Top five sporting moments of 2013

HULL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is seen in the grandstand before the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Manchester United at KC Stadium on December 26, 2013 in Hull, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Highs were aimed for, lows were reached, points were scored and records were set – yes, it’s safe to say it’s been yet another eventful year of enthralling action and one that armchair pundits and fans alike are sure to remember for years to come.

Here, we take a look at our top five moments of the year gone by.

New Zealand unbeaten

DUBLIN, IRELAND – NOVEMBER 24: Sam Whitelock of the All Blacks is tackled by Devin Toner during the International match between Ireland and New Zealand All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium on November 24, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Becoming the first side to ever maintain a 100% unbeaten record in rugby union was a hugely significant moment for the All Blacks in 2013 as they swept aside all challengers in their path to make unforgettable history.

With their own brand of stinging tackles and never-say-die attitude, they fought tooth and nail to cement their name in the history books and always looked to better themselves with each passing game. Claiming a grand total of 14 victories in the single calendar year is a massive achievement for the World no.1 side and one that Steve Hansen and his squad are sure to have savoured in the wake of their dramatic, inspired last-minute win against Ireland back in November.

And although the World Cup is still over two years away, it remains to be seen exactly who can come close to the marker put down by the most dominant force in the game. In truth, right now it seems an impossible task to replicate and one that lovers of sport everywhere are sure to savour for years to come – and rightly so.

Andy Murray wins at Wimbledon

Years of waiting, months of preparation and decades of pressure all culminated in a chorus of exaltation and joy as Andy Murray finally overcame his duck to take home the Grand Slam from Wimbledon during the summer, beating Novak Djokovic at a sunny and tense SW19.

It’s almost as if one can see the relief washing over the 26-year-old professional as he wins match point, his joy getting swallowed up instantaneously by the adoring crowd who had waited with bated breath for the Scot to finally secure the victory that had seemed so unlikely for so many seasons.

Unrelenting in his ambition and desire, Murray’s victory is a testament to the belief that hard work and motivation go a long way to realising one’s ambitions as he ended the 77-year wait for a British man to taste success at Wimbledon.

New challenges and testing times await with the Australian Open not too far in the distance, but regardless of what happens, Murray will always have Wimbledon to cherish.

Alex Ferguson lifts final EPL trophy

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Sir Alex Ferguson addresses the crown from an open-top bus at the start of their Barclays Premier League Trophy Parade through Manchester on May 13, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)p0pp0p

For the 13^th time in total, Alex Ferguson led the Red Devils to a Premier League title when his side overcame Swansea 2-1 at Old Trafford. In a manner befitting a team that seemingy only Fergie could build, the home side had to fight to secure a late winner to ensure the party wasn’t spoilt for the country’s most decorated manager.

Looking on as the two-time Champions League winner joined in the celebrations of yet another title win, it was clear to see that although it had spanned over 27 years, Fergie’s time seemed over altogether too quickly – his tenure as manager thankfully coming to an end in the best way imaginable.

Praising the players, the backroom staff, his family and, of course, the fans who had backed him and the squad to the hilt time and time again in an emotional speech, the on-field party that erupted on May 12 underlined exactly how touching and visceral sport can be.

For Ferguson, the journey may be over, and while the club he helped build and transform is sure to experience times of plenty and times of drought, one can be sure that the invisible ties between the 71-year-old football icon and the Theater of Dreams will hold firm long after their troubles blow over – something his fans would do well to remember on Fergie’s birthday and on the cusp of a New Year.

Armstrong shows his hand

After years of allegations, denials and shock counter-claims Lance Armstrong finally came clean about his heavy involvement in doping throughout his entire career in January 2013.

For many, it’s a shame that one of the most memorable sports stories of the year casts such a terrible shadow over all the others, and it’s a huge pity that negativity and malice had tainted one of the most-loved sports in the world. Of course, on the other hand, it was fantastic to see Lance Armstrong’s guard finally come own after such a long battle with himself – after all, his candid revelation was the very least he owed to the cycling community.

One would hope that the powers that be and the World Cycling Union can attempt to start afresh now and can use Armstrong’s confession as a springboard to keep the sport clean and free of controversy.

To paraphrase Paul Kimmage: “The cancer has been in remission for nearly a year. Let’s hope it doesn’t return.”

Bale joins Madrid

Although Gareth Bale‘s transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid turned out to not be the most expensive transfer fee the world has ever seen (that record still belongs to a certain Cristiano Ronaldo), the scenes at the Bernabeu for his €91 million unveiling still underlined the massive draw that football has on a global scale.

Thousands of excited fans thronged to see the Welsh international make a speech in English and Spanish soon after the move was approved and from there Bale has been working hard to help his new club on all fronts.

While the completion of the transfer was the most iconic element of the story, the build-up and the non-stop conjecture and speculation about his future was also incredibly astonishing to say the least as newspapers and online sites threw figures around about exactly how much the Madridistas had paid for his services; it seemed the entire world was watching.

So, for now Bale can concentrate on his football as the season spills over into another year, but make no mistake, the price tag will folow him until silverware does