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Manchester United – Remembering Sir Alex’s 10 Greatest Achievements
Arguably the greatest manager in the history of football retired earlier in the week. Sir Alex Ferguson, who gifted Manchester United a total of thirty-eight honours in his almost twenty-seven year reign at the club finally came to an end this season.
In 1990, Ferguson won his first piece of silverware with an FA Cup replay win over Crystal Palace and just three years later gifted United their first top-flight title in twenty-six years and by 2013 he had well and truly knocked Liverpool off their perch, claiming their twentieth league crown, and his thirteenth. His ability to re-generate the same club with different players again and again, and to remain in the self-acclaimed “biggest league in the world” for such a long period of time, is a great testament to the man they call Alex from Govan.
He will always have to compete with names such as Bob Paisley, Herbert Chapman, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly but in terms of success he is unparalleled in the British Isles. On the continent, two Champions League crowns might not compare to Paisley who claimed three in five years with Liverpool but in a much more competitive Champions League era, Ferguson must receive plaudits to be in a special band of managers claiming the title twice since 1993 alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Vicente del Bosque. He has also appeared as a manager at the most finals alongside Miguel Munoz, four in total.
He has also coached United to nine domestic cup wins in the FA Cup (5) and League Cup (4) alongside bringing the Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup back to Old Trafford in the early nineties prior to that first league crown. He also remains the only British manager to win the Club World Cup.
Ferguson has vast achievements in his long tenure at Old Trafford, I’ll be ranking the top ten, in my opinion.
1) The Treble (1998-99)
The success generated from just one season won’t be repeated in English football for a long, long time. The season started innocuously with a heavy loss to Arsenal at Wembley in the Charity Shield along with two draws to Leicester and West Ham but by January, United really got going.
The highlights in the opening half of the season would be a hammering of Wimbledon at Old Trafford coupled with a vital league win over Liverpool at home thanks to a stunning Paul Scholes strike. The Champions League group containing the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona was always going to be difficult and a night to remember would be a 3-3 draw at the Nou Camp when the combination of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke announced themselves on the European stage.
They would qualify after a 1-1 draw to Bayern Munich, feeding them an Italian passage to the final in Spain against the aforementioned Bayern. The route to the FA Cup final wouldn’t be easy either. A nervous win at home to Middlesbrough followed by a dramatic comeback at Old Trafford against Liverpool was a definite highlight of a record-breaking season.
Fulham were beating alongside replay wins over the London duo of Chelsea and Arsenal, the latter of which generated one of the greatest FA Cup goals in history, as Ryan Giggs beat the crumbled the entire Arsenal defensive structure with one lung-busting run before powering the ball past David Seaman at Villa Park.
The final in of itself was the second step on the stairway to a great season. Arsenal ran United right down to the wire which consisted of a tantalising 2-2 draw at Anfield as well as a four-goal Ole Solskjaer-inspired 8-1 away win at Nottingham Forest which remains the highest away win in the Premier League.
Goals from David Beckham and Andy Cole helped United come from behind against Tottenham on the final day of the season to beat Arsenal to the 1999 Premier League crown. Just a week later, United were celebrating another double when a 2-0 win over Newcastle at Wembley was enough for a fourth FA Cup for Ferguson.
Four days later and Ferguson matched the great Sir Matt Busby’s record in Europe. Bayern cemented an early lead by dominating the mainstay of the match at the Nou Camp but three added minutes at the end of the second half would dramatically reverse a potential Bayern treble into United’s favour from goals courtesy of substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who wrote themselves into Old Trafford folklore, along with Ferguson.
2) First Premier League title (1992-93)
The first crown was always going to the best the hardest. After a long wait, twenty-six years where United fans had to sit idly by and watch the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, their greatest rivals pick up the title after Busby’s Babes last won the title in 1967.
Inspiration was garnered from Steve Bruce goals against Sheffield Wednesday at the back end of the season, which is where the phrase Fergie Time originates as Bruce headed in the winning goal in the ninth minute of second half stoppage time. With the likes of Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs, Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona at the height of their powers, greatness was to follow.
