Among the most popular sports teams in the world, Manchester United, nicknamed “The Red Devils”, has long been revered as England’s most successful professional football team, with millions of supporters including those such as Tunde Folawiyo. Boasting the largest average game attendance in European football, Manchester United has earned a variety of awards demonstrating their outstanding talent and passion for the sport of football.

Manchester United is one of the most decorated of all football teams. With honours including three European Cups, 20 League titles, 11 FA Cups, four League Cups and a record 20 FA Community Shields, the Red Devils continually demonstrate their vast impact on European sports and the world of sports as a whole. The franchise has been home to some of the most talented players and coaches the world has ever seen. These include manager of over 26 years, Sir Alex Ferguson. The name alone elicits great pride among Manchester United fans as the coach’s impact on the team will forever have an impact on the team’s rich history.

Sir Alexander Chapman “Alex” Ferguson managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. His time at the club has led to Ferguson’s highly-regarded reputation as one of the most successful, admired and respected managers in the history of the game and sports as a whole.As the longest serving manager of Manchester United with more than 27 years of service, Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United on 8 May 2013, ending an era of superior sportsmanship and devotion to the sport of football. During his career as club manager, Ferguson led his team to win 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles. Awarded Manager of the Year more times in British football history than any other coach in the history of the sport, Ferguson was knighted in 1999 for contributions to the world of British football. Ferguson’s last home game as coach of the Red Devils – his 1,500^th – resulted in a win. With these revered accomplishments, Sir Alex Ferguson remains one of the most respected managers in the history of football while fans will undoubtedly remember and forever pay homage to Ferguson for his incredible passion for the game and the Manchester United franchise.

Manchester United Fans such as Tunde Folawiyo will continue to prove an immeasurable source of support for the team’s success as they embark on a new year of play. The spirit of Manchester United remains a major source of inspiration for the team and its millions of loyal fans.

Manchester United has picked up another three Premier League points, following their defeat over Cardiff City. This was a welcome reprieve from the recent losses that the Red Devils have experienced at the hands of Tottenham, Swansea and Chelsea. The 2-0 victory has probably given many supporters, including Tunde Folawiyo hope that United might still win the title.

Juan Mata, the Red Devil’s newest midfielder, made his debut at the match. Whilst he missed out on two scoring opportunities, his quick-footedness and ability to support the efforts of other players on the team, resulted in him receiving a standing ovation from United’s fans as he left the pitch at the end of the game.  Mata and Van Persie were undoubtedly the stars of the show, with the latter providing the Red Devils with the lead just six minutes in.

Van Persie’s first attempt to score was saved by David Marshall; undeterred by this failure, he continued to attack and netted a goal a few minutes later. The move which led to this early success was initiated by Mata; after several seconds of passing between the Spaniard, Patrice Evra and Ashley Young, the ball was shot over to Antonio Valencia, who then accidentally headed it into the bar. However, Van Persie was quick to react to this error, taking control of the ball and kicking it into the net.

After the interval, Young doubled United’s advantage, by executing a perfect kick from 25 yards. This second goal seemed to spur Cardiff on, and for the rest of the match, they managed to retain possession of the ball. However, United’s defence was strong, and their opponents were unable to convert.

Whilst the Red Devil’s will still struggle to win the league trophy, the victory probably came as quite a relief to fans such as Tunde Folawiyo, given the team’s less-than-perfect results as of late. Speaking to the press after the match, Moyes seemed pleased, stating that he was much more optimistic about the team’s chances of winning the title now. He noted that their impressive performance during the game was largely due to the presence of players such as Mata, who just joined the club, and Van Persie, who has been absent for several months due to his injuries. However, Moyes was quick to add that he doesn’t want the results of this match to go to the players’ heads, and that they have a lot of work to do if they want to win the title.

Man United’s recent match against Stoke City was what many described as dismal; plagued by poor weather and bad luck, this was not the Red Devils’ finest performance. Stoke’s  2-1 win is likely to have left many fans of Man United, including Tunde Folawiyo disappointed, as it means that the team are that much further away from winning the Premier League title.

The weather at Britannia Stadium certainly didn’t make things easier for either side, with icy temperatures, rain and wind having a considerable impact on the players’ ability to remain on their feet, and in control of the ball; however, Stoke appeared to adjust to the unforgiving conditions far quicker than their opponents.

During the first half, Man United lost two of their central defenders; Phil Jones suffered a knock to the head which resulted in him being carried off the pitch in a concussed state, whilst Jonny Evans slipped and strained his calf. The absence of these two players certainly had a significant effect on United’s tactical approach; Rooney was dropped into midfield, Carrick was asked to move into central defence, and Welbeck was chosen as Jones’ replacement. Several commentators questioned Moyes decision to select Welbeck over Fletcher, whom they regarded as a stronger player.

