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We are delighted to confirm our next Legend who will beat the Longford Town Legends v Manchester United Legends game THIS SATURDAY at Bishopsgate.
ππ»π±π ππΌπΉπ². On 10 January 1995, Cole was suddenly sold in a shock deal to Manchester United for a deal worth Β£7 million β Β£6 million cash plus Β£1 million-rated for Keith Gillespie going in the opposite direction, setting a new record for the most expensive British transfer. Despite joining halfway through the 1994β95 season, Cole still managed to score 12 goals in just 18 Premier League matches for United. This included his first, the winner in a 1β0 victory over Aston Villa on 4 February at Old Trafford and five in the 9-0 of Ipswich Town, making him the first player to score five goals in a Premier League match. He also scored twice in away wins over Leicester City and Coventry City during the season’s final stages, as his new team kept up the pressure and cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Blackburn Rovers. Cole’s first full season in 1995-96 with Manchester United proved to be difficult, as Cole struggled to find his trademark form in a side now built around the much heralded return of Eric Cantona. Though Cole scored in four consecutive matches halfway through the season, including an important opening goal in United’s 2β0 defeat of title rivals Newcastle United on 27 December, Cole was badgered by fans and critics alike across much of the season for only scoring 14 times and missing many chances. However, Cole picked up his form in the final stages of the season and scored crucial goals including the equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea to help send United to Wembley again. He then collected his first Premier League title winners medal and scored the second goal in United’s 3β0 defeat of Middlesbrough on the final day of the season to help United win the Premier League title for the third time in four years. He also played in United’s FA Cup final victory to become part of England’s first ever side to win the double twice.
Cole was given the no 9 shirt in the 1995-96 season having previously worn 17. Cole ended the season strongly with several crucial goals in both the league (such as away at title rivals Arsenal), and in the UEFA Champions League (where he scored a goal voted the season’s best European goal against Porto) to complete his comeback from injury. Cole then scored the title sealing goal in a landmark 3β1 win for United at Anfield β the scene of his broken legs a few months earlier – as United moved closer to another title triumph.
For the 97/98 season, the retirement of Eric Cantona saw Cole emerge as first choice striker once again, and he discovered his best form ever for the club. He found himself starting most of United’s games that season, either alongside Solskjaer or new signing Teddy Sheringham. He became the joint top goalscorer in the Premier League during the course of the season with 18, several of which were spectacular efforts.
Cole scored his first European hat-trick for the club in an away match at Feyenoord. Cole was the leading goalscorer in all competitions that season with 25.
Cole faced competition from new signing Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær during the 98/99 season, but ended up developing an immensely successful partnership with Yorke. The two contributed 53 goals between them and were rated as one of the most feared attacking partnerships in Europe, with the pair scoring against sides like Barcelona away at the Camp Nou, and repeating the form all season with incredible one-touch passes and assists that at times seemed to demonstrate a telepathic understanding.
Cole played a key role in the side’s unique treble of the Premier League title the FA Cup and The UEFA Champions League scoring the winning goal in United’s final Premier League match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, a result which meant United finished one point ahead of rivals Arsenal to win the Premier League title. He also scored United’s third and winning goal in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus, sealing their place in the final. Also in this season, Cole scored his 100th Premier League goal in a top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal at Old Trafford on 17 February; the match ended 1β1.
Cole was United’s second top scorer again in 99/2000 with 19 goals in 28 Premier League matches. He collected his fourth Premier League title medal in five seasons, and scored over 20 goals in all competitions for the third successive season. Cole scored many goals for United including the only goal of the game in their top-of-the-table clash against their closest rivals Leeds United. He also joined an elite group during this season by scoring his 100th goal for the club in a 2β2 draw against Wimbledon. Another title followed in 2000/01 when despite suffering from an injury that restricted his appearances, Cole scored 13 goals in all competitions, including four in the UEFA Champions League, allowing him (at the time) to become Manchester United’s record goal scorer in European competition of all time, eclipsing the record set some 30 years earlier by Denis Law. The following 2001-02 saw score seven goals before leaving for Blackburn Rovers halfway through the season after falling behind to the formidable partnership of Van Nistelrooy and SolskjΓ¦r, meaning that he was often a substitute during the final months of his United career.
More than five years after his Old Trafford exit, a 35-year-old Cole made one last appearance for Manchester United in the UEFA Celebration match six years later, on 13 March 2007, coming on at half-time for a friendly match between Manchester United and a European XI, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the European Community and 50 years of Manchester United in the European Cup.
More Legends to be announced soon.
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