Manchester United 2008

Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United won the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08, beating Chelsea on penalties in an all-English final in Moscow after John Terry's infamous slip on a rain-soaked pitch saw him miss the decisive kick that would have won it for Chelsea, before Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka's effort to hand United the trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo, in the middle of a transformation from tricky winger into a genuinely world-class goalscoring threat, netted 42 goals across all competitions that season, including the opener in the final itself, and went on to win his first Ballon d'Or that December. Wayne Rooney provided further attacking quality alongside Ronaldo, while a defence built around Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, protecting goalkeeper Van der Sar, gave the side a defensive solidity to match its attacking firepower. This squad is often cited as the peak of the Ferguson-Ronaldo era at Old Trafford, and Ronaldo's performances that season represented the moment he first established himself as a genuine rival to Lionel Messi for the title of the world's best player.