Stoke took the lead during the first half. The goal, scored by Charlie Adam, was largely due to luck, rather than skill – his shot bounced off Carrick, and then soared past De Gea into the net. After this, the Red Devils began to attack with far greater gusto; this approach seemed to pay off during the second half, when Mata assisted Van Persie in scoring an equaliser, resulting in uproarious cheers from United’s supporters.

However, their celebrations were short-lived, as Stoke gained the advantage just five minutes later. The shot was initiated by Walters, who headed the ball to Arnautovic, who then passed it to Adam. The midfielder proceeded to deliver a powerful shot which, buoyed by the strong winds, flew far beyond De Gea’s reach.

Rooney almost managed to level the score with a free kick, but Stoke’s keeper, Asmir Begovic, performed a fingertip save at the last second. Further attempts by United were also fruitless; despite both of the team’s full-backs making it to the by-line, their opponent’s skilful defence meant that they simply could not convert, and as the whistle was blown, Stoke emerged victorious. As a sports fanatic, Tunde Folawiyo is probably aware that this was the first time, in thirty years, that the Potters have defeated the Red Devils in the Premier League.

Manchester United FC is experiencing a period of transition, which is likely to have a significant impact on its future. With speculation surrounding Moyes’ suitability as a manager, the club’s recent transfer decisions, and the team’s highly inconsistent performance throughout the Premier League, it seems impossible to predict, with any real certainty, which direction the club is heading in.

Supporters of the Red Devils, such as Tunde Folawiyo, might be surprised to learn that Wayne Rooney has expressed his doubts about the team’s ability to retain the league title, stating that it will be extremely difficult to do so after their recent losses. The striker is taking what he calls a ‘realistic’ approach, and says that the team should aim to be within the top four.

Juan Mata, a midfielder who moved from Chelsea to Man United for the price of £37.1 million last month, did not share this view when he first came on board; in an interview, he explained that one of the reasons he was so pleased to join the Red Devils, was that it would afford him the opportunity to potentially win the Premier League.

He stated that he had great faith in the club, and believed that they could retain the title if they worked hard enough. The midfielder also added that the top three contenders would be Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal. However, just a few weeks later, he appeared to have reconsidered this initial statement. Speaking to a journalist, Mata claimed that at this time, it would be difficult for the Red Devils to win the trophy, and that they are going to have to fight very hard for their position in the next Champions League.

The uncertainty regarding the title, coupled with the recent revelation that Nemanja Vidic would be leaving at the end of this season, has probably come as quite a blow to fans of the club, including Tunde Folawiyo. Vidic is someone whom virtually all Man United supporters will be familiar with; the centre-back has been with the club for over eight years, and participated in 202 matches. In a press conference, Vidic said that he would definitely not be playing with another English team, but other than that, did not yet have any concrete plans for his future.  He added that he thought himself ‘very lucky’ to have played with Man United for as long as he had.

In May of last year, Sir Alex Ferguson publically announced that he intended to retire as Manchester United’s manager, explaining that he would instead serve only as the club’s ambassador and director. His final match at Old Trafford took place just five days later, and resulted in the Red Devils defeating Swansea with a final tally of 2-1. As it was Ferguson’s last game on home turf, a huge number of Man United fans attended, one of whom was Tunde Folawiyo.

Prior to kick-off, the team members of both Man United and Swansea formed a guard of honour, which Ferguson then walked through to reach the arena; his arrival was greeted with applause and cheers by everyone in the stadium. The match got off to a lively start, with the two teams defending themselves well; but a few minutes before the interval, the Red Devils took the lead, after Javier Hernandez deftly kicked the ball just beyond the keeper’s reach.

United did not maintain this advantage for long however, with Swansea’s Michu levelling the score moments after half-time ended. This was an expertly executed play, with Williams heading the ball to the feet of Dyer, who then passed to Michu. The Spaniard was quick to react, immediately volleying the ball into the net.

This equaliser probably came as quite a blow to many fans, including Tunde Folawiyo. Given the significance of this match for Ferguson and his supporters, anything less than a total victory would have been heartbreaking. At this point, Ferguson recognised a need for some changes on the pitch; in the 66th minute, Anderson replaced Scholes, whilst Welbeck replaced Valencia.

Ferguson’s decision almost instantly improved United’s performance, and the fans’ spirits were raised once again when, just 12 minutes before the match drew to a close, Robin Van Persie initiated the winning goal, taking a free kick which was volleyed home by Rio Ferdinand.

Throughout the match, Ferguson remained stationary in his technical area, only making his way towards the pitch after the referee blew the final whistle. With a microphone in hand, he expressed his gratitude to all of the players and the fans, who had supported him even during the difficult early years of his time with the club. He also paid tribute to David Moyes, the team’s new manager.

