A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 1996–97 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Martin Edwards | |||
| Manager | Alex Ferguson | |||
| Premier League | 1st | |||
| FA Cup | Fourth Round | |||
| League Cup | Fourth Round | |||
| UEFA Champions League | Semi-finals | |||
| Charity Shield | Winners | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ole Gunnar Solskjær (18) All: Ole Gunnar Solskjær (19) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 55,314 vs Wimbledon (29 January 1997) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 31,966 vs Swindon Town (23 October 1996) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 55,081 | |||
|
| ||||
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.[1] 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
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 July 1996 | Portadown | A | 5–0 | Scholes (3) 17', 19', 44', Keane 29', Beckham 34' | 6,100 |
| 28 July 1996 | League of Ireland XI | N | 4–1 | Sharpe 22', Pallister 26', Scholes 41', Cantona 44' | 7,720 |
| 31 July 1996 | Internazionale | A | 0–3 | 33,578 | |
| 3 August 1996 | Ajax | N | 1–2 | McClair 81' | 27,427 |
| 4 August 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3–1 | Beckham 80', McClair 83', P. Neville 88' | 21,760 |
| 13 August 1996 | Internazionale | H | 0–1 | 30,266 | |
| 15 April 1997 | Celtic | H | 1–2 | Keane 44' | 43,743 |
| 16 May 1997 | Coventry City XI | A | 2–2 | Cantona (2) 69' (pen.), 86' | 23,325 |
FA Charity Shield
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 August 1996 | Newcastle United | N | 4–0 | Cantona 25', Butt 30', Beckham 86', Keane 88' | 73,214 |
FA Premier League
| Date | Opponents | H/A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance | League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1996 | Wimbledon | A | 3–0 | Cantona 25', Irwin 57', Beckham 87' | 25,786 | 1st |
| 21 August 1996 | Everton | H | 2–2 | Cruyff 70', Unsworth 82' (o.g.) | 54,943 | 9th |
| 25 August 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–2 | Cruyff 38', Solskjær 69' | 54,178 | 5th |
| 4 September 1996 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | Beckham 38' | 18,026 | 4th |
| 7 September 1996 | Leeds United | A | 4–0 | Martyn 3' (o.g.), Butt 49', Poborský 76', Cantona 90' | 39,694 | 5th |
| 14 September 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 4–1 | Solskjær 22', Giggs 41', Cantona (2) 82', 90' (pen.) | 54,984 | 1st |
| 21 September 1996 | Aston Villa | A | 0–0 | 39,339 | 4th | |
| 29 September 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–0 | Solskjær (2) 38', 57' | 54,943 | 3rd |
| 12 October 1996 | Liverpool | H | 1–0 | Beckham 23' | 55,128 | 4th |
| 20 October 1996 | Newcastle United | A | 0–5 | 35,579 | 5th | |
| 26 October 1996 | Southampton | A | 3–6 | Beckham 42', May 56', Scholes 89' | 15,253 | 5th |
| 2 November 1996 | Chelsea | H | 1–2 | May 81' | 55,198 | 6th |
| 16 November 1996 | Arsenal | H | 1–0 | Winterburn 63' (o.g.) | 55,210 | 6th |
| 23 November 1996 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–2 | Keane 17', May 73' | 30,063 | 7th |
| 30 November 1996 | Leicester City | H | 3–1 | Butt (2) 76', 87', Solskjær 85' | 55,196 | 5th |
| 8 December 1996 | West Ham United | A | 2–2 | Solskjær 54', Beckham 75' | 25,045 | 6th |
| 18 December 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–1 | Scholes 61' | 37,671 | 5th |
| 21 December 1996 | Sunderland | H | 5–0 | Solskjær (2) 36', 48', Cantona (2) 43' (pen.), 79', Butt 58' | 55,081 | 3rd |
| 26 December 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 4–0 | Beckham 24', Butt 44', Solskjær 67', Cole 76' | 29,032 | 3rd |
| 28 December 1996 | Leeds United | H | 1–0 | Cantona 9' (pen.) | 55,256 | 2nd |
| 1 January 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 0–0 | 55,133 | 3rd | |
| 12 January 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2–1 | Solskjær 23', Beckham 76' | 33,026 | 3rd |
| 18 January 1997 | Coventry City | A | 2–0 | Giggs 61', Solskjær 80' | 23,085 | 2nd |
| 29 January 1997 | Wimbledon | H | 2–1 | Giggs 75', Cole 82' | 55,314 | 1st |
| 1 February 1997 | Southampton | H | 2–1 | Pallister 19', Cantona 79' | 55,269 | 1st |
| 19 February 1997 | Arsenal | A | 2–1 | Cole 18', Solskjær 32' | 38,172 | 1st |
| 22 February 1997 | Chelsea | A | 1–1 | Beckham 68' | 28,336 | 1st |
| 1 March 1997 | Coventry City | H | 3–1 | Breen 4' (o.g.), Jess 5' (o.g.), Poborský 47' | 55,230 | 1st |
| 8 March 1997 | Sunderland | A | 1–2 | Melville 77' (o.g.) | 22,225 | 1st |
| 15 March 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–0 | Cole 19', Poborský 60' | 55,267 | 1st |
| 22 March 1997 | Everton | A | 2–0 | Solskjær 35', Cantona 79' | 40,079 | 1st |
| 5 April 1997 | Derby County | H | 2–3 | Cantona 47', Solskjær 76' | 55,243 | 1st |
| 12 April 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 3–2 | Cole 32', Scholes 42', Cantona 79' | 30,476 | 1st |
| 19 April 1997 | Liverpool | A | 3–1 | Pallister (2) 13', 42', Cole 63' | 40,892 | 1st |
| 3 May 1997 | Leicester City | Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=1996–97_Manchester_United_F.C._season