Manchester United’s Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke are linked together for the rest of their lives because of what they accomplished on the pitch in 98-99, United’s best season ever.  What started off as an accidental pairing against Southhampton, turned into a deadly striker combination that took United to the treble – the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. They scored 53 goals between them in that spectacular first season, and United lost only one of the 36 games they started. SoccerBlog had a chance to talk to the dynamic duo during an official visit to New York City.

Welcome to SoccerBlog. Tell us about how your partnership started with that first game against Southampton. What made it click?
DY: What makes us click is simple. When I joined the club, obviously the reputation was already there. Coley was the #9 and had already proved himself as the top scorer. I knew I had my work cut out for me. I had to contend with the other strikers, like Teddy Sheringham for example. I had the opportunity to play with everyone before Coley came into the equation. But it was at Southampton where we had the opportunity to partner up front.  Pretty much the rest was history.

Tell us about the treble, and the game against the Bayern Munich.
AC: The treble. It was a fantastic year. It’s something you’re never going to forget. Here we are – twenty years on – and people are still talking about it. It was an honor to be involved in it. And to be in Barcelona against Bayern Munich and come back the way we did. The two goals were beautiful for us, even though they may have been some of the ugliest goals in Champions League history. For us it was simply beautiful. It’s something you always want to treasure – not just through your footballing days, but for your life. It made so many people so happy. I don’t think anyone’s going to forget that game, or where they were when they were watching that game. It was something heroic in footballing terms. Ten days, three trophies.

Unfortunately, Man U’s been struggling now.  What do you gentlemen think of the style of play today?
DY: It’s been a struggle. It’s there for everyone to see. It hasn’t quite happened. Nevertheless, we’ve had two managers in the space of three years… It’s been difficult for us – the transition form Sir Alex to these managers. The players and the fans find it very difficult at this time. However, we’re in a FA Cup Final, so that’s something we can look forward to. [That’s on 21st May, for fans in the US]. we haven’t won that since 2004, so it’s about time we win a trophy and bring back some silverware.

What about your coaching ambitions at Villa, Dwight?
DY: Well I’ve always felt that one day I would go into that department. I’ve been out of football for nearly six years now, and I’ve done my coaching badges, so I felt, at 44, this is the time for me now provided the opportunity comes along.  I’ve put my name forward at Aston Villa because it’s a club I’ve been very familiar with – been there for 10 years, and to watch them struggle for the past four-five years – I know what they need to bring back a level of success.

We wish you the best, of course. And you might need a finishing coach…
DY: If I am the manager, I know if we need a finishing coach, there’s only one person – the guy next to me right here – to show players how to put the ball in the back of the net.

Andy, tell us a bit about Sir Alex’s coaching. I’ve seen the Harvard Business Review case study, but what is it that made him and the teams he coached so special?
AC: He’s just a winner. He wanted the best for his players, and he knew how to get the best out of each one of us. He truly wanted the best for Manchester United, and he surrounded himself with like-minded people who wanted to win. When it comes to motivation, he was very good at that. He always knew exactly what he wanted. He was very good at managing people. We’re all different, and yet Sir Alex was able to get the very best out of each one of us.  He had great skills at managing and motivating individuals. I think in today’s game that’s the only way you can achieve success – you’ve got to know your players on and off the pitch, not just as professional football players, but as people. In that sense he was very, very good. Not everyone got on, perhaps, but we all wanted the same thing.  The younger boys all grew up together, but we all knew what Manchester United was all about.

Has the game become more challenging? Do you guys think the ’99 team would be competitive against the team today?
DY: I think that the ’99 team would wipe the floor with the team right now, and that’s no disrespect to the boys. We were just a complete team in every department. We had a great goalkeeper, great strikers, great midfield, great defense. The record speaks for itself in terms of what we achieved – the treble, the Premiership three years in a row, the World Club championship.

As an ambassador for the game, Dwight, you went all the way to Sidney. What was that like?
DY: After 18 years in England playing at the top level, Sidney came calling. I was in a dark place. My sister had passed away, and I felt I needed a change. I had to fall in love with the game again, and it was heaven for me – the city, the people, and to lift the team up to win the league.

And from there we went to the World Cup with the Soca Warriors – as captain – what a great time that was.  We have been lucky – football has given us so much, that we want to give back to the fans around the world.

And now we’re interacting with the fans with #ILOVEUNITED, so that’s been a positive role for us as well.

Andy, going back to the chemistry of the team, I read somewhere that Roy Keane was very vocal and kept everyone on their toes.
AC: The manager always had a clear vision for what was expected of us.  And on the field everyone did their best.  Roy was fantastic leader and was very vocal. Even if he wasn’t playing well, he’d make sure the team was playing well.

What do you think of England’s chances this summer?
AC: I think they can get to the quarters. They should have a good tournament, but I don’t think they’re good enough to win it.

Thanks, gentlemen. On behalf of the soccer fans in this country, and all fans, we want to thank you for the joy and beauty you have brought to the game.  

We wish you both all the best, and good luck to United on the 21st!

For those of you who can’t remember the ’99 team, or simply weren’t around, WATCH: