Manchester United legend Andy Cole is one of the club’s most successful ever goalscorers.
When it comes to a combination of goals and trophies, few can match Andy Cole‘s contribution to Manchester United.
Cole won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League, while scoring 121 goals for the Red Devils.
The Treble winner’s contribution is often under-appreciated, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s clinching goal in 1999 remembered most fondly that season.
Yet it was a vital winner from Andy Cole which won the first leg of the Treble, to clinch the Premier League title.
Andy Cole winner v Tottenham won the league
Manchester United’s battle to win the Premier League title in 1999 went all the way down to the final day.
United needed to beat Tottenham atOld Trafford to win the league, or risk letting it slip to Arsenal.
Despite the prospect of their North London rivals winning the title, Tottenham played hard and took the lead through Les Ferdinand in the 24th minute.
David Beckham scored a vital equaliser just before half-time to bring United level, but this would not have been enough.
At half-time Sir Alex Ferguson made a substitution up front, taking Teddy Sheringham off and bringing Andy Cole on.
Within two minutes Cole had scored, plucking the ball out of the sky, taking a touch and then shooting past Ian Walker to put Manchester United 2-1 up.
It was an inspired change, and speaking to Andy Cole on The Overlap, Gary Neville recalled the goal fondly, including his own role, supplying the pass.
Neville said: “I gave Andrew Cole his most important goal ever, Manchester United’s most important goal ever.”
Fellow guest and United legend Roy Keane rebuked: “The ball was fine, but Coley had to make it.”
Neville accepted, “Seriously, he had a bit to do, but…”, before continuing, “Left-foot, 50 yards away, I’m going to drop it in over the centre-back’s shoulder.
“Cole just drifted over the shoulder, I spotted the run.”
Neville was clearly proud of his contribution, with good reason. It isn’t often a player gets to assist a title-winning goal.
Manchester United won two more trophies days later
It is strange to look back at Manchester United’s league win and recall that Cole was not among the starters.
Sir Alex Ferguson had, effectively, three finals to plan for, and four strikers available. All of them played their part.
Teddy Sheringham scored in both the FA Cup final and Champions League final, with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole starting in Barcelona, before the double substitution won it.
Looking back, Ferguson clearly got it right. The Manchester United team of 2024 would love to have half of those striking options.