On May 26, 1999, the last seconds of a historic Champions League final are being watched by a sold-out Camp
Nou.Manchester United is within two minutes away from capturing the trophy after trailing Bayern Munich 1-0.
Though it won’t last long, half of the 90,245 spectators in attendance are in shock, and the other half are cheering.
The visiting Germans will find the 850-mile journey to Spain well worth it, and the final roar is only a few minutes
away, with Bayern’s name likely already inscribed on the trophy. Just a few seconds away.
But then – silence.
At least in the Bayern end, anyway. They displayed waves of red and white scarves, flailed with happiness and
anticipation just moments earlier, waiting to hear the referee’s final whistle… but no. They’re still. Stunned. Shocked.
Teddy Sheringham had diverted Ryan Giggs’ seemingly off-target shot into the bottom corner to level the game up
with moments to go.
David Beckham sent that corner in and, to Bayern’s disbelief, a sense of deja vu came trickling down like rain. He
stood over a second corner just moments later. There was an aura about this that made it hard to believe.
Beckham crosses. Sheringham flicks on. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stabs it in. United have won. Not just the game, but
the treble.
“Football, bloody hell.” said Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Scotsman is still the greatest manager to ever grace football and, when he announced his retirement to fans after
a 5-5 draw with West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in 2013, it wasn’t just Ferguson’s success that was over,
but United’s, too.
Fast-forward 12 years and the club are currently 15th in the Premier League table, having earned 29 points from
25 games and look to be getting worse and worse by the week.
David Moyes was the successor of Ferguson but, 10 months into his six-year contract, was sacked due to the team
performing below their usual standards which, in this age, have proved impossible as no one can match what
Ferguson had done with his group of players in that era.
United’s board saw seventh as a significant decline – which is where Moyes finished with the club – and the cause of
that was the club falling to heavy defeats from rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, paired with multiple home
losses from smaller clubs.
Moyes was also criticised for his style that didn’t resonate with United’s long history of attacking and fast-paced
football and it wasn’t long until he was shown the exit in what would soon become a vicious cycle of the recycling of
managers.
There hasn’t been a time where, since Ferguson’s 26-year reign ended, a United manager has stayed for longer than
three seasons. In fact, the only manager to complete that feat is Solskjaer.
The former striker of the club was initially appointed as interim manager but was later given the permanent role.
Like the rest, a string of poor results saw him dismissed.
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Can Moyes’ experience outclass Amorim’s tactical stubbornness?
Since rejoining Everton after 11-and-a-half years away from the club, Moyes has made their relegation worries look
laughable.
The Scotsman was in a similar situation during his first spell with the club but had led them to a resurgence identical
to the one he is currently undergoing.
And, with one loss from six Premier League games so far since his return, the Toffees look like one of the best
teams in the top-flight at the moment.
His four wins, and one draw apart – which came against Liverpool in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison
Park before the club move to Bramley-Moore Docks at the start of next season – haven’t just changed the shape of
their overall targets for the campaign, but have overseen a huge shift in mentality from supporters too.
“I enjoyed 11 wonderful and successful years at Everton and didn’t hesitate when I was offered the opportunity to
rejoin this great club.” said Moyes.
He added: “Now we need Goodison and all Evertonians to play their part in getting behind the players in this
important season so we can move into our fabulous new stadium as a Premier League team.”
When Moyes took over from Sean Dyche, Everton were 16th and only one point above the relegation zone but now
look motivated to climb even higher than their current position of 14th – 13 points from the drop.
Although Beto has become Moyes’ starting forward, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been out, alongside the club’s
best player in Iliman Ndiaye whose absence has been more subdued than painful for supporters due to the instant
impact that Carlos Alcaraz has made.
Amorim certainly has an uphill task at Goodison Park on Saturday despite the fact his side thrashed Everton at the
start of his tenure.
And this time, he is up against a different manager, with different players in a different environment. It’s a must-win
for United, but as this season has proved far too often, high stakes don’t exactly equal high-graded performances for
Amorim’s side.
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