10 Interesting Facts about Manchester United

Photo Courtesy: Gordon Flood

The English Manchester United Football Club has always been in the sporting spotlight thanks to its numerous victories and millions of die hard fans all over the world. Words fail to describe the glory of this team and the recently retired manager, Sir Alex Ferguson’s contribution to the sport of football. If you are one of the many followers of Man-U, then this list is a must read for you.

1. The current United’s devilish mascot, Fred The Red, was created and established in 1994. It is the club’s sixth mascot and previous mascots include a canary called ‘Michael’, ‘Major’ the Saint Bernard Dog and a goat named ‘Billy’.

2. The latest player to be signed on for playing in the club is 23 year old Shinji Kagawa from Japan. He came on board the Man-U team last year and has so far in his professional football career scored over 75 goals in more than 160 appearances.

3. The youngest player to have ever scored a goal for Manchester United was Norman Whiteside who did so in a match against Stoke City in 1982. He was 17 years and 7 days then and dethroned legendary footballer Pele as the youngest player who played in the World Championships and scored a goal when he was 17 years and 41 days.

4. The record for the most appearances in one season at this professional club is jointly held by Steve Bruce and Denis Irwin. They each totaled 62 appearances in 1993-94 season.

5. It was a dark time for this club before 1957, well literally. The first ever floodlit match at Old Trafford was against Bolton Wanderers on March 23, 1957. Bolton won the game straight on with a score of 2-0.

6. Although it is a through and through English club, Man-U is actually owned by an American businessman Called Malcolm Glazer.

7. This much loved club boasts of being the only English team to win the treble of League Championship, FA Cup and European Cup/Champions League (1998-1999).

8. Manchester United’s home ground, Old Trafford, was built in 1910. However, tragedy struck when it got bombed during the Second World War and it was fully rebuilt after the war in 1949.

9. Among the many laurels of this club is the achievement of having won the League Championship 19 times and winning the FA Cup 11 times, a record which no other club has been able to break till now.

10. Man-U has built its way to the top and had started off at a low note. In its first ever game at Old Trafford which took place on February 19th, 1910 against Liverpool, it lost with a score of 4-3.