This Sunday, May 26, marks the 20th anniversary of Manchester United’s dramatic stoppage-time victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to complete their historic Treble success.
Having already won the Premier League and the FA Cup, Alex Ferguson’s side appeared to be heading for heartbreak as they trailed Bayern after 90 minutes. But goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer transformed the course of history and completed a feat no English team has emulated since.
We tell the story of United’s extraordinary Treble campaign both on and off the pitch here in our picture special.
David Beckham pictured in the unfamiliar surroundings of Selby Town for a pre-season friendly to mark the non-league club’s 80th anniversary. Beckham and Scholes were the more familiar faces in a youthful United side that day, while Ferguson was in the stands. United won 6-1 and the match was prematurely ended when fans invaded the pitch
While Beckham received a warm welcome at Selby, others weren’t as sympathetic. Becks became a national pariah when he was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone during England’s World Cup last-16 match against Argentina and supporters of clubs other than United weren’t willing to forgive him quickly. Pictured are Arsenal fans at the Charity Shield at Wembley
The season started inauspiciously for United as Premier League champions and FA Cup holders Arsenal defeated them 3-0 in the Charity Shield at Wembley. One of the few positives was that Roy Keane made his comeback following almost a season on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury and he is seen challenging Marc Overmars, who scored Arsenal’s first goal (left); Peter Schmeichel didn’t let much squirm out of his giant hands but this piglet is causing the Dane all manner of problems as he films an advert for Reebok. The ad speculated what might have happened to United stars had they not worn Reebok – Schmeichel was a pig farmer, Ryan Giggs sold daffodils by the roadside and Andy Cole worked in a chippie
United were making progress off the field as well as on it, becoming the first club to launch a dedicated television channel – MUTV – on the Sky satellite platform in September 1998. Ferguson takes a well deserved sit down as (left to right) Peter Schmeichel, Ronny Johnsen, Ryan Giggs, Jaap Stam, Gary Neville and Roy Keane try to look enthusiastic
One thing often forgotten about the Treble season is that United had to pre-qualify for the Champions League. Back then, only the Premier League champions earned automatic progress into the group stages. Paul Scholes is pictured in the first leg of United’s tie with Polish side LKS Lodz. Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole scored at Old Trafford before a goalless draw in Poland.
Cole heads home United’s second goal against LKS Lodz at Old Trafford, effectively sealing their passage to the group phase
Having thrown away a 12-point lead to surrender their Premier League title to Arsenal during the 1997-98 season, there was an onus on United to strengthen their squad during the summer of 1998. One acquisition was striker Dwight Yorke, who was signed from Aston Villa for £12.6million on August 20 despite strong resistance from the Birmingham club
Ferguson is visibly delighted with the arrival of Yorke, who would form a devastating partnership up front with Cole
Yorke endeared himself to the United faithful by scoring twice against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford on September 9. They were the first of 29 goals the Tobagonian would scored in the Treble season, though he didn’t always end up in the stands
The early weeks of the season were overshadowed by an attempted takeover of the club by Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB. His initial offer of £575m was rejected but he returned two days later with a bid of £623.4m. United fans mobilised in opposition to the takeover and protested in numbers before the Charlton game. Murdoch’s ambitions were dashed the following year
Ferguson relaxes in his office in this picture from September 1998. The Scot was 12 years into his tenure at United and had already accomplished a great deal. But both Ferguson and the club were about to embark on a golden period of success
