On this day: Sir Alex Ferguson’s unforgettable final game

The Reds had been crowned champions of England for a record-breaking 20th time almost a month earlier, after a 3-0 romp past Aston Villa at Old Trafford had extended the gap over Manchester City, in second, to a mammoth 16 points.

 

But the story of the season’s final weeks took a dramatic twist when Sir Alex announced his impending retirement after 26 glorious years at the helm and, more importantly, 13 top-flight titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, two European Cups and two world titles.

 

A showpiece farewell had taken place in M16 a week before, against Swansea, but a trip to the Black Country still remained in order to complete the domestic campaign.

 

And, fittingly, that last afternoon applied an extraordinary full-stop to an extraordinary career.