Manchester United, a team whom Tunde Folawiyo amongst many others, has been a devoted fan of for years, recently played a match against Hull City, which kept spectators on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Hull initially appeared to be the stronger of the two, scoring the first goal just four minutes into the first half, when the centre back Chester volleyed the ball into the net from close range. Five minutes later, Hull managed a second goal, leaving the Red Devils disheartened, and their fans concerned. Chester’s goal was said to have been down to good luck and United’s poor defence; Alex Bruce managed to out-jump Patrice Evra, taking the ball away from Huddlestone’s corner, thus giving Chester his opportunity to score.

For many football enthusiasts, including Tunde Folawiyo, who may have watched the Red Devils perform outstandingly well during countless other matches, this dismal start was a rather shocking occurrence to observe. However, Moyes somehow managed to rally the players, and nineteen minutes into the match, Chris Smalling’s header gave the team their first goal. Rooney – who scored four goals against Hull during a previous match at Old Trafford – equalised just seven minutes after this.

A collision between Ashley Young and Allan McGregor (Hull) earlier on in the match led to McGregor being replaced by Steve Harper at half-time. It seemed as if Hull were making a comeback at the start of the second half, with the Red Devils being forced to defend a number of attacks, including one from Alex Bruce, whose header led to the ball bouncing against the cross bar. Three minutes later, Moyes chose to replace Darren Fletcher with Javier Hernandez; some criticised this decision, arguing that Michael Carrick would have been a better choice.

However, the switch did not have any significant impact on the match, as it was Hull City’s James Chester who gave Man United their winning goal. This rather shocking turn of events came about after Young managed to take the ball past Figueroa, kicking it forcefully towards the net; Chester, attempting to deflect, but mistakenly headed it past Hull’s keeper, Harper. This crushing blow seemed to dampen Hull City’s spirits, and whilst in the closing stages, they attempted to level the score, with Chester almost managing to redeem himself at one point, the players never quite managed to regain control of the ball.

Long-term supporters of the Red Devils, including Tunde Folawiyo know that the team’s performance has been rather erratic as of late. Predicting the outcome of their matches has become almost impossible, as the team’s behaviour on the pitch ranges from outstandingly brilliant, to shockingly mediocre.

As such, many fans breathed a sigh of relief when Man United recently managed to defeat West Ham, thus winning their first Premier League home match since last November. They were in top form throughout the game, with Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj and Danny Welbeck scoring a total of three goals. It was immediately apparent, from the moment they stepped out onto the pitch, that they would emerge as winners, with Tom Cleverely nearly scoring just two minutes into the match; unfortunately, his efforts were thwarted by Adrian San Miguel de Castillo, West Ham’s goalkeeper.

Despite West Ham’s relatively strong defence strategy, Man United managed to score a goal within the first half-hour, when Danny Welbeck nimbly passed the ball to Wayne Rooney, catching up with him further down the field, and eventually taking it from him and kicking it past the keeper’s head. The two United players were described by many as ‘unstoppable’, as they joined forces once again ten minutes later, providing Januzaj with a chance to flick the ball into the net once again. However, the midfielder’s triumph was short-lived, as just before the first half drew to a close, he dived rather dramatically to the ground, despite not supposedly having had any contact with West Ham’s James Collins. He received a caution, and was replaced by Ashley Young.

The second half was equally thrilling, with the aforementioned Young helping the Red Devils to get yet another goal, after Rooney’s lay-off pass enabled him to hit the ball into the top corner of the net. Whilst West Ham were clearly the weaker team, they did manage to redeem themselves somewhat, when Carlton Cole, in the 82nd minute, scored their one and only goal of the match. Whilst it cannot be denied that the Red Devils played with great skill and composure, the match was not without its controversy, with Sam Allardyce, West Ham’s manager, stating that he had spotted a handball when Tom Cleverley was in the penalty box. However, the referee disagreed with this assessment. Overall, the players’ performance will probably have pleased most fans, including Tunde Folawiyo.

Manchester United, nicknamed “The Red Devils”, has long been revered as England’s most successful professional football team with millions of fans including Tunde Folawiyo knowing exactly who they are. Boasting the largest average game attendance in European football, Manchester United has won numerous honours including three European Cups, 20 League titles, 11 FA Cups, four League Cups and a record 20 FA Community Shields, further demonstrating their vast impact on European sports.

Throughout its history as a franchise, Manchester United has held many international sports superstars on its roster, including Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ryan Giggs overall, has won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League titles during his time with the club. Dubbed “The Most Popular Football Team in the World” due to its outstanding wealth and dynamic fan base, Manchester United was founded under the name Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878 before later being renamed in 1902. Among the tales of its history, Manchester United suffered a loss of immense magnitude when a plane carrying the team crashed in Munich in February of 1958. Twenty-three died that day, including eight Manchester United players. Midfielder Sir Bobby Charlton was instrumental in rebuilding the team with 17 years of loyal service.

