| History and Growth of the Manchester United Football Club
Manchester United is a club that has become synonymous with football. In almost every area of the world people know who the club are. The premier league club are reported to have over 330 million supporters worldwide, making them arguably the worlds most popular football team. Founded as Newton Heath FC in the late 1800s, no-one could have imagined the dizzying heights the club would one day reach. In 1902 Newton Heath was renamed Manchester United FC and the old green and gold kit was discarded in favour of the now legendary red and white colours. The club went on to win its first of many league titles in 1908.
Perhaps the most prevalent event in the history of Manchester United is also a traumatic one; The Munich Air Disaster in 1958. A plane carrying the team back from a European game crashed above Munich airport, claiming the lives of eight young players. Amongst the fatalities was the young England starlet Duncan Edwards, a player who many claim to be the best they ever saw. Amazingly the manger Matt Busby survived and the club managed to carry on with a makeshift team that was added to in the 1960s with now legendary stars, including Dennis Law and George Best, amongst others. The 60`s was a great decade for United who notched up two league wins, and victories in the FA and European Cups.
Over the years Manchester United have become the second most successful club in English football history, only just behind Liverpool. Under the present reign of manager Sir Alex Ferguson the club has been by far the most successful English club in recent times. Since his appointment in 1986, Ferguson has led the club to 20 major honours including the infamous treble in 1999. This period has also seen some of the most talented players of recent times. Players like David Beckham, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and the reigning UEFA player of the year: Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has fast become one of the world`s best known footballers and some argue he will be the best ever.
The great players and managers that have shaped the history of Manchester United have had the chance to do so at one of the largest stadiums in the world; Old Trafford. Nicknamed the `theatre of dreams`, the stadium has a capacity of over 75,000 and is regularly sold out. Over the years the stadium has hosted some memorable games including triumphs over rivals Liverpool and Arsenal and European victories, including a semi-final victory against Juventus in 1999.
With such a rich history it is no wonder Manchester United has such a huge fan-base. Many keep up-to-date via the internet, either using the clubs official website or via the Man United Blog. The huge global support that these fans offer has made the club the richest in the world, and will ensure the club will continue to prosper on and off the field. |
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