The 1996–97 season was Manchester United's fifth season in the Premier League, and their 22nd consecutive season in the top division of English football. United clinched the Premier League title with 75 points – placing them seven points ahead of the three teams below them; Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
They also reached the European Cup semi-finals, bowing out to eventual winners Borussia Dortmund of Germany, after losing both legs 1–0. Earlier in the competition, they had lost at home in Europe for the first time, with a 1–0 defeat to Fenerbahçe of Turkey in the group stage. Their defence of the FA Cup ended in the Fourth Round replay with a 1–0 defeat to Wimbledon, while their bid for success in the League Cup was short-lived as they bowed out to eventual winners Leicester City in the Fourth Round.
New signing Ole Gunnar Solskjær was one of the biggest breakthrough stars in the 1996–97 Premier League season, with 19 goals in all competitions, making him the club's top goalscorer. Twenty-two-year-old midfielder David Beckham clinched the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the same season he won his first England cap. Solskjær's fellow Norwegian, Ronny Johnsen, proved himself as a fine successor to Steve Bruce in central defence, but £3.5 million Czech winger Karel Poborský failed to win a regular first team place and was one of the Premier League's biggest disappointments that season. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, was similarly disappointing, failing to win a regular first team place despite being able to play in midfield, attack or on the left wing.
Just before the start of the season, winger Lee Sharpe left the club after eight years to sign for Leeds United in a £4.5 million deal. Earlier in the summer, captain Steve Bruce had departed to Birmingham City on a free transfer after almost a decade at Old Trafford, while Paul Parker left on a free transfer after his final two seasons at the club had been plagued by injury and the loss of his place in the team to Gary Neville.
The season ended with a major shock as Eric Cantona announced his retirement from playing, prompting manager Alex Ferguson to search for a new striker. The search ended with the £3.5 million capture of Tottenham Hotspur and England 31-year-old Teddy Sheringham.
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance27 July 1996PortadownA5–0Scholes (3) 17', 19', 44', Keane 29', Beckham 34'6,10028 July 1996League of Ireland XIN4–1Sharpe 22', Pallister 26', Scholes 41', Cantona 44'7,72031 July 1996InternazionaleA0–333,5783 August 1996AjaxN1–2McClair 81'27,4274 August 1996Nottingham ForestA3–1Beckham 80', McClair 83', P. Neville 88'21,76013 August 1996InternazionaleH0–130,26615 April 1997CelticH1–2Keane 44'43,74316 May 1997Coventry City XIA2–2Cantona (2) 69' (pen.), 86'23,325
FA Charity Shield
DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance11 August 1996Newcastle UnitedN4–0Cantona 25', Butt 30', Beckham 86', Keane 88'73,214
FA Premier League
DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition17 August 1996WimbledonA3–0Cantona 25', Irwin 57', Beckham 87'25,7861st21 August 1996EvertonH2–2Cruyff 70', Unsworth 82' (o.g.)54,9439th25 August 1996Blackburn RoversH2–2Cruyff 38', Solskjær 69'54,1785th4 September 1996Derby CountyA1–1Beckham 38'18,0264th7 September 1996Leeds UnitedA4–0Martyn 3' (o.g.), Butt 49', Poborský 76', Cantona 90'39,6945th14 September 1996Nottingham ForestH4–1Solskjær 22', Giggs 41', Cantona (2) 82', 90' (pen.)54,9841st21 September 1996Aston VillaA0–039,3394th29 September 1996Tottenham HotspurH2–0Solskjær (2) 38', 57'54,9433rd12 October 1996LiverpoolH1–0Beckham 23'55,1284th20 October 1996Newcastle UnitedA0–535,5795th26 October 1996SouthamptonA3–6Beckham 42', May 56', Scholes 89'15,2535th2 November 1996ChelseaH1–2May 81'55,1986th16 November 1996ArsenalH1–0Winterburn 63' (o.g.)55,2106th23 November 