29 March 2000 - (Un)Welcome Home, Wales

On 29 March 2000, Wales played their first match at the new Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. And lost 1-2.

Built on the site of the old national ground, Cardiff Arms Park, construction on the stadium finished in the summer of 1999 at a total cost of £121 million. The Welsh rugby team hosted the first major event there, beating South Africa in a friendly.

The football team's turn came the following spring, as they hosted Finland in a friendly of their own. A crowd of 65,000 showed up for the event, setting a new national team record (though it has since been broken). Unfortunately for the home fans, however, Finnish midfielder Jari Litmanen (pictured, battling Wales' Robbie Savage) scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. Welsh striker Nathan Blake found the back of the net in the 42nd minute, but it was the wrong net, putting the Finns up 0-2.

Ryan Giggs pulled one back in the 60th minute, but that was the last goal of the day and Finland left as 1-2 winners.

12 April 1992 - A League Cup Of Their Own

On 12 April 1992, Manchester United defeated Nottingham Forest in the League Cup Final. It was the first League Cup for the club and the first piece of silverware for Ryan Giggs, who later became the most decorated British player in history.

It was United's second consecutive appearance in the Final after losing to Sheffield Wednesday the year before. Forest, meanwhile, had won it in 1990, the last of four League Cups won by the club under manager Brian Clough.

Played before a crowd of almost 77,000 at Wembley Stadium, it was closely-fought affair, with Giggs (pictured) providing the assist for the day's only goal, scored in the 14th minute by United forward Brian McClair. It was only the third domestic trophy for manager Alex Ferguson, after the 1990 FA Cup and the 1990 FA Charity Shield (the latter shared with Liverpool), but he had also won the Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 1991. He and Giggs would go on to win a multitude of additional silverware with United, including 13 league titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, and 2 Champions League trophies. Two of Forest's starting XI that day, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham, would themselves later win trophies with United as well.

It was the last cup final for Clough, who had already won 2 league titles and 2 European Cups. He retired in 1993.

8 April 1996 - Busst's Bad Break

On 8 April 1996, Coventry City defender David Busst suffered one of the most horrific injuries in football history during a Premier League match against Manchester United.

Just under two minutes into the match at Old Trafford, Coventry won a corner kick and Busst (pronounced "Boost") rushed forward into United's penalty area. As the kick came in, United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel knocked the ball toward Busst, who slipped in between two United players to get a toe on it. Then, as Busst tells it, "that's when the screaming started." He fell to the ground with his right leg bent at an unnatural right angle - his tibia and fibula both had snapped in two after colliding with United's Brian McClair and Denis Irwin.

The match was delayed for 15 minutes while the ground staff cleaned blood off the pitch. Reportedly, Schmeichel was so disturbed by the sight of the injury that he vomited. He also later sought counseling to deal with the memory. Soon after the match, he visited Busst in the hospital, as did United's Alex Ferguson, Steve Bruce, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Eric Cantona, as well as Busst's Coventry City teammates.

Busst underwent a total of 22 operations to repair the damage, but while the doctors saved his leg, he never played professional football again.

28 September 2004 - The Kid Knows How To Make An Entrance

On 28 September 2004, English striker Wayne Rooney made his debut for Manchester United in a 6-2 win against Fenerbahçe at Old Trafford. The 18-year old put in an impressive performance, contributing three goals and an assist.

United signed Rooney from Everton the previous month for a fee of £25.6 million, a deal that, at the time, made him the most expensive teenage signing in British history. He had been a professional for only two years, but had shown world-class quality playing for England in the 2004 UEFA European Championship, scoring braces against Switzerland and Croatia before suffering a foot injury against Portugal that forced him to exit the tournament.

In his Old Trafford debut, United were already up 1-0 with a goal from Ryan Giggs when Rooney found the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 17th minute. He scored his second--from about 20 yards out--eleven minutes later, with an assist from Giggs. The Turkish visitors pulled one back in the 47th minute, but Rooney delivered again with a curling free kick in the 54th minute. Finally, with United up 5-2 in the 80th minute, Rooney played a pass to United striker David Bellion, who scored the match's final goal.

The hat-trick was Rooney's first as a professional player.

2 March 1991 - Giggs's Proverbial First Step In His Record Journey

On 2 March 1991, 17-year old midfielder Ryan Giggs made his first appearance for Manchester United in a 2-0 home league loss to Everton. Although he played in only one other match that season, the young Welsh left winger would later become United's appearances leader on his way to becoming the most decorated player in English football history.

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Giggs moved with his family to Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1980. He started his career as a youth player with Manchester City in 1985 before moving to United's youth program in 1987. He turned professional on his 17th birthday, 29 November 1990. For his first appearance against Everton, Giggs came on as a substitute, replacing fullback Denis Irwin. His other appearance that season was a 1-0 over Manchester City on 4 May, in which Giggs started and scored the matchwinner - his first goal for United.

