. In the game at Old Trafford, the home fans were silenced when Les Ferdinand lobbed the ball passed the stranded Peter Schmeichel. As half-time approached and Manchester United had been losing for most of the first half, the ball arrived to David Beckham on the edge of the box, the midfielder struck a superb shot into the top corner, United were now level and needed just one more goal to ensure Alex Ferguson would be taking home his 8th League winners medal (3 with Aberdeen, 5 with Man Utd).

Just after half timeGary Neville lofted a great pass to Andy Cole, who superbly plucked the ball out of the air and lobbed the ball over Ian Walker in the Spurs net. That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors and United played the game out to record victory and reclaim their League title.

The F.A. Cup campaign kicked off with a home tie against Bryan Robson's Middlesborough side. Manchester United easily brushed the visitors aside with a 3-1 victory, with goals by Cole, Irwin and a href = http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/ryan-giggs.html>Ryan Giggs.

The second round drew Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team a home tie against rivals Liverpool. In a tight game The Red Devils found themselves trailing to a Michael Owen goal and with time running out Dwight Yorke gave United a much deserved equaliser. The scene was now set for supersub Ole Solskjaer, who didn't let his team mates down and obliged by firing a shot passed the Liverpool goalkeeper to send Alex Ferguson and the Old Trafford faithful into raptures.

A 1-0 victory in the fifth round over Fulham set up a mouthwatering home quarter-final with Chelsea, unfortunately the match didn't live up to the hype as both sides fought out a goalless draw. The replay at Stamford Bridge was settled by the "on fire" Dwight Yorke, who's two goals gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory.

The Reds reward for their victory was a semi-final against League champions Arsenal, which gave Alex Ferguson the chance to pit his wits against talented coach Arsene Wenger. The game at Villa Park saw both sides cancel each other out and inevitably finished in a 0-0 draw. The second leg - also at Villa Park - would go down as one of the most gripping F.A.Cup games of all time. In a fast paced opening David Beckham picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and smashed a low drive past David Seaman.

After chances for both teams Arsenal struck level when Dennis Bergkamp's shot took a cruel deflection off United defender Jaap Stam and nestled in the back of the net. Later on in the game Nicolas Anelka pounced and thought he had put the Gunners ahead, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. In the 60th minute United captain Roy Keane's mis-timed a challenge on Arsenal winger Marc Overmars resulted in the Irishman picking up his second booking and an early bath.

As full time approached Arsenal were on the attack and as Ray Parlour ran into the box he was upended by a stratching Phil Neville. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Should Denis Bergkamp have scored it would've ultimately knocked Manchester United out of the competition and destroy any hope of "The Treble". The Dutchman calmly stepped up and his strike was superby saved by United legend Peter Schmeichel. It seemed that the mid-season two week break handed to the Danish giant by boss Alex Ferguson had done the trick.

The game would now go into extra-time. In the first period no goals were scored and as the clock ran down it seemed like the game would have to be settled penalties. However' Ryan Giggs had other ideas. The Welsh winger picked up a loose ball by Arsenal Midfielder Patrick Viera just inside his own half. The next 10 seconds would arguably be the greatest ever seen in the long history of the F.A. Cup. The flyer put his had down, dribbled the ball past the entire Arsenal back four and smashed a left foot shot into the roof of David Seaman's net. A superb goal which booked United's place in the final.

On 22nd May 1999 Alex Ferguson's team faced Newcastle United at Wembley. With only a few minutes gone United captain Roy Keane was injured when he collided with Magpie Gary Speed. The skipper was replaced by Teddy Sheringham who in turn repayed Alex Ferguson - for giving him a chance - by scoring The Reds opening one minute later.

Manchester United were in full control of the game and added to their lead when Paul Scholes netted a trademark finish, United ran out eventual 2-0 winners and gave Alex Ferguson his third double whilst charge of The Reds.

The decision made by Alex Ferguson and Manchester United caused a huge storm in England as the press accused the club of "disrespecting" the F.A. Cup. In the sweltering heat of South America The Reds struggled, and after drawing 1-1 against Mexican side Necaxa and being well beaten 3-1 by Vasco de Gama United were out of the tournament. In their final group match they had to beat Aussie outfit South Melbourne 3-0 to qualify for the third place playoff, The Red Devils could only muster a 2-0 victory and flew back to Manchester with their tails between their legs.