2001–02 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season December 2021 Manchester United 2001–02 Sir Alex Ferguson Martin Edwards Premier League 3rd FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round UEFA Champions League Semi-finals Charity Shield Runners-up Ruud van Nistelrooy (23) Ruud van Nistelrooy (36) 67,683 vs Middlesbrough (23 March 2002) 64,827 vs Lille (18 September 2001) 67,586 _manutd0002h _manutd0002h _manutd0002h _manutd0002h _manutd0002h E20E0E E20E0E E20E0E FFFFFF 000000 _manutd0102a _manutd0102a _manutd0102a _manutd0102a _manutd0102a FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 000000 _manutd0102t _manutd0102t _manutd0102t _manutd0102a _manutd0102a E4CC00 E4CC00 E4CC00 000000 000000 2000–01 2002–03 The 2001–02 season was Manchester United's tenth season in the Premier League, their 100th season in league football, and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of English football.http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season2002.html Manchester United Season 2001/02 8 October 2007 StretfordEnd.co.uk In May 2001, at the conclusion of the previous season, Sir Alex Ferguson had announced his intention to retire from football at the end of this season, and the club began the process of trying to find a successor for the most successful manager in their history. Months later, however, he reversed his decision, citing his wife and three sons as the reason for the u-turn.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1803996.stm Ferguson's family decision 6 February 2002 The second full season of the new millennium was a disappointing one for the Red Devils as they failed to win any silverware for the first time in four years. The club finished third place in the league, their lowest finish in the Premier League era at that time, and they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round. They were also knocked out of the League Cup after fielding what was effectively a reserve team against a strong Arsenal side in the third round. United's best success this season came in the UEFA Champions League, in which they reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Bayer Leverkusen on away goals. Ultimately, United's failure to win anything came down to a dismal run of form in November and early December when they suffered five defeats in seven league games, including three defeats in a row against Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United. They also lost six home games in the Premier League, their worst home record since the 1977–78 season; Ferguson cited this as the main reason why they failed to win the league. They only lost three more league games all season, but that terrible form earlier in the campaign counted against United for the rest of the campaign and they finished 10 points behind champions Arsenal (who secured the title by defeating United 1–0 at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season) and three points behind runners-up Liverpool. Assistant manager Steve McClaren left the club before the start of the season to become the manager of Middlesbrough. Youth team coach and former player Mike Phelan was promoted to first-team coach and took over some of the assistant manager's responsibilities, but McClaren was not replaced until the summer of 2002, when Carlos Queiroz was appointed the new assistant manager. Winger Ryan Giggs was honoured with a testimonial match against Celtic, having now been at United for more than a decade. £19 million striker Ruud van Nistelrooy did what was expected of him by scoring 36 goals in all competitions and collecting the PFA Player of the Year award, but £28.1 million national record signing Juan Sebastián Verón was a major disappointment in midfield, though it was in defence where United were at their weakest following the shock departure of Jaap Stam to Lazio just after the start of the season, and the surprise acquisition of 35-year-old Frenchman Laurent Blanc as his successor. 2001–02 was the final season at Old Trafford for veteran players Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen after 12 and six years at the club respectively. Also on the way out of the club were goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw and striker Dwight Yorke. Striker Andy Cole left United after seven years when he sealed a transfer to Blackburn Rovers at the end of December. Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance22 July 2001Malaysia All-StarsN6–0Van Nistelrooy (2) 7', 36', Beckham 29', Cole (2) 46', 78', Chadwick 71'68,00024 July 2001Team SingaporeA8–1Solskjær (2) 30', 45', P. Neville 40', Beckham 52', Yorke (2) 65', 71', Van Nistelrooy 73', Giggs 90'44,00029 July 2001ThailandA2–1Giggs 29', Yorke 78'65,0001 August 2001CelticH3–4Van Nistelrooy (2) 24', 84', Verón 64'66,9574 August 2001WrexhamA2–2Solskjær 31', Verón 58'7,6144 August 2001Hereford UnitedA6–0Butt 23', Fortune 45', 65', Yorke 69', Cole 78', 87'4,6258 August 2001BuryA3–0P. Neville 49', Yorke 62', Solskjær 69'9,92912 November 2001BarnsleyA0–1 On 4 August 2001, United played two friendly matches simultaneously, against Wrexham (Brian Flynn's and Kevin Reeves' testimonial) and Hereford United. The first-team squad was split in two, with Jimmy Ryan taking charge at Hereford.Man Utd star line-up turns on the style Hereford Times, 9 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008.Bulls let in six but fans happy HU-FC.co.uk, 4 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008.Double trouble for Reds' rivals Manchester Evening News, 6 August 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2008. FA Charity Shield 2001 FA Charity Shield DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance12 August 2001LiverpoolN1–2Van Nistelrooy 51'70,227 Premier League 2001–02 FA Premier League DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition19 August 2001FulhamH3–2Beckham 36', Van Nistelrooy (2) 51', 53'67,5344th22 August 2001Blackburn RoversA2–2Giggs 20', Beckham 78'29,8363rd26 August 2001Aston VillaA1–1Alpay 90' (o.g.)42,6325th8 September 2001EvertonH4–1Verón 4', Cole 40', Fortune 46', Beckham 90'67,5342nd15 September 2001Newcastle UnitedA3–4Van Nistelrooy 29', Giggs 62', Verón 64'52,0564th22 September 2001Ipswich TownH4–0Johnsen 13', Solskjær (2) 20', 90', Cole 89'67,5513rd29 September 2001Tottenham HotspurA5–3Cole 46', Blanc 58', Van Nistelrooy 72', Verón 76', Beckham 87'36,0382nd13 October 2001SunderlandA3–1Varga 35' (o.g.), Giggs 59', Cole 66'48,3053rd20 October 2001Bolton WanderersH1–2Verón 25'67,5593rd27 October 2001Leeds UnitedH1–1Solskjær 89'67,5555th4 November 2001LiverpoolA1–3Beckham 50'44,3616th17 November 2001Leicester CityH2–0Van Nistelrooy 21', Yorke 50'67,6514th25 November 2001ArsenalA1–3Scholes 14'38,1746th1 December 2001ChelseaH0–367,5447th8 December 2001West Ham UnitedH0–167,5829th12 December 2001Derby CountyH5–0Solskjær (2) 6', 58', Keane 10', Van Nistelrooy 63', Scholes 89'67,5775th15 December 2001MiddlesbroughA1–0Van Nistelrooy 76'34,3585th22 December 2001SouthamptonH6–1Van Nistelrooy (3) 1', 34', 54', Solskjær 41', Keane 72', P. Neville 78'67,6384th26 December 2001EvertonA2–0Giggs 78', Van Nistelrooy 85'39,9485th30 December 2001FulhamA3–2Giggs (2) 5', 47', Van Nistelrooy 45'21,1595th2 January 2002Newcastle UnitedH3–1Van Nistelrooy 24', Scholes (2) 50', 62'67,6462nd13 January 2002SouthamptonA3–1Van Nistelrooy 9', Beckham 45', Solskjær 63'31,8581st19 January 2002Blackburn RoversH2–1Van Nistelrooy 45' (pen.), Keane 81'67,5521st22 January 2002LiverpoolH0–167,5991st29 January 2002Bolton WanderersA4–0Solskjær (3) 15', 39', 64', Van Nistelrooy 83'27,3501st2 February 2002SunderlandH4–1P. Neville 6', Beckham 25', Van Nistelrooy (2) 28', 44' (pen.)67,5871st10 February 2002Charlton AthleticA2–0Solskjær (2) 33', 74'26,4751st23 February 2002Aston VillaH1–0Van Nistelrooy 50'67,5921st3 March 2002Derby CountyA2–2Scholes 41', Verón 60'33,0411st6 March 2002Tottenham HotspurH4–0Beckham (2) 15', 64', Van Nistelrooy (2) 43' (pen.), 76'67,5991st16 March 2002West Ham UnitedA5–3Beckham (2) 17', 89' (pen.), Butt 22', Scholes 55', Solskjær 64'35,2811st23 March 2002MiddlesbroughH0–167,6831st30 March 2002Leeds UnitedA4–3Scholes 9', Solskjær (2) 37', 39', Giggs 54'40,0582nd6 April 2002Leicester CityA1–0Solskjær 61'21,4472nd20 April 2002ChelseaA3–0Scholes 15', Van Nistelrooy 41', Solskjær 86'41,7252nd27 April 2002Ipswich TownA1–0Van Nistelrooy 45' (pen.)28,4332nd8 May 2002ArsenalH0–167,5803rd11 May 2002Charlton AthleticH0–067,5713rd