Manchester United 2003

Coach: Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United won the Premier League in 2002-03, their eighth title under his management, before a Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Real Madrid's Galácticos side that produced one of the most memorable individual performances ever seen at Old Trafford: Ronaldo, the Brazilian striker, scored a hat-trick against United in the second leg, prompting the Old Trafford crowd to give him a standing ovation as he was substituted off despite his goals eliminating their own team from the competition. Ruud van Nistelrooy was United's own prolific goalscorer that season, while a young Paul Scholes and veteran Roy Keane continued to anchor midfield for a squad that remained one of the most consistent forces in English football throughout this period. The Ronaldo ovation is still cited as one of the most sporting moments in Premier League history, a rare instance of a home crowd celebrating an opponent's brilliance even in the pain of elimination, and the tie itself is remembered as one of the finest Champions League knockout matches of the era.