Little Book of Manchester United (4 page)

*Cantona shields a ball from Brian Gayle of Sheffield United during a Premiership match at Old Trafford in 1993.

Cantona was born in Paris on 24 May 1966 and after spells at various clubs in France signed for Leeds in February 1992, joining United in November that year for £1 million. He quickly settled into his new team and signs of his influence were seen with a 4-1 victory over Tottenham in January 1993 – United only lost one of 23 games in which he played during 1992-93. Six months after signing Cantona, the club were Champions. In his first full season, United won their first ever Double and he became the first foreigner to ever be voted PFA Player of the Year.

A few years later, however, trouble loomed and, after attacking a Crystal Palace fan who was verbally abusing him in January 1995, Cantona was sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment. This was reduced on appeal to 120 hours’ community service, but without Cantona (banned for eight months), United failed in their defence of the Double and finished as runners-up in both the League and the FA Cup.

*Cantona in action during the FA Premiership match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, October 1995.

In October 1995, Cantona returned and managed to keep his temper under control. He was determined that United would reclaim both titles. The closest challenger at the time was Newcastle, but they were no contest for United with Cantona on the pitch. The double Double was won in 1996 and he redeemed himself.

The following season Cantona captained the side to a fourth Premiership title. However, he took United’s failure to reach the European Cup Final particularly badly and he decided to retire from football a week after lifting the Premiership trophy. Of the 19 penalties that he took for United, Cantona only missed two. He scored 80 League and Cup goals, 14 with his head.

Carey

John Joseph Carey, born 23 February 1919, used his brains as well as his brawn during his spell at United using a style which completely changed the way full-backs play. On a visit to Dublin, long-time chief scout, Louis Rocca, was impressed by his thoughtful way on the pitch and Rocca signed the young Irishman for £250. He described him later as the best, cheapest and most successful signing he ever made. Carey went on to captain one of England’s greatest teams as well as setting a record by playing for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In his time at United, Carey played 344 times and scored 18 goals from his position as full-back. He made his debut for the club in September 1937 at the age of 18, playing inside-forward, and helped the club to be promoted from the Second Division. It was also during this year that he won his first international cap for the Republic of Ireland. Joining the British Army in 1939, he served in North Africa and Italy. During this time he was fortunate to play football and made guest appearances for several Italian clubs.

*John Carey, one of United’s celebrated Irishmen, was a star of the early postwar era.

On his return from World War II, Matt Busby had been newly installed as United’s manager. Carey’s position as inside-forward was taken by Pearson and Busby’s decision to play him as full-back was pure luck. The United board were not impressed by the decision as Carey did not fit the description of a big, brawny lad who could tackle hard and Busby nearly lost his job. Busby’s determination to stick to his guns, however, brought great rewards for the club. Carey became captain and found his niche enabling him to organise the defence and attack from deep down the pitch. Success in the League, however, eluded the team.

This changed in 1948 when the team won the FA Cup against Blackpool. A year later Carey captained the Republic of Ireland team when they became the first foreign team to beat England on their own soil. He retired in 1953 and went on to coach and manage Blackburn Rovers.

Carrick

Michael Carrick had his detractors at the start of his United career – with some grumblings about his £18 million transfer fee – but a succession of sterling performances has silenced the doubters.

Even after his debut in the 2006-07 season, in which he carved out a formidable partnership with Paul Scholes as the Reds reclaimed the title, some people predicted he’d slip down the pecking order after the arrival of Owen Hargreaves. But Carrick has become ever more important to United, maturing into one of English football’s most sophisticated and classy passing midfielders.

*A happy Michael Carrick after scoring his first goal of the 2008-09 season.

The first of Carrick’s three League titles with United to date was also the first major honour of his professional career having played for West Ham and Spurs while they were going through barren spells.

When he first joined United he was encouraged by Sir Alex Ferguson to push forward and eventually weighed in with six strikes from midfield in 2006-07. Indeed his second goal, at home to Reading in the FA Cup, was shortlisted for the club’s Goal of the Season award (won by Scholes away to Villa).

Carrick may have only scored three goals in 2007-08 but his all-round contribution to the cause could not be questioned as the Reds were crowned Champions of England and Europe. No wonder then that club and player agreed a new four-year deal in May 2008 to keep him at United until June 2012.

*Michael Carrick with his new United shirt.

He immediately started to repay that faith in the 2008-09 season with the club retaining the Premiership, winning the Carling Cup and reaching the Champions League Final. At the start of the 2010-11 season, he had scored seventeen goals in 157 appearances for United.

Champions League

Having been the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968, by the time United next won the League title 25 years later the competition had been expanded and renamed the Champions League. United’s return to Europe’s flagship competition in 1993-94 saw them ease past Honved before going out on the away goal rule to Galatasaray. The following year saw the introduction of the group stage and, despite gaining revenge on Galatasaray with a 4-0 home victory, United failed to progress to the second round after suffering defeats at Barcelona and IFK Gothenburg.

Despite losing three of the six group matches in 1996-97, United managed to scrape through to the quarter-final where a 4-0 home display against Porto, coupled with a goalless draw in the return, saw them line up a semi-final they lost to eventual Champions Borussia Dortmund.

*Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates scoring the second goal during the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp, 1999.

Many thought 1998 would prove to be United’s year as it would be 40 years on from Munich and the 30th anniversary of their previous triumph. Five victories in their group games boded well, but Monaco claimed a semi-final berth on away goals.

United were forced to suffer the ignominy of the qualifying round the following year before they could embark on an unbeaten run through the group stage. They were to face Italian opponents in both the quarter and semi-final games in Inter Milan and Juventus, but held their nerves to book their place in the Final in Barcelona. Bayern Munich took a sixth-minute lead in the Final and it took two last-gasp goals by substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to bring the trophy back to Old Trafford on what would have been Sir Matt Busby’s 90th birthday.

*Manchester United celebrate after a victory over Chelsea in the final of the Champions League, 2008.

United have competed for 15 consecutive seasons up to 2010-11 – a record – and claimed their third European crown in 2008. After Ronaldo had headed United into the lead against Chelsea in Moscow, Fergie’s side could have gone in at half-time three goals to the good, had Tevez taken his chances. Lampard equalised shortly before the interval, and extra time failed to separate the teams. Misses by Ronaldo and Terry in the penalty shoot-out led to sudden death and, when Van Der Sar saved from Anelka, the trophy was heading for Old Trafford.