We’ve delved into our picture archive to bring you 100 iconic images from Manchester United’s illustrious history. Sir Alex Ferguson has been one of the main protagonists in the history of the Reds, and has been part of some of their most momentous occasions – but he’s only part of the club’s 140 years of history. There are shots of Sir Matt Busby, George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton and modern-day heroes including Fergie, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona and Wayne Rooney. The images capture scenes of celebration from United’s many triumphs domestically, in Europe and on the world stage – as well as triumphant homecomings attracting hundreds of thousands of fans in Manchester. And there are a few candid shots from off the pitch that should make you smile and maybe reminisce a little. Scroll through our gallery below:
- Manchester United Treble parade 1999(Image: Chris Gleave)1 of 100
- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (second right) watches his new team for the first time as they crash to a 2-0 defeat.2 of 100
- Manchester United v Everton, pictured by Chris Gleave. Roy Keane is grabbed by Eric Cantona after scoring Utd’s first goal.3 of 100
- 5 Mar 1997: Manchester United team photograph before the Champions League Quarter Final First Leg against Porto at Old Trafford, Manchester. United won 4-0.4 of 100
- West Ham v Manchester United-Premiership 22/01/1996. Nicky Butt of United tussles with Iain Dowie of West Ham5 of 100
- United win the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo – and become world champions6 of 100
- Utd’s Eric Cantona escapes a Nigel Clough tackle. Manchester United v Manchester City 18/2/967 of 100
- Roy Keane and Alfe Inge Haaland during a derby in 20018 of 100
- George Best and Barbara Werle. Manchester United star Best chats in a Cardiff nightclub with Werle, Hollywood star, of the film “Krakatoa – East of Java”.9 of 100
- 1972: George Best of Manchester United in action at Old Trafford.10 of 100
- George Best and Matt Busby at the Cavendish Hotel, prior to an F.A. hearing. December 197211 of 100
- Manchester United v Chelsea FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, Saturday 14th May 1994.12 of 100
- Manchester United v Crystal Palace FA Cup Final Replay at Wembley Stadium, Thursday 17th May 1990.13 of 100
- Manchester United v Chelsea FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, Saturday 14th May 1994.14 of 100
- Manchester United v Crystal Palace FA Cup Final Replay at Wembley Stadium, Thursday 17th May 1990.15 of 100
- Javier Hernandez (Utd) celebrates scoring Man Utd’s first goal with Wayne Rooney in their 2-1 victory over Chelsea. 12/04/201116 of 100
- Ashley Cole (Chelsea) tussles for the ball with Wayne Rooney (Man Utd). 12/04/201117 of 100
- Ole Gunnar Solksjaer celebrates scoring the winning goal in the 1999 European Cup final(Image: Mirrorpix)18 of 100
- Manchester Utd V Chelsea / Champions League Quater Final 2nd Leg. Edwin van der Sar celebrates Park Ji-Sung (Utd) scoring his sides second 2-1. 12/04/201119 of 100
- Manchester United team pose for a group photograph with the League Championship trophy. Standing left to right: J. E. Magnall (Secretary), F. Bacon, Picken, Edmonds, Mr Murray (Director), Moger, Mr H Davies, T Homer, Mr Lawton (Director), A Bell, Mr Deakin (Director). Sitting: W. Meredith, Duckworth, Roberts, J Turbull, West, Stacey, Whalley,Hofton, Halse and Wall. 1908.20 of 100
- Mrs Edith Rawcliffe (left) and Mrs Renee Loughnane (right) who work at the souvenir shop at Old Trafford. Centre is Mrs Nesta Burgess who has spent 19 years working in the players lounge. April 1976.21 of 100
- Manchester United team pose for a group photograph at Bank Street before the 1905 – 1906 season. Back Row left to right: Alec Downie, H Moger, R Bonthron. Middle row: J E Mangnall (secretary), J Picken, C Sagar, T Blackstock, J Peddie and F Bacon (trainer). Front row: Beddow, C Roberts (captain), Alec Bell and T Arkesden. Circa August 190522 of 100
- Manchester United players and manager Alex Ferguson pictured at the Cliff training ground with the TR7 car that is being put in a charity raffle to raise funds for the “Mend A Broken Wing” appeal at Pendlebury Kids hospital. The sports car was presented to the Red’s man of the match Jimmy Greenhoff after their 1977 FA Cup final win. Players are left to right: Lee Sharpe, David May, Brian McClair, Gary Pallister (behind the wheel), Peter Schmeichel, Dion Dublin (passenger seat), Mark Hughes, Paul Ince, Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs. Circa August 1994.23 of 100
- Manchester United team group 1921 -2224 of 100
- Manchester United v Manchester City, league match at Old Trafford, Sunday 6th December 1992. Mark Hughes celebrates after scoring winning goal.25 of 100
- Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United, league match at Ewood Park, Saturday 3rd April 1965. Denis Law in defence, aids keeper Pat Dunne, by clearing ball from Andy McEvoy.26 of 100
- Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United, league match at Ewood Park, Saturday 3rd April 1965.27 of 100
- Manchester United v Norwich, league match at Old Trafford, Saturday 7th September 1991.28 of 100
- Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal with manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Stoke City in April 201329 of 100
- Liverpool v Manchester United, FA Cup Semi Final match at Goodison Park, 13th April 1985. Bryan Robson Manchester United Captain.30 of 100
- Liverpool v Manchester United, FA Cup Semi Final match at Goodison Park, 13th April 1985. Bruce Grobbelaar Liverpool Goalkeeper punches the ball away.31 of 100
- Liverpool v Manchester United, FA Cup Semi Final match at Goodison Park, 13th April 1985. Mark Hughes in action.32 of 100
- Manchester United FC. August 1976.33 of 100
- Derek Reeves Manchester United v Southampton, FA Cup semi final match at Villa Park, Saturday 27th April 1963.34 of 100
- UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match at the San Siro Stadium. Inter Milan 1 v Manchester United 1. (United go through on aggregate). Paul Scholes celebrates after scoring his goal, congratulated by teammate Phil Neville. 17th March 1999.35 of 100
- Andy Cole of Manchester United wheels away in delight after scoring the winner in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match against Juventus at the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin36 of 100
- Manchester United fans celebrate victory over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match at the Stadio delle Alpi37 of 100
- United players celebrate Andy Cole’s winner38 of 100
- Sir Alex Ferguson take charge of Manchester Utd for the last time before retirement.39 of 100
- Manchester United 195240 of 100
- May 1985: Norman Whiteside and Kevin Moran of Manchester United hold the trophy aloft after the FA Cup final against Everton at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester United won the match 1-0. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport41 of 100
- Manchester United 0 v Leeds United 0 Manchester United’s Denis Law leads out his team before the match. March 196542 of 100
- Manchester United Captain, Martin Buchan, holds aloft the FA Cup at Wmebley after receiving the Trophy from the Duchess of Kent. United beat Liverpool 2-1.43 of 100
- Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer George Best, at his Manchester Boutique.44 of 100
- Ron Atkinson and the Manchester United squad in 1982 pose to launch a kit sponsorship deal with Sharp(Image: Manchester United)45 of 100
- Manchester United Football Team celebrate after winning the FA Cup with captain Eric Cantona holding the trophy aloft. 11th May 1996.46 of 100
- Matt Busby Series. Manchester United players lodging at Mrs Watsons, Old Trafford Guest House. (l-r) Bill Whelan, Jackie Blanchflower, Mark Jones, Gordon Clayton, Joan, Alan Rhodes and Duncan Edwards. September 1953.47 of 100
- Sir Matt Busby. Oxford United players prior to match. Oxford United players celebrate the opening of their New Stand at New Beech Road which was officialy opened by Sir Matt Busby C.B.E. prior to the match. February 197548 of 100
- Manchester United European Cup winning team poses with the trophy at Old Trafford 1968 Bill Foulkes John Aston Jimmy Rimmer Alex Stepney Alan Gowling David Herd David Sadler Tony Dunne Shay Brennan Pat Crerand George Best Francis Burns Jack Crompton Jimmy Ryan Nobby Stiles Denis Law Matt Busby Bobby Charlton Brian Kidd John Fitzpatrick49 of 100
- Manchester United footballer Jackie Blanchflower with manager Matt Busby quietly enjoying his prematch recreation in the lounge. 23rd January 1955.50 of 100
- Manchester United manager Frank O’Farrell meets the press with Matt Busby and Louis Edwards. 5th July 1971.51 of 100
- Manchester United manager Matt Busby with two of his players Johnny Berry (left) and Duncan Edwards (right) in the dressing room at Bournemouth after United had qualified for the FA Cup semi final. 2nd March 1957.52 of 100
- United welcomed home after winning the 1909 FA Cup(Image: Mirrorpix)53 of 100
- United return to Old Trafford in 1949 in the new uncovered stand after the Blitz(Image: Mirrorpix)54 of 100
- Busby Babes – Johnny Berry, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, Roger Byrne and Dennis Viollet(Image: Mirrorpix)55 of 100
- March 1957: Duncan Edwards takes on Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Sims(Image: Mirrorpix)56 of 100
- Bobby Charlton lays injured in hospital after the Munich Air Disaster in 1958(Image: Mirrorpix)57 of 100
- Denis Law beats Gordon Banks the Leicester goalkeeper to only to choke and miss an open goal during the FA Cup final at Wembley in 1963(Image: Manchester Evening News)58 of 100
- Manchester United parade down London Road after their defeat to Bolton Wanderers in the 1958 FA Cup Final, led by mascot Jack Irons(Image: Mirrorpix)59 of 100
- Manchester United’s Tony Dunne, Bobby Charlton, Noel Cantwell, Pat Crerand, Albert Quixall, David Herd and Johnny Giles celebrate the Reds’ 1963 FA Cup triumph60 of 100