He became a regular starter in the 1991-92 season, helping lead the club to a second-place League finish and the League Cup title, his first piece of silverware. Since then, he has added 13 League titles, four FA Cup trophies, two more League Cup trophies, seven Community Shields, and two UEFA Champions League trophies to his silverware cabinet, as well as one Super Cup title, one Intercontinental Cup trophy, and one Club World Cup trophy.

In 2008, Giggs memorably broke Bobby Charlton's previous record of 758 Manchester United appearances by coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in the Champions League Final against Chelsea and scoring the winning goal in the penalty shootout. Giggs is still playing for United and has made more than 950 total appearances.

29 November 1973 - The Iron Man Of Manchester

On 29 November 1973, Ryan Giggs, the most decorated footballer in English history, was born in Cardiff, Wales.

He moved to Salford in Greater Manchester when he was six. There, he drew the attention of Manchester City, who brought him into their youth program in 1985. But two years later, he switched to Manchester United, where he turned professional in 1990.

Since making his first appearance for the senior side in 1991, Giggs has gone on to make over 950 appearances total. Along the way, he has amassed an impressive collection of silverware that includes thirteen league titles, four FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies. His total of 35 major trophies makes him the most decorated player in the history of English football.

In addition to his club career, he also made 64 appearances for Wales and four for the unified Great Britain team at the 2012 Summer Olympics where, at the age of 38 years and 243 days, he set the record as the oldest player to score in the tournament's history.

Now 40 years old, he is currently playing in his 24th season at Manchester United.

5 August 2007 - Welcome Home, Community Shield

On 5 August 2007, Manchester United won the first Community Shield played at the new Wembley, beating Chelsea on penalties, 1-1 (3-0).

Dating back to 1908, the competition pits the previous season's league winner against the FA Cup holder, which, in 2007, were United and Chelsea, respectively. The same two teams met in the last edition of the contest to be played at the old Wembley in 2000, when it was named the Charity Shield, with Chelsea winning 2-0. Since then, Cardiff's Millenium Stadium hosted the event while the new Wembley was under construction.

For the 2007 match, United went ahead with a 35th-minute goal from Ryan Giggs, but Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda equalized right before the break. The score remained level at 1-1 through 90 minutes and stoppage time, forcing a decision by penalty kicks (there was no provision for extra time).

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar shined in the shootout, denying Chelsea's first three attempts, while United scored their first two. That brought up striker Wayne Rooney for the winning shot, which he fired past keeper Petr Cech, who guessed correctly, but could not reach the ball in time.

It was United's twelfth outright Charity/Community Shield, with another four shared. They have since won it another three times, most recently in 2011, for a record of 19.

14 April 1999 - The Gunners Get Gigged

On 14 April 1999, Ryan Giggs scored an incredible late goal to lift Manchester United over Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals.

The two teams met at Villa Park, where they had played to a scoreless draw there three days earlier to force the replay. Arsenal, the defending FA Cup champions, were sitting second in the league behind United, despite having taken four points from their two league meetings that season.

United took the lead with an impressive 25-yard strike from David Beckham in the 17th minute, but Arsenal eventually drew level in the 69th minute when Dennis Bergkamp fired home from a similar distance. Five minutes later, United captain Roy Keane received a straight red for a foul on Marc Overmars, but the Gunners could not capitalize on their man advantage and the match went into extra time.

There, Giggs scored his iconic goal. In the 109th minute, he received the ball on the left deep in his own half, then dribbled up the pitch, evaded four different Arsenal defenders, and powered the ball into the roof of the net over goalkeeper David Seaman. It proved to be the decisive score, as United won 2-1.

United went on to complete a treble consisting of the League title, FA Cup, and European Cup.

29 March 2000 - (Un)Welcome Home, Wales

On 29 March 2000, Wales played their first match at the new Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. And lost 1-2.

Built on the site of the old national ground, Cardiff Arms Park, construction on the stadium finished in the summer of 1999 at a total cost of £121 million. The Welsh rugby team hosted the first major event there, beating South Africa in a friendly.

The football team's turn came the following spring, as they hosted Finland in a friendly of their own. A crowd of 65,000 showed up for the event, setting a new national team record (though it has since been broken). Unfortunately for the home fans, however, Finnish midfielder Jari Litmanen (pictured, battling Wales' Robbie Savage) scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. Welsh striker Nathan Blake found the back of the net in the 42nd minute, but it was the wrong net, putting the Finns up 0-2.

Ryan Giggs pulled one back in the 60th minute, but that was the last goal of the day and Finland left as 1-2 winners.

