Villas-Boas' assistant Roberto Di Matteo -- a former Chelsea player -- took over and led the club to two trophies, winning the English FA Cup two weeks before the Champions League final.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Since Gill became CEO in 2003, United have won four English Premier League titles, the 2004 FA Cup and the European Champions League in 2008.

CNN: Manchester United CEO David Gill to step down

While Real would go on to win the nascent competition for the second year in a row, defeating Fiorentina of Italy in the final, United finished the season as English league champions before losing to Aston Villa in the FA Cup final in front of nearly 100, 000 at Wembley.

CNN: February 12, 2013 -- Updated 1220 GMT (2020 HKT)

Especially, playing in a league like the English Premiership which includes 38 league games, the Charity Shield, the FA Cup, the Worthington Cup and the Champions League.

BBC: Sport Academy | Football | Features | Patrick Vieira