Fourth double for United in Ferguson's golden era

Season 2007/08 was indeed a memorable one for Manchester United who won the Premiership title and the coveted European Cup after a dramatic final against Chelsea in Moscow last month.

This was the fourth time that the Red Devils claimed a double since the start of the Premier League in 1992-93. In 1999 they went one better as they added the Champions League to the league title and the FA Cup. In 1994 and 1996, they also completed the double of league and FA Cup.

Alex Ferguson was talked out of retirement by his wife in 2002 and what a debt of thanks the thousands of travelling fans in Moscow and those in front of television owe Mrs Ferguson now.

In his 22 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson has assembled three great sides and in his opinion, the latest squad is the best he's ever managed.

The other two golden United sides were the Premier League winners of 1993 and 1994, who ended the club's 26-year drought without a championship crown, and the vintage crop that brought the Champions Cup to Old Trafford for a second time in 1999.

As the top two teams in the final standings of the 2007-08 Premier League, Manchester United and Chelsea will play in the group stages of the Champions League next season. Arsenal and Liverpool, England's two other Champions League qualifiers, must play one extra match to book their place in the group phase.

Everton, FA Cup winners Portsmouth, League Cup holders Tottenham and Manchester City, who topped UEFA's fair play rankings, will play in the UEFA Cup.

Aston Villa will participate in the Intertoto Cup.

Roll of honour

Community Shield: Manchester United.
Premier League champions: Manchester United.
FA Cup: Portsmouth.
League Cup: Tottenham.
Johnstone's Paint Trophy: MK Dons.
Football League title: WBA.
Premier Play Fair League: Liverpool.
Conference championship: Aldershot.
FA Trophy: Ebbsfleet United.

The awards

Manager of the Year: Alex Ferguson (Man. United).
League Managers Association Manager of the Year: Alex Ferguson.
Footballer Writers Footballer of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United).
Premiership Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo.
PFA Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo.
PFA Young Player of the Year: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal).
Premier Golden Boot Award: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Premier Golden Glove Award: Pepe Reina (Liverpool).

PFA Select XI

David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Leading scorers

31 − Ronaldo (Man. United)
24 − Adebayor (Arsenal), Torres (Liverpool)
19 − Santa Cruz (Blackburn)
15 − Berbatov, Keane (Tottenham), Mwaruwari (Man. City)

The hot shots in the Premiership since the inauguration of the Premier League up to the end of the 2007/08 campaign.

1. Owen (Newcastle) 136
2. Keane (Tottenham) 103
3. Giggs (Man. United) 101
4. Heskey (Wigan) 100
5. Scholes (Man. United) 96
6. Lampard (Chelsea) 95
7. Viduka (Newcastle) 92
8. Anelka (Chelsea) 86
9. Saha (Man. United) 82
10. Defoe (Portsmouth) 67