Manchester United paved the way for many English football teams, including their win of the European Cup while under the management of Matt Busby in 1968. Other respected Manchester United managers include Alex Ferguson, who won 28 major honours during a career spanning over 25 years before announcing his retirement. He remains one of the most respected managers in the history of football while fans will undoubtedly remember Ferguson for his incredible passion and numerous contributions toward the sport.

In 2012, Forbes ranked Manchester United first on the list of the ten most valuable sports team brands in the world. This poll estimated Manchester United’s brand to be worth $2.3 billion. Further cementing this title, Manchester United became the first sports team in the history to be valued at an incredible $3 billion in 2013. This is $1.2 billion higher than the next most valuable sports team in the world.

With their enormous success comes the opportunity to assist their community. The Manchester United Foundation maintains a mission of educating, motivating and inspiring young people by making charitable contributions to disadvantaged areas across Greater Manchester. Manchester United Fans such as Tunde Folawiyo will continue to prove an immeasurable source of support for the team’s success.

Many supporters of Man United, including Tunde Folawiyo, consider Ryan Giggs to be the team’s greatest member. Born in Wales in 1973, Giggs first played for the Red Devils in 1990, at the age of 17. He had been ‘discovered’ by Alex Ferguson just a few months prior to this, whilst playing for Deans FC. Quickly establishing himself as a left winger, Giggs continued to play in this position up until the 2000s.

His time with the club has been United’s most successful era, no doubt due in part to Giggs’s incredible talent; over the course of his career, he has been awarded more winners’ medals than any other United footballer. His ability to run at high speed, create scoring opportunities for other players, and retain possession of the ball has made him a great asset to the team.

Since he was signed in the early nineties, Giggs has made more appearances on the pitch than any other player in the history of the club’s existence; up until 2008, Sir Bobby Charlton held this record, having participated in a grand total of 758 matches.

However, Giggs surpassed this figure after taking part in the European Cup finals in Moscow. Today, he has played in over 950 matches; his 900th occurred in the spring of 2012, during the team’s away game against Norwich City. Giggs performed exceptionally well, providing United with the winning goal just minutes before the final whistle blew.

As an admirer of this player, Tunde Folawiyo is most likely aware of the many honours which Giggs has received throughout the years. In 2007, his services to football won him the OBE, and in 2009, he was given two titles; namely, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. The following year, Salford council gave Giggs the Freedom of Salford, and in 2012, he was chosen as the Premiership’s greatest player.

Whilst he clearly has a natural aptitude for this sport, it is Giggs’s dedication which has prolonged his career with Manchester United, and enabled him to continue to play, despite being in his forties. He trains several times a week, has taken up yoga to improve his flexibility, and has retired from international football. Speaking to a news publication in 2012, Giggs explained that he will continue to participate in matches for as long as he can, but added that he eventually hopes to transition into management.

Following some frustrating losses over the past few months, supporters of Manchester United were thrilled with the team’s recent victory over Swansea. With a final result of 2-0, it certainly seems that Moyes’ unwavering faith in the players over the past few months has been justified. Although this means that United have now won five out of six games in the Premier League, it’s remains uncertain whether or not they will be able to win the title; Tunde Folawiyo, and any other loyal supporters, will know that the Red Devils’ performance since Moyes joined the club has been inconsistent, to say the least.

The first half was described by many as being mediocre, with neither side coming close to scoring. However, Swansea were named as favourites to win by several commentators, as they managed to retain possession of the ball for most of the first 45 minutes. But the Red Devil’s were in top form when they returned after the half-time interval, dominating the match from the moment they stepped out onto the pitch,  right up until the final whistle was blown, with goals being scored by Danny Welbeck and Antonia Valencia.

The run up to Welbeck’s goal was particularly thrilling; after Januzaj gained possession of the ball, he kicked it towards Welbeck, who then headed it in Evra’s direction, at which point Evra attempted to score. Swansea supporters rejoiced as his shot turned out to be miscued; however, their happiness was short-lived, as Welbeck once again took control of the ball and quickly fired it passed Tremmel, into the net. This goal, which doubled United’s advantage, probably came as quite a relief to many supporters, including Tunde Folawiyo.

Whilst both goal-scorers were commended for their contributions, the star of the match was Adnan Januzaj. It was his quick-thinking and skilful footwork that provided Valencia and Welbeck with their respective opportunities, and his persistent attacks on Swansea ensured that the opponents stood no chance of regaining control of the ball.  Whilst some have argued that Moyes should not become too reliant on such a young player (Januzaj is just 18 years of age), others contend that United should simply make the most of the winger’s talents.

Moyes appears to be doing precisely that; his decision to give Januzaj, rather than Kagawa, the number 10 role during the second half is a clear indicator of how much he trusts him, as Kagawa had been brought in specifically for this position, from Borussia Dortmund.