United were thrown into a fiendish group in the Champions League as they were paired with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Brondby. The two matches against Barcelona were classics with both ending 3-3. This picture is from the meeting at Old Trafford on matchday one as Ryan Giggs challenges for the ball in the air with Luis Enrique. Both players scored that night
United were on course for a famous 3-2 win until Nicky Butt handled in the box with 20 minutes to play to allow Luis Enrique to equalise from the spot. Butt (second left) was also sent off by Italian referee Stefano Braschi, much to Denis Irwin’s disbelief
United’s meeting with rivals Liverpool in September was typically combustible. Captain Keane has to be restrained by former team-mate Paul Ince as tempers boil over. United won the match 2-0 as their season started to pick up momentum
Gary Neville puts in a typically robust sliding tackle on Liverpool’s teenage striker Michael Owen during United’s 2-0 win
While Yorke supplied plenty of goals, United’s other major summer acquisition proved of equal importance. Rock solid Dutch centre-half Jaap Stam had arrived from PSV Eindhoven for £10.75m and performed with distinction throughout the campaign. In September though, he was still getting used to the cut and thrust of English football as Schmeichel restrains him
Flung into a difficult group, United adopted a fearless approach and were seconds away from an excellent away win over Bayern Munich in their second match. Paul Scholes is pictured after putting United 2-1 ahead in the Olympiastadion but they couldn’t hang on to claim victory with Teddy Sheringham putting through his own net in the 89th minute
It didn’t take too long for Yorke and Cole to form the understanding that turned them into a deadly forward partnership and powered United towards the Treble. This picture is from the 5-1 thrashing of Wimbledon at Old Trafford on October 17. Cole scored twice and Yorke was also on target as United started to find the free-scoring form that would serve them so well
Poor Brondby were always destined to be the whipping boys of the Champions League group but the Danes stunned Bayern by beating them 2-1 in the opening match. United had no such problems, thrashing them 6-2 in Copenhagen with Ryan Giggs scoring twice in the opening 21 minutes. Cole, Keane, Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also scored that night
It was a similar story at Old Trafford as rampant United stuffed five past Brondby to take command of the group. Beckham opened the scoring before Cole and Phil Neville also found the net inside the opening 20 minutes. Pictured are the celebrations after Yorke grabbed United’s fourth on 28 minutes. Scholes added the fifth goal after half-time
A collector’s item photograph of a smiling Roy Keane as he signs autographs for fans at Elverys department store in Dublin in November 1998. The Irish midfielder turned in several heroic performances to haul United to their Treble glory
United’s visit to Barcelona on matchday five of the Champions League group lived long in the memory. Playing a fearless brand of attacking football, Yorke and Cole repeatedly tore Barca apart in a 3-3 draw. Here is Yorke scoring United’s third goal, heading home from close range following David Beckham’s cross from the right. But United would have to settle for a draw
It all meant United’s qualification hinged on the final night of the group against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. They took the lead through Keane just before half-time and though Hasan Salihamidzic earned Bayern a draw, it was enough to take both teams through to the quarter-finals. Cole goes for goal in the picture above, as keeper Oliver Kahn prepares to save
Ryan Giggs, sporting the lesser-seen black third kit from the Treble season, licks a lollipop in a United Christmas commercial
In a harbinger of events to come, United scored twice in the dying minutes to come from behind and beat Liverpool 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on January 24. Owen had scored in the third minute and Liverpool led for 85 before Yorke equalised. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, Solskjaer slipped home United’s winner to keep the Treble alive
The scoreboard tells only half the story here. After a 3-2 home defeat by Middlesbrough on December 19, United went the remainder of the season unbeaten in all competitions – a total of 33 games. They really picked up momentum in February, demolishing Nottingham Forest 8-1 at the City Ground as Solskjaer scored four – and he hadn’t even started the game!
