The 1992–93 season was Manchester United's first season in the newly formed FA Premier League, and their 18th consecutive season in the top division of English football.
The season was marked by the club winning the inaugural Premier League title, ending their 26-year run without an English league title. They ended up winning the title by a 10-point margin over runners-up Aston Villa, but had fought a three-horse race for much of the season with both Villa and Norwich City, not topping the table until January. The arrival of Eric Cantona from Leeds United for £1 million in late November helped boost United's title challenge, after they had been as low as 10th in the league shortly before. Cantona's arrival came after new striker Dion Dublin had been ruled out for six months with a broken leg, and Cantona was the catalyst in United's triumph which was confirmed on 2 May 1993 when Aston Villa lost at home to Oldham Athletic and therefore could not catch up to United.
Mark Hughes topped the goalscoring charts with 15 league goals, while Ryan Giggs was voted PFA Young Player of the Year for the second year in succession. Steve Bruce was United's captain for much of the season, as the veteran Bryan Robson missed many games due to injury. The arrival of Eric Cantona saw former striker Brian McClair switched into midfield, further restricting Robson's first team chances.
In the UEFA Cup, United lost on penalties to Torpedo Moscow of Russia, after two goalless draws. Their League Cup campaign ended in the Third Round with defeat at Aston Villa. Their FA Cup campaign ended in the Fifth Round when they lost 2–1 to Sheffield United.
Making their debuts this season were teenagers David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville.
Before the season began, United were linked with a move for Southampton striker Alan Shearer, but the player signed for Blackburn Rovers instead. Dion Dublin was then signed from Cambridge United, but was injured just one month after his arrival, and United struggled to find the net in the weeks that followed, the club was linked with the signature of numerous other strikers. A £3 million bid for Sheffield Wednesday's David Hirst was rejected, while Sheffield United striker Brian Deane was also linked with a move to Old Trafford, but no firm offer was made. The hunt for a new striker ended on 26 November, when Eric Cantona was signed from Leeds United for a fee of just over £1 million.
By the end of the season, United were being linked with a move for Nottingham Forest's 21-year-old Irish midfielder Roy Keane, who was also a target for Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers. After the player came close to joining Blackburn, United signed him on 19 July 1993 for a British record fee of £3.75 million.
It was the last season at Old Trafford for midfielder Neil Webb, who returned to Nottingham Forest in November after losing his place in the Old Trafford first team. Russell Beardsmore, who did not play a game during the season, joined AFC Bournemouth on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance28 July 1992StartA3–0Blackmore, Hughes, Wallace4,11829 July 1992CelticA1–1Ince34,36831 July 1992LillestrømA1–1McClair5,5692 August 1992RosenborgA3–2Ince, McClair, Irwin9,3794 August 1992ElfsborgA0–04,4919 August 1992Republic of Ireland XIA2–0McClair, Hughes30,06911 August 1992Swansea CityA1–1Hughes9,74411 November 1992BrøndbyH3–2McClair, Wallace, Phelan5,1021 December 1992BenficaA0–140,00012 May 1993Aston VillaN1–1Phelan22,00014 May 1993Bristol CityA3–3Hughes (2), Blackmore21,71617 May 1993ArsenalA4–4Dublin (2), Sharpe (2)22,117
FA Premier League
