When Wigan Shocked The World

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Wigan Athletic were more likely to be found scrapping to keep themselves above the Premier League relegation zone, than lifting major silverware.
However, in 2013 Wigan shocked the world by beating Manchester City (who would win the Premier League the following year). And yet still got relegated…
This is the story of how it unfolded. Written by Seb Stafford-Bloor. Illustrated by Marco Bevilacqua.
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#Wigan #FACup #PremierLeague

[@victorvelasquez1482]

Should've mentioned that they also played Europa League football in the 13/14 season because of their FA Cup win, not every day that you see a second division side playing in a European competition

[@aquibaquil2476]

How far did they go?

[@victorvelasquez1482]

@@aquibaquil2476 Knocked out in the group stages

[@sportsjefe]

@@victorvelasquez1482 They did, however, reach the FA Cup semifinal, going out to Arsenal on penalties and beating Man City along the way.

[@rohithraman6488]

Birmingham also played Europa League as a Championship team after winning the Carling Cup

[@adambarton9326]

19 Sep 2013SV Zulte Waregem v Wigan Athletic D0-0 03 Oct 2013Wigan Athletic v NK Maribor W3-1 24 Oct 2013Wigan Athletic v Rubin Kazan D1-1 07 Nov 2013Rubin Kazan v Wigan Athletic L1-0 28 Nov 2013Wigan Athletic v SV Zulte Waregem L1-2 12 Dec 2013NK Maribor v Wigan Athletic L2-1

[@adambarton9326]

Let's Mention that Martinez initially joined Wigan in 1995 as part of the "3 AMIGOS" along with Jesus Seba and Isidro Diaz. He was the first Spaniard to play in the FA Cup (at Runcorn FC). He played at Wigan for many years as a cultured midfielder.

[@Lythgoemania]

We have a tendency to have ex-players as managers. Jewell, Martinez, Caldwell, Cook

[@johnlowe9826]

First Spaniard to score in the FA Cup, not play. Not sure if that had happened before but in that Runcorn game alone Isidro Diaz also played

[@ryannurse2890]

As a Millwall fan, I was there at Wembley for the semi-final and I was gutted to see us miss out on the final after getting so close, but I was absolutely delighted for Wigan when they won it. What a season that was.

[@paigeleigh2554]

Thank you! On that day, I met so many Millwall fans and they treated us brilliantly. Not forgetting, the amount of lager we drank!

[@miz5138]

The game that put Roberto Martinez on the map.

[@danielkarmy4893]

Be fair to the man, he was on the map already, as Joe explains in this video...

[@stnbch3025]

And he still sucks.

[@arushh42]

unfortunately for Belgium and Eden Hazard

[@sukhdevr3489]

You're right but he's a terrible manager though. Good first season with Everton because we had Moyes' defence, when he started coaching we got progressively worse and he finished 11th twice in a row with top 6 quality teams.

[@RichBurrell]

He’s a championship manager at best

[@mrpalmer255]

The fact I can see the Wigan stadium from my bedroom window makes me proud to see them feature on this Channel 😭

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

What's your home value nowadays?

[@TrautsEwol]

It’ll be the greatest day of my life possibly forever. You forgot to mention our league cup final that first season, or our semi final run the year after winning it, or our Europa league games and still the only side in history to play from the championship, or still being undefeated to Citah, we love them because we always beat them. Also Roberto was signed as a player to us, he used to live in the next street to me and still owns that house, he still lives in Wigan and never moved out of town to this day.

[@nayanjamdar9012]

up the tics

[@aidygooner]

Birmingham City said hi regarding Championship team in the Europa League thanks to beating my Arsenal in 2011. 😭

[@joedobson7609]

why, where abouts does he live? I imagine either Swinley or Standish haha

[@rikwallant9901]

@@joedobson7609 Parbold I believe?

[@NedLudd717]

You're not undefeated against Man city!

[@jimbo6519]

The fact that we went on to beat City again in the same competition in 17/18, arguably the best City side to date. An even more impressive achievement when you consider the league we were in at the time.

[@charlieaspey5019]

Always knocked 3/4 prem teams out of the cup that season whilst in league 1

[@eddixon2015]

You guys knocked them out again the next year, and that Semi final against us was one of the most nerve wracking sporting events I’ve ever watched. It wasn’t until Fabianski saved the second Penalty from Jack Collison that I could breath normally again, my hands were shaking so badly. I had to go outside to decompress. That was a resilient team.

[@jimbo6519]

@@eddixon2015 I was there too, painful to go out on penalties but I was happy when Arsenal went on to win against Hull, well deserved 👏

[@Foxstar1387]

2013 the time Wigan had a weird Treble. FA Cup. RL Super league and RL Challenge cup

[@drewormesher7833]

We were classed as "the best sporting town in the country" for 6 months 😂

[@plshsd]

Nitpick: Arsenal weren’t 1-0 down ever in that match, but Wigan did equalize at 45’

[@rbkclt]

Arsenal were 1-0 down against Wigan in another match in 2009.. Which also ended up 4-1 !! I think tifo thought of that match.

[@danegel]

That's the problem with Tifo after The Athletic took them over, more focus on churning videos out than spending more time on research. Couldn't pronounce Joel Robles right and you'd think they'll mention reaching the League Cup final in their first Premier League season.

[@mrsmokingskittles148]

@@danegel yes in this video they give credit to Wigan for Victor Moses when he was a product of crystal palace

[@jmckendry84]

@@mrsmokingskittles148 the video only claims that they sold Victor Moses to Chelsea which is...true.

[@mrsmokingskittles148]

@@jmckendry84 no it claims they produced

[@MsZeeZed]

Perfectly timed FA Cup Final video

[@Banzybanz]

Birmingham City also won the League Cup and got relegated in the same season a couple of seasons before.

[@TheTechnicalArea19]

Really love these types of videos. I suggest you do this for 2004 Greece or Deportivo la Coruna next.

[@wyrw]

I still remember the insane end of season form that saved Wigan from relegation in 11-12

[@joshuawigan1]

And now they have been promoted to the championship after facing relegation, and then liquidation a year before. This club truly defies the odds, year after year.

[@Lythgoemania]

So glad I support this club tbh

[@Ionut-7]

This was Pantelimon's curse. He was the FA Cup Goalkeeper until the final, when, the bright coach sent in Hart ... Bravo Wigan! All the respect from Romania!

[@philipbrown4192]

I remember working at this final. On level 5 on the Wigan side. Electric scenes. I still picture seeing a couple of City fans who bought Wigan tickets crying as they left at the final whistle.

[@chrisnaylor3418]

I will always have the memory of going insane in torrential rain in the first few rows at Wembley while Martinez was being chucked in the air with the cup…then getting the coach back to Wigan drenched. Had to turn back to London as well an hour in cos of an accident on the motorway…best day of my life

[@kajurn791]

There was also the day Will Grigg scored to beat Manchester city 1-0 on another cup tie. Was pretty amazing to watch live.

[@Halftimeclub]

Some way this story reminds me of the days of Portsmouth under Harry Redknapp. Love these stories, that's why sports are so exciting!

[@xLUNAPODx]

Portsmouth made the final in the year they were relegated and were a missed spot kick away from winning the cup and going down. Drogba killed the fairy-tale.

[@reintaler6355]

@@xLUNAPODx But KPB killed Ballack's career so some favor was returned

[@Dz73zxxx]

thanks for the upload tifo, i was kinda being nostalgic towards this team, and what a time! absolute shocker of a history!

[@Dz73zxxx]

to think how wigan survived in the premiership, the nowaday's burnley also having such trend...wonder if they can escape the pits of relegation this season

[@mankytoes]

Coventry were "that team" before Wigan... once they do go down, they tend to stay down.

[@Dz73zxxx]

@@mankytoes really? Well i do kinda late onto premiership But yeah, to think that for most of teams, having themself in premiership kinda equal to a 5 star hotel stay...

[@aditsmith9392]

@@mankytoes Nah, Wigan is going back to the prem.

[@akamiguelsanchez9985]

Dave Whelan broke his leg in the league cup final, you know.

[@simonn2045]

Dave Whelan broke his leg in a cup final? Never heard that before 😐

[@attackpatterndelta8949]

Who’s Dave Whelan?

[@ToTheRegiment]

He uncertainly kept that quiet 🤭🤭🤭

[@BenStone_]

ha!.. i was looking for this comment! )

[@Ese96Agoaye]

2013 wasn't just the year of Athletic, but also, Warriors, as they won both the Super League, and the Challenge Cup.

[@renereyestorres7660]

They reached the semi finals the next season and eliminated City in the quarter finals. 13-14 season that is hehe. What a team! Loved Wigan because a few Hondurans played there Espinoza Palacios Thomas And Juan Carlos García 😉❤️. They ate back in the Championship. Hopefully they can get back to the premier league

[@yuyaWiseman16]

Wigan didn't take the lead v Arsenal. They equalized to make it 1-1 with a free kick right on HT. Shaun Maloney with a direct free kick. Their FA cup win however was a thing of beauty. I remember watching it live and just said to everyone in the room. That is the beauty of football. They almost retained it too. They got to the semi in 2013 14. A hull v Wigan final would have been pretty interesting to say the least.

