THE 24 MATCHES THAT HELP TELL FERGUSON'S STORY ..(Final Part)

2001 PREMIER LEAGUE: TOTTENHAM 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 5

This match can pretty much be viewed as summing up United. If anyone was to argue about me including this game in my list, I simply say - Sir Alex has said before in interviews that this is his own favourite.

United were frankly a mess in the first half of this Premier League clash, and went 3-0 behind against Spurs. But Sir Alex must have worked some kind of special magic during the interval that day, because United came out a different team and proceeded to play the Londoners off the park with a breathtaking 45 minutes of football.

Andy Cole and Laurent Blanc scored for the visitors soon after the break, and then Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron were both on target inside four minutes to put United in front. 

David Beckham put the gloss on an amazing turnaround with a fifth goal, to leave Ferguson beaming with delight.

On the comeback trail: Juan Sebastian Veron scores for United in a thrilling second half at White Hart Lane

2002 FA CUP THIRD ROUND: ASTON VILLA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 3

I've selected this game because it said so much about United - their never-say-die attitude and spirit, their enduring love affair with the FA Cup and just how wildly passionate their support can be.

United looked for all the world like making a low-key exit from the competition as Villa built up a two goal lead in this Sunday night match.

Brilliant: Ole Solskjaer bursts through the Villa defence before firing home United's first goal

But Solksjaer showed all his natural brilliance to pull a goal back, and Van Nistelrooy volleyed an equaliser soon after. With the game transformed United swarmed forward in numbers and Van Nistelrooy rounded the home keeper to put United in front.

The visiting supporters behind that goal invaded the pitch in sheer joy, and did so again after the final whistle. There's always been something special about United at Villa Park.

Passion: David Beckham is lifted up by United fans after their 3-2 win at Villa Park

2003 PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Dutch of class: Ruud van Nistelrooy is congratulated after scoring United's opening goal at Highbury

This choice is not so much for the match, although it was vitally important, but for a classic piece of Ferguson showmanship and psychology.

Arsenal and United had been fearsome opponents for years, and it was the same story in 2002-03.

United slipped eight points behind on the day they lost the League Cup final to Liverpool at the beginning of March, but they had fought back and were level pegging with the Gunners before this match in the middle of April.

Van Nistelrooy put United in front, but Arsenal scored twice just after half-time to put the visitors under real pressure. United responded instantly however, with Ryan Giggs heading in a priceless equaliser.

Ferguson was at his belligerent best at the final whistle, all fists pumping and smiles. He celebrated with United supporters as if the title had been won. The message he delivered was loud and clear - United were now the favourites. 

Arsenal went to Bolton in their next match and threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2, and United seized their opportunity to go on and win another title.

Ferguson had put one over Arsene Wenger, arguably his biggest personal rival during his time at Old Trafford. He was king of English football yet again.

2005 EUROPEAN CUP: BENFICA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Disappointed: Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz in Lisbon

An autumn of discontent climaxed with an early European Cup exit for United in 2005.

The seeds of gloom had been well and truly sown before this December night in Portugal, namely when United went down a to a miserable 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. End of an era, they cried. United's time at the top is over, they shouted. Some journalists were even calling for Ferguson to retire.

And when United lost 2-1 against Benfica to exit Europe's premier competition at the group stage for the first time since 1994 (not even qualifying for the UEFA Cup in the process) the rumbles of discontent grew louder.

It was described as a 'humiliation' for Ferguson, and it was widely said he wouldn't bounce back from this one.

United's manager insisted his team was young, and would come good over the coming years. He was right of course.

2007 PREMIER LEAGUE: EVERTON 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 4

A lunchtime league match at Goodison Park that will live long in the memory. United had endured by their standards a frustrating few seasons, with first Wenger's unbeaten Arsenal and then Jose Mourinho's Chelsea (with a little help from Russian money of course) beating United to league titles.

Jumping for joy: Wayne Rooney celebrates after putting United 3-2 ahead at Goodison Park

Celebration time: Ferguson was the picture of delight at Goodison Park in 2007

United had been just in front of Chelsea for months, but some fans still feared it could all change right at the end of the season.

And with United slipping 2-0 behind against Everton, and Chelsea ahead against Bolton, it looked at one stage that this could be the day that the title race swung in Chelsea's favour.

United had other ideas however, and hit back with two quick goals to level at 2-2. And then Wayne Rooney skipped his way into the Everton penalty area and gleefully put United in front.

Chris Eagles added a fourth goal at Goodison, and the news came through that Chelsea had drawn with Bolton. United had taken a giant step to a first league title since 2003, re-establishing themselves as the premier force in English football.

