Editing Alex Ferguson (section)

====Second Champions League trophy====
[[File:Alex Ferguson 02.jpg|thumb|upright|Ferguson in 2006]]
[[Image:Ferguson and Queiroz.jpg|thumb|upright|Ferguson in 2008, standing beside assistant manager [[Carlos Queiroz]]]]

In 2006, [[Michael Carrick]] was signed to take Roy Keane's place in the team for a fee that eventually rose to £18&nbsp;million.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/11/match.sport3 |title=Giggs and sloppy Spurs get United believing again |date=11 September 2006 |access-date=10 April 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> United started the season well, and for the first time ever won their first four Premier League games, United's best start since 1985.<ref name="Taylor"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5308192.stm |title=Man Utd 1–0 Tottenham |date=9 September 2006 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> They set the early pace in the [[2006–07 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and never relinquished top spot from the tenth match of the 38-game season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=Manchester United - Fixtures & Results 2006/2007 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/manchester-united/2007/3/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref> The January 2006 signings had a huge impact on United's performances – Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidić came in to form a solid back line along with Rio Ferdinand and skipper Gary Neville.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scholes |first=Paul |date=2015 |title=Paul Scholes column: At first, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra looked out of their depth... now they are Manchester United legends |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/paul-scholes-column-at-first-nemanja-vidic-and-patrice-evra-looked-out-of-their-depth-now-they-are-manchester-united-legends-9966602.html}}</ref> The signing of Carrick brought stability and further creativity in the United midfield, forming an effective partnership with Paul Scholes. Park Ji-sung and Ryan Giggs both underlined their value to the first team squad by adding significant pace and incisiveness in attack with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Ferguson celebrated the 20th anniversary of his appointment as manager of Manchester United on 6 November 2006. Tributes also came from Ferguson's players, both past and present,<ref name="Robbins">{{cite web |title=Saviour Robins: Fergie just cannot let go |publisher=ESPN Soccernet, 4 November 2006 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389632&cc=5739 |access-date=11 January 2007 |archive-date=27 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127114910/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389632&cc=5739 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as his old foe, Arsène Wenger.<ref name="Wenger">{{cite web|title=Wenger: Managers should emulate Ferguson|publisher=ESPN Soccernet, 4 November 2006|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389800&cc=4716|access-date=11 January 2007|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604030949/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389800&cc=4716|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party was spoiled the following day when United endured a single-goal defeat at the hands of [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] in the fourth round of the League Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6116346.stm |title=Southend 1–0 Man Utd |date=7 November 2006 |access-date=25 June 2014 }}</ref> On 1 December it was announced that Manchester United had signed 35-year-old [[Henrik Larsson]] on loan,<ref name="Larsson">{{cite news |title=Man Utd capture Larsson on loan |work=BBC Sport |date=1 December 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6198464.stm |access-date=11 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125083140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6198464.stm | archive-date= 25 January 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> a player that Ferguson had admired for many years, and attempted to capture previously. On 23 December 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the club's 2,000th goal under Ferguson in a match against Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/24/match.sport5 |title=Cristiano's stockings full of gifts for United |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=25 June 2006 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Manchester United subsequently won their ninth Premier League title but were denied a unique fourth double by Chelsea's [[Didier Drogba]] scoring a late goal in the [[2007 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Andrew |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6649815.stm |title=FA Cup final – Chelsea 1–0 Man Utd |date=19 May 2007 |access-date=25 June 2006 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In the Champions League, the club reached the semi-finals, recording a 7–1 home win over [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] in the quarter-final second leg,<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/11/match.sport |title=Seven wonders of sublime United dazzle and destroy helpless Roma |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> but lost at the [[San Siro]] to Milan 3–0 in the second leg of the semi-final after being 3–2 up from the first leg.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cheese |first=Caroline |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6603095.stm |title=AC Milan 3–0 Man Utd (Agg: 5–3) |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

