When My Love for Everything Man United Began

I readily admit the beginning of my support for Manchester United began not too long ago.  My younger brother, a ten-year veteran supporter of the Red Devils, first introduced me to them.  He lived in Argentina during the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™ and caught the love for the "beautiful game" while there.  He witnessed firsthand Argentina and England's match that saw them The Three Lions eventually losing in penalty kicks to La Albiceleste after a scoreless draw in regular time. He recalls the travesty of David Beckham being sent off via Simeone's theatrics and upon his arrival home his new found love for football flourished.  That incident with Beckham had peaked his interest becoming a catalyst for his future support of The Greatest Club in the World, Manchester United.

For awhile I noticed he was religiously following a sport that was not of much interest to me.  The only time I watched soccer was during the World Cup where the US Soccer Team would compete.  I would get caught up in the media hype then be let down once I realized our nation's team was not even close to being in the same class as the rest of the world.  One day he mentioned that he followed two club teams, Boca Juniors from Argentina and an English team named Manchester United.  I had heard of United but there was very little coverage of soccer/football on ESPN at the time.  He showed me a few United match highlights that included many of the greats.  There was one new player, a Dutchman named Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose talent and skill intrigued me.  There was one match in particular where the former PSV Eindhoven man became famous in my eyes and just as my brother's love for United began with Beckham mine started with van Nistelrooy following this infamous post-match incident.

During the 2003-04 English Premier League Season Manchester United and their hated title rivals Arsenal Gunners met and battled to a scoreless draw.  Tensions are always high when these two clubs meet with many matches seemingly ending in controversy.  This match nicknamed by the press as the "Battle of Old Trafford," hostility was especially high.  Upon viewing the highlights and witnessing the unmitigated post-match abuse of van Nistelrooy by the cowardly Arsenal players: Martin Keown, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole and Kolo Touré following his unfortunate penalty kick miss in extra-time.  The post-match fracas started a chain reaction that forever cemented my undying love and support for everything Man United and conversely Arsenal forever my disdain!

While no player is bigger than the club, van Nistelrooy for awhile took on legendary status.  Also, during this period I realized United was more than just a football club; it had rich history with legendary players who had proudly worn the colors and graced the pitch, some of them even giving their own lives for the cause.  Men like Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne, Sir Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law, George Best, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham, Roy Keane, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.  Obviously the current crop of players, legends in their own right, such as Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand,  Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and many others still attempting to make a name for themselves.

Unfortunately the great Ruud van Nistelrooy would let me down as he throught he was bigger than the club.  At Man United this was a sure sign of trouble as no one crossed the Gaffer, Sir Alex Ferguson.  The situation could not be resolved so many believed SAF made the correct decision by selling him to the infamous Spanish giants, Real Madrid, who United had previously dealt with when David Beckham was sold to them following the 2002-03 season.  His departure required some adjustments but like all United supporters know it was soon apparent that Ruud's departure was a blessing in disguise as more glory arrived to Old Trafford in the following years with the rise of Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Co. leading the charge.  The following years brought a UEFA Champions League trophy, FIFA Club World Championship and most importantly three more Premier League titles which allowed United to equal the Liverpool's record of eighteen with the most in English first division football. 

Now any who have read this having been born United supporters might easily pigeon-hole me as a typical Yankee glory-hunter and would probably be right, however, my counterargument would be that the season I began following were the quieter years for United as they had not won the league since Beckham's departure with the only silverware being the Carling League Cup.  So if I was a true glory-hunter why would I choose to follow them prior to them hauling in a bunch of accolades and titles which didn't arrive until the 2006-07 season?  My personal history of supporting teams is honorable as most if not all the those I follow the period of support has now reached at least a decade or more.  In baseball I have followed both the Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners since I was in elementary school.  BYU college football my other love began while in my teenage years.  I could go on and on.  One has to start somewhere and so this where my journey began.  Once I begin supporting a team my loyalty never wavers and they have my undying support through thick and thin.  So, this my friends is the origin of my support for Manchester United.  Glory, Glory Man United!!