Manchester United Club Profile

Overview

Manchester United are the most successful Premier League club having won the title 11 times. It all began in 1993 when manager Sir Alex Ferguson ended a 26-year wait to lift the Premier League crown.

The signing of Eric Cantona for £1.2m from Leeds United proved a masterstroke as the Frenchman was instrumental in the title victory, along with the likes of Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Ryan Giggs and Paul Ince.

United retained the trophy in the following campaign and romped to further titles in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. More silverware was added to the Red Devils' burgeoning trophy cabinet with FA Cup success in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004, plus League Cup victories in 1992 and 2006.

Perhaps the most memorable time in the club's history was the treble-winning season of 1999 when they added the European Champions League trophy to the league title and FA Cup.

Chelsea briefly broke their league dominance with title wins in 2005 and 2006. But in the 2006/07 season, the Red Devils roared back to regain the Barclays Premiership.

They went one better in 2007/08, enjoying their most successful campaign since winning the treble. They saw off the challenge of Chelsea and Arsenal to win an exciting Barclays Premier League title race and defeated the Blues on penalties in the Champions League final after a 1-1 draw between the two sides in Moscow.

In 2008/09, United made it a hat-trick of titles, also winning the Carling Cup but narrowly missing out to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Club Heritage

Formed as Newton Heath L&YR F.C in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902. Six years later they clinched the Division One title, then the FA Cup in 1909, and another title triumph in 1911.

Matt Busby became manager in 1945 and steered United to championship victories in 1952, 1956 and 1957. They became the first English club to compete in the European Cup and reached the semi-final, before going out to Real Madrid. Tragedy struck in 1958 when the plane carrying the team home from a European match crashed, killing eight players.

Busby survived and led his rebuilt team to an FA Cup win in 1963, then league titles in 1965 and 1967. United won the European Cup in 1968 with victory over Benfica in the final - the first English club to do so. When Busby resigned in 1969, his successors failed to continue his glorious triumphs and United were relegated five years later.

They managed to regain their top-flight status at the first attempt and later won the FA Cup in 1977. More FA Cup success followed in 1983 and 1985. But it was United's 1990 FA Cup replay win over Crystal Palace that proved to be the springboard to becoming the force they are today.

It saved under-pressure manager Alex Ferguson from losing his job and he went on to win the European Cup Winners' Cup the season after and began their Premier League dominance with the 1993 title.

Premier League History

1992/93 - Inaugural members of the Premier League
1992/93 - Eric Cantona signs from Leeds United for £1.2m
1992/93 - Win FA Carling Premiership
1993/94 - Win FA Carling Premiership and FA Cup
1995/96 - Win FA Carling Premiership and FA Cup
1996/97 - Win FA Carling Premiership
1998/99 - Win FA Carling Premiership, European Cup,  and FA Cup
1999/00 - Win FA Carling Premiership
2000/01 - Win FA Carling Premiership
2001/02 - Juan Sebastian Veron breaks the British transfer record with a £28m move from Lazio
2002/03 - Win Barclaycard Premiership 
2003/04 - Win FA Cup
2005/06 - American Malcolm Glazer takes control of club
2005/06 - Win League Cup
2006/07 - Win Barclays Premiership
2007/08 - Win Barclays Premier League, win European Cup 
2008/09 - Win Barclays Premier League, Carling Cup, World Club Championship.

Chelsea Club Profile

Overview

Chelsea will be desperate to regain the Premier League crown after finishing second to Manchester United in the last two seasons. Former manager Jose Mourinho, bankrolled by owner Roman Abromovich's millions, brought the first title to Stamford Bridge for 50 years when the Blues lifted the trophy in 2005. Chelsea became only the second team to win back-to-back Premier League titles when they clinched it a year later. Mourinho left the club by mutual consent in September 2007.

Although Chelsea reached the FA Cup final in 1994, they hardly set the world alight in their early Premier League days. Ruud Gullit became manager in 1996 and steered the Blues to an FA Cup triumph in 1997, while his successor Gianluca Vialli guided the team to victory in the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998.

