THE 1990s.
A time when football gripped the nation, reaching fever pitch during Euro ’96 on home soil.
England’s run to the semi-finals had people truly believing football was coming home… until another penalty shootout defeat to Germany.
The decade kicked off with Gazza’s tears at Italia ’90 in a devastating semi-final defeat to, guess who, Germany, on spot-kicks.
But there was a buzz about the game.
Football was intertwined with music and fashion.
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Fans were going to games in colourful tracksuits and bucket hats, shown in brilliant throwback snaps from the era.
The 90s saw John Barnes’ World in Motion rap and Kevin Keegan’s infamous “I would love it if we beat them” rant.
On the pitch Manchester United were starting to click under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the inaugural Premier League title in 1992-93.
It was the start of an incredible rivalry with Arsenal that continued well into the noughties.
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The Gunners won the league in 1990-91 under George Graham, and again in 97-98 under Arsene Wenger.
They also finished runners-up to United in 98-99, the year the Red Devils won the treble.
Ferguson meanwhile guided the Red Devils to five titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in a decade of dominance at Old Trafford.
But despite United’s supremacy, it was also an exciting time for the likes of Blackburn and Newcastle.
Under Kenny Dalglish, and with Alan Shearer leading the line, Blackburn finished runners-up in the 93-94 season.
Shearer and Co then went one better and lifted the Prem title in the following campaign.
Newcastle enjoyed two second-place finishes in 95-96 and 96-97, and also reached the FA Cup final in 98-99, with Shearer joining from Blackburn in 1996 for a world record £15million.
The end of the decade saw Chelsea muscle their way onto the scene, even before Roman Abramovich arrived with his riches in 2003.
The Blues won the FA Cup in 96-97 under Ruud Gullit, with the likes of Dennis Wise, Mark Hughes, Roberto Di Matteo, Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Vialli in the team.
Everton too enjoyed success, beating Manchester United in the 94-95 FA Cup final.
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That Wembley triumph being the last trophy the Toffees lifted.
Overall it was an era that saw football, fashion and music fuse together, but also the start of mega money starting to influence the game with the introduction of the Premier League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