1996MiddlesbroughA2–2Keane 17', May 73'30,0637th30 November 1996Leicester CityH3–1Butt (2) 76', 87', Solskjær 85'55,1965th8 December 1996West Ham UnitedA2–2Solskjær 54', Beckham 75'25,0456th18 December 1996Sheffield WednesdayA1–1Scholes 61'37,6715th21 December 1996SunderlandH5–0Solskjær (2) 36', 48', Cantona (2) 43' (pen.), 79', Butt 58'55,0813rd26 December 1996Nottingham ForestA4–0Beckham 24', Butt 44', Solskjær 67', Cole 76'29,0323rd28 December 1996Leeds UnitedH1–0Cantona 9' (pen.)55,2562nd1 January 1997Aston VillaH0–055,1333rd12 January 1997Tottenham HotspurA2–1Solskjær 23', Beckham 76'33,0263rd18 January 1997Coventry CityA2–0Giggs 61', Solskjær 80'23,0852nd29 January 1997WimbledonH2–1Giggs 75', Cole 82'55,3141st1 February 1997SouthamptonH2–1Pallister 19', Cantona 79'55,2691st19 February 1997ArsenalA2–1Cole 18', Solskjær 32'38,1721st22 February 1997ChelseaA1–1Beckham 68'28,3361st1 March 1997Coventry CityH3–1Breen 4' (o.g.), Jess 5' (o.g.), Poborský 47'55,2301st8 March 1997SunderlandA1–2Melville 77' (o.g.)22,2251st15 March 1997Sheffield WednesdayH2–0Cole 19', Poborský 60'55,2671st22 March 1997EvertonA2–0Solskjær 35', Cantona 79'40,0791st5 April 1997Derby CountyH2–3Cantona 47', Solskjær 76'55,2431st12 April 1997Blackburn RoversA3–2Cole 32', Scholes 42', Cantona 79'30,4761st19 April 1997LiverpoolA3–1Pallister (2) 13', 42', Cole 63'40,8921st3 May 1997Leicester CityA2–2Solskjær (2) 45', 52'21,0681st5 May 1997MiddlesbroughH3–3Keane 34', G. Neville 42', Solskjær 67'54,4891st8 May 1997Newcastle UnitedH0–055,2361st11 May 1997West Ham UnitedH2–0Solskjær 12', Cruyff 84'55,2491st
FA Cup
United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 to reach the Fourth Round, where they faced Wimbledon, who they had beaten easily 3–0 on the first day of the season; the game ended 1–1. The replay was played at Wimbledon's Selhurst Park, with the game ending 1–0 to Wimbledon, knocking United out of the competition at a very early stage. In between these two FA Cup games, United and Wimbledon faced each other again in the league, with United coming out on top at home, with a 2–1 win, making it all the more shocking that Wimbledon managed to defeat them six days later in the cup.
DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 January 1997Round 3Tottenham HotspurH2–0Scholes 51', Beckham 82'52,44525 January 1997Round 4WimbledonH1–1Scholes 89'53,3424 February 1997Round 4ReplayWimbledonA0–125,601
League Cup
As in the previous two seasons, United rested many of their first-team players in the League Cup, instead using the competition to provide first team experience to the club's younger players and reserves. This proved to be a bad move, as the Red Devils just managed to squeeze past Swindon Town to get into the Fourth Round, but they were then defeated by Leicester City 2–0.
DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance23 October 1996Round 3Swindon TownH2–1Poborský 20', Scholes 72'49,30527 November 1996Round 4Leicester CityA0–220,428
UEFA Champions League
Group stage
In the group stage, United were drawn together with defending champions Juventus of Italy, Turkish champions Fenerbahçe and Austrian champions Rapid Wien.
DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendanceGroupposition11 September 1996JuventusA0–154,0004th25 September 1996Rapid WienH2–0Solskjær 20', Beckham 27'51,8312nd16 October 1996FenerbahçeA2–0Beckham 55', Cantona 60'26,2002nd30 October 1996FenerbahçeH0–153,2972nd20 November 1996JuventusH0–153,5293rd4 December 1996Rapid WienA2–0Giggs 24', Cantona 72'45,0002nd
Knockout phase
United were drawn against Portuguese champions Porto in the quarter-finals, and sealed their place in the semi-finals with a 4–0 win in the first leg, followed by a goalless second leg. They were then drawn against the eventual winners, German champions Borussia Dortmund, who beat them 1–0 in each leg, eliminated the Red Devils from the competition 2–0 on aggregate.
DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 March 1997Quarter-finalFirst legPortoH4–0May 22', Cantona 34', Giggs 60', Cole 80'53,42519 March 1997Quarter-finalSecond legPortoA0–040,0009 April 1997Semi-finalFirst legBorussia DortmundA0–148,50023 April 1997Semi-finalSecond legBorussia DortmundH0–153,606
Squad statistics No.CL no.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals11GK Peter Schmeichel3603000901049022DF Gary Neville30(1)130101000(1)044(2)133DF Denis Irwin29(2)13000801041(2)144DF David May28(1)310207(1)11039(2)466DF Gary Pallister2731000801037377FW Eric Cantona (c)3611300010311501588MF Nicky Butt24(2)500008(1)01133(3)699FW Andy Cole10(10)62(1)0002(3)10014(14)71010MF David Beckham33(3)821001021146(3)121111MF Ryan Giggs25(1)330006(1)21035(2)51228DF Phil Neville15(3)000102(2)01019(5)01313MF Brian McClair4(15)01(2)0200(3)0007(20)01414MF Jordi Cruyff11(5)300103(1)00(1)015(7)31515MF Karel Poborský15(7)320213(3)00(1)022(11)41616MF Roy Keane212302060113331717GK Raimond van der Gouw2000201000501812MF Paul Scholes16(8)322210(4)01021(12)6195DF Ronny Johnsen26(5)02000900037(5)02020FW Ole Gunnar Solskjær25(8)180(3)0008(2)10033(13)192121DF Pat McGibbon0000000000002222MF Simon Davies00000(2)000000(2)02323MF Ben Thornley1(1)0002000003(1)02424DF John O'Kane1000100000202525GK Kevin Pilkington0000000000002619DF Chris Casper0(2)010200(1)0003(3)027–MF Terry Cooke00000(1)000000(1)028–MF Philip Mulryne0000000000002918MF Michael Appleton00001(1)000001(1)030–DF Ronnie Wallwork00000000000031–DF John Curtis00000000000032–DF Michael Clegg3(1)0101000005(1)033–GK Paul Gibson000000000000
Transfers United's first departure of the 1996–97 season was Hasney Aljofree, who signed for Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer on 2 July. Four days later, Heath Maxon was released. Tony Coton joined Sunderland on 12 July, while a month later, Lee Sharpe joined Leeds United after eight years at Old Trafford.
Arriving in the summer were Norwegian defender Ronny Johnsen, Czech winger Karel Poborský, Norwegian forward Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and Dutch midfielder Jordi Cruyff.
United's only winter departure was American forward Jovan Kirovski, who joined Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer on 8 December. David Fish joined Stockport County on 1 May, while a day later, David Hilton was released. Just under a fortnight later, Colin Murdock joined Preston North End, while on 18 May, Eric Cantona retired. Robert Trees was released on 30 June.
On 27 June, Teddy Sheringham was acquired from Tottenham Hotspur to replace the retired Cantona.
In Date Pos. Name From Fee 10 July 1996 DF Ronny Johnsen Beşiktaş £1.2m 20 July 1996 MF Karel Poborský Slavia Prague £3.5m 23 July 1996 FW Ole Gunnar Solskjær Molde £1.5m 8 August 1996 MF Jordi Cruyff Barcelona £1.4m 27 June 1997 FW Teddy Sheringham Tottenham Hotspur £3.5m
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 2 July 1996 DF Hasney Aljofree Bolton Wanderers Free 6 July 1996 GK Heath Maxon Released Free 12 July 1996 GK Tony Coton Sunderland £600k 12 August 1996 MF Lee Sharpe Leeds United £4.5m 8 December 1996 FW Jovan Kirovski Borussia Dortmund Free 1 May 1997 GK David Fish Stockport County Free 2 May 1997 DF David Hilton Released Free 15 May 1997 DF Colin Murdock Preston North End £100k 18 May 1997 FW Eric Cantona Retired 30 June 1997 MF Robert Trees Released Free
Loan out Date From Date To Position Name To 20 September 1996 21 October 1996 DF Pat McGibbon Swansea City 17 October 1996 17 November 1996 GK Paul Gibson Halifax Town 22 October 1996 22 November 1996 DF John O'Kane Bury 29 October 1996 16 November 1996 MF Simon Davies Huddersfield Town 28 November 1996 20 December 1996 MF Terry Cooke Birmingham City 14 January 1997 8 March 1997 DF John O'Kane Bury 16 January 1997 19 April 1997 GK Kevin Pilkington Rotherham United 17 January 1997 15 March 1997 MF Michael Appleton Grimsby Town 3 March 1997 31 May 1997 DF Pat McGibbon Wigan Athletic 27 March 1997 13 April 1997 DF John O'Kane Wrexham
References