3) The first FA Cup (1990)
Almost four years had passed since Ferguson had taken over the reins at Old Trafford from Ron Atkinson and the Scot hadn’t emulated the success he had north of the border at Aberdeen. The Scot just needed the one piece of silverware to prolong his reign in the managerial hotseat at Old Trafford, the replay win over Crystal Palace—the last FA Cup final replay did so.
4) Knocking Liverpool off their perch (2011)
The famous banners at Anfield in 1994 directed to Ferguson and Cantona read “Come back when you’ve won 18” so some seventeen years later, United could boast a nineteenth crown, a twelfth for Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager. A point away at Ewood Park courtesy of a late Wayne Rooney penalty solidified this as the highlight of the season was born out of an acrobatic overhead kick which would win Manchester United the spoils of the city, beating their fiercest rivals in Manchester City at Old Trafford, 2-1.
5) Moscow final win (2008)
Up until 2013, there have been four Champions League finals dominated by the one nation, Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium would host the all-English final, the third of its type when Chelsea would be Ferguson’s opponents, the London side who stood between Ferguson and his second European crown.
Paul Scholes stole the show in the semi-final against Barcelona where his dramatic early second leg volley from distance was enough to progress them to face Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo, who dominated the entire season with 44 goals in all, put United on the scoresheet but after Frank Lampard levelled the game late in the first half, he couldn’t convert his penalty. However, a slip from John Terry and a save from Edwin van der Sar helped United to a third European crown.
6) Quelling London dominance (2007)
Jose Mourinho entered English football after claiming his first Champions League title with Porto in 2004 and immediately brought Chelsea success, winning their first title in fifty years in 2005. Fast forward two years and Mourinho was going for his third successive league title, something which hadn’t been accomplished in the Premier League since United’s dominance from 1999 to 2001.
United would ensure their record stay intact as they beat Manchester City on home soil whilst Arsenal helped former rivals to the Premier League title by stopping Chelsea in their tracks at the Emirates. Highlights from the season came from an astonishing second-half comeback at Goodison Park featuring a sublime Chris Eagles goal as well as an opening day hiding at home to Fulham.
7) Twentieth crown (2013)
Ferguson’s last act as Manchester United manager would be to hand a thirteenth league title crown to his own trophy cabinet, as well as Ryan Giggs’. The cries of ‘Shinji 1, Gerrard 0’ would ring out from the Stretford End as Robin van Persie netted an incredible volley, part of a hat-trick which would sink Aston Villa 3-0 and alternatively, gift United a 20th league title, furthering the distance between themselves and Liverpool in terms of titles won.
8) That FA Youth Cup team (1992)
I spoke about the ability to re-generate different squads for the same club and Ferguson definitely had the ability and determination to do so. The likes of van Nistelrooy, Rooney, van Persie, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra and van der Sar from recent years were all plucked from other sides across Europe but in 1992, one of the greatest youth academies in Britain had a sudden influx of talent.
The likes of the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham would win the youth cup in 1992 and seven years later lift the European Cup. Alan Hansen once famously said that “you can’t win anything with kids.” Apparently not.
9) Eleven FA Cups (2004)
Manchester United lead a lot of tables, such as the amount of Premier League title victories but they added to their FA Cup collection in 2004, with Ferguson picking up his fifth FA Cup as United manager with a 3-0 win over Millwall at the Millennium Stadium. A Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired performance helped United to the last FA Cup they won under Ferguson.
10) Astute Negotiations (1986-2013)
When you look over recent years, money has been thrown at the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie to bring success to Old Trafford. Ferguson can sniff out a bargain buy as well. In the earlier part of the nineties the duo of Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel which allowed a decade of success between them, costing only 1.7 million between. Recently, the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, two veterans at the club now, barely breached the 10 million mark in 2006.