MUN FA Cup 2001–02 FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance6 January 2002Round 3Aston VillaA3–2Solskjær 77', Van Nistelrooy (2) 80', 82'38,44426 January 2002Round 4MiddlesbroughA0–217,624 League Cup 2001–02 Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 November 2001Round 3ArsenalA0–430,693 UEFA Champions League Group stage 2001–02 UEFA Champions League group stage DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendanceGroupposition18 September 2001LilleH1–0Beckham 90'64,8271st25 September 2001Deportivo La CoruñaA1–2Scholes 40'33,1082nd10 October 2001OlympiacosA2–0Beckham 66', Cole 82'73,5371st17 October 2001Deportivo La CoruñaH2–3Van Nistelrooy (2) 7', 40'65,5852nd23 October 2001OlympiacosH3–0Solskjær 80', Giggs 88', Van Nistelrooy 90'66,7692nd31 October 2001LilleA1–1Solskjær 6'37,4002nd Group G n MUN Second group stage 2001–02 UEFA Champions League second group stage DateOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendanceGroupposition20 November 2001Bayern MunichA1–1Van Nistelrooy 74'59,0002nd5 December 2001BoavistaH3–0Van Nistelrooy (2) 31', 62', Blanc 55'66,2741st20 February 2002NantesA1–1Van Nistelrooy 90' (pen.)38,2851st26 February 2002NantesH5–1Beckham 18', Solskjær (2) 31', 78', Silvestre 38', Van Nistelrooy 64' (pen.)66,4921st13 March 2002Bayern MunichH0–066,8181st19 March 2002BoavistaA3–0Blanc 14', Solskjær 29', Beckham 51' (pen.)13,2231st Group A MUN Knockout phase 2001–02 UEFA Champions League knockout stage DateRoundOpponentsH/AResultF–AScorersAttendance2 April 2002Quarter-finalFirst legDeportivo La CoruñaA2–0Beckham 15', Van Nistelrooy 41'32,35110 April 2002Quarter-finalSecond legDeportivo La CoruñaH3–2Solskjær (2) 23', 56', Giggs 69'65,87524 April 2002Semi-finalFirst legBayer LeverkusenH2–2Živković 29' (o.g.), Van Nistelrooy 67' (pen.)66,53430 April 2002Semi-finalSecond legBayer LeverkusenA1–1Keane 28'22,500 Squad statistics No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKFRA 1974 Fabien Barthez3201000150104902DFENG Gary Neville31(3)020001401048(3)03DFIRL Denis Irwin10(2)000008(2)01019(4)04MFARG Juan Sebastián Verón24(2)510001300038(2)55DFNOR Ronny Johnsen9(1)100008(1)00017(2)16DFFRA 1974 Laurent Blanc2912000152004636DFNED Jaap Stam1000000010207MFENG David Beckham23(5)1110001351038(5)168MFENG Nicky Butt20(5)120008(1)01031(6)19FWENG Andy Cole7(4)400001(3)1008(7)510FWNED Ruud van Nistelrooy29(3)230(2)20014101144(5)3611MFWAL Ryan Giggs18(7)70(1)0001321032(8)912DFENG Phil Neville21(7)220103(4)00027(11)213GKNIR Roy Carroll6(1)0101010009(1)014DFENG David May20000010003015MFENG Luke Chadwick5(3)01(1)01000007(4)016MFIRL Roy Keane (c)283200011(1)11042(1)417GKNED Raimond van der Gouw0(1)0000(1)000000(2)018MFENG Paul Scholes30(5)820001311046(5)919FWTRI Dwight Yorke4(6)10(1)0101(2)00(1)06(10)120FWNOR Ole Gunnar Solskjær23(7)1721005(10)70030(17)2521FWURU Diego Forlán6(7)000001(4)0007(11)022DFENG Ronnie Wallwork0(1)0101000002(1)023DFENG Michael Clegg00000(1)000000(1)024DFENG Wes Brown15(2)000005(2)00020(4)025MFRSA Quinton Fortune8(6)100003(2)00011(8)127DFFRA 1974 Mikaël Silvestre31(4)0200010(3)11044(7)128MFSCO Michael Stewart2(1)000100(1)0003(2)030DFIRL John O'Shea4(5)000100(3)0005(8)032MFSWE Bojan Djordjic00001000001034DFENG Lee Roche00001000001036FWENG Jimmy Davis00001000001037FWENG Danny Webber00001000001040FWENG Daniel Nardiello00000(1)000000(1)0––Own goals–2–0–0–1–0–3 Transfers United's first departures of the 2001–02 season were midfield duo Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson, who both signed for Middlesbrough on 9 August. On 27 August, Jaap Stam was controversially sold to Lazio for a fee of £16.5 million, while on 8 November, Jesper Blomqvist signed for Everton. Arriving in the summer transfer window were Northern Irish goalkeeper Roy Carroll, Dutch forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón and French defender Laurent Blanc. Out of these players, only van Nistelrooy made much of an impact, staying at United until 2006 and scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances for United. Departing during the winter transfer window were forward Andy Cole, who left United after six years, and Michael Clegg, who signed for Oldham Athletic on a free transfer. Paul Rachubka left United on 20 May for