Ferguson's Manchester United 1999: 4-4-2 wing play
Manchester United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1998-99, the first English treble. Ferguson's team played a 4-4-2 built on wide play: David Beckham's crossing from the right, Ryan Giggs on the left, and the Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole strike partnership, who scored 35 Premier League goals between them that season. Several of their big European goals that year came from Beckham crosses.
Step 1 of 3
The ball goes out to our right midfielder, in space wide.
Drawn for 11v11 4-4-2. Pick your own format and shape and every step is redrawn for your players. Then present it or send it to your team.
Step by step
The ball goes out to our right midfielder, in space wide.
He crosses early, from deep, before their defence is set.
One striker attacks the near post, the other the far post; the left midfielder arrives at the back post.
When to use it
When you have a wide player who crosses well and strikers who attack the box. It's still one of the clearest ways for a grassroots team to create chances.
Coaching points
Width on both sides from the wide midfielders.
Early crosses from deep on the right, before the defence is set.
Two strikers attack different spaces: one near post, one far post.
The far-side wide midfielder attacks the back post.
Central midfielders arrive at the edge for the second ball.
Who does what
Position
Their job
Right midfielder
Crosses early and accurately from wide.
Left midfielder
Dribbles at defenders, attacks the far post.
Strikers
A partnership: one drops, one runs; near and far post.
Central midfielders
Win it, switch play, arrive at the edge.
Full-backs
Overlap to support the wide players.
When they change it
If they…
You…
They double up on our crosser
Overlap with the full-back to free them.
They have tall centre-backs
Cross early and low into the space between defenders and keeper.
Copying it at grassroots
Practise the early cross and the two-striker runs.
Common mistakes
Strikers both attacking the same space.
Crossing with nobody arriving at the back post.
Waiting too long to cross, so the defence is set.
At 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11
7v7
Wide midfielders cross; striker and far-side midfielder attack the box.
9v9
A 3-3-2 or 2-4-2 with two strikers and wide players.
11v11
The board: a 4-4-2 with an early cross from the right.
The history on this page is written in our own words from these sources. The board is our simplified picture of the idea, not a copy of any match footage.