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition15 August 1992Sheffield UnitedA1–2Hughes 61'28,07019th19 August 1992EvertonH0–331,90122nd22 August 1992Ipswich TownH1–1Irwin 57'31,70420th24 August 1992SouthamptonA1–0Dublin 88'15,62311th29 August 1992Nottingham ForestA2–0Hughes 16', Giggs 49'19,6948th2 September 1992Crystal PalaceH1–0Hughes 88'29,7366th6 September 1992Leeds UnitedH2–0 Kanchelskis 28', Bruce 44'31,2964th12 September 1992EvertonA2–0McClair 29', Bruce 76' (pen.)30,0023rd19 September 1992Tottenham HotspurA1–1Giggs 44'33,2964th26 September 1992Queens Park RangersH0–033,2874th3 October 1992MiddlesbroughA1–1Bruce 44' (pen.)24,1726th18 October 1992LiverpoolH2–2Hughes (2) 79', 89'33,2435th24 October 1992Blackburn RoversA0–020,3057th31 October 1992WimbledonH0–132,6227th7 November 1992Aston VillaA0–139,06310th21 November 1992Oldham AthleticH3–0McClair (2) 10', 28', Hughes 11'33,4978th28 November 1992ArsenalA1–0Hughes 27'29,7395th6 December 1992Manchester CityH2–1Ince 20', Hughes 74'35,4085th12 December 1992Norwich CityH1–0Hughes 59'34,5004th19 December 1992ChelseaA1–1Cantona 71'34,4643rd26 December 1992Sheffield WednesdayA3–3McClair (2) 67', 80', Cantona 84'37,7082nd28 December 1992Coventry CityH5–0Giggs 6', Hughes 40', Cantona 64' (pen.), Sharpe 78', Irwin 83' 36,0252nd9 January 1993Tottenham HotspurH4–1Cantona 40', Irwin 52', McClair 53', Parker 57'35,6481st18 January 1993Queens Park RangersA3–1Ince 26', Giggs 30', Kanchelskis 48'21,1171st27 January 1993Nottingham ForestH2–0Ince 47', Hughes 68'36,0852nd30 January 1993Ipswich TownA1–2McClair 84'22,0682nd6 February 1993Sheffield UnitedH2–1McClair 65', Cantona 80'36,1561st8 February 1993Leeds UnitedA0–034,1661st20 February 1993SouthamptonH2–1Giggs (2) 82' 83' 36,2572nd27 February 1993MiddlesbroughH3–0Giggs 21', Irwin 79', Cantona 86'36,2512nd6 March 1993LiverpoolA2–1Hughes 42', McClair 56'44,3741st9 March 1993Oldham AthleticA0–117,1061st14 March 1993Aston VillaH1–1Hughes 57'36,1631st20 March 1993Manchester CityA1–1Cantona 68'37,1362nd24 March 1993ArsenalH0–037,3013rd5 April 1993Norwich CityA3–1Giggs 13', Kanchelskis 20', Cantona 21'20,5822nd10 April 1993Sheffield WednesdayH2–1Bruce (2) 86', 90'40,1021st12 April 1993Coventry CityA1–0Irwin 40'24,2491st17 April 1993ChelseaH3–0Hughes 24', Clarke 44' (o.g.), Cantona 48'40,1391st21 April 1993Crystal PalaceA2–0Hughes 64', Ince 89'30,1151st3 May 1993Blackburn RoversH3–1Giggs 21', Ince 60', Pallister 90'40,4471st9 May 1993WimbledonA2–1Ince 63', Robson 70'30,1151st
FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 January 1993Round 3BuryH2–0Phelan 7', Gillespie 79'30,66823 January 1993Round 4Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–0Giggs 75'33,60014 February 1993Round 5Sheffield UnitedA1–2Giggs 30'27,150
League Cup
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance23 September 1992Round 2First legBrighton & Hove AlbionA1–1Wallace 36'16,6497 October 1992Round 2Second legBrighton & Hove AlbionH1–0Hughes 14'25,40528 October 1992Round 3Aston VillaA0–135,964
UEFA Cup
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance16 September 1992First roundFirst legTorpedo MoscowH0–019,99829 September 1992First roundSecond legTorpedo MoscowA0–0(3–4p)11,357
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Peter Schmeichel420302010480GK Gary Walsh0000101020DF Clayton Blackmore12(2)00(1)0101014(3)0DF Steve Bruce425303020505DF Denis Irwin405303020485DF Lee Martin0000101020DF Gary Neville0000000(1)00(1)0DF Gary Pallister421303020501DF Paul Parker31130200(1)036(1)1MF David Beckham00000(1)0000(1)0MF Nicky Butt0(1)00000000(1)0MF Darren Ferguson150001000160MF Ryan Giggs40(1)922201045(1)11MF Keith Gillespie001(1)100001(1)1MF Paul Ince416203010476MF Andrei Kanchelskis14(13)3102(1)01018(14)3MF Mike Phelan5(6)02100108(6)1MF Bryan Robson5(9)10(1)0100(1)06(11)1MF Lee Sharpe271300000301MF Neil Webb0(1)00010203(1)0FW Eric Cantona21(1)910000022(1)9FW Dion Dublin3(4)10000003(4)1FW Mark Hughes41152031204816FW Brian McClair41(1)930302049(1)9FW Danny Wallace0(2)01011204(2)1
Transfers United's first departure of the 1992–93 season was Mal Donaghy, who joined Chelsea on 13 August. The next day, Mark Robins signed for Norwich City for a fee of £800,000. Also on their way out of the club were Republic of Ireland defender Derek Brazil, Northern Irish forward Colin Telford, and English midfielder Neil Webb.