For the [[2007–08 Manchester United F.C. season|2007–08 season]], Ferguson made notable signings to reinforce United's first team. Long-term target [[Owen Hargreaves]] joined from Bayern Munich, young Portuguese winger [[Nani (footballer)|Nani]] and Brazilian playmaker [[Anderson (footballer, born 1988)|Anderson]] joined soon after, while the last summer signing was West Ham and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] striker [[Carlos Tevez]] after a complex and protracted transfer saga.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6707995.stm |title=Hargreaves completes Man Utd move |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6261666.stm |title=Nani & Anderson seal Man Utd move |date=2 July 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6935741.stm |title=Tevez completes Man Utd transfer |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Despite getting some retribution on Chelsea by beating them in the [[2007 FA Community Shield|Community Shield]], United suffered their worst start to a league season under Ferguson, drawing their [[2007–08 Premier League|first two league games]] before suffering a 1–0 defeat by local rivals Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bevan |first=Chris |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6941879.stm |title=Man City 1–0 Man Utd |date=19 August 2007 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/20/match.manchestercity |title=Geovanni's lucky strike punishes prodigal United |date=20 August 2007 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> United, however, recovered and began a tight race with Arsenal for the title. After a good run of form, Ferguson claimed that throughout his time at Manchester United, this was the best squad he had managed to assemble thus far.<ref name="BestSquad">{{cite news |last=Whittell |first=Ian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2325550/Ferguson-This-is-the-best-squad-Ive-ever-had.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2325550/Ferguson-This-is-the-best-squad-Ive-ever-had.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=This is the best squad I've ever had |date=12 November 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 16 February 2008, United beat Arsenal 4–0 in an [[2007–08 FA Cup#Fifth round proper|FA Cup fifth round]] match at Old Trafford,<ref>{{cite news  |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7224064.stm |title=Man Utd 4–0 Arsenal |date=16 February 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> but were knocked out by eventual winners [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] in the quarter-final on 8 March, losing 1–0 at home.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7272806.stm |title=Man Utd 0–1 Portsmouth |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> United having had a penalty claim turned down, Ferguson alleged after the game that [[Keith Hackett]], general manager of the [[Professional Game Match Officials Board]], was "not doing his job properly".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bandini |first=Nicky |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/09/newsstory.sport7 |title=FA will review Ferguson's criticisms of Atkinson and Hackett |date=9 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7285393.stm |title=Ferguson furious after Cup exit |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ferguson was subsequently charged by [[The Football Association|The FA]] with improper conduct, which he decided to contest. This was the second charge Ferguson faced in the season, following his complaints against the referee after United lost 1–0 at [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]&nbsp;– a charge he decided not to contest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007 |title=Ferguson admits FA charge |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2958716/ferguson-admits-fa-charge}}</ref>

On 11 May 2008, Ferguson led Manchester United to a tenth Premier League title, exactly 25 years to the day after he led Aberdeen to European glory against Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup. Nearest rivals Chelsea&nbsp;– level on points going into the final round of matches, but with an inferior goal difference&nbsp;– could only draw 1–1 at home to Bolton, finishing two points adrift of the champions. United's title win was sealed with a 2–0 win over [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], managed by former United captain Steve Bruce.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/may/11/premierleague.wiganathletic |title=Ronaldo makes Wigan suffer as champions mix business with pleasure |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381807.stm |title=Wigan 0–2 Man Utd |date=11 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On 21 May 2008, Ferguson won his second European Cup with Manchester United as they beat Chelsea [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|6–5 on penalties]] in the [[Luzhniki Stadium]] in [[Moscow]], following a 1–1 draw after extra time in the first ever all-English UEFA Champions League Final.<ref>{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2301150/Champions-League-final-Manchester-United-join-Europes-greats-after-Moscow-win.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2301150/Champions-League-final-Manchester-United-join-Europes-greats-after-Moscow-win.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester United join Europe's greats after Moscow win |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7406252.stm |title=Man Utd earn dramatic Euro glory |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schwirtz |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/sports/soccer/22soccer.html |title=Manchester United Wins Champions League Final |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> A penalty miss from Cristiano Ronaldo meant that [[John Terry]]'s spot-kick would have given the trophy to Chelsea if successfully converted, but Terry missed his penalty and in the end it was Edwin van der Sar's blocking of a [[Nicolas Anelka]] penalty which gave the trophy to Manchester United for the second time under Ferguson and for the third time overall.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2301208/Champions-League-final-Tears-for-John-Terry-and-Chelsea-after-cruel-ending.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2301208/Champions-League-final-Tears-for-John-Terry-and-Chelsea-after-cruel-ending.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tears for John Terry and Chelsea after cruel ending |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>