Argentina will be aiming for a record-breaking 16th Copa America title when they take on Colombia
The Copa America 2024 is set for an electrifying conclusion as defending champions Argentina face off against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. This highly anticipated final marks the first-ever Copa America final meeting between these two footballing powerhouses. Argentina aim to secure a record-breaking 16th title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Argentina’s road to the final has been marked by grit and determination. They navigated a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ecuador in the quarter-finals before securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-finals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring, followed by a historic goal from Lionel Messi, who now stands as the second-highest male goalscorer in international football with 109 goals.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak now extends to 10 matches, and they remain unbeaten in major tournament knockout games on American soil since the 1994 World Cup. It is no understatement that they go into the clash as favourites.
Colombia are no pushovers, however. They have been in exceptional form. Since their 1-0 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run of 28 matches.
Jefferson Lerma’s header gave Colombia the lead before Daniel Munoz’s red card put them at a numerical disadvantage against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Colombia’s resilience shone through as they held on to secure their place in the final. The victory over Uruguay was marred by a brawl involving Uruguayan players and Colombian supporters, but Colombia’s focus remained unwavering. This final represents a chance for Colombia to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
For the final, Argentina face no injury or suspension issues. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup. The defence will feature a solid back four with Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.
In the midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are anticipated to keep their places, even though Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios are pushing for a start. Angel Di Maria is poised for his international farewell on the right wing. Alexis Mac Allister, who has been impressive on the international stage, will play a crucial role, linking up with Messi from the midfield.
Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full match against Canada, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez. Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, is expected to begin on the bench and should be brought on in the second half.
Predicted Playing XI (4-4-2): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul, Di Maria; Messi, Alvarez
Colombia
With Daniel Munoz suspended, Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, and Johan Mojica in a solid four-man backline. Camilo Vargas will likely be the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos are expected to form the double pivot, providing protection for the defence and allowing the attacking players to push forward.
Captain James Rodriguez, who has recorded a tournament-high six assists, will continue in the number 10 role. He will be supported by Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Fluminense’s Jhon Arias on the flanks.
Jhon Cordoba, who has contributed with two goals and two assists, is expected to lead the attack, with Jhon Duran and Rafael Santos Borre available as options.
Predicted Playing XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Santiago Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Jhon Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Key Stats
- Victory will see Argentina win their 16th Copa America title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s illustrious history.
- Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 international games.
- Argentina have won 26 of their 43 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
- A win for Colombia will see them win just their second Copa America title, their first since 2001.
Match Deciding Duel
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) vs James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Argentina have been solid in defence and penetrating their backline has proven to be a challenge for most sides in the competition. Colombia have a rather dynamic attack but will depend on the veteran James Rodriguez to act as the playmaker.
With the likes of Luis Diaz able to make the most of opportunities, the onus will be on Enzo Fernandez to ensure Rodriguez does not have space to manoeuvre in. The duel between the two players could certainly set the tone for which way the cookie crumbles on the night.
Prediction
Argentina 2-1 Colombia
The clash is likely to be an entertaining one with the midfield battle expected to set the tone for the result. Argentina. however, have more strength in depth and the ability to bring a player of Lautaro Martinez’s calibre off the bench in the second half is akin to a cheat code. The Inter Milan star is expected to lead the defending champions to a close 2-1 win on the night.
Spain and England will face off for continental supremacy in the Euro 2024 final
As Euro 2024 reaches its climax, the football world braces for a thrilling final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This highly anticipated match will determine the champions of Europe, with Spain looking to add to their illustrious history and England aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time.
Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente, entered the tournament somewhat under the radar but quickly established themselves as a formidable contender. They navigated the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with ease, securing nine points from three matches against Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Impressively, they emerged from the group stage without conceding a goal to an opposition player.
In the knockout stages, Spain demonstrated their resilience and quality. A stunning 4-1 comeback against Georgia in the last-16 and a tense extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals showcased their grit and talent. The semi-final against France was another test of their mettle, with young star Lamine Yamal lighting up the Allianz Arena and Dani Olmo sealing the win.