Meanwhile, arriving in the summer were American forward Jovan Kirovski, Northern Irish centre-back Pat McGibbon and English forward Dion Dublin. French forward Eric Cantona joined later on 27 November.
On 19 March, Kieran Toal left United to sign for Motherwell. Raphael Burke was released on 10 April, while Russell Beardsmore joined Bournemouth on 29 June. Adrian Doherty, George Switzer, and Ian Wilkinson left the club a day after Beardsmore's departure.
United's only winter arrival was Les Sealey, who signed from Aston Villa on 6 January.
In Date Pos. Name From Fee 2 July 1992 FW Jovan Kirovski Youth System Free 1 August 1992 DF Pat McGibbon Portadown £100k 7 August 1992 FW Dion Dublin Cambridge United £1.1m 27 November 1992 FW Eric Cantona Leeds United £1.2m 6 January 1993 GK Les Sealey Aston Villa £650k
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 13 August 1992 DF Mal Donaghy Chelsea £150k 14 August 1992 FW Mark Robins Norwich City £850k 24 August 1992 DF Derek Brazil Cardiff City £185k 7 September 1992 FW Colin Telford Raith Rovers Free 23 November 1992 MF Neil Webb Nottingham Forest £820k 19 March 1993 MF Kieran Toal Motherwell £320k 10 April 1993 FW Raphael Burke Exeter City Free 29 June 1993 MF Russell Beardsmore Bournemouth £210k 30 June 1993 FW Adrian Doherty Derry City Free DF George Switzer Darlington Free GK Ian Wilkinson Stockport County Free
Loan in Date From Date To Position Name From 5 November 1992 5 December 1992 GK Fraser Digby Swindon Town
Loan out Date From Date To Position Name To August 1992 24 August 1992 DF Derek Brazil Cardiff City 8 January 1993 22 January 1993 FW Colin McKee Bury 25 March 1993 31 May 1993 FW Danny Wallace Millwall
Events of the season
After a shortage of goals in the second half of the previous season had cost United the league title, Alex Ferguson began the hunt to sign a new striker. A name which had been strongly linked with United for months was Alan Shearer, the 21-year-old Southampton and England striker. United's hopes of signing Shearer were given a boost on 7 July when Southampton manager Ian Branfoot announced that Shearer could leave the Hampshire club if the price was right.
While the hunt was on for one striker to join United, another was on his way out of the club. Striker Mark Robins, who had rarely played in 1991–92, was on the transfer list and finally signed for Norwich City, whose new manager Mike Walker paid £800,000 as he looked to build an attack capable of scoring the goals to keep the Canaries in the new FA Premier League. His new team unexpectedly emerged as title contenders in the first season of the new Premier League.
The race to sign Alan Shearer was lost on 23 July, when the player opted for a national record £3.6 million move to newly promoted Blackburn Rovers, managed by Kenny Dalglish and bankrolled by owner Jack Walker, who were looking set to re-establish themselves as a top club in their first top flight campaign since the 1960s.
United did express interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur's Paul Stewart, a versatile player capable of playing in attack and midfield, but the player signed for Liverpool instead.
The hunt to find a new striker ended on 7 August, eight days before the start of the new season, when Dion Dublin signed from Cambridge United for £1 million as United's only close season signing. Dublin, 23, had been one of the most competent goalscorers outside the top flight during the last three seasons as Cambridge soared from the Fourth Division to the brink of the Premier League, though it was clear that he would start off his time at Old Trafford as an understudy to Mark Hughes and Brian McClair.
United's first game of the season was against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and was a major disappointment as they lost 2–1 and the South Yorkshire club's striker Brian Deane earned the distinction of scoring the first goal of the new Premier League.