United's players celebrate with the trophy on the pitch after the 1999 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich

UTD Podcast: 1999 Treble winners - Part 1

Sunday 26 June 2022 11:00

To celebrate the UTD Podcast being shortlisted in the sports category at the British Podcast Awards, we are revisiting some of the best chats we’ve had with Manchester United legends.

For example, the majority of players from our Treble-winning squad have sat down with podcast hosts Sam Homewood and Helen Evans, as well as their former team-mate David May, to talk about their success with the Reds.

Successful teams are built on strong defences and our side of 1998/1999 squad was no different. Here, we compile the episodes we have recorded with the goalkeepers and defenders from that historic season and revel in some of the incredible stories they had to tell.

To listen to each episode, simply click on the players' names.

Schmeichel: I could have stayed after ‘99 Video

Schmeichel: I could have stayed after ‘99

In his brilliant UTD Podcast, Schmeichel admits he should have spoken to Sir Alex more before departing Old Trafford…

PETER SCHMEICHEL

A massive personality and a mountain of a man, Peter Schmeichel contributed as much to our success in the 1990s as any other player. When the Great Dane appeared on the UTD Podcast in March 2020, he reflected on his decision to leave the Reds after the 1999 Champions League final.

“I came back from the 1998 World Cup having played a full season and [went straight] into next season. I didn’t have a break. I was so tired mentally, I couldn’t face another season. We had a conversation after the Champions League final and I was like ‘no, I’ve made my decision’. Looking back, it could have been a rash decision in a way. The manager could have asked me ‘are you sure?’ He never did, he just accepted it.”

RAIMOND VAN DER GOUW

Raimond van der Gouw joined the Reds in 1996 and became the backup goalkeeper to Peter Schmeichel. On his UTD Podcast, which was released in April 2021, the Dutchman revealed the reality of being the Great Dane's deputy.

“It was sometimes very good and sometimes I hated him [laughs]. I respected him and a lot of the time he was a very good colleague but of course, he could be selfish. I was just happy to be there, and I was really curious how he was as a sportsman, as a goalkeeper, what kind of work he was doing. Was he a really hard worker, was it only about his talent or was it something else? This was my opportunity to see that with my own eyes. Everyone can talk about it, but you have to see it and you have to feel it.”

HENNING BERG

Norwegian defender Henning Berg was a key member of our Treble-winning squad and spent four years at the club from 1997 until 2001. During his episode of the UTD Podcast, Berg reflected on the 1998/99 season.

“It was something special, building up. And then continuing to do this all the way through and the atmosphere and the team spirit and everybody together. It was the perfect season.”

JAAP STAM

A no-nonsense Dutch centre-back, Jaap Stam was a pivotal member of the Reds squad during his four years at the club. Stam appeared on the UTD Podcast in March 2022 in a two-part special and reflected on his move to United from PSV Eindhoven.

“United was and is one of the biggest clubs in the world and you’re joining a big team with great players. {But first] it was important to do well over in Holland and show myself I was ready to take that step.”

UTD Podcast: How I joined United Video

UTD Podcast: How I joined United

Treble-winner Stam reveals all about his move to Old Trafford and which other clubs were interested in signing him…

RONNY JOHNSEN

Berg's fellow Norwegian was another key cog in the Reds defence as we marched towards our historic Treble in 1999. On his UTD Podcast episode in February 2020, Johnsen recalled his memorable debut against Wimbledon’s Vinnie Jones.

“A long ball came from our back four. I was running, just turning around, running after it and Jones came running the other way. He missed me by that much, with his elbow! And I was like, what is that?”

WES BROWN

A product of our world-famous Academy, Wes Brown’s first full season as a senior United player was, in fact, 1998/99. These days, Brown features regularly on MUTV, and when our former defender sat down with the UTD Podcast in December 2019, he shared the experience of coming into an already successful squad.

“I came into a winning team and that was all I knew. I knew what the expectation was, and I knew what I had to do: work hard every day. You just had to keep going, regardless of what happened. Sometimes we’d get beat and the next year we’d win it [the title] because of the manager’s drive, and you could see it in the older players. You had to live up to their expectations, so you had to work hard.”

UTD Podcast: Brown's nights at the team hotel Video

UTD Podcast: Brown's nights at the team hotel

In our latest UTD Podcast, Wes provides an incredible insight into how he used to spend his nights at the team hotel...

DENIS IRWIN

Dependable full-back Denis Irwin is regarded as one of the Premier League's best-ever players in his position. Irwin contributed heavily to our success in the 1990s and when he came on the UTD Podcast in 2019, he revealed the impact that iconic attacker Eric Cantona had on the club.

“Eric came in November [1992], and he slotted in. It’s very hard for people to say, ‘The King’ was the final piece of the jigsaw, but he was a huge part of us winning that league, that first Premier League, and it was brilliant.”

PHIL NEVILLE

Phil Neville and brother Gary both rose through the youth ranks at United before becoming integral members of the first-team squad. Phil appeared on the UTD Podcast in August 2020 and revealed how the backing of Sir Alex motivated his young squad to disprove Alan Hansen’s famous ‘you can’t win anything with kids’ quote.

“The one thing that we had was the backing of the manager. He trusted us. He believed in us. He stuck with us. That was probably worth everything. That then became our motivation: let’s prove Alan Hansen wrong!”

UTD Podcast: The mate who wouldn’t room with Phil Video

UTD Podcast: The mate who wouldn’t room with Phil

Which legend wasn't 'compatible' with Phil and who stayed up playing Football Manager? Find out...

DAVID MAY

David May is one third of the UTD Podcast hosting team, but in November 2019 the former defender took the role of special guest. Maysie stayed at United for nine years from 1994 and 2003 and was a valuable member of our 1998/99 squad as the Reds made history. On his episode, he explained why he enjoyed lining up alongside Gary Pallister at the heart of the defence.

“You do form partnerships and understandings. The more you play with someone, the more you understand their game. You learn off each other. You know their weaknesses; you know their strengths. I used to like playing with Pally. He was the laziest man alive but playing alongside him was great. You used to let him win every header and then I became the lazy one! I don’t think over a certain distance anyone could get the better of Pally.”

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