Spain’s journey to the final has not been without challenges, but their blend of experience and youthful exuberance has seen them through. They now stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first European men’s team to win four major tournaments consecutively.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster. Gareth Southgate’s men had a mixed group stage, winning only once against Serbia and drawing against Denmark and Slovenia. Their knockout phase has been a tale of resilience and drama, coming from behind in both the last-16 and quarter-finals.
A lacklustre win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout victory against Switzerland set the stage for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Despite early setbacks, including a goal from Dutch prodigy Xavi Simons, England produced their best performance of the tournament. A late winner from Ollie Watkins, following a perfect penalty from Harry Kane, propelled them to their second consecutive Euro final.
Southgate’s squad has shown incredible determination and character, setting new records along the way. Kane’s scoring feats and the team’s ability to perform under pressure have been pivotal to their success.
We take a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Predicted XI
Spain
Spain’s bad-tempered quarter-final against Germany saw Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand fall foul of the referee, leading to their suspensions for the semi-final. Both players are now back at De la Fuente’s disposal, bringing much-needed fresh legs to the Roja XI. Carvajal will replace Jesus Navas, while Le Normand should push Nacho to the bench.
Spain are expected to maintain a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal. Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should hold the flanks in defence, while Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte should form the centre-back pairing. Rodri should form the midfield pivot, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz pushing forward.
Skipper Alvaro Morata should lead the line with the electric duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support. Morata was initially a concern given his freak injury after the win against France. Thankfully for Spain, he trained normally and should lead them out.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
England arrive in Berlin with a fully fit squad, including Luke Shaw, who has recovered from injury. Shaw’s performance against Switzerland and his effective stint in the semi-final suggests he may start, replacing Kieran Trippier at left-back.
Southgate is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Jordan Pickford will guard the goal, with a back three of John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Marc Guehi.
Shaw and Kyle Walker will operate as wing-backs, while Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the midfield pivot. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will support captain Harry Kane in attack. Southgate has enough game-changers on the bench and it remains to be seen if he will have the nerve to make bold calls or play the long game and roll the dice.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- A victory on the night will see Spain secure their fourth title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
- A win for England will see them triumph in the European Championships for the first time in their history.
- Spain and England have faced off 27 times in all competitions. La Roja have won 10 games while England have won 14. Three games ended in a draw.
- England have never lost to Spain in a UEFA European Championship clash before.
Match Deciding Duel
Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs Luke Shaw (Spain)
Lamal has been a critical difference-maker for Spain in this year’s tournament and will hope to end it on a high. Up against the recently returned Luke Shaw, he will aim to run rings against the English veteran.
Shaw’s ability to get caught out could provide Yamal the space he needs to run into and put the English backline into disarray. This should also subsequently free up Dani Olmo to make his trademarks into the box.
Prediction
Spain 1-1 England (Spain to Win on Penalties)
England will be keen to end their trophy drought and also go one better than last time around. While they have a strong squad with plenty of depth, Southgate’s inability to take calculated risks should play right into Spain’s hands. It remains unlikely that the trophy will go ‘home’ anytime soon.
Argentina and Canada will face off in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024, a repeat of the competition opener from Group A
Canada have a golden opportunity to make history as they face defending champions Argentina in the first semi-final of Copa America 2024 at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
In a rematch of their tournament opener, Canada can become the second CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America final. Both sides advanced to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, with Argentina defeating Ecuador and Canada overcoming Venezuela after 1-1 draws in regular time respectively.
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals has been fortified by their exceptional defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The victory over Ecuador secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the Copa America semi-finals. Historically, Argentina have been strong at this stage, progressing in seven of their last eight attempts, with the only setback being against Brazil in 2019.
A triumph on Tuesday would mark the first time Argentina reached the Copa America final as defending champions since 1959. Scaloni’s team has been defensively sound, conceding just once throughout the tournament. The Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, allowing only three goals during this period.
On the other hand, Canada has shown remarkable resilience since their initial loss to Argentina. Jesse Marsch’s squad has conceded just once in their last three games. They are the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals in their debut appearance, following Honduras and Mexico. They are also the first from the region to advance this far since the USA in 2016.
This semi-final marks Canada’s fifth appearance in the final four of a continental tournament this century. They have progressed beyond this stage twice, in the 2023 Nations League and the 2000 Gold Cup. Canada aims to emulate Mexico’s 2001 Copa America run, where Mexico reached the final before losing to Colombia.
Argentina’s defensive stability and tactical discipline under Scaloni will be pivotal, also giving their world-class frontline a base to build upon. Canada, under Marsch, has transformed into a more disciplined and resilient team. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies will be crucial in breaking down Argentina’s defence. SoccerSouls takes a closer look at this clash.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
Lionel Messi was not at his best against Ecuador and will be keen to make amends for the penalty miss in the shootout. he missed the final group game with a hamstring injury but now appears to be back to full fitness.
Lionel Scaloni is likely to retain his flexible 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Marcos Acuna.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes should perform the role of the pivot in the centre, giving Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and the dynamic Rodrigo De Paul the freedom to push forward. Lionel Messi is expected to don the playmaker’s role with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the line. Angel Di Maria will offer Argentina another option off the bench should they need to shift gears.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Canada
Inter Milan Tajon Buchanan remains a major doubt for Canada after he suffered a broken tibia during training just days before their match against Venezuela. This injury puts his participation in doubt not just for the semi-final clash against Argentina but also for the remainder of the tournament.
Jesse Marsch has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the clash and is expected to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maxime Crépeau in goal. The shot-stopper should be protected by the back four of Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, and Alphonso Davies.
Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio should form the double pivot, freeing up Jonathan David to act as the playmaker. Cyle Larin should start up front, with Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg providing support out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Osorio, Eustaquio; Laryea, David, Shaffelburg; Larin
Key Stats
- Argentina have never conceded a goal against Canada.
- Argentina have not lost a major tournament match on U.S. soil since a 3-2 defeat to Romania in the 1994 World Cup’s round of 16.
- A win on the night will see Canmada make it to their first-ever Copa America final at the first time of asking.
- Argentina have not made it to the final of the competition as defending champions since 1959.
Match Deciding Duel
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) vs Derek Cornelius (Canada)
Lautaro Martinez is the top scorer in the tournament this season and has made it a habit of scoring late goals for Argentina. This augurs well for a side that is defensively compact, giving them a second wind to settle the game as the opposition gets tired. Derek Cornelius will have his hands full all night but will know that he cannot slack off for even a second with Martinez on the prowl.
Argentina’s ability to score late coupled with Canada’s vulnerabilities in the second half of the game makes for a thrilling finale in the final 30 minutes of the first semifinal. While Argentina do have several threats and matchwinners in their lineup, Martinez’s clinical touch has given them the edge this summer. He will certainly be aiming to make a difference once again on Tuesday.
Transfer Watch
Jonathan David
The LOSC Lille attacker is Canada’s trump card going forward and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants this summer. David is a pacy player whose ability to get into space and clinical ability in the box helps make a difference. While several clubs are keeping tabs on him, a solid showing against the defending FIFA World Cup holders will only help boost his profile among potential suitors.
David will be up against the meanest defence in the competition on the night. The duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez aren’t just formidable defenders but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach will certainly add a physical element to the duel. David is unlikely to come up against a meaner backline in the competition and how well he handles this challenge could determine his stock this summer.
Prediction
Argentina 2-0 Canada
Both teams will be familiar with each other having felt each other out on the opening day. The stakes are much higher this time round and Canada will be hoping for a monumental upset. Argentina were handed a late scare against Ecuador and that perhaps will ensure they don’t take Tuesday’s game for granted. The game should be a hard-fought one with Argentina’s match winners making the difference in the second half of the game.
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