Shortly after, he led the team to the UEFA Super Cup after a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. The FA Cup followed in 2000. Vialli was replaced by Claudio Ranieri in 2000 and he led Chelsea to another FA Cup final appearance in 2002. 

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the Blues for £140m. After a trophyless season, he appointed Mourinho as new Chelsea manager and there was instant success. In 2005, Chelsea won the Barclays Premiership and League Cup, along with a Champions League semi-final appearance.

And Mourinho retained the Barclays Premiership crown the year after, equalling the club's own Premier League record of 29 wins set the previous season. They were league runners-up in 2006/07 and also claimed the FA Cup and League Cup double.

They were also runners-up in the 2007/08 campaign, but by this time Mourinho had left the club. He was replaced by Avram Grant who led the Blues to the final of the Champions League and Carling Cup.

Grant left Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and was replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari who will be charged with bringing the title back to the club. However he was sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Guus Hiddink who agreed to take charge until the end of the campaign while continuing to coach the Russian national side.

Club Heritage

Chelsea were formed in 1905 and were elected into the Second Division of the Football League. They just missed out on silverware 10 years later with an FA Cup final defeat. The Blues had to wait for their first major trophy in 1955, when under manager Ted Drake, they won the league title. Chelsea claimed the League Cup for the first time in 1965 and were defeated in the FA Cup final two years later.

Featuring the likes of Ron 'Chopper' Harris, Ian Hutchison and Peter Osgood, Chelsea overcame Leeds to win the FA Cup in 1970. In the following season, they clinched the European Cup Winners' Cup with a replay victory over Real Madrid.

Financial problems meant the Stamford Bridge club dropped into the Second Division, and at one point they were close to falling to the Third Division.

They eventually won their place back in the top flight in 1984, but their stay only lasted four seasons. They clawed their way back to the First Division again as Second Division champions in 1989 and have remained there ever since.

Premier League History

1992/93 - Inaugural members of the Premier League
1993/94 - Lose FA Cup final
1996/97 - Ruud Gullit appointed player-manger
1996/97 - Win FA Cup
1997/98 - Gianluca Vialli becomes manager
1997/98 - Win League Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup
1999/00 - FA Cup winners
2000/01 - Claudio Ranieri becomes manager
2001/02 - Lose FA Cup final
2003/04 - Chairman Ken Bates sells Chelsea to Roman Abramovich
2000/05 - Jose Mourinho takes over as manager
2004/05 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership and League Cup
2005/06 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership
2006/07 - Win FA Cup and League Cup
2007/08 - Jose Mourinho leaves the club to be replaced by Avram Grant. Runners up in the Carling Cup, Barclays Premier League and Champions League. Part company with Grant. Luiz Felipe Scolari appointed manager in June.
2008/09 - Scolari is sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Russian national coach Guus Hiddink who will combine both roles until the end of the season. Carlo Ancelotti named new manager in June 2009.

Kranjcar eyes Reds win

Niko Kranjcar is confident Tottenham Hotspur can increase their lead over Liverpool in the league table.

 

The teams square up in the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday night with both sides aiming for an illustrious top four placing.

Spurs sit in fourth spot and are four points and three places above Liverpool at the midway point of the campaign.

Although Harry Redknapp's troops dropped points at the weekend after being held 0-0 at home to Hull City, Kranjcar believes Spurs can bounce back with victory at Anfield.

massive team

"We want it (fourth place)," he said. "We said that from day one. We never hid our ambitions and we believe we can do it.

"It is a good time to play Liverpool, but they are a massive team and we are still going away from home.

"Do we believe we can win that game? Yes we do. We believe in our qualities. We have beaten Liverpool once already this season but they are only four points behind us.

"They might be in a bad season, but they are only four points behind us. They have every right to believe they can make it to the Champions League.

"It's going to be a massive game for us. I really expect them to be at their top level, but so will we. It's an important game to put some breathing space between us and them."

Davies keen to lead by example

Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies is determined to lead from the front in the club's relegation battle.

