Top 10 Stories Of 2014

2014 has been one of the more eventful years in United's long, celebrated history. Here, ManUtd.com takes a chronological look back at the stories that have made the headlines over the last 12 months...

James Tuck

1. JUAN MEMORABLE DAY

United signed Juan Mata for a club-record fee of £37.1million in January on a day that had a touch of Hollywood about it, as the Spanish midfielder arrived at the Aon Training Complex by helicopter to complete his move.

2. FAREWELL, VIDA

Skipper Nemanja Vidic announced in February he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, after eight years. He would later be joined by fellow defensive stalwarts Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.

3. DE GEA HONOURED

David De Gea was named the Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at United's end-of-season awards ceremony in May, after a stellar campaign. It heralded the keeper's coming of age.

4. A LEGEND RETIRES

Ryan Giggs brought the curtain down on his glittering 23-year playing career later that month, having been a central figure in perhaps the year's biggest story as he took temporary charge of the Reds following the departure of David Moyes.

5. NEW MAN IN CHARGE

On 19 May, a month before he coached the Netherlands in the World Cup, Louis van Gaal was announced as United's new manager, with Giggs named as his assistant.

6. VAN GAAL BEGINS SHOPPING

Van Gaal quickly set about building his new squad with the purchases of Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and, for a club-record fee of £59.7million, Angel Di Maria.

7. FUN AT THE BIG HOUSE

A record crowd for a soccer match in the United States of 109,308 watched the Reds beat Real Madrid at Michigan Stadium in August, en route to lifting the pre-season International Champions Cup.

8. WAYNE'S GAIN

After a summer of speculation, van Gaal appointed Wayne Rooney as his new captain in August, with Darren Fletcher taking up the vice-captain's role.

9. DEADLINE-DAY DRAMA

United fans not used to taking much interest in the September transfer deadline day had their eyes glued to the TV as the Reds swooped late for Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao.

10. A FRESH START

Two weeks later, we saw United's new-look team in action. Di Maria, Blind, Rojo and Falcao all made home debuts as QPR were dispatched 4-0. A new beginning? As 2015 dawns, it certainly looks that way under Louis van Gaal...

Credit: manutd.com