Often regarded as the greatest FA Cup final shock this century, it’s now been 11 years since Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City to lift the trophy at Wembley.
Ben Watson’s late header is arguably the most famous goal in the club’s history, but now two of his teammates from that day are looking to make more cup memories with the Latics as they take on Manchester United on Monday night.
The man who got the assist that day, Shaun Maloney, is now in charge at Wigan, while cup final man of the match, Callum McManaman has returned for his third spell at the club. As part of The Sportsman’s Road to Wembley series, I went down to the DW Stadium to catch up with the winger, who experienced the highest point of his career as a fresh-faced 22-year-old.
“It was the perfect day. Everything just went right on the day. I think the tactics were perfect, I think the lads played out their skin. I think we deserved it to be honest, it was a tough game but I think we deserved it on the day.
“It would have to be (the highlight of my career). It would be tough to beat that, doing that at such a young age as well, I don’t think I realised at the time how big it was. I think when I retire I’ll properly look back at it, but I’m just looking forward now to be honest.”
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McManaman won man of the match that day, having drawn Pablo Zabaleta into two yellow card challenges that saw City go down to ten men late on. But McManaman was impressed by his teammates' confidence heading into that final, something his side will need to replicate if they are to cause a shock against Manchester United this year.
“I think we had no fear and we played that way. I think we kept the ball, we didn’t just sit in and defend, we kept the ball that day. But the team they had was unbelievable, so we knew it was going to be tough. We knew we needed a bit of luck and things had to go right. When Zabaleta did get the second yellow card, I think we believed more.
“Before the game, obviously it is difficult to say you are going to beat that City team, if you look back at the team it was unbelievable now all the players that played that day. But yeah, after Zabaleta got sent off I think everyone believed ‘we can do this here’. Then obviously Ben Watson scores the goal, perfect timing, great header, great day.”
The Watson goal, pictures of which adorn the walls along the corridors of the director’s lounge at the DW Stadium, still lives long in the memory of every Wiganer. And McManaman has the perfect view of the most famous goal in the club’s history.
“I remember it just going over my head, I was at the front post, and then Ben’s got it - so I was the first one to grab hold of him - it’s alright for the pictures! I don’t think I could have done that header, no way! The leap, the jump on him that day was massive and no, I definitely couldn’t have scored that header. I remember being on the floor when they were celebrating, I was on the bottom - I remember trying to get everyone off me, but they couldn’t hear me. Just a mad day.”
Wigan were handed an eight-point deduction at the start of the season after failing to pay their players’ wages on time, but under new owners, things are looking brighter again in the north-west. McManaman, now 32, is working under his former teammate Shaun Maloney, who took charge in January 2023, and the move into the dugout is one that appears to have been a smooth one for Maloney.
“He was always someone who was very well respected with the lads,” McManaman recalls. “He always gave good advice, and I played in the same position as him so he used to help me a lot when I was younger. Now he’s the manager and I think he is doing a really good job, it’s been tough with the minus eight points, but it’s been tough for the club over the last 18 months and the fans especially, but this club always comes together in tough times and it’s definitely shown. Hopefully it can show again on Monday.”
Monday night presents another chance for Wigan to create some FA Cup history. This time it is the red half of Manchester they will be hoping to upset, as United come to town. Erik ten Hag’s men haven’t been hugely successful so far this term, but even so, Wigan are huge underdogs heading into this one.
“Just got to play our own game, play the game and not the occasion. We’ve got to defend well, we know that, but we can do that anyway. And then, when we do get the chance to hurt them, just keep going and try and hurt them, we are going to get moments. The advice to the young lads would just be, be confident, take it as any other game, don’t play the occasion.”
Check out the full video down, from the DW Stadium, down below.
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