Manchester United may be far from certain of taking part in next year's Champions League but, whatever happens between now and the end of Alex Ferguson's valedictory season, Old Trafford is guaranteed a significant role after being named yesterday as the venue for the 2003 European Cup final.
The announcement from UEFA means that, should United qualify next season, Ferguson's successor will have the chance to conclude his first season by winning the continent's top prize on home turf.
With this season's final to be held at Hampden Park in Glasgow, it will be the second successive year that Britain will stage European football's main showpiece.
However, Aston Villa's bid to host next year's UEFA Cup final has ended in disappointment, with the honour going to Seville's Estadio Olimpico.
United's application, submitted on their behalf by the Football Association, was one of nine considered by UEFA, with Ajax, Schalke 04, Stuttgart, Feyenoord, Hamburg, Torpedo Moscow and Real Madrid all in contention, along with the Stade de France.
Old Trafford's 68,000 capacity, the international prestige associated with the "Theatre of Dreams", the proximity to an international airport and the upgrading of Manchester's hotel facilities for next summer's Commonwealth Games helped it finish ahead of the Amsterdam Arena.
It will be the first time an English ground has staged the final since Barcelona won the trophy against Sampdoria at Wembley in 1992.
"We are absolutely delighted that UEFA has chosen Old Trafford to host club football's most prestigious event," United's managing director David Gill said last night.
"We have a magnificent stadium here at Manchester United and have demonstrated time and again our ability to host major sports events."
The announcement followed two days of deliberations by UEFA's executive committee in Nyon, during which it was also decided there would be no change of format to the Champions League for the next four seasons.
There had been talk of the tournament being revamped, most notably by reverting to a straight knockout after the initial group stage. Unsurprisingly, given the considerable amount of revenue involved, Europe's leading six or seven clubs were vehemently opposed to any such changes and the competition will continue to have two group phases until the 2006/07 season at least.
UEFA also confirmed Switzerland as hosts of the summer European under-21 Championships.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)