1991–92 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season March 2015 December 2021 Manchester United Stretford end 1992.JPG The Stretford End, March 1992 1991–92 Alex Ferguson Martin Edwards First Division 2nd FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Winners Cup Winners' Cup Second round European Super Cup Winners Brian McClair (18) Brian McClair (25) 47,576 vs Nottingham Forest (20 April 1992) 22,110 vs Red Star Belgrade (19 November 1991) 44,985 _manutdh9092 _manutdh9092 _manutdh9092 _manutdh9092 _color_3_stripes_white E20E0E E20E0E E20E0E FFFFFF 000000 _manutda9092 _manutda9092 _manutda9092 _manutda9092 _color_3_stripes_white 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 0000C0 _manutda8892 _manutda8892 _manutda8892 _manutd39092 _manutda8892 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 000000 1990–91 1992–93 The 1991–92 season was Manchester United's 90th season in the Football League, and their 17th consecutive season in the top division of English football.https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/results/results_archive.php?season=1991-1992 Manchester United season 1991-1992 14 September 2023 MUFCinfo.com The season saw United lift the League Cup for the first time in their history with a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium. They also added the European Super Cup to the trophy cabinet with victory over Red Star Belgrade at Old Trafford. However, they then endured the disappointment of being beaten to the league title by rivals Leeds United, having led the league for much of the season. New signings for the season included Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and England right-back Paul Parker. Ryan Giggs, who had played twice for United in 1990–91, broke into the first team and was one of the most exciting players in the country as he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Soviet international winger Andrei Kanchelskis, who had joined United in the later stages of the 1990–91 season, was also putting in star performances to give manager Alex Ferguson a more attacking alternative to the ageing Mike Phelan on the right hand side of midfield. It was the final season at Old Trafford for striker Mark Robins, a key player from the FA Cup winning team two seasons earlier. His first team opportunities were limited due to the form of Mark Hughes and Brian McClair, and he was unfit when injuries opened up an opportunity for regular action in attack near the season's end. He was then put on the transfer list and by the start of the following season, he had been sold to Norwich City. Lee Martin had regained fitness following his back injury the previous season, but was unable to win a place in the team. Danny Wallace, who was by now rarely selected for the first team, was put on the transfer list before Christmas, but was still at Old Trafford when the season ended, despite talk of a return to Southampton. Russell Beardsmore, now a rare sight in the first team, had a brief loan spell at Blackburn Rovers. Media reports for most of the season linked United with a move for Southampton striker Alan Shearer, but the player opted to remain at the South Coast club until the end of the season before making a decision on a future. United would be among the founder members of the FA Premier League for the 1992–93 season, as the top 22 clubs broke away from the Football League. Pre-season and friendlies thumb|Teams lining out for the preseason game against Viking FK DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance24 July 1991MazdaH1–2Ferguson29 July 1991StrømsgodsetA3–1Ince, Beardsmore, Wallace7,80930 July 1991VikingA1–0Robins6,0251 August 1991MoldeA3–1Blackmore, Hughes (2)3,4684 August 1991DumbartonA5–0Robins (2), Hughes (2), McClair1,5705 August 1991AberdeenA1–1(4–3p)Hughes20,3007 August 1991Austria MemphisA1–5McClair12,00011 August 1991Republic of Ireland XIH1–1Robson33,4123 May 1992EvertonH2–4Ince, Hughes7,4348 May 1992Manchester CityA2–1Bruce (pen.), Toal4,696 First Division 1991–92 Football League First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition17 August 1991Notts CountyH2–0Hughes 40', Robson 57'46,2781st21 August 1991Aston VillaA1–0Bruce 38' (pen.)39,9951st24 August 1991EvertonA0–036,0852nd28 August 1991Oldham AthleticH1–0McClair 85'42,0781st31 August 1991Leeds UnitedH1–1Robson 85'43,7781st3 September 1991WimbledonA2–1Blackmore 25', Pallister 43'13,8241st7 September 1991Norwich CityH3–0Irwin 20', McClair 23', Giggs 28'44,9461st14 September 1991SouthamptonA1–0Hughes 48'19,2641st21 September 1991Luton TownH5–0Ince 23', Bruce 63' (pen.), McClair (2) 76', 80', Hughes 87'46,4911st28 September 1991Tottenham HotspurA2–1Hughes 21', Robson 86'35,0871st6 October 1991LiverpoolH0–044,9971st19 October 1991ArsenalH1–1Bruce 44'46,5941st26 October 1991Sheffield WednesdayA2–3McClair (2) 17', 22'38,2602nd2 November 1991Sheffield UnitedH2–0Hoyland 35' (o.g.), Kanchelskis 78'42,9421st16 November 1991Manchester CityA0–038,1802nd23 