Triumphs and tragedy: A brief history of Man Utd

Humble beginnings

Although the world now knows the Old Trafford giant as Manchester United and associates the team with its vivid red shirts, the team's story began in different colors.

Railway workers founded Newton Heath in 1878 and, wearing "white shirts with blue cord", they won their first recorded match 6-0 against Bolton's reserves.

Served with a winding-up order after financial issues in 1902, Newton Heath, who wore a green-and-gold kit by then, was taken over by a group including local businessman John Henry Davies.

Renamed Manchester United and playing in red shirts, the first of the club's 20 top-flight titles was secured in 1908.

Munich disaster

Matt Busby would provide the impetus for United's first truly dominant era. The Scot was appointed as manager in 1945 and reigned for the next 24 years, revitalizing United with an infusion of homegrown talent.

His young "Busby Babes" won successive titles in 1956 and 1957 and United became the first English team to compete in the European Cup.

But disaster struck in 1958 when eight United players, including the great Duncan Edwards, died after a plane crash at Munich airport on the way home from a European Cup quarterfinal against Red Star Belgrade.

Busby spent weeks in hospital before eventually returning to build another dashing young team from the ashes of the Munich tragedy.

'Holy Trinity'

George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law formed the attacking triumvirate that spearheaded Busby's second golden generation.

Best was the maverick genius whose pop-star looks and dazzling skills made him famous beyond the world of soccer.

United won the English title twice before their defining moment in 1968, when it beat Benfica 4-1 to become the first English team to win the European Cup.

It was a cathartic victory for Busby, who wept on the Wembley pitch a decade after the Munich disaster. "It eased the pain of the guilt of going into Europe. It was my justification," Busby said.

The Dark Ages

Busby's decision to step down in 1969 signaled the end of an era for United and the decline was so steep that United crashed into the second division in 1974.

The Red Devils won promotion at the first attempt and lifted the FA Cup in 1977, 1983 and 1985.

But United never came close to regaining the title during a troubled period as its archrival Liverpool reigned supreme.

Fergie effect

United was rescued from its wilderness years by manager Alex Ferguson, who arrived from Aberdeen in 1986.

With 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, during his 26-year reign, Ferguson fulfilled his aim of "knocking Liverpool off their perch" in spectacular fashion.

The Scot endured a difficult start that included calls for his sacking but United won the FA Cup in 1990, buying him time to fashion a side that secured the club's first league title for 26 years in 1993. Inspired by the flamboyant Eric Cantona, the club won its first league and FA Cup double a year later.

Ferguson's greatest moment came in 1999, when United became the first English club to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season.

It was United's 'Class of 92' — the storied youth academy crop including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers — who were the treble winners' driving force.

After showing the never-say-die spirit that epitomized United under Ferguson, the team scored twice in the final minutes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. Ferguson also masterminded Champions League glory for United in 2008.

AFP