Charlton Athletic. Goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw signed for West Ham United on 28 June on a free transfer, while on 30 June, defenders Denis Irwin, Ronny Johnsen and Ronnie Wallwork were released. Luke Steele joined United on 11 May for a fee of £500,000. In Date Pos. Name From Fee 1 July 2001 GK NIR Roy Carroll ENG Wigan Athletic Undisclosed FW NED Ruud van Nistelrooy NED PSV Eindhoven £19m 12 July 2001 MF ARG Juan Sebastián Verón ITA Lazio £28.1m 30 August 2001 DF FRA 1974 Laurent Blanc ITA Inter Milan Free 22 January 2002 FW URU Diego Forlán ARG Independiente £7.5m 11 May 2002 GK ENG Luke Steele ENG Peterborough United £500k Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 9 August 2001 MF ENG Jonathan Greening ENG Middlesbrough £2mhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/1471894.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20170320065151/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/1471894.stm 20 March 2017 Man Utd duo complete Boro move BBC Sport 9 August 2001 11 March 2023 9 August 2001 MF ENG Mark Wilson ENG Middlesbrough £1.5m 27 August 2001 DF NED Jaap Stam ITA Lazio £16.5mhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1508902.stm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021001201403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1508902.stm 1 October 2002 Stam completes Lazio move BBC Sport 27 August 2001 11 March 2023 8 November 2001 MF SWE Jesper Blomqvist ENG Everton Freehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/newsid_896000/896023.stm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011110111028/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/newsid_896000/896023.stm 10 November 2001 Football Transfers BBC Sport 8 November 2001 11 March 2023 29 December 2001 FW ENG Andy Cole ENG Blackburn Rovers Undisclosedhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1733313.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20230311221614/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1733313.stm 11 March 2023 Souness 'delighted' with Cole signing BBC Sport 30 December 2001 11 March 2023 19 February 2002 DF ENG Michael Clegg ENG Oldham Athletic Freehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/1829412.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20230311222119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/1829412.stm 11 March 2023 Latics seal Clegg coup BBC Sport 19 February 2002 11 March 2023 17 May 2002 GK ENG Paul Rachubka ENG Charlton Athletic £200khttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2239108.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20230311223150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2239108.stm 11 March 2023 Transfers – May, 2002 BBC Sport 17 May 2002 11 March 2023http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/01_latest_news.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020602130703/http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/01_latest_news.shtml 2 June 2002 Charlton sign Manchester United goalkeeper Paul Rachubka for an initial fee of £200,000 Charlton Athletic Football Club 17 May 2002 11 March 2023 28 June 2002 GK NED Raimond van der Gouw ENG West Ham United Freehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/2069212.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20220430160857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/2069212.stm 30 April 2022 Van der Gouw joins West Ham BBC Sport 28 June 2002 11 March 2023 30 June 2002 DF IRL Denis Irwin ENG Wolverhampton WanderersFree DF NOR Ronny Johnsen ENG Aston VillaFree DF ENG Ronnie Wallwork ENG West Bromwich AlbionFree Loan in Date from Date to Pos. Name From 4 March 2002 30 June 2002 GK ENG Luke Steele ENG Peterborough United Loan out Date from Date to Pos. Name To 23 November 2001 22 December 2001 FW ENG Danny Webber ENG Port Vale 23 November 2001 17 May 2002 GK ENG Paul Rachubka ENG Oldham Athletic 7 December 2001 30 June 2002 MF SWE Bojan Djordjic ENG Sheffield Wednesday 28 March 2002 27 April 2002 FW ENG Danny Webber ENG Watford References 2001–02 Manchester United F.C. kits 2001-02 Category:2001–02 FA Premier League by team Category:2001 in sport in Manchester Category:2002 in sport in Manchester