The fine and whine of 2009

The following are the most significant events, month by month, that brought joy and discontent to football fans in England during 2009.

January

David Beckham, on loan at Milan, retains his status as the richest footballer with an estimated wealth of £125m.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player in the Premier League to win the coveted FIFA World Player of the Year award.

After the 5-0 hammering of West Brom at the Hawthorns, Manchester United set a Premier League record of 11 consecutive clean sheets.

UEFA choose Wembley to host the 2011 Champions League final.

February

Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked after seven months at Chelsea.

England's U-21 side lose their astonishing record run of 28 games without defeat, going down 2-3 (Johnson, Campbell) to Ecuador after they were leading 2-0, at neutral Malaga.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James chalks up his 536th Premier League appearance in the 2-0 home win over Manchester City to surpass Gary Speed's record of 535.

After their win at Real Madrid, Liverpool go top of UEFA's ranking list for the first time since 1985. Rankings are based on performances in Europe over past five seasons.

March

At Wembley, Manchester United beat Tottenham 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw in extra-time to lift the League Cup.

At Hampden Park, Celtic topple rivals Rangers 2-0 after extra-time to carry the Scottish League Cup.

West Ham and Sheffield United resolve their differences over the Carlos Tevez affair. The agreement is described as a satisfactory settlement over compensation.

Wolves forward Sylvan Ebanks Blake is named Championship Player of the Year after his side won the title.

April

England fans vote Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) as Player of the Year.

Scotland coach George Burley bans Rangers duo Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor after a drinking session following the team's defeat by the Netherlands.

For a record third year running, three English clubs reach the last four of the Champions League − Chelsea (vs Liverpool 7-5 on aggregate), Arsenal (vs Villarreal 4-1) and Manchester United (vs Porto 3-2).

Southampton are relegated from the Championship after being docked 10 points by the Football League after the club's parent company went into administration.

May

From the three English semi-finalists, Manchester United reach the ultimate showdown of the Champions League after eliminating Arsenal (4-1 aggregate).

Steven Gerrard, of Liverpool, wins the Writers Footballer of the Year award.

Manchester United land the Premier League championship for the 11th time to equal Liverpool's all-time record of 18 top-flight titles.

Rangers claim the championship crown in Scotland and Chelsea lift the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Everton. Manchester United lose 2-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome.

June

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley puts the club up for sale for the second time.

Fabio Capello's England win a record seven successive qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa with a 6-0 roasting of Andorra at Wembley.

Manchester United finally let Cristiano Ronaldo join Real Madrid for a stunning world record fee of £80 million.

In the U-21 Championship final, in Malmo, England go down 0-4 to Germany.

July

Michael Owen signs for Manchester United on a free transfer.

Manchester City fork out £25 million to acquire Carlos Tevez after his complicated loan deal with Manchester United expired at the end of the season.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England coach, becomes director of football at Notts County.

Former England, Newcastle and Ipswich manager Bobby Robson passes away at the age of 76.

August

England U-19 lose to hosts Ukraine 0-2 in the UEFA Championship final.

At Wembley, FA Cup winners Chelsea beat league champions Manchester United 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to capture the Community Shield.

Arsenal beat Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park to equal the biggest open-day victory in the history of the Premier League.

Everton defender Joleon Lescott is transferred to Manchester City for £22 million.

September

Following the resounding 5-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley, England claim a passport for their 11th World Cup finals.

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is suspended from all football activities for nine months after failing a drugs test.

In the final of the women's European Championships in Finland, England are trounced 6-2 by Germany.

October

England suffer their first World Cup qualification defeat, 0-1 in Ukraine (Dnipro). Goalkeeper Robert Green is sent off for a professional foul.

In the third match of the Champions League group phase, Manchester United equal Ajax's away record run of 14 matches without defeat in the competition sequel to their 1-0 triumph at CSKA Moscow.

The Premier League and Barclays agree a new three-year sponsorship deal worth £82.25 million up to the end of season 2012-13. The new contract represents an increase on the current £65.8m agreement.

Portsmouth are banned from registering new players by the Premier League as they have unpaid debts with other clubs.

November

Chelsea's FIFA transfer ban is suspended, meaning that they can buy new players in the January window.

England boss Fabio Capello unveils a bust of Alfred Ramsey at Wembley.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is fined £20,000 and given a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley's fitness.

The Premier League association reject Celtic and Rangers after another bid by the Scottish clubs to play in England's top echelon.

December

A report shows that Premier League clubs have paid £70.6 million to agents from October 2008 to September 2009.

Fulham join Everton in the knock-out phase of the newly-launched Europa League.

England are drawn with the US, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C of the World Cup finals next summer.

Former Inter boss Roberto Mancini replaces Mark Hughes at Manchester City to become the third Italian coach in the Premier League.