[@bennettjackson99]

Love the production and art style used in this video. The use of the classic Tifo drawings along with the photos looks great. Definitely want to see more of it!

[@Peepeepoopooman1234]

I was born in wigan and lived there for 22 years. I left to go to uni, my first year was the 12/13 season. I remember the day of the final, I had a part time job and had work that morning at 6am. I rushed home to catch the game, I put the tv on sat on my bed watching the build up but fell asleep before kickoff. I woke up just after full time and saw they’d won, i thought i was still dreaming haha, I couldn’t believe it!

[@DrippySpaff]

Remember watching the final at a friends house who was a city fan and he started crying when they lost.

[@edwardkelly3280]

I missed Wigan they was the first smaller team that tried to play like a possession team in the EPL.Back then most of the smaller teams would try to frequently use long balls.They actually inspired teams like Blackpool,Bournemouth ,Brentford,Brighton and Leeds United to play more possession football. Also Martinez was using 3 at the back before Conte did at Chelsea

[@stephenpalmer9375]

pretty sure you couldn't really call Leeds a 'smaller' team. They spent a while in the doldrums, but they are by fanbase one of the biggest teams in the country. Pretty sure Blackpool's storied and silverware laden history suggests otherwise too. But I know what you mean :)

[@stevencooke6451]

I remember the FA Cup final and thinking that they played their hearts out. Somehow I had forgotten the Zabaleta red.

[@cyrusnderitu1006]

Best football channel even. Bravo Tifo

[@yakunats]

This new art style is fantastic. I've always loved the motion graphics and animation on this channel and this is no different. Thanks for keeping it fresh. Oh yeah, the walk down memory lane was nice as well.

[@Hadar1991]

Fun fact, Roberto Mancini, the coach of Manchester City at that time, was sack after that loosing FA Cup to Wigan and last two games in that season City had an interim manager. :P

[@SonnyDazeNYC]

Wigan had a very solid squad during that 12/13 season but were riddled by injuries in defense over the final weeks of the season, hence why they couldn't get the results to stay up in the Prem.

[@sukhdevr3489]

Martinez ruined defences as well, Sam Allardyce would've kept them up and Kone A and Maloney would've got them goals.

[@paigeleigh2554]

Brilliant video! As a Wigan fan, thank you very much!

[@aduad]

Wigan for 2 or 3 seasons straight turned into prime Barcelona at the end of the season to survive relegation...even the year they got relegated some dubious decisions went against them.

[@kicsiszol]

this was so cool. i loved watching this as it happened. i dont care much about english football but this and the leicester championship run was were amongst my fav football memories.

[@jasonadams4487]

Shoutout to Sporting KC player/legend Roger Espinoza being on this squad.

[@lts3248]

You should do a Birmingham City League cup win too (if it's not too similar)

[@kikechando]

So excited to hear Hondurans mentioned here!

[@staffh3815]

Never a boring season for latics ,always seem to be fighting relegation or chasing promotion, up the tics

[@GetMeOutOfMyMisery]

This almost happened in the 1999-2000 season when Atlético Madrid got relegated and played in the Copa del Rey final but lost

[@char6364]

Great to have Tifo content on Wigan, especially on our FA Cup miracle but there were a few factual errors in this one! 1) Koné was signed from Levante in 2012, not Vallecano. Think you mixed him up with Mohamed Diamé who was a Martínez signing from Vallecano in 2009. 2) Ben Watson was a Steve Bruce signing in January 2009 before Martínez's arrival in the summer. 3) Wigan played 3-4-3 in the final, not 4-3-3. Even with six defenders injured, Martínez stuck with the system. McArthur played RWB, Espinoza LWB with a back-three of Scharner, Alcaraz and Boyce. 4) Wigan never had the lead in the Arsenal game. They equalised via a Maloney free-kick before half-time then conceded three times in the second half. Surprised you didn't mention Wigan as a Championship club beating Man City again the following season at the Etihad in the quarter-finals and only losing to eventual winners Arsenal on penalties in the semi-final too!

