It was always going to be this, wasnt it? Following a highly disappointing 97/98 season that saw Arsenal win both the Premier League and the FA Cup, Sir Alexs United had seemingly been displaced as Englands top team. Three-nil thrashings at the hands of the Gunners in both the league and the Charity Shield seemed to reinforce the notion, but once United hit the ground running there was no turning back as Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke combined to form a devastating strike partnership, supported by a team hungry for the taste of success once more. Thrilling European encounters against Bayern Munich and Barcelona saw the team advance to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League, but United were only fourth in the league as 1998 ended and 1999 began. It was an uphill climb, but the team persevered, going unbeaten in the league for the rest of the season to secure the title once more after a final day away victory over Tottenham. Trophy one was in the bag. The FA Cup would follow a few days later, but Uniteds path to the final was a nailbiting one. Following a third round victory over Middlesbrough it took two very late goals to overcome a one-nil deficit against Liverpool in the fourth. Then-minnows Fulham were dispatched in the fifth round before Chelsea were beaten in a quarter final replay to set up a semi final date with Arsenal. An uneventful goalless draw meant that United had to play yet another replay, in which captain Roy Keane was sent off and, with the score at 1-1, Arsenal were awarded a stoppage time penalty. Perhaps it was fate, but Dennis Bergkamp saw his spot kick saved by Peter Schmeichel, sending the tie into extra time. It was settled with what has since been routinely voted as one of the best goals of all time. Ryan Giggs, having intercepted a Patrick Vieira pass at the halfway line, successfully took on almost the entire Arsenal team before blasting the ball into the roof of David Seamans net, setting up a final at Wembley against Newcastle, which United would win 2-1. The third and final trophy was the UEFA Champions League, last won by the team in 1968. A brace from Dwight Yorke at home and a 1-1 draw in Italy saw United beat Inter Milan to progress to the semi finals of the competition, where they were drawn against Juventus. A 92nd minute Ryan Giggs goal gave United a 1-1 draw after a poor showing at Old Trafford, before Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the first eleven minutes of the away leg to give the Turin giants a 3-1 aggregate lead. Step forward Roy Keane. In perhaps his finest performance in a red shirt, Uniteds captain put on a heroic and selfless display, despite the fact that his collection of a yellow card meant that he would be suspended for the final. His goal gave United a chance, before Yorke and Cole added a goal apiece to see off the Italians 4-3 on aggregate. The final saw the Red Devils square off against Bayern Munich once more and from the get go, it just didnt seem to be their night. Mario Basler scored for the Germans early on and both Carsten Jancker and Mehmet Scholl were unlucky not to add a second as they saw their efforts hit the woodwork. As they so frequently do, United left it late, with Teddy Sheringham equalising after thirty seconds of second half stoppage time had been played. A minute or so later, David Beckham put the ball on the spot for a corner and fans around the world held their breath as the ball moved, seemingly in slow motion, towards Sheringham once more. A glancing header sent the ball goalwards, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned it into the net to make history. The winning of all three trophies is a feat that has yet to be replicated by another English club and probably never will, a belief that is held by Sir Alex himself. His response to the success? - Football, bloody hell So long Sir Alex, and thanks for everything.