Sir Alex Ferguson had led Manchester United for more than 26 years. He had won pretty much everything possible: Premier League titles, European Cups, domestic trophies, and had overseen some of the most dramatic and unforgettable moments in Premier League history.

So when his 1,500th and final game as Manchester United manager arrived, there were probably hundreds of different ways people imagined it ending. A comfortable win, a late United winner, maybe one final clean sheet and another three points.

I don't think anyone was expecting West Brom 5–5 Manchester United.

United led 3–0. Then 5–2. Sir Alex had overseen the most dominant years in Manchester United's history, and for long periods this looked like a very fitting end. But somehow, in the final ten minutes, his managerial career ended with the first 5–5 draw in Premier League history.

For somebody whose teams had spent years producing ridiculous late drama, maybe a quiet ending was never going to happen.

One Last Game

The 20th league title had already been sealed weeks earlier. Ferguson had already been given his emotional farewell at Old Trafford against Swansea, and the trophy had already been lifted. There was nothing really riding on this game. It was simply the final match of the season.

For more than two decades, Ferguson being on the touchline had just been part of the Premier League. Whether you supported United or hated them, he was always there. Now, suddenly, there was one game left. Game number 1,500.

And for the opening half an hour, it looked as though United were going to give him the most comfortable farewell possible.

United Were Three Up Before You Knew It

Manchester United started fantastically. Six minutes in, Javier Hernández crossed from the right and Shinji Kagawa headed past Ben Foster. West Brom 0–1 Manchester United. Three minutes later, Antonio Valencia fired a low ball across the box and Jonas Olsson turned it into his own net. 0–2.

Nine minutes played. Two goals scored. A very Manchester United way to start Ferguson's 1,500th game.

Then Alexander Büttner got the third after half an hour, driving the ball past Foster from a tight angle. 0–3. At that point, it looked easy. United were champions, West Brom had nothing major to play for and Ferguson's last afternoon seemed to be heading towards a straightforward win.

It almost felt too comfortable. If someone had told you at that point that West Brom were going to score five goals, you probably would not have believed them. Whether United took their foot off the gas or West Brom simply played extremely well, you can make your own judgement.

West Brom Refuse to Be Part of the Farewell

West Brom were not there just to let United breeze to victory. James Morrison pulled one back before half-time. 3–1. The half-time team talks seemed to have a major impact, because the mentality of both sides changed after the break.

Romelu Lukaku came on. He was only 20 at the time and on loan from Chelsea, but he had already shown throughout the season that he was far too good to be treated as just another young player getting experience. Five minutes after the restart, he got West Brom's second. 3–2.

Suddenly it was a game again.

United Just Score Two More

Every time West Brom seemed to make a move and change the flow of the game, United just seemed to score again. Robin van Persie restored the two-goal lead almost immediately, converting Antonio Valencia's cross. West Brom 2–4 Manchester United.

It was Van Persie's 26th league goal of the season. He had been so important to Manchester United that year and a huge reason why they had won their 20th title. Then Ryan Giggs found Javier Hernández and the Mexican made it five. 2–5.

A three-goal cushion again with less than 30 minutes to go. Surely, game over.

5–2 With Ten Minutes Left

Manchester United were 5–2 ahead going into the final ten minutes. The champions against a side with nothing really riding on the result. Then Lukaku scored again. 5–3. Almost immediately, Youssouf Mulumbu scored. 5–4.

It no longer felt like a routine end to Ferguson's United career. The nerves were beginning to hit the players and the fans, and West Brom could sense there was another goal in it. The Hawthorns had completely woken up.

It Felt Like the Roles Had Reversed

For years, Ferguson had built a mentality where even if United were losing, there always seemed to be another chance coming. The players knew it. The fans knew it. The manager knew it.

United would get one goal and suddenly everyone believed another was coming. This time, they were on the receiving end of it. At 5–2, the game looked finished. But once West Brom got it back to 5–4, you just felt they were going to get another chance.

It was almost the reverse of the mentality Ferguson had built at United.

Lukaku Makes It Five

Then came the equaliser in the 86th minute. Lukaku fought his way into the United box and got his shot away. His first attempt did not go in, but he reacted quickest and put the second effort away.

5–5.

The young Lukaku had a hat-trick. And Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,500th and final game had turned into a ten-goal thriller. Even after that, West Brom were unlucky not to make it six.

After 1,500 matches, Ferguson's final scoreline could genuinely have been West Brom 6–5 Manchester United. Imagine.

The Goal Timeline

The Stolen Farewell

The plan was for Ferguson to be the story of the day. His career was coming to an end, but Lukaku almost stole the afternoon. He came on at half-time and, inside 45 minutes, scored a Premier League hat-trick against the champions of England.

His loan spell at West Brom had already been excellent, but this was probably the icing on the cake. Ironically, a few years later, Lukaku would become a Manchester United player himself.

A future United striker stopping Sir Alex Ferguson from getting a farewell victory.

It Was Actually Quite a Ferguson Ending

Scoring five goals while conceding five was not exactly a traditional Manchester United result, but somehow it still felt like a fitting ending for Ferguson. The game was chaos. End-to-end. Unpredictable.

And, as someone who had spent his career involved in dramatic matches, I think he probably secretly enjoyed parts of it. Plenty of goals, momentum swings, late drama and a game that refused to settle down.

For more than 26 years, Ferguson's United had been involved in matches where you never really felt comfortable switching off before the final whistle. Usually, it was because United were capable of producing something late.

This time, it happened against them.

1,500 Games

The scoreline makes the match memorable, but the number that really matters is 1,500. Ferguson arrived at Manchester United in 1986 and by the time he walked away he had won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, four League Cups and 38 trophies in total.

Football had changed around him. Players changed. Managers changed. Rivals changed. Styles changed. But Ferguson was there through all of it.

He was Mr Premier League.

It was always going to feel strange going into a new season without him on the touchline.

The Result Barely Mattered

Normally, throwing away a 5–2 lead would be a disaster. But nobody really cared that much. United were champions and the season was over.

The result meant almost nothing, but I think that is part of what makes the match so memorable. It was allowed to become ridiculous. Both teams could play freely, attack and score at will.

And they did.

The End of an Era

When the whistle went, it was the end of something much bigger than the game itself. Sir Alex Ferguson had managed Manchester United for the final time. Looking back, it was hard to imagine the impact his departure would eventually have on United.

For anyone who grew up watching the Premier League during that period, Manchester United and Ferguson were basically linked together.

Now, it was over.

The Strangest Goodbye

West Brom 5–5 Manchester United. Ten goals. United leading 3–0. Then 5–2. A Lukaku hat-trick. Three West Brom goals in the final ten minutes. And Sir Alex Ferguson walking away after game number 1,500.

He had spent more than 26 years producing drama right until the final whistle. Even in his last match, the game refused to behave normally.

Maybe a quiet 2–0 win would have been easier. But it probably would not have been as fitting.