Stam puts in a crunching challenge on Nottingham Forest striker and his fellow countryman Pierre van Hooijdonk on that extraordinary afternoon on the banks of the Trent. Yorke and Cole had both scored twice but Solskjaer came off the bench to trump them both. The Norwegian scored four times in the space of 10 minutes to boost United’s lead at the top of the table
World Cup rivals Beckham and Simeone were reunited when United drew Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals. It appeared to be a case of forgive and forget as the pair shook hands and exchanged shirts at the final whistle, no doubt helped by the fact United had a two-goal lead to take to the San Siro thanks to two Yorke goals. Simeone had a goal disallowed
Simeone reacts with dismay as his crucial away goal is chalked off for pushing at Old Trafford. Beckham watches from afar
United’s FA Cup run saw them forced to do things the hard way. Having eliminated Liverpool, they were drawn at home to Chelsea in the sixth round. An ill-tempered contest saw Paul Scholes and Roberto Di Matteo both sent off in a 0-0 draw
A few days later Beckham encounters locals who clearly hadn’t forgiven him for the previous summer in the sixth-round replay at Stamford Bridge. Beckham responded to the torrent of abuse by blowing a kiss and United went on to win 2-0
A rare moment of fun for Ferguson away from the tightrope act of keeping United going in three competitions as he flips pancakes with celebrity chef Gary Rhodes on Shrove Tuesday. Rhodes had opened a brasserie next to Old Trafford in 1998
United and Arsenal continuously exchanged leadership of the Premier League throughout the spring. They were top of the table following this 3-1 win over Everton on March 21 – Beckham celebrates his goal in the match with Solskjaer and Johnsen
One of the most iconic moments of the season came at Villa Park on April 14. An epic FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal was locked at 1-1 deep into extra time, with United down to 10 men following the dismissal of Keane, when Patrick Vieira presented the ball to Giggs just inside United’s own half. Moments later, having beaten four defenders, Giggs fired the winner
That win over Arsenal gave United renewed belief they could go on and accomplish something historic. Beckham is lifted shoulder-high by jubilant fans who invaded the Villa Park pitch at the final whistle. Beckham later said that his abiding memory of the celebrations was the stench of cigarette smoke on one supporter who embraced him
A moment of heartbreak for Keane as he receives the yellow card from referee Urs Meier that means he would miss the Champions League final. His offence was a foul on Zinedine Zidane. Though Keane clearly understands the implications, United’s captain went on to produce one of the most selfless performances seen on a football pitch to drag his team through
United fell 2-0 behind on the night and 3-1 on aggregate inside the opening 11 minutes but Keane’s goal after 24 minutes set them on the comeback trail. Yorke equalised 10 minutes later and Cole rounded off the win six minutes from the end
United’s travelling fans at the Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin celebrate their passage into the Champions League final. It was the club’s first European final since 1991 and their first in the elite competition since 1968. Juventus had been the dominant force in European football during the mid to late 1990s and for United to finally overcome them represented a big breakthrough
The toughest assignment of United’s Premier League run-in came against Liverpool at Anfield on May 5. United surged into a two-goal lead thanks to Yorke’s header (pictured) and Irwin’s penalty. But Irwin was then dismissed just after Jamie Redknapp had halved the deficit. Two minutes from time, Ince, of all people, scrambled home Liverpool’s leveller amid chaotic scenes
United’s penultimate match of the league season came at Blackburn, 24 hours after Leeds had defeated Arsenal to put the destiny of the title in United’s hands. They had the chance to seal it at Ewood Park but were held goalless. Pictured is Cole being brought down by Rovers’ Stephane Henchoz. It meant the title race would run all the way to the final afternoon
The final afternoon against Tottenham didn’t run smoothly for United. Les Ferdinand gave the visitors the lead and Old Trafford grew increasingly tense as chances went begging. David Beckham levelled on the stroke of half-time but nobody could be sure the title had been secured until Cole lobbed Ian Walker three minutes into the second-half and United held on
In something that would become a theme, David May plays a prominent part in United’s Premier League celebrations by uncorking a bottle of champagne in the dressing room. Irwin, Keane and Stam smile as the fizz flies over one of the keepers
Ferguson re-emerges and United’s title celebrations can begin in earnest on the Old Trafford pitch. The first leg was complete