November 1991West Ham UnitedH2–1Giggs 15', Robson 42'47,1851st30 November 1991Crystal PalaceA3–1Webb 26', McClair 57', Kanchelskis 58'29,0172nd7 December 1991Coventry CityH4–0Bruce 13', Webb 20', McClair 27', Hughes 81'42,5492nd15 December 1991ChelseaA3–1Irwin 19', McClair 57', Bruce 61'23,1201st26 December 1991Oldham AthleticA6–3Irwin (2) 2', 54', Kanchelskis 43', McClair (2) 56', 59', Giggs 78'18,9471st29 December 1991Leeds UnitedA1–1Webb 46'32,6381st1 January 1992Queens Park RangersH1–4McClair 83'38,5542nd11 January 1992EvertonH1–0Kanchelskis 56'46,6191st18 January 1992Notts CountyA1–1Blackmore 70' (pen.)21,0552nd22 January 1992Aston VillaH1–0Hughes 48'45,0221st1 February 1992ArsenalA1–1McClair 27'41,7032nd8 February 1992Sheffield WednesdayH1–1McClair 12'47,0741st22 February 1992Crystal PalaceH2–0Hughes (2) 11', 51'46,3471st26 February 1992ChelseaH1–1Hughes 87'44,8721st29 February 1992Coventry CityA0–023,9671st14 March 1992Sheffield UnitedA2–1McClair 62', Blackmore 82'30,1832nd18 March 1992Nottingham ForestA0–128,0622nd21 March 1992WimbledonH0–045,4282nd28 March 1992Queens Park RangersA0–022,6032nd31 March 1992Norwich CityA3–1Ince (2) 41', 58', McClair 66'17,4891st7 April 1992Manchester CityH1–1Giggs 20'46,7811st16 April 1992SouthamptonH1–0Kanchelskis 65'43,9721st18 April 1992Luton TownA1–1Sharpe 25'13,4101st20 April 1992Nottingham ForestH1–2McClair 36'47,5762nd22 April 1992West Ham UnitedA0–124,1972nd26 April 1992LiverpoolA0–238,6692nd2 May 1992Tottenham HotspurH3–1McClair 37', Hughes (2) 57', 59'44,5952nd MUN y FA Cup 1991–92 FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance15 January 1992Round 3Leeds UnitedA1–0Hughes 44'31,81927 January 1992Round 4SouthamptonA0–019,5065 February 1992Round 4ReplaySouthamptonH2–2 (a.e.t.)(2–4p)Kanchelskis 42', McClair 90'33,414 League Cup 1991–92 Football League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance25 September 1991Round 2First legCambridge UnitedH3–0Giggs 44', McClair 48', Bruce 66'30,9349 October 1991Round 2Second legCambridge UnitedA1–1McClair 2'9,24830 October 1991Round 3PortsmouthH3–1Robins (2) 59', 89', Robson 74'29,5434 December 1991Round 4Oldham AthleticH2–0McClair 1', Kanchelskis 25'38,5508 January 1992Round 5Leeds UnitedA3–1Blackmore 31', Kanchelskis 51', Giggs 56'28,8864 March 1992Semi-finalFirst legMiddlesbroughA0–025,57211 March 1992Semi-finalSecond legMiddlesbroughH2–1 (a.e.t.)Sharpe 29', Giggs 106'45,87512 April 1992FinalNottingham ForestN1–0McClair 14'76,810 Cup Winners' Cup 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 September 1991First roundFirst legAthinaikosA0–05,4002 October 1991First roundSecond legAthinaikosH2–0 (a.e.t.)Hughes 109', McClair 111'35,02323 October 1991Second roundFirst legAtlético MadridA0–340,0006 November 1991Second roundSecond legAtlético MadridH1–1Hughes 4'39,654 European Super Cup 1991 European Super Cup DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance19 November 1991Red Star BelgradeH1–0McClair 67'22,110 Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupRumbelows CupEuropeOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKDEN Peter Schmeichel40030603010530GKENG Gary Walsh200010100040GKENG Ian Wilkinson000010000010DFWAL Clayton Blackmore19(14)3104(1)1101026(15)4DFENG Steve Bruce37510714010506DFNIR Mal Donaghy16(4)0203(1)0000021(5)0DFIRL Denis Irwin37(1)43070201050(1)4DFENG Lee Martin0(1)000101(2)0103(3)0DFENG Gary Pallister37(3)130803(1)01052(4)1DFENG Paul Parker24(2)03060200035(2)0MFENG Russell Beardsmore0000001(2)0001(2)0MFSCO Darren Ferguson2(2)0000000002(2)0MFWAL Ryan Giggs32(6)42(1)06(2)3100(1)041(10)7MFENG Paul Ince31(2)3306(1)0301044(3)3MFCIS 1992 Andrei Kanchelskis28(6)52142101036(6)8MFENG Mike Phelan14(4)0002(1)0400020(5)0MFENG Bryan Robson26(1)4205(1)1300036(2)5MFENG Lee Sharpe8(6)10(1)01(3)100009(10)2MFENG Neil Webb29(2)33060301042(2)3FWWAL Mark Hughes38(1)112(1)160421051(2)14FWSCO Brian McClair41(1)183184411157(1)25FWENG Mark Robins1(1)0000(3)22(1)0003(5)2FWENG Danny Wallace0000001(1)0001(1)0 Transfers In Date Pos. Name From Fee 6 August 1991 DF ENG Paul Parker ENG Queens Park Rangers £1.7m GK DEN Peter Schmeichel DEN Brøndby £625k Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 5 August 1991 FW WAL Deiniol Graham ENG Barnsley £50k 6 February 1992 GK SCO Jim Leighton SCO Dundee £200k 19 March 1992 DF ENG Jason Lydiate ENG Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed 30 June 1992 MF ENG Mark Gordon Released Free MF ENG Paul Gough Released Free FW ENG Andy Noone Released Free MF ENG Paul Sixsmith ENG Preston North End Undisclosed MF NIR Peter Smyth Released Free DF ENG Leonard Taylor Released Free MF ENG Paul Wratten ENG Hartlepool United Undisclosed Loan in Date from Date to Position Name From 1 March 1992 1 May 1992 MF ENG Andy Arnott ENG Gillingham Loan out Date from Date to Position Name To 12 September 1991 12 December 1991 DF IRL Derek Brazil WAL Swansea City 29 November 1991 29 February 1992 GK SCO Jim Leighton ENG Reading 19 December 1991 19 January 1992 