12 April 1992 - A League Cup Of Their Own

On 12 April 1992, Manchester United defeated Nottingham Forest in the League Cup Final. It was the first League Cup for the club and the first piece of silverware for Ryan Giggs, who later became the most decorated British player in history.

It was United's second consecutive appearance in the Final after losing to Sheffield Wednesday the year before. Forest, meanwhile, had won it in 1990, the last of four League Cups won by the club under manager Brian Clough.

Played before a crowd of almost 77,000 at Wembley Stadium, it was closely-fought affair, with Giggs (pictured) providing the assist for the day's only goal, scored in the 14th minute by United forward Brian McClair. It was only the third domestic trophy for manager Alex Ferguson, after the 1990 FA Cup and the 1990 FA Charity Shield (the latter shared with Liverpool), but he had also won the Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 1991. He and Giggs would go on to win a multitude of additional silverware with United, including 11 league titles, 4 more FA Cups, 3 more League Cups, and 2 Champions League trophies. Two of Forest's starting XI that day, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham, would themselves later win trophies with United as well.

It was the last cup final for Clough, who had already won 2 league titles and 2 European Cups. He retired in 1993.

8 April 1996 - Busst's Bad Break

On 8 April 1996, Coventry City defender David Busst suffered one of the most horrific injuries in football history during a Premier League match against Manchester United.

Just under two minutes into the match at Old Trafford, Coventry won a corner kick and Busst (pronounced "Boost") rushed forward into United's penalty area. As the kick came in, United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel knocked the ball toward Busst, who slipped in between two United players to get a toe on it. Then, as Busst tells it, "that's when the screaming started." He fell to the ground with his right leg bent at an unnatural right angle - his tibia and fibula both had snapped in two after colliding with United's Brian McClair and Denis Irwin.

The match was delayed for 15 minutes while the ground staff cleaned blood off the pitch. Reportedly, Schmeichel was so disturbed by the sight of the injury that he vomited. He also later sought counseling to deal with the memory. Soon after the match, he visited Busst in the hospital, as did United's Alex Ferguson, Steve Bruce, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, and Eric Cantona, as well as Busst's Coventry City teammates.

Busst underwent a total of 22 operations to repair the damage, but while the doctors saved his leg, he never played professional football again. He remains involved with the game, however, and currently serves as director of Coventry City's Football in the Community program.

2 March 1991 - Giggs' Proverbial First Step In His Record-Long Journey

On 2 March 1991, 17-year old midfielder Ryan Giggs made his first appearance for Manchester United in a 2-0 home league loss to Everton. Although he played in only one other match that season, the young Welsh left winger would later become United's appearances leader on his way to becoming the most decorated player in English football history.

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Giggs moved with his family to Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1980. He started his career as a youth player with Manchester City in 1985 before moving to United's youth program in 1987. He turned professional on his 17th birthday, 29 November 1990. For his first appearance against Everton, Giggs came on as a substitute, replacing fullback Denis Irwin. His other appearance that season was a 1-0 over Manchester City on 4 May, in which Giggs started and scored the matchwinner - his first goal for United.

He became a regular starter in the 1991-92 season, helping lead the club to a second-place League finish and the League Cup title, his first piece of silverware. Since then, he has added 11 League titles, four FA Cup trophies, two more League Cup trophies, seven Community Shields, and two UEFA Champions League trophies to his silverware cabinet, as well as one Super Cup title, one Intercontinental Cup trophy, and one Club World Cup trophy.

In 2008, Giggs memorably broke Bobby Charlton's previous record of 758 Manchester United appearances by coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in the Champions League Final against Chelsea and scoring the winning goal in the penalty shootout. Giggs is still playing for United and has made more than 820 total appearances.

28 September 2004 - The Kid Knows How To Make An Entrance

On 28 September 2004, English striker Wayne Rooney made his debut for Manchester United in a 6-2 win against Fenerbahçe at Old Trafford. The 18-year old put in an impressive performance, contributing three goals and an assist.

United signed Rooney from Everton the previous month for a fee of £25.6 million, a deal that, at the time, made him the most expensive teenage signing in British history. He had been a professional for only two years, but had shown world-class quality playing for England in the 2004 UEFA European Championship, scoring braces against Switzerland and Croatia before suffering a foot injury against Portugal that forced him to exit the tournament.

In his Old Trafford debut, United were already up 1-0 with a goal from Ryan Giggs when Rooney found the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 17th minute. He scored his second--from about 20 yards out--eleven minutes later, with an assist from Giggs. The Turkish visitors pulled one back in the 47th minute, but Rooney delivered again with a curling free kick in the 54th minute. Finally, with United up 5-2 in the 80th minute, Rooney played a pass to United striker David Bellion, who scored the match's final goal.

The hat-trick was Rooney's first as a professional player.