Manchester United is a dominant English soccer club and one of the most successful clubs in world soccer. The sport is called football in England and many other countries. Manchester United, often called “Man U,” competes in the Premier League, England’s top soccer league. The club plays its home games at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester.
Manchester United was established in 1878. The club first reached the top of the English soccer world under the leadership of the English manager Matt Busby from 1945 to 1969. Before Busby joined the organization, the club had won just three major trophies. During his time as manager, the club dominated English soccer and, in 1968, became the first English club to win the European Cup. The European Cup became the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League beginning with the 1992-1993 season. Manchester United suffered a tragedy in February 1958 when 23 people, including several players, died in an airplane crash in Munich, Germany.
The second great period in Manchester United history came under Alex Ferguson of Scotland from 1986 to the end of the 2012-2013 season. Under Ferguson’s guidance, the club won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the European Super Cup in 1991. The club won a “treble” in the 1998-1999 season, winning the Premier League, the FA (Football Association) Cup, and the Champions League Cup. The FA Cup is England’s oldest and most prestigious annual club soccer tournament. In 2008, Manchester United won another Champions League title. In 2013, Manchester won a record 20th Premier League championship. Man U has won the FA Cup 13 times.
Stars who have played for Manchester United include forwards George Best of Northern Ireland, Bobby Charlton of England, Ryan Giggs of Wales, Denis Law of Scotland, Wayne Rooney of England, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, and Robin Van Persie of the Netherlands; midfielders David Beckham of England, Shinji Kagawa of Japan, and Paul Scholes of England; and goalie Tim Howard of the United States.