MF ENG Russell Beardsmore ENG Blackburn Rovers 24 December 1991 10 April 1992 DF IRL Brian Carey WAL Wrexham 16 January 1992 21 February 1992 DF ENG Neil Whitworth ENG Preston North End 21 February 1992 10 April 1992 DF ENG Neil Whitworth ENG Barnsley Events of the season Five years after becoming manager of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson enjoyed success at the club. In 1990, he ended his fourth season in charge with the FA Cup that ended the club's five-year trophy drought, and followed it up a year later with the European Cup Winners' Cup title. He then attempted to win the league title that had not been United's since 1967, when Matt Busby had been manager and the likes of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best were in the team. Ferguson made two major signings in the close season. He boosted his defence with a £1.75 million move for Queens Park Rangers and England right-back Paul Parker, with the previous season's first choice right-back Denis Irwin being switched to left-back – the position that Clayton Blackmore and Lee Martin had spent the last couple of seasons competing for. With Les Sealey and Mark Bosnich gone, Jim Leighton almost a forgotten man after just one appearance the previous season, and Gary Walsh seemingly not good enough to be first choice goalkeeper, Ferguson paid £500,000 for Brøndby and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. He now had a squad that few if any clubs in the First Division could match. As well as having established stars like Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes at his disposal, there was plenty of young talent on the way up at Old Trafford. 20-year-old winger Lee Sharpe's impressive displays in 1990–91 had earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and there was much hype surrounding 17-year-old winger Ryan Giggs, who had made his debut the previous season and scored in only his second senior game. When Giggs turned professional the previous November, he was billed as the next George Best, though it still seemed that it would be a while before he would become a first team regular. On 11 August, Sir Matt Busby, 82-year-old club president and former team manager, earned around £250,000 in gate receipts from his testimonial in which Manchester United drew 1–1 with a Republic of Ireland XI at Old Trafford. Six days later, Manchester United began their league campaign with a 2–0 home win over newly promoted Notts County in the First Division. By 7 September, they had opened up a four-point lead over Leeds United at the top of the First Division by winning 3–0 against Norwich City at Old Trafford. Later that month, they began their defence of the Cup Winners' Cup with a 0–0 draw with Athinaikos in Greece in the first round first leg. There were ugly scenes on the night of the game, leading to five Manchester United supporters receiving £1,500 fines and seven-month prison sentences for their involvement in a Greek bar brawl. Before the end of September, they began their quest for Football League Cup glory with a 3–0 home win over Cambridge United in the second round first leg. The following week, they progressed to the next stage of the Cup Winners' Cup with a 2–0 win over Athinaikos in the first round second leg at Old Trafford, four days before a goalless draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, in which United's Mark Hughes and Liverpool's Gary Ablett were both sent off. On 23 October, Manchester United's hopes of retaining the Cup Winners' Cup received a massive blow when they lost 3–0 to Spanish club Atlético Madrid in the second round first leg. Before the month had ended, they ensured that their League Cup quest remained alive by beating Portsmouth 3–1 in the third round at Old Trafford. Mark Robins, the striker whose first team chances were becoming increasingly limited due to the strength of the Hughes–McClair partnership, scored twice in the game. By this stage of the season, however, the United player attracting the most attention was Ryan Giggs, still not quite 18 but now United's first choice left winger and the youngest Wales international to date. On 6 November, United's defence of the Cup Winners' Cup ended when they could only manage a 1–1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid, meaning that they suffered a 4–1 aggregate defeat. Consolation came from the fact that they remained unbeaten at home in European competitions 35 years after first competing. This was the club's last Cup Winners' Cup match, as they never returned to the competition until it was abolished in 1999. There was still European glory for United this season, though with a less significant trophy than before, when on 19 November they clinched the European Super Cup with a 1–0 win over European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade at Old Trafford. The only goal of the game came from Brian McClair. With Hughes and McClair both now 28 and their long-term future as a top