Wanderers lost 2-0 to Arsenal in Owen Coyle's first match in charge on Sunday but they impressed with their work rate and created a number of good chances.

The club are second from bottom of the Barclays Premier League but are by no means doomed to go down, and Davies has pledged to personally kick-start their scrap for survival.

"We are in a difficult position and that is a big challenge to myself and the team," said the striker.

"I'm the captain and I'm one of the ones who has to get the boys going, roll the sleeves up and get on with the battle.

"It is about getting Bolton out of the bottom three."

frozen out

Davies said Coyle's return to the club, having previously been a player, has had a noticeable impact on the squad who have all risen to the challenge of trying to impress the new manager.

"From what I have seen in training everyone has been working hard to get themselves in his plans," added the 32-year-old, who was ill last week but had Coyle on the phone to him regularly.

"There are certain players under the previous manager (Gary Megson) who were frozen out and you could see their confidence draining away.

"Now I have seen a big change in some of the players: from the lads who have been starting to those on the fringes and those training with the reserves.

"I have been really impressed with the way the players have responded to him and I think that is a credit to him.

"Speaking to players individually they have been impressed with his man-management skills."

Tigers pounce for Zaki

Hull City have confirmed that former Wigan Athletic striker Amr Zaki has joined the club on loan.

 

The Egypt international has signed for the KC Stadium outfit until the end of the season, subject to a work permit, having already experienced life in the Barclays Premier League with the Latics last term.

He scored seven top-flight goals in 22 appearances last term and joins Hull from from Egyptian side Zamalek.

considerable asset

A statement on the club's official website read: "We are pleased to confirm the loan signing of Amr Zaki from Zamalek FC.

"The player yesterday signed a loan agreement until the end of the season to join Hull City AFC.

"As is the case with all non-EU transfers, there are work permit and other red tape issues still to be confirmed but we are expecting the player to return to England and join Hull City on Friday this week.

"The playing contracts are signed and confirmed, however the final details must be undertaken before the loan can commence.

"The player has missed the African Cup of Nations through injury but is now fit to recommence full training and should be available for selection for the home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers onwards.

"The club has paid a significant loan fee to bring Amr back to the UK but his goal-scoring record with Wigan Athletic last season would suggest that he will be a considerable asset in our fight to move up the Barclays Premier League."

Sunderland end Anderson contract

Sunderland end Anderson contract

Sunderland have cancelled the contract of Scotland international defender Russell Anderson by mutual consent.

Anderson, 31, was signed by former boss Roy Keane from Scottish side Aberdeen for £1m in June 2007 but made just two appearances for the Black Cats. 

"This decision has been taken to give him an opportunity to find a club where he can fulfil his desire to play," said Sunderland boss Steve Bruce. 

"His attitude and determination to get back playing have been exemplary." 

The centre-back made more than 300 appearances for Aberdeen during an 11-year stay at Pittodrie and captained them. 

He started just one game for Sunderland and had loan spells with Plymouth and Burnley, with his last first-team game for the Clarets against Fulham in September 2008. 

He was in talks with Scottish Premier League side Hibernian before his exit from the Stadium of Light.