[@JoeBannister1]

Nice to see my local team get some love

[@KingAlanI]

As an Evertonian: Worried about pulling a Wigan with being in a relegation scrap again and on a good run in the Carabao Cup so this is where Roberto Martinez and Leighton Baines were right before us Several escapes but eventually going down is like a particular game where defense/keeper is under a lot of pressure, initially holds and eventually lets some in. Afraid of that too.

[@aurahy]

Please tifo dont stop this kind of stories like the dinamo tiblisi one who made my cry

[@t.i.f.f3640]

Wigan owns this page... Wigan athletic

[@danielkelly-dyson1803]

What a day that final was! Never forget it

[@alexbaxter3730]

A day that will never stop to put a smile on my face

[@reverseflashplays8615]

I remember watching this like it was yesterday lol

[@kieronparr3403]

I've been trying to think of Paul Scharners name for about 4 months. Thanks TIFO

[@benmckee9677]

I remember Wigan played city about two weeks before in the league. City won but Wigan deserved something out of the game and Martinez did the exact same thing and Mancini didn’t change. Wigan deserved it in the end

[@davidmorrissey5075]

Dave Whelan broke his leg in the FA Cup final in 1960, and out of the financial compensation, he started what would become his empire. His empire's growth and success eventually led him to buy Wigan, who he brought all the way up to the Premier League and subsequent FA Cup glory. What a cycle

[@Jayfretwell]

I was there and at the semi (as a neutral). Amazing, crazy day.

[@kierran5021]

The illustrative line makes it look like he knuckleballed that header

[@axdambient]

The first time a Honduran flag was waived during a British title Tu bandera 🇭🇳

[@Brokethatsword]

Wigan never took the lead at arsenal, we equalized just before half time.

[@Weakbody2]

YAAAAAAS!! LOVED THIS WIGAN TEAM!

[@davidp5544]

One of the greatest upsets of the modern era

[@mrsmokingskittles148]

Victor Moses was a product of crystal palace !!! I come through the youth academy and started for the 1st team !!!!

[@binaffleck3160]

I was just thinking about this

[@helmiomar123]

I remembered mcmanaman was causing problems on the wing .. sadly he didn’t live up to expectations

[@dangibbons117]

Didn't have the determination or the fitness, only himself to blame.

[@viajaycay]

I remember winning a massive bet with this game. I remember where i was when watson scored that goal and how i celebrated

[@stephenpalmer9375]

Same happened to me when the Crazy Gang beat Liverpool. Only bet of any size I have ever won lol

[@vishwamitrangasepam4555]

Arsenal relegated Wigan for daring to win their cup. 😂

[@logan7816]

🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂

[@staffh3815]

Last ever game at highbury

[@jajahbass]

"When wigan shocked the world" Me, a part of the world: not shocked at all

[@RoughWeightloss]

Best day of my life. Incredible

[@adam6543]

Can we have a video of Manchester United shocked the world by finishing second

[@jean-paulwalters8855]

What season? Lol 😜😜🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jean-paulwalters8855]

Sit deep, low block, hit long-balls in behind for Rashford, or pass it to Bruno, let him spam every pass and shot, until 1 comes off, and then Pogba comes back to ball out

[@muhdpeep]

@@jean-paulwalters8855 there's no bruno that season lmao

[@dehazetluanga9943]

@@jean-paulwalters8855 nah, its pass to fellaini

[@jean-paulwalters8855]

@@muhdpeep when Mourinho finished 2nd, I'm presuming

[@minutofutbol1053]

3:17 correction: Arouna Kone was recruited from Levante instead of Rayo

[@thisisstuart7951]

Funny story I turned over to ITV and saw the Wigan Chairman being interviewed and I was thinking Man City smashed Wigan by a cricket score then seeing the boards behind him saying "Congratulations Wigan Athletic" that's when the penny dropped and just cheared

[@cpfc4prem]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention that Ben Watson only returned from a long term injury a couple of weeks before the final. That injury was of course a broken leg, just like Whelan.

[@WafcPassion]

What a day. Laughing with City fans before the game asking them how many they’d score. That Everton Quarter Final game one of the best away days of all time too

[@Hillineunundsechzig]

In Germany 1. FC Nürnberg managed to get relegated as defending champion in the sixties and winning the cup and beeing relegated in 06/07.

[@footballwithsujal8384]

They also qualified for Europa league so pls also make a video describing their European ventures from CHAMPIOnSHIP

[@michaeldalby8297]

They were also knocked out of the League Cup at home on penalties, by league two Bradford City, who went on to reach the final. Bradford would go on to lose the final 5-0 to Swansea, but then went on to win promotion via the playoffs.

