Sportsmail looks back at United's previous Premier League title triumphs

18 May 2009 17:04
Manchester United's domination of English football continued when they clinched their 18th league title, and 11th under Sir Alex Ferguson, with a draw against Arsenal on Saturday at Old Trafford. Sportsmail now remembers the previous Premier League crowns won under their inspirational manager. FA Premiership Champions 1992-93 P42 W 24 D 12 L 6 Win%: 57 Goals for: 67 Goals against: 31 Ferguson brought the league title to Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years as the Premiership era was born. United stumbled initially, losing 2-1 to Sheffield United on the opening day, but the capture of Eric Cantona for £1.2million from Leeds in November was the missing link Ferguson needed. Ryan Giggs was the PFA Young Player of the Year as United won the Premiership at a canter, finishing 10 points above Aston Villa. FA Carling Premiership Champions 1993-94 P42 W 27 D 11 L 4 Win%: 57 Goals for: 80 Goals against: 38 Roy Keane joined the Champions in July 1993 - the Irishman's £3.75m move from Nottingham Forest making him the most expensive signing ever by an English club. It paid off - United went on to do the Double, finishing eight points ahead of Blackburn Rovers and beating Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final. FA Carling Premiership Champions 1995-96 P38 W 25 D 7 L 6 Win %: 66 Goals for: 73 Goals against: 35 After finishing as runners-up to Blackburn Rovers the year before, United gave themselves everything to do to regain their crown and trailed Newcastle by 12 points in mid-January. Despite Kevin Keegan's infamous 'I will love it if we beat them' comment, it was United who went on to win the title. Cantona, who returned in September after a nine-month suspension for kicking a Crystal Palace fan, went on to win the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year Award and United did the Double. Alan Hansen, who announced 'You'll never win anything with kids' after United were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa on the opening day, was forced to eat his words. FA Carling Premiership Champions 1996-97 P38 W 21 D 12 L 5 Win %: 55 Goals for: 76 Goals against: 44 A season that began with David Beckham's goal from the half-way line against Wimbledon ended in another title for United, but there were some worrying moments along the way. Ferguson's side were beaten 5-0 by Newcastle, the Red Devils' biggest defeat for 12 years, and lost 6-3 to Southampton at the Dell. But United were top by January and went on to retain their title, with Beckham winning the PFA Young Player of the Year Award to boot. FA Carling Premiership Champions 1998-99 P38 W 22 D 13 L 3 Win %: 58 Goals for: 80 Goals against: 37 After watching Arsenal do the Double in 1997-98, United pulled off the sweetest of revenge missions by landing the Treble the following year. The Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League trophies were all at Old Trafford by the end of May 1999, earning Ferguson a knighthood for his trouble. FA Carling Premiership Champions 1999-2000 P38 W 28 D 7 L 3 Win %: 74 Goals for: 97 Goals against: 45 United won the title by an embarrassing 18 points in 1999-2000, a remarkable achievement considering the Red Devils were second behind Leeds United at the beginning of January.Ferguson's side were simply unstoppable in the second half of a campaign that saw them score 97 goals - their highest in a Premier League season to date. FA Carling Premiership Champions 2000-01 P38 W 24 D 8 L 6 Win %: 63 Goals for: 79 Goals against: 31 Ferguson became the first manager to win three titles in a row as United topped the table by 10 points. Eventual runners-up Arsenal beat the Champions 1-0 at Old Trafford in October 2000, but United got revenge in February - beating the Gunners 6-1 at Highbury. The Red Devils were 5-1 up by half-time as a Dwight Yorke hat-trick and goals from Keane and Solskjaer showed United's class. Sheringham made it six with the game beyond Arsenal's grasp. FA Barclaycard Premiership Champions 2002-03 P38 W 25 D 8 L 5 Win %: 66 Goals for: 74 Goals against: 34 United recovered from their third place finish in 2001-02 to overhaul Arsenal's eight-point lead in March 2003 and claim title number eight for Sir Alex Ferguson. A 3-1 Boxing Day defeat to Middlesbrough was the catalyst for an unbeaten run that saw United win the title by five points. Sir Alex and co celebrate another success at Goodison park in 2003 Barclays Premiership Champions 2006-07 P38 W 28 D 5 L 5 Win %: 74 Goals for: 83 Goals against: 27 United regained the title after a three-year gap, thwarted Chelsea's attempts to win three on the trot and finishing top by six points. Valuable contributions by Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals) and Wayne Rooney (14) ensured the Premiership trophy returned to Old Trafford. Barclays Premier League Champions 2007-08 P 38 W 27 D 6 L 5 Win %: 71 Goals for: 80 Goals against: 22 United spent more than £50million on Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani in a bid to retain their title, but it was Ronaldo who was unstoppable, scoring 31 league goals. Ferguson also gained his second Champions League crown last season as United beat Chelsea on penalties in the Moscow final.

Source: Daily_Mail