WILKINSON V FERGUSON, 1992: David slays Goliath.

Alex Ferguson's achievements speak for themselves, but Howard Wilkinson's triumph against the odds in 1992 must not be forgotten... When I was researching The Last Champions, I wanted to know precisely what those odds were and, among other things, unearthed these extraordinary stats. 

TRANSFER FEES OF PLAYERS FEATURING IN THE TWO LEAGUE FIXTURES BETWEEN LEEDS UNITED AND MANCHESTER UNITED, 1991-92

LEEDS UNITED                                                  MANCHESTER UNITED

John Lukic                   £1m                                 Peter Schmeichel    £505,000

Mel Sterland                £600,000                         Paul Parker            £2m

Tony Dorigo                 £1.3m                              Denis Irwin             £625,000

David Batty                   £0                                    Neil Webb              £1.5m

John McClelland          £110,000                          Steve Bruce     £825,000                         

Chris Whyte                 £400,000                          Gary Pallister          £2.3m

Gordon Strachan          £200,000                          Bryan Robson       £1.5m

Rod Wallace                 £1.6m                               Paul Ince               £1m

Lee Chapman              £400,000                          Mark Hughes         £1.8m

Gary McAllister            £1m                                   Brian McClair         £850,000

Gary Speed                 £0                                     Clayton Blackmore £0

Chris Fairclough          £500,000                          Andrei Kanchelskis £650,000

(subs)

Steve Hodge                £900,000                              Ryan Giggs           £0

                                                                                  Mike Phelan       £750,000

                                                                                  Lee Sharpe       £200,000

                                                                                  Mal Donaghy     £650,000

TOTAL                       £8,100,000                                                   £15,155,000