It was also a good time personally for me to guage how far the game had come during Ferguson's time.

I watched the game with excited locals in Barbados before cricket's World Cup final. They would later update me with scores on their phones from other games.

The Manor Ground in 1986 seemed a million miles away.

2008 EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 BARCELONA 0

A night to remember: Ferguson celebrates victory over Barcelona

Ferguson has said this is the greatest Old Trafford atmosphere he can remember during his time at United.

The modern generation finally had something to properly compare to the fabled night in 1984 when United came back to beat Barcelona, Diego Maradona et al in the Cup Winners' Cup.

And it's hard to recall many more emotional nights at the old place. United had drawn the first leg of this European Cup semi-final 0-0 at the Nou Camp against a Barcelona side full of quality.

In a memorable second leg United went ahead when Paul Scholes superbly fired home from distance. The tie was still on a knife edge however, and Ferguson's men had to fight for their lives to hold that narrow lead in a compelling second half. 

The final whistle sparked truly joyous scenes, and Ferguson was dancing with delight. United were through to their third European Cup final.

You beauty: Paul Scholes celebrates his marvellous strike against Barcelona

2008 EUROPEAN CUP FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CHELSEA 1 (United win on penalties)

When Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka's penalty at 1.30am in the pouring rain in Moscow, it all became worthwhile. The endless worries over the match for United supporters ('Will we need a visa'? Will our name need to be on the match ticket'? 'Can we find a train from Helsinki to Moscow'?) fell away in that glorious moment.

It was one of the most surreal events you could ever attend in the Russian capital - and it looked like Chelsea might make it one to forget for United.

After going a goal up through Cristiano Ronaldo, United wasted two more superb opportunities and just before the break Frank Lampard equalised.

What a contrast: John Terry was desolate after missing his crucial penalty but Edwin van der Sar was the most relieved man in Moscow

The second 45 minutes must have seemed like the longest of all time for United supporters, with Chelsea at times totally dominant. But United survived, and when Lampard struck the crossbar for the Blues in extra-time, following on from Didier Drogba earlier hitting the post, many recalled Bayern Munich's bad luck with the woodwork nine years earlier and wondered whether it was all written in the stars.

It didn't feel like that when Ronaldo missed in the shoot-out and John Terry walked forward with a penalty kick to win the game - then it looked all over. But Terry slipped and the rest is history. Fifty years on from the Munich air crash, United had tasted joy again in the competition which is woven into the very fabric of the club. They were kings of the continent for the third time.

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Memories are made of this for ever and a day: Sir Alex has his hands on the European Cup again after Manchester United's victory over Chelsea in Moscow

2009 PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 ASTON VILLA 1

Once again this was vintage United theatre. Ferguson has made a habit over the years of saying how United like to make things 'difficult' for themselves, and their title campaign in 2008-09 was stuttering in the spring.

Magic moment: Federico Macheda fires home a magnificent late winner against Aston Villa

Nice one son: Ferguson congratulates Macheda following his crucial late winner

Liverpool, who were United's main challengers that season, had gone ahead of Ferguson's men the previous evening with victory at Fulham.

Any dropped points against Villa on this Sunday afternoon in April would have been costly indeed.

The visitors went 2-1 up courtesy of goals from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Old Trafford was a bag of nerves. Ronaldo equalised with a snaking low shot and then came one of those United moments.

Federico Macheda, making his first appearance for the club at the age of just 17, was sent on with time running out. In the final moments of injury time, the youngster turned brilliantly and fired home a marvellous winner to send Old Trafford into delirium.

United had stopped the temporary rot, and had the belief once again to go on and win the league title. It was a remarkable 11th league success for Ferguson, and an 18th title for the club that moved them level with Liverpool. 

It seems fitting that I end my article with a late goal - they have been arguably the lasting memory of the Ferguson years.

-thanks to dailymail.co.uk

Final part ni pun ada banyak game yang stil dalam ingatan aku!! Greatest comeback in EPL for me personally time MU vs Spurs di WHite Hart Lane yg mana MU ketinggalan 3-0 then after kena brainwash dgn Sir Alex MU menang 5-3!! Emosi time game di Moscow pun tak dapat aku gambarkan..jap tutup mata jap matikan tv la..ekekeke,last2 my idol Giggsy skor the winning penalty and MU win Champions League for the second time in 10 years!! Kira semua game kat atas ni aku masih teringat2 lagi la..korang lak camane?? Ingat tak?? GGMU and dont forget to join us at 5 MV location all over Malaysia!!