In Pictures: United’s rise to the top

It is the 13th Premier League title for both the club and talismanic manager Alex Ferguson, who has now won 49 club trophies in his glittering career [GETTY]

Ferguson has received praise from managers and pundits across the game. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hailed the Scotsman(***)s achievements, saying: "What he did is what he has been doing all his life, winning ... That(***)s his life and his career." [GETTY]

United are no strangers to winning. They first became English champions in 1907-08 under manager Ernest Mangnall, winning again in 1910-11, but it was nearly 40 years before the next title [GETTY]

In the fifties, United became known as the (***)Busby Babes(***) – a talented team of youngster managed by Matt Busby, including players such as Jackie Blanchflower and Roger Byrne. They won the first division in 1951-52 and then 1955-56 and 1956-1957 before the 1958 Munich air crash decimated the team [GETTY]

In the sixties, George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton dominated the team, beating rivals Leeds United to the title in 1964-65 and again two seasons later [GETTY]

Managers Frank O(***)Farrell, Tommy Docherty, Dave Sexton and Ron Atkinson all tried to restore United to the top, and in 1986 Alex Ferguson was appointed, finishing 11th in his first season before coming runners-up to Liverpool [GETTY]

The formation of the Premier League in the 1992-1993 season coincided with United(***)s rise to the top. With larger-than-life Frenchman Eric Cantona joining the club from Leeds, Ferguson ended the club(***)s 26-year wait for the title the following season [GETTY]

Twelve more have followed as Ferguson builds a dynasty that shows no sign of crumbling [GETTY]