Ferguson names Ronaldo and Rooney as Europe’s best in United’s glory years
Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as Europe’s leading two players during Manchester United’s dominant spell from 2006 to 2009, when the club regained the Premier League and lifted the Champions League.
What changed for Manchester United
United had gone three seasons without the league championship before beginning a run of three consecutive titles from 2006-07 through 2008-09. Ronaldo and Rooney became central figures after an initial settling period, particularly for the Portuguese forward.
Ferguson said the pair stood above their European contemporaries at that point. “I believe those two were the best in Europe,” he said, describing the period as an outstanding one for the club.
Across those three league-winning campaigns, Ronaldo and Rooney scored 104 Premier League goals between them. Their combination offered United both individual quality and a highly productive attacking partnership.
- Three Premier League titles
- One Champions League
- Two League Cups
- One Club World Cup
Competition context
The defining European success arrived in Moscow in 2008, when United won the Champions League. Ronaldo’s individual achievements that year also included the Ballon d’Or, the European Golden Boot, FIFA Best Men’s Player and UEFA Best Player awards.
Ferguson pointed to United’s March 2007 match against Bolton as a lasting example of the forwards’ understanding. The move began close to United’s own penalty area and ended with a Ronaldo finish over Jussi Jääskeläinen in under 10 seconds.
Recalling the goal, Ferguson described the unlikely blend between Rooney, whom he referred to as a “wee squat guy from Liverpool”, and the six-foot-two Ronaldo. He remembered United clearing the ball, Ronaldo finding Rooney, and the two exchanging passes as they drove upfield before Ronaldo chipped the goalkeeper.
“They were putting the pieces together right up the pitch,” Ferguson said of the counter-attack, calling the finish “unbelievable”.
What is scheduled next
There is no new match or club decision attached to Ferguson’s comments. The period ended when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for a then world-record transfer fee, shortly after United’s third straight league title.
