Based in northwest England, the Manchester United soccer club, nicknamed “The Red Devils” is well-known amongst the most popular sports teams in the world. With a proud history spanning over a century, Manchester United continues to inspire millions of worldwide fans including Nigerian Tunde Folawiyo and others with an intense passion for the sport. A vibrant fan base, sky-high game attendance and with millions of dollars of team merchandise sold, Manchester United remains one of the richest sports clubs in history.

Manchester United paved the way for many English football teams with their immensely successful team record. Some of the sports’ most notable and respected coaches have led Manchester United toward victory, including Sir Alex Ferguson who won 28 major honours during a career spanning over 25 years.

Among Manchester United’s most famed players is Ryan Joseph Giggs. Born 29 November 1973, Giggs made his debut for Manchester United during the 1990–91 season. Since the start of his career with the franchise, Giggs has earned numerous honours for his participation. Admired throughout sports for his tireless running and goal assists (he holds the record for most assists in Premier League History with 271), Giggs remains one of the most respected Manchester players of all time, as he remains the most decorated player in English football history. With 13 Premier League winner’s medals and four FA Cup winner’s medals, Ryan Giggs has undoubtedly proven his immense talent at the sport. During his time with the Red Devils, he has also won three League Cups and two Champions Leagues, further demonstrating his passion and skill throughout his two decades with the team.

As the only player to have scored in every season of the Premier League, Giggs was elected into the PFA Team of the Century in 2007 and the Premier League Team of the Decade in 2003 as well as the FA Cup Team of the Century. Among his most revered accomplishments was his appointment as team captain at the 2012 Summer Olympics. In lieu of his outstanding contributions to the sport of English football, Giggs was named to the Football League 100 Legends and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Named Manchester United’s greatest ever player in January 2011, Giggs remains one of the most popular footballers of all time, garnering the respect of millions of fans including Tunde Folawiyo and others with a profound appreciation for the sport of football.

According to reports, Manchester United striker Robin van Persie was recently flown to Holland to receive urgent treatment following a recent knee injury that may render him out for the remainder of the season. Reports have stated that Van Persie was spotted on crutches at Rotterdam’s Erasmus Medical Centre while undergoing medical treatment from orthopaedic surgeon Rien Heijboer. The sprained knee leaves the Netherlands striker out of both legs of a Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich and potentially six Premier League games, much to the dismay of Manchester United fans such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others following the sport. Whilst there is no definitive recovery period at this time, the sport awaits further word on Van Persie’s condition as it could significantly impact chances of a World Cup appearance.

The club had previously announced that Robin van Persie may miss up to six weeks of play, while under recovery from a left knee injury. However, some outlets have mentioned a minimum eight week lay-off may be necessary. Van Persie was injured while playing against Olympiakos in United’s mid-week Champions League clash. His first ever Champions League hat-trick was overshadowed by sustaining the knee injury during this match-up. Player Antonio Valencia also suffered an injury, clashing heads with Joel Campbell, leaving a huge black eye.

According to United, the worst-case scenario would mean that Van Persie would be unable to take to the field until the beginning of May. The news comes as a blow to the team’s hopes of a Champions League victory, but pending a quick recovery, may not impact the chances of a World Cup finals appearance in Brazil beginning in mid-June.

Van Persie has scored 23 goals in 29 games for club and country this season and won the Golden Boot for the second time last year.

United is currently ranked seventh in the Premier League following a 3-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend. Based in northwest England, the Manchester United soccer club, nicknamed “The Red Devils” is among the most popular sports teams in the world with three European Cups, 20 League titles, 11 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and a record 20 FA Community Shields. With its dynamic fan base and sky-high game attendance, Manchester United remains one of the most prominent sports clubs in history as they continues to inspire worldwide fans including Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others throughout the globe.

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.

World-renowned for its vibrant and devoted fan base, Northwest England’s Manchester United football club has long served as one of Europe’s premiere professional football teams, continually showcasing great success on the field. Regarded as “The Most Popular Football Team in the World”, Manchester United currently holds the largest average game attendance in Europe, demonstrated by its millions of fans such as Tunde Folawiyo and others throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Their continued success as a franchise has resulted in the appointment of their title as one of the most famous teams in sports history.

Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the football club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902. Now, aptly nicknamed the “The Red Devils”, the dynamic Manchester United’s club crest is derived from the Manchester City Council coat of arms. As one of the world’s most widely supported sports franchises, Manchester United is widely recognised not only for their accomplishments on the field, but for their humanitarian efforts, evident in the founding of the Manchester United Foundation, a charity aiming to improve the lives of England’s youth. These initiatives have undoubtedly aided the franchise’s reputation as one of the most respected sports teams in the world.

Manchester United won the European Cup before going on to win an additional 28 major honours under manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose career of over 25 years thrived until his retirement in 2013. Leading his team toward the acquisition of 13 national championships, Ferguson remains one of the most well-known and respected managers in the history of English football.

With a record 20 League titles, four League Cups, 11 FA Cups, and 20 FA Community Shields won throughout their rich history as a franchise, Manchester United also won the continental treble, a magnificent accomplishment for an English football club. Further solidifying their enormous impact in the world of football and sports as a whole, Manchester United ranked first on the Forbes list of the world’s ten most valuable sports franchises in 2012. Undoubtedly contributing to their worldwide fame is Manchester United’s history of international sports superstars including players such as Ryan Giggs, Sir Bobby Charlton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham. With the continued support of their millions of devoted fans including Tunde Folawiyo, the future of Manchester United remains bright as ever as they embark on a new season of play that will inevitably be cemented in the team’s history.

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 club which Tunde Folawiyo amongst many others has steadfastly supported for years, appears to be experiencing a bout of bad luck, with many of its team members incurring injuries which have left them unable to participate in matches. Rooney, Van Persie, Da Silva, Nani and Jones have all fallen victim to various types of leg injuries over the past few months.

Jones will be facing at least a fortnight on the sidelines, following a painful knee sprain; this was confirmed by the team’s manager, David Moyes, just before the Red Devil’s match against Hull on Boxing Day. The injury is believed to have occurred during the West Ham match, which took place a few days before Christmas. Given that Jones is a player that Moyes clearly relies upon – the midfielder has appeared in 22 matches since Moyes first took over – his absence will almost certainly have an impact on the team’s performance over the coming weeks.

Da Silva’s injury came about during the above-mentioned match against Hull; he limped off the pitch just 18 minutes after the game began. As a result, the striker missed out on their defeat of Norwich. However, Moyes has insisted that Da Silva’s injury is not serious, and that he will be ready to resume training and match participation this week; although he did add that ideally, he would prefer to give the player a little bit more time to heal. Moyes also briefly discussed Rooney’s recent absence, noting that the forward had been suffering from an issue with his adductor muscles.

A hamstring-related problem has been keeping another Man United player, Nani, off the field as well. The winger has not played since early December, and there are now rumours that he may be considering a transfer to Juventus. Moyes refused to comment on a possible move for the winger, but did address his injury, explaining that it is worse than they initially thought, and will leave him on the sidelines for several more weeks.

On a more positive note, one of the team’s injured players – Robin Van Persie – is said to be nearing a full recovery, following a thigh strain. The Red Devil’s manager stated that he has begun light training, and will soon be back on the pitch. Those who, like Tunde Folawiyo, regularly watch United’s matches, are likely to be relieved by this news, as Van Persie is arguably one of the team’s best players.

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.