The hulking frame of Schmeichel is sprawled out in the dressing room as United celebrate their Premier League win. His deputy Raimond van der Gouw, assistant manager Steve McClaren, Yorke, assistant Jim Ryan and a shirtless Jesper Blomqvist get the party started with him. In the end, United finished just a point ahead of Arsenal in a thrilling title battle
You wondered if there was any end to Beckham’s talents as he deputises in goal in training ahead of the FA Cup final
United’s preparations for the FA Cup and Champions League finals were disrupted when Keane was arrested on assault charges after he allegedly kicked Leanne Carey in the thigh after pouring a pint of beer over her friend as the United squad celebrated their title win in Henry’s Bar in Manchester. Ferguson ponders how to address the issue after Keane was bailed
A gathering of photographers, cameramen and journalists at United’s Cliff training ground ahead of the FA Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley. United were clear favourites to win but a surprise result certainly couldn’t be ruled out
Schmeichel in denim jacket and Reebok cap poses with a cake in the shape of Wembley Stadium after a training session
But in another handling error, one of the iced Twin Towers of Wembley is sent tumbling, revealing a spongy interior
One for the Ferguson family album as Alex poses with grandson Jake ahead of the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium
The final turned out to be pretty routine for United as they won 2-0 and completed the second leg of their Treble. Keane was forced off injured in the eighth minute at Wembley but doesn’t appear to have bothered getting changed as he joins Ferguson and his staff in leaping to their feet in celebration on the final whistle. The Newcastle bench is one of contrasting emotions
United’s two goalscorers were Sheringham after 11 minutes and Scholes on 52 minutes. The pair are seen lifting the trophy
A beaming Beckham cuddles up to the FA Cup as United won the competition for the 10th time in their history
It was quickly time to move on to the final leg of the Treble – the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 26. The first English team in the final of the competition since 1985, United travelled to Barcelona in style on Concorde. Prior to departure from Heathrow, the suited and booted squad posed with the flight crew
Luckily there were no passport issues for Beckham upon arrival at Barcelona Airport. United arrived two days before the game
In the days when he still joined in with training drills, Ferguson donned a replica 1968 strip at the Nou Camp on the eve of the final. United’s only previous appearance in the final had come in 1968, when Sir Matt Busby’s side beat Benfica 4-1 at Wembley. In an extraordinary twist of fate, the date of the 1999 final would have been Busby’s 90th birthday
A moment of horror for any player as Phil Neville goes down in training the day before the final. Luckily it proved a false alarm
The view from the Gods at Barcelona’s enormous Nou Camp stadium, a fitting venue for a final that would deliver great drama
Hopeful United fans travelled from all corners of the globe to be in Barcelona for one of the biggest occasions in club history
But tension was soon etched on their faces as Mario Basler’s clever low free-kick handed Bayern a sixth-minute lead
United trailed the German side until stoppage time when substitute Teddy Sheringham swept the ball into the bottom corner after Bayern failed to clear their lines. It looked at that point as though United would carry momentum into extra time
In the third minute of added time, with seconds remaining, United forced another corner. David Beckham swung it in, Sheringham flicked it on and Solskjaer extended a leg to divert the ball into Bayern’s net. United had won the Champions League – and completed their Treble triumph – in the most dramatic circumstances possible
Smiles of joy and disbelief on the faces of Alex Ferguson and the United players as they wait to receive their winners medals
The hero of the hour, super sub Solskjaer, gets a private word of thanks and congratulations from Ferguson after the match
A poignant photo as the members of United’s famous ‘Class of ’92’ – (left to right) Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham – pose with their mentor, the coach Eric Harrison (centre) and the trophy
It was little wonder that everyone wanted a piece of Ferguson and the trophy upon their return to Manchester the next day
With the Treble complete, all that remained was for United to parade the spoils of victory. The Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies were loaded onto an open-top bus and paraded through the streets of Manchester, where tens of thousands came out to catch a glimpse of Ferguson and his team as they drove by
Dwight Yorke had certainly earned his victory cigar after scoring 29 times during his debut season for United. He holds the FA Cup during the victory parade the day after the Champions League final while 24-goal Cole shows off the Premier League
There was a more informal victory parade as horse racing aficionado Ferguson (left) and some of the players enjoyed a day out at Haydock races a few days after their Champions League win. The players seem keen to study the horses very closely