United history: 2000 to 2009
United
started the new decade, Century and Millennium in typical pioneering
fashion, entering a brand new competition – the FIFA Club World
Championship in Brazil – but at the expense of participation in the
FA Cup, of which the Reds were the holders.
The
January jaunt to South America didn't result in any silverware but it
gave the players valuable relaxation time in the sun. Rejuvenated by
this, United raced ahead of the rivals in the title race on return to
England, after they had failed to capitalise at the start of the
year. Sir Alex's men achieved their sixth Premiership title early, in
April, and still without a convincing replacement for Peter
Schmeichel.
Several
goalkeepers, including Mark
Bosnich, tried
and failed to establish themselves during the 1999/2000 season. So it
was hardly surprising when World Cup and European Championship
winner Fabien
Barthez joined
United in July 2000.
The
eccentric but formidable French goalkeeper helped United to win a
third successive title in 2000/01, a feat that had previously been
achieved by only a handful of clubs in England. Liverpool had been
the last team to do it, in 1982, 1983 and 1984, but this was under
the supervision of two different managers - Bob Paisley and Joe
Fagan.
Sir
Alex had
been at the helm for all three of United's back-to-back titles, and
was the first manager in English football to achieve the hat-trick.
On the back of this latest trophy, he announced his impending
retirement, only to backtrack and decide to stay.