Pulis pulling out all the stops to sign James in time for Liverpool showdown

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping to sign England goalkeeper David James in time for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The potential transfer from Portsmouth is being discussed by the clubs' chief executives Tony Scholes and Peter Storrie.
Pulis believes James will add to the competition for the No 1 spot at the Britannia Stadium, although has refused to rule out the chance of Thomas Sorensen leaving as the Dane has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
Race against time: James could be a Stoke player by Saturday
'We'll have to see if the two clubs can come to a deal and we're hoping it will be tied up for the weekend, but it will have to be right for us,' said Pulis. 'If we can get him we'll be absolutely delighted because if there's a weakness (in the squad) it's been between the sticks in respect of having competition and back-up.
'We lost Thomas immediately before the Fulham game and if anything had happened to (deputy) Steve Simonsen, then we wouldn't have had a goalkeeper.
'It would have been a tragedy for us, and it really opens up your eyes. So we've an opportunity to bring in a top-class goalkeeper because we have heard he might be available.'
With James known to be itching for first-team football to enhance his prospects of playing for England in the World Cup, Pulis feels that strengthens his chances of recruiting the 39-year-old.
Great Dane: Sorensen
'You are signing a goalkeeper of real quality, and if he comes here he has a few months' football to play,' added Pulis.
'Sorensen has done brilliantly, so they will both be fighting for that one spot, but he (James) has something to prove as well.
'He'll want to be on that plane to South Africa, and that attracts me to him more than anything else. He is desperate to play for England in the World Cup.
'So if we can bring him in and give him the opportunity to prove he is the best goalkeeper in England, and he proves that, then we'll be delighted.'
Yet despite suggesting the goalkeeping department lacks strength in depth, there is every opportunity of Sorensen leaving to make way for James.
'We've heard the rumours that there are clubs in Europe who fancy Thomas, and it makes it more important that we cover ourselves,' said Pulis.
'If Bayern Munich, Manchester United or Chelsea come in for Thomas, he would want to better himself like everybody else does, just like (Cristiano) Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid.
'But it (goalkeepers) is a fragile area. Hopefully we're covering it by bringing in David.'
Pulis is also known to be eager to strengthen up front, which is why he has been linked to the likes of Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones, Ruud van Nisteolrooy at Real Madrid and Amr Zaki with Egyptian side Zamalek.
Jones is understood to be favourite, although Black Cats manager Steve Bruce cast aspersions on Stoke's spending power this week by insisting the Potters could not afford him.
Regardless of such comments, Stoke chairman Peter Coates yesterday refused to rule out a bid for Jones.
'That situation is very disappointing because I've always tried to work manager to manager. I believe deals should be done that way,' assessed Pulis of the gossip linking him to the Trinidad & Tobago star.
'As far as I'm concerned it's not gone to that stage. If I'm going to be doing anything I'll be speaking to Steve Bruce first.
'All this nonsense about what he's earning has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
Back again? Jones (left) previously had a loan spell at Stoke
'It's a case of do we want him and do they want to sell him? Brucie has said he doesn't want to sell him, and who's saying we want him?
'But if Steve came back and said he wanted £20million for Kenwyne Jones, I'm not sure Peter would pay that.'
With regards to former Manchester United ace Van Nistelrooy, Pulis is a little more sceptical, but has again not dismissed it out of hand.
'I'd take Van Nistelrooy tomorrow if we could afford him or he wanted to come to Stoke,' said Pulis. 'But going from Real Madrid to Stoke City, I'm not so sure that's sexy enough for him, but we'll see.
'What we've done is we've made enquiries for four or five people.'
Stoke City throw Portsmouth keeper David James World Cup lifelineKenwyne Jones could still be on Stoke radar as chairman refuses to rule out move for Sunderland strikerGriffin joins Reading on loan as Stoke's forgotten man seeks first-team footballPORTSMOUTH FC

Harry charged with tax offences

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has been charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue.

Redknapp has been accused of a £40,000 tax evasion relating to his time in charge of Portsmouth.

The 62-year-old had two spells at Fratton Park and left for the second time in 2008 to take the managerial reins at Spurs.

Earlier in the week, the Premier League club's former owner, Milan Mandaric, was also charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue.

Redknapp attended Bishopsgate police station in London on Thursday where he was formerly charged.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service read: ''Henry (Harry) Redknapp, the former football manager of Portsmouth City Football Club, has today been charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue.

''The CPS Revenue and Customs Division decided there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge Mr Redknapp.

"He is jointly charged with Milan Mandaric, the former chairman of Portsmouth City Football Club, following an investigation by the City of London Police and HM Revenue & Customs.

''The charges concern two payments, totalling 295,000 US dollars, from Mr Mandaric to Mr Redknapp via a bank account in Monaco, evading the tax and national insurance contributions due between 1 April 2002 and 28 November 2007.

"The payments were in relation to Mr Redknapp's employment. He will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 11 February.''