[@markrussell1988]

Thought at first that was George Graham in the thumbnail picture haha.

[@himanshutiwari1034]

Amazing

[@alexwebb8717]

birmingham city had a similar thing with carling cup win and relegation a few years before!

[@kevinprior3549]

I remember that final. Everyone even a lot of Wigan fans thought Man City was gonna be too good. But the romance of the FA Cup came back.

[@RoughWeightloss]

The save from Robles from Tevez was just ridiculous

[@RazorTooths]

McManaman was amazing in that final

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

The amazing thing is that they made it to the following season's FA Cup semi-finals, only losing to Arsenal 1-1 on penalties.

[@z3phpro782]

1:46 Wait a second, I thought JJ was the Bullard

[@anonymousinternetuser7519]

Wilson Palacios bought to the UK by Birmingham. Who also won a domestic trophy and got relegated, but everybody loves Wigan...

[@kevinprior3549]

James McArthur & James McCarthy... that must have been confusing for both Hamilton & Wigan

[@bwfc_evan2334]

I’m sad to see this but it’s a good history

[@lewisblackwiththenicehair]

Something else I think deserves a more in depth view is the season Wigan came second in the Championship to get promoted in the first place. Ipswich were top for a large part of that season, Wigan snuck in late to beat them for the last automatic spot in the end and the rest is history now I guess

[@Lythgoemania]

We were top for a lot of the first half of the season, just had a slight drop in form last couple months before getting back to 2nd

[@jmorris023]

They weren’t 40-1, they were 9-1 to win in full time.

[@stewartmonks382]

The thing is, some fans want nothing but premier league football. I prefer winning trophies 😊

[@camdento6721]

That Arsenal 4-1 Wigan match was very epic

[@danielkarlsen2545]

Hello Mr Tifo people. Could you make a video about afc wimbledon?

[@AS-mw6pw]

This video would’ve been better if you mentioned the calibre of teams Wigan were playing as recently as the late 70s such as South Liverpool, Frickley Athletic, Matlock Town, Mossley, Great Harwood, Netherfield, Runcorn etc. Also you should’ve mentioned the following season when they reached the FA Cup semi-final and took the lead against Arsenal only to be knocked out on penalties. Should they have won that game they would’ve only needed to beat Hull in the final to win consecutive FA Cups from the second division!

[@ddaddy1775]

Can you do a video on Bradford getting to the League Cup final?

[@mxsthxted]

wigan has beaten man city thrice in the fa cup :))

[@Ese96Agoaye]

Correct! Also in 2018! Wigan are Man Citys kryptonite!

[@thztan7492]

I watch the game. The result ate shocking indeed 🙂👍

[@kieronhodgkinson2619]

I may be the only person to care about this but if you want to find a team that shocked the world from England then just look back at the 1961/62 First Division winners Ipswich Town who not only won back to back trophies by winning the Second Division title the season before but also won in their first ever season in the English top Flight which had it not have happened it is likely that there would be no Sir Alf Ramsey for England in 66' nor would Sir Bobby Robson have been likely to join us and subsequently find the same level of success considering how his first job at Fulham went.

[@EugenesBackpack]

How you confused zabaleta with glichy

[@ANTICENA571]

Odd that there was no mention of Pascal Chimbonda when discussing the 05/06 team. An unheralded signing from France, not only did he become a cult hero but he also made team of the year that season - to date the only Wigan player to have done so in the Premier League

[@stephenpalmer9375]

cult hero at Spurs too (at least the first time)

[@chrisnaylor3418]

Not really a cult hero at Wigan now. Ruined it quite quickly when he immediately jumped ship. Handed a transfer request in literally straight after the final game of that season

[@Lythgoemania]

@@chrisnaylor3418 Up there with Zaki in the disrespectful knobhead department

[@ANTICENA571]

@@chrisnaylor3418 I mean, yeah, but in recent years that seems to have mended. Not only has Pascal played non-league quite near Wigan recently, but also appeared in a charity match featuring other former Wigan players to a quite decent reception

[@chrisnaylor3418]

Don't get me wrong, he isn't hated or anything. He's just not up there with a lot of the other players who were with us that season. Certainly not cult hero. He came in, had one great season (as did most of our squad that year) then immediately left

[@benhutton7298]

UP THE TICS

[@eskenderworku1381]

Great content as usual, Ben Watson broke his leg in November of 2012, and came back to score the winning goal in an FA Cup Final in May 2013.

[@frankndungu5268]

Tiffo should have mentioned that Wigan beat Man City in FA cup in 2018 😍😍