Teddy SHERINGHAM

Teddy Sheringham arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 1997 for a fee of £3.5 million from Tottenham Hotspur, looking to win some silverware to merit his undoubted talent. He did not have to wait long for his first medal in United colours as the Red Devils defeated Chelsea on penalties to claim the Charity Shield in the first week of August. His league debut came a week later, ironically at his old club Spurs, with United winning 2-0. The England striker made an impressive start to his United career and, during a spell in October/November 1997, scored 8 goals in 9 games. The season ultimately ended in disappointment, however, as Arsenal took the title by a single point.

Teddy's first team opportunities the following season were somewhat limited as, in part, injury curtailed his ambitions. However, an impressive performance as a substitute towards the end of the season in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final against Juventus saw Sheringham feature more regularly. A 2-1 home defeat of Spurs on the last day of the league season meant the Premiership title returned to Old Trafford giving Teddy his first major medal in the game. The following week United faced Newcastle United in the FA Cup Final. Teddy came on early as a substitute for injured skipper Roy Keane and, within a couple of minutes, had opened the scoring with a neat finish after cutting into the penalty area. A deft touch supplied Scholes with the second as United completed their second 'double' with a 2-0 win.

The following Wednesday an under-strength team faced Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Final dreaming of an unprecedented treble. Sheringham began the match on the bench and midway through the second half the side trailed 1-0. Teddy was brought on and, on the stroke of full-time, scored a dramatic equaliser, reacting sharply to turn in a Giggs effort at goal. Within a couple of minutes, and by now deep into injury-time, United won a corner. Beckham whipped it in, Sheringham flicked it on and fellow substitute Solskjaer completed the most remarkable of comebacks. (Steve Drabble).

To say that Teddy had achieved his medal winning hopes in the 1998/99 season is somewhat of an understatement. Unsurprisingly, the side could not emulate their achievements the following season, but they did pick up the Premiership, winning their last 11 games and scoring 37 times in the process. Though he endured a seven-week spell out of the side in October/November 1999, Teddy featured for much of the season, scoring 5 goals in 27 league appearances. Another winner's medal came via a 1-0 defeat of Palmeiras in the Inter Continental Cup.

Sheringham agreed to a one-year extension to his contract and began the 2000/01 season in devastating form. 11 goals in 10 appearances between 5th September and 28th October culminated in a six-minute hat-trick against Southampton at Old Trafford. His form in front of goal continued and, in early December, Sheringham topped the scoring charts as United led the Premiership by 13 points. The attacking football United played during that spell was intricately outstanding and Teddy's contribution was key. The title was sealed by mid-April as Arsenal lost at home to Middlesborough though the European adventure ended in disappointment again with defeat to Bayern Munich in the semi-final.

In honour of his inspired performance in helping the club to a third consecutive Premiership, Sheringham was voted both PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year in May 2001. Seeking a guarantee of first team football, Teddy decided against extending his contract and returned to Tottenham Hotspur under the Bosman ruling in the summer of 2001. He made his final appearance in a United shirt against Spurs on 19th May 2001. His ability to bring something extra to an already multi-dimensional frontline is a testament to the subtly unique talent Teddy brought to the game and it is no coincidence that his short spell at the club was also the most successful in its history. (Steve Drabble).