striker partnership looking doubtful, rumours began to circulate in early December that Alex Ferguson was going to bring Southampton's 21-year-old striker Alan Shearer to Old Trafford. Newcastle-born Shearer had been the centre of much speculation and hope since scoring a hat-trick on his Football League debut nearly four years ago at the age of 17, and in 1991–92 had established himself as a regular goalscorer. Boxing Day was a dramatic day for United, who triumphed 6–3 against local rivals and relegation battlers Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park. Denis Irwin and Brian McClair both scored twice, with the other goals coming from Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis, helping United maintain their lead at the top of the league. Three days later, they drew 1–1 with their nearest title contenders Leeds United at Elland Road. However, New Year's Day brought one of United's worst home results ever when they were crushed 4–1 at Old Trafford by Queen's Park Rangers, in a game which also brought them their first home defeat of the season. United's FA Cup quest began on 15 January when they faced Leeds United at Elland Road, with both teams fighting it out to cancel the other out of the Double race. The game ended in a 1–0 win for Manchester United, with Mark Hughes scoring the only goal of the game. 12 days later, United travelled to the south coast to take on Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round. The game ended in a goalless draw, and was replayed the following week at Old Trafford. The replay ended in a 2–2 draw, with Bryan Robson being denied a goal which would have won the game for United. With the scores still level at the end of extra time, the match went to penalties. Penalty misses from Ryan Giggs and Neil Webb ended their hopes of a unique domestic treble and left them with just the league title and League Cup to challenge for. On the day of the cup exit, United were saddened to hear of the death of Alan Davies, a member of their FA Cup winning squad from nine years earlier, who had committed suicide in South Wales. The next day, out of favour goalkeeper Jim Leighton headed out of the Old Trafford exit door in a £250,000 move to Dundee, 16 months after making his final United appearance. At the end of March, by which time United had slowed down in the league and were being pushed hard by Leeds United, defender Gary Pallister was voted PFA Player of the Year, while 18-year-old winger Ryan Giggs was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. 12 April 1992 saw Manchester United win the Football League Cup for the first time in their history with a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest in the final at Wembley Stadium, in which Brian McClair scored the only goal of the game. It ensured that Peter Schmeichel, Paul Parker, Andrei Kanchelskis and Ryan Giggs gained the first major honours of their English league careers, as well as ensuring United silverware for the third season running. Eight days later, however, the highest Football League audience of the season saw Manchester United lose 2–1 to Nottingham Forest at home, a result which made winning the title look like an uphill task following a recent downturn in form which saw Leeds United emerge as the stronger side in what had been a two-horse title race for most of the season. However, the team from Yorkshire were a point ahead, and had played a game more. There was still a chance. That chance came on 22 April, when United travelled to East London to take on a West Ham United side heading for relegation. They had high hopes for the game, only to lose 1–0, a result that left them needing to beat Liverpool at Anfield four days later to stay in the title race. On 26 April, United lost 2–0 to Liverpool and the title went to a Leeds United side who defeated Sheffield United 3–2. The key player in the West Yorkshire club's title glory was Gordon Strachan, who had been sold to them from Manchester United just three years earlier and on his transfer had spoken of his hope that he would soon be able to get his new club promoted to the top flight when his old club were league champions. After the season ended, Alex Ferguson began his quest to sign a striker in order to address the lack of goals which had cost United the title. One player high on his wish list was Alan Shearer, who had been linked with a move to the club from Southampton since before Christmas, but had decided to wait until the end of the season before deciding on where his future lay. He also had plenty of strength in reserve as a crop of young players won the FA Youth Cup. The last game of the season was the last ever in front of the Stretford End terraces, it would be knocked down during the Summer and rebuilt as a modern single tiered stand by the start of the 1993–94 season, and a second tier was consequently added in 2001. References 1991–92 Manchester United F.C. kits Category:Manchester United F.C. seasons Manchester United