The 1968–69 season was Manchester United's 67th season in the Football League, and their 24th consecutive season in the top division of English football. After the end of the season, on 4 June 1969, United manager Matt Busby stepped down as manager after 24 years; he had announced his intention to retire on 14 January. He was replaced with Wilf McGuinness who only managed the team for a year and a half before Matt Busby returned as United manager for another six months.
George Best was United's top goalscorer in the league with 19 goals, although Denis Law added to his 14 league goals with a further 16 in the cups to reach a grand total of 30 goals in all competitions to top the club's goalscoring charts.
United finished 11th in the First Division this season, and were semi-finalists in the European Cup.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance10 August 1968EvertonH2–1Best, Charlton61,31114 August 1968West Bromwich AlbionA1–3Charlton38,29917 August 1968Manchester CityA0–063,05221 August 1968Coventry CityH1–0Ryan51,20124 August 1968ChelseaH0–455,11428 August 1968Tottenham HotspurH3–1Fitzpatrick (2), Beal (o.g.)57,38031 August 1968Sheffield WednesdayA4–5Law (2), Best, Charlton50,4907 September 1968West Ham UnitedH1–1Law63,27414 September 1968BurnleyA0–132,93521 September 1968Newcastle UnitedH3–1Best (2), Law47,2625 October 1968ArsenalH0–061,8439 October 1968Tottenham HotspurA2–2Crerand, Law56,20512 October 1968LiverpoolA0–253,39219 October 1968SouthamptonH1–2Best46,52626 October 1968Queens Park RangersA3–2Best (2), Law31,1382 November 1968Leeds UnitedH0–053,8399 November 1968SunderlandA1–1Hurley (o.g.)33,15116 November 1968Ipswich TownH0–045,79623 November 1968Stoke CityA0–030,56230 November 1968Wolverhampton WanderersH2–0Best, Law50,1657 December 1968Leicester CityA1–2Law36,30314 December 1968LiverpoolH1–0Law55,35421 December 1968SouthamptonA0–226,19426 December 1968ArsenalA0–362,30011 January 1969Leeds UnitedA1–2Charlton48,14518 January 1969SunderlandH4–1Law (3), Best45,6701 February 1969Ipswich TownA0–130,83715 February 1969Wolverhampton WanderersA2–2Best, Charlton44,0238 March 1969Manchester CityH0–163,26410 March 1969EvertonA0–057,51415 March 1969ChelseaA2–3James, Law60,43619 March 1969Queens Park RangersH8–1Morgan (3), Best (2), Aston, Kidd, Stiles36,63822 March 1969Sheffield WednesdayH1–0Best45,52724 March 1969Stoke CityH1–1Aston39,93129 March 1969West Ham UnitedA0–041,54631 March 1969Nottingham ForestA1–0Best41,8922 April 1969West Bromwich AlbionH2–1Best (2)38,8465 April 1969Nottingham ForestH3–1Morgan (2), Best51,9528 April 1969Coventry CityA1–2Fitzpatrick45,40212 April 1969Newcastle UnitedA0–246,37919 April 1969BurnleyH2–0Best, Waldron (o.g.)52,62617 May 1969Leicester CityH3–2Best, Law, Morgan45,860
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance4 January 1969Round 3Exeter CityA3–1Fitzpatrick, Kidd, Newman (o.g.)18,50025 January 1969Round 4WatfordH1–1Law63,4983 February 1969Round 4ReplayWatfordA2–0Law (2)34,0008 February 1969Round 5Birmingham CityA2–2Best, Law52,50024 February 1969Round 5ReplayBirmingham CityH6–2Law (3), Crerand, Kidd, Morgan61,9321 March 1969Round 6EvertonH0–163,464
European Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 September 1968Round 1First legWaterford UnitedA3–1Law (3)48,0002 October 1968Round 1Second legWaterford UnitedH7–1Law (4), Burns, Charlton, Stiles41,75013 November 1968Round 2First legAnderlechtH3–0Law (2), Kidd51,00027 November 1968Round 2Second legAnderlechtA1–3Sartori40,00026 February 1969Quarter-finalFirst legRapid WienH3–0Best (2), Morgan61,9325 March 1969Quarter-finalSecond legRapid WienA0–052,00023 April 1969Semi-finalFirst legMilanA0–280,00015 May 1969Semi-finalSecond legMilanH1–0Charlton63,103
Intercontinental Cup
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance25 September 1968Estudiantes de La PlataA0–155,00016 October 1968Estudiantes de La PlataH1–1Morgan63,500
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupEuropean CupOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Jimmy Rimmer40102(1)0007(1)0GK Alex Stepney380506020510FB Shay Brennan130003010170FB Francis Burns14(2)0103(1)11019(3)1FB Tony Dunne330606020470FB Frank Kopel7(1)01010009(1)0HB Paddy Crerand351418020492HB John Fitzpatrick28(2)361400038(2)4HB Bill Foulkes10(3)000502017(3)0HB Steve James211602000291HB Nobby Stiles411608110562FW John Aston132000000132FW George Best41196162205522FW Bobby Charlton325608220487FW Alan Gowling2000000020FW Brian Kidd28(1)152711041(1)4FW Denis Law30146779204530FW Willie Morgan296514121409FW Jimmy Ryan6100100071FW David Sadler26(3)00(1)0502033(4)0FW Carlo Sartori11(2)020210015(2)1
References