Sir Alex Ferguson's 1999 Champions League substitutions voted best ever decision in sport

Sir Alex Ferguson’s substitutions in the 1999 Champions League turned the game on its head, as Manchester United scored in injury time to win the final 2-1.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous use of substitutions during Manchester United‘s 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich has been voted by Sky Sports’ readers as the best ever decision in sport.

The then Manchester United manager sent on strikers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham as United trailed 1-0 to Bayern Munich with the clock ticking down to the final whistle. Both substitutes scored historic injury time goals as the Red Devils turned the match around in the dying moments to become European champions.

The decision topped a short-list of 50 decisions selected by Sky Sports experts.

United went in to the game having secured the FA Cup and Premier League titles, and the Champions League final victory gave them a historic treble and their first Champions League title since 1968.

Former England and United striker Sheringham said: “The instructions from the boss when he sent me on were simple – get us back in the game. One of Sir Alex’s biggest strengths as a manager was his decision making during a game. He trusted all of his players and we all knew that even if we didn’t start a match, we could be called on to do a job. We may have left it late, but it is a night that I and millions of United fans will never forget.”

The 50 decisions short-listed covered all sports over the last 100 years, but all of the top 5 were football related.

They include Barcelona‘s decision to pay Lionel Messi’s medical fees when he was 11, Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to sign Cantona, and Arsenal‘s decision to appoint Arsene Wenger. The top 5 decisions in full are as below:

1. Sir Alex Ferguson’s substitutions in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final.

2. Barcelona deciding to pay the medical fees of an 11-year-old Lionel Messi on the condition that he moved to Spain and signed for the club.

3. Rafa Benitez bringing on midfielder Dietmar Hamann for defender Steve Finnan in the 2005 Champions League final, helping them fight back to 3-3 before triumphing on penalties.

4. Sir Alex Ferguson deciding to sign Eric Cantona from Leeds United for a bargain £1 million.

5. Arsenal appointing Frenchman Arsene Wenger, transforming the team and bringing signings such as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.