- United players celebrate winning the FA Cup at Wembley in 1963, including Bobby Charlton, Noel Cantwell, Pat Crerand, Albert Quixall, David Herd, Johnny Giles, Maurice Setters, Tony Dunne(Image: Mirrorpix)61 of 100
- Noel Cantwell on the train with the FA Cup in 1963(Image: Mirrorpix)62 of 100
- Manchester United fans await the team returning from Wembley with the FA Cup in May 1963(Image: Mirrorpix)63 of 100
- Denis Law takes a breather in 1965(Image: Mirrorpix)64 of 100
- David Sadler and George Best celebrate victory in the 1968 European Cup semi-final(Image: Mirrorpix)65 of 100
- Manchester United celebrate on an open-top bus tour of Manchester as they make their way to Manchester town hall, 1968(Image: Mirrorpix)66 of 100
- About 250,000 fans greeted the team after their 1968 European Cup triumph(Image: Mirrorpix)67 of 100
- The team return to Manchester to celebrate their 1968 European Cup win(Image: Mirrorpix)68 of 100
- George Best celebrates a goal in 1971(Image: Mirrorpix)69 of 100
- Tommy Docherty lifts the FA Cup in 1977(Image: Mirrorpix)70 of 100
- Bryan Robson celebrates a United goal at West Brom in 1982(Image: Mirrorpix)71 of 100
- Villa Park, 1983: Norman Whiteside scores the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal(Image: Mirrorpix)72 of 100
- Arnold Muhren and Bryan Robson hold the FA Cup aloft after winning the final replay against Brighton in 198373 of 100
- Bryan Robson scores United’s first goal on route to a famous comeback against Barcelona, reversing a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat the Catalan giants 3-0 at Old Trafford in March 1984(Image: Mirrorpix)74 of 100
- Frank Stapleton sends Old Trafford wild by scoring to complete a famous comeback against Barcelona, reversing a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat the Catalan giants 3-0 at Old Trafford in March 198475 of 100
- Norman Whiteside lifts the FA Cup after his winning goal in extra-time gave United the trophy over Everton in 1985(Image: Mirrorpix)76 of 100
- Alex Ferguson signs autographs for fans at his first match as United manager at Oxford in 198677 of 100
- Construction work in progress at Old Trafford. 7th July 1963.78 of 100
- Tens of thousands of United fans made the journey to Rotterdam as they Reds took on Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup final(Image: Mirrorpix)79 of 100
- Mark Hughes smashes home United’s second goal against Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup final(Image: Mirrorpix)80 of 100
- Les Sealey collapses to the turf in celebration after the final whistle as United clinched the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup(Image: Mirrorpix)81 of 100
- Matchwinner Mark Hughes with the European Cup Winners’ Cup(Image: Mirrorpix)82 of 100
- A pivotal moment: Eric Cantona signs for the Reds from Leeds United(Image: Mirrorpix)83 of 100
- Steve Bruce as he celebrates scoring one of his two goals against Sheffield Wednesday in April 1993(Image: (John Giles/PA Wire))84 of 100
- Ryan Giggs celebrates after scoring against Blackburn in 1993 in the first game at Old Trafford after United had claimed their first league title for 26 years(Image: Mirrorpix)85 of 100
- Champion: Ryan Giggs lifts the Premiership trophy at Old Trafford in 1993(Image: Mirrorpix)86 of 100
- David May wheels away to celebrate scoring in a 4-0 over Porto in the European Cup in 1997(Image: Mirrorpix)87 of 100
- Eric Cantona scores one of his two penalties in a 4-0 FA Cup Final win over Chelsea to complete the double in 1994(Image: Mirrorpix)88 of 100
- Eric Cantona turns away in celebration after scoring the goal that clinches the FA Cup in 1996 against Liverpool(Image: Mirrorpix)89 of 100
- Peter Schmeichel celebrates after United score twice in injury time to win the European Cup in 199 in Barcelona(Image: Mirrorpix)90 of 100
- Alex Ferguson and Peter Schmeichel lift the European Cup in 1999(Image: Mirrorpix)91 of 100
- David Beckham lifts the European Cup after the 1999 final(Image: Mirrorpix)92 of 100
- United players celebrate with fans in the Camp Nou, Barcelona, after the 1999 European Cup triumph(Image: Mirrorpix)93 of 100
- Sir Alex Ferguson lifts the Champions League trophy after United overcame Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 final in Moscow(Image: Mirrorpix)94 of 100
- Ryan Giggs and Sir Alex Ferguson celebrate after winning the Premier League title in 201195 of 100
- Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick celebrate with the Premier League trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)96 of 100
- Paul Pogba and Adnan Januzaj celebrate winning the Manchester Senior Cup in 201297 of 100
- Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring against Southampton in the League Cup final in 2017(Image: Getty Images)98 of 100
- United lift the Europa League trophy99 of 100
- The Manchester United squad pose with a banner after the winning UEFA Europa League Final – just two days after the Manchester Arena bombing