1992–93 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season March 2015 September 2021 July 2010 Manchester United 1992–93 Alex Ferguson Martin Edwards Premier League 1st FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round UEFA Cup First round Mark Hughes (15) Mark Hughes (16) 40,447 vs Blackburn Rovers (3 May 1993) 19,998 vs Torpedo Moscow (16 September 1992) 35,132 _manutdh9294 _manutdh9294 E20E0E E20E0E E20E0E FFFFFF 000000 _manutda9293 _manutda9293 _manutda9293 _manutda9293 _manutda9293 2443A0 2443A0 2443A0 2443A0 2443A0 _manutd39294 _manutd39294 098E1E 098E1E 098E1E 000000 000000 1991–92 1993–94 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.https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/results/results_archive.php?season=1992-1993 Manchester United season 1992-1993 14 September 2023 MUFCinfo.com 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 1992–93 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 MUN FA Cup 1992–93 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 1992–93 Football 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 1992–93 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 CupEuropeTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKDEN Peter Schmeichel420302010480GKENG Gary Walsh0000101020DFWAL Clayton Blackmore12(2)00(1)0101014(3)0DFENG Steve Bruce425303020505DFIRL Denis Irwin405303020485DFENG Lee Martin0000101020DFENG Gary Neville0000000(1)00(1)0DFENG Gary Pallister421303020501DFENG Paul Parker31130200(1)036(1)1MFENG David Beckham00000(1)0000(1)0MFENG Nicky Butt0(1)00000000(1)0MFSCO Darren Ferguson150001000160MFWAL Ryan Giggs40(1)922201045(1)11MFNIR Keith Gillespie001(1)100001(1)1MFENG Paul Ince416203010476MFRUS 1991 Andrei Kanchelskis14(13)3102(1)01018(14)3MFENG Mike Phelan5(6)02100108(6)1MFENG Bryan Robson5(9)10(1)0100(1)06(11)1MFENG Lee Sharpe271300000301MFENG Neil Webb0(1)00010203(1)0FWFRA Eric Cantona21(1)910000022(1)9FWENG Dion Dublin3(4)10000003(4)1FWWAL Mark Hughes41152031204816FWSCO Brian McClair41(1)930302049(1)9FWENG 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 USA Jovan Kirovski Youth System Free 1 August 1992 DF NIR Pat McGibbon NIR Portadown £100k 7 August 1992 FW ENG Dion Dublin ENG Cambridge United £1.1m 27 November 1992 FW FRA Eric Cantona ENG Leeds United £1.2m 6 January 1993 GK ENG Les Sealey ENG Aston Villa £650k Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 13 August 1992 DF NIR Mal Donaghy ENG Chelsea £150k 14 August 1992 FW ENG Mark Robins ENG Norwich City £850k 24 August 1992 DF IRL Derek Brazil WAL Cardiff City £185k 7 September 1992 FW NIR Colin Telford SCO Raith Rovers Free 23 November 1992 MF ENG Neil Webb ENG Nottingham Forest £820k 19 March 1993 MF IRE Kieran Toal SCO Motherwell £320k 10 April 1993 FW ENG Raphael Burke ENG Exeter City Free 29 June 1993 MF ENG Russell Beardsmore ENG Bournemouth £210k 30 June 1993 FW NIR Adrian Doherty IRL Derry City Free DF ENG George Switzer ENG Darlington Free GK ENG Ian Wilkinson ENG Stockport County Free Loan in Date From Date To Position Name From 5 November 1992 5 December 1992 GK ENG Fraser Digby ENG Swindon Town Loan out Date From Date To Position Name To August 1992 24 August 1992 DF IRL Derek Brazil WAL Cardiff City 8 January 1993 22 January 1993 FW SCO Colin McKee ENG Bury 25 March 1993 31 May 1993 FW ENG Danny Wallace ENG 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,https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-rocastles-move-to-leeds-leaves-room-for-thomas-1535030.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-rocastles-move-to-leeds-leaves-room-for-thomas-1535030.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Rocastle's move to Leeds leaves room for Thomas London The Independent Henry Winter 23 July 1992 a versatile player capable of playing in attack and midfield, but the player signed for Liverpool instead.http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/paul-stewart Paul Stewart – Liverpool FC 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 clearMarch 2024 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. Two days later, 21-year-old winger Lee Sharpe was diagnosed with viral meningitis and was ruled out for over three months. The first Premier League game at Old Trafford was on 19 August, against Everton, but was a huge disappointment as United lost 3–0 in their second worst home defeat since Alex Ferguson took over as manager in November 1986. United's first point came on 22 August when they drew 1–1 draw at home to newly promoted Ipswich Town. United's first Premier League win came at the fourth attempt on 24 August, when Dion Dublin scored his first United goal in a 1–0 win at Southampton. The next four games were all won as United climbed to third place by mid September, with Norwich City top of the table and Blackburn Rovers second. One of those games – a 1–0 win at home to Crystal Palace – saw Dublin suffer a broken leg that ruled him out for six months. A five-match run of league draws followed, and during that run of draws came a first hurdle exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Russian side Torpedo Moscow, when they lost on penalties after two goalless draws. The first leg at Old Trafford saw the debut of 17-year-old defender Gary Neville. Later that month, United began their defence of the League Cup with a 1–1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round first leg, in which another player – 17-year-old David Beckham – made his debut. United won the return leg 1–0 at Old Trafford but their hopes of retaining the trophy ended on 28 October when they suffered a 1–0 exit to Aston Villa in the third round at Villa Park. Villa, managed by former United boss Ron Atkinson were also emerging as title contenders. United's run of draws ended on 31 October – in defeat, as they were beaten 1–0 at home by Wimbledon with a goal from Lawrie Sanchez. A week later, United's winless run extended to seven matches when Ron Atkinson's Aston Villa inflicted another defeat on them at Villa Park. United were now 10th in the league, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and also behind unfashionable sides including Norwich City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town, who had been widely tipped as sides more likely to be battling against relegation rather than challenging for the title. Ferguson realised that something had to be done if United were to remain in the title race. He made a £3 million bid for Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst, but the bid was rejected. He then received an offer from defending champions Leeds United for defender Denis Irwin, but rejected the offer. However, Ferguson did ask manager Howard Wilkinson if he was willing to part company with 26-year-old French striker Eric Cantona. On 26 November, Cantona signed for United in a £1.2 million deal, and slotted into the United attack alongside Mark Hughes, with Brian McClair being drafted into central midfield alongside Paul Ince. By the time Cantona arrived, United had returned to their winning ways with a 3–0 home win over strugglers Oldham Athletic, in which 17-year-old midfielder Nicky Butt made his debut as a substitute. The winning form continued a week later when a Mark Hughes goal gave United a 1–0 win at Highbury. A week after the win at Highbury, the Manchester derby at Old Trafford ended in a 2–1 win for United in a game where Eric Cantona made his debut. His first goal for the club came on 19 December in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. By now, United were on an upswing in the league and narrowing the gap between themselves and the top of the table. In the league game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Boxing Day, United fought back to draw 3–3 (after being 3–0 down at half time) with Brian McClair scoring twice and Eric Cantona once. They had now climbed up to third place in the table, five points behind leaders Norwich City and two points behind second placed Blackburn Rovers. The resurgence continued into the new year and United's unbeaten run ended at the end of that month as they lost 2–1 to Ipswich Town, while United stood second when a draw would have been enough to put them ahead of Ipswich's East Anglian rivals Norwich City. January had also seen United dispose of Bury and then Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup, although the league title remained the number one priority. However, the FA Cup quest ended on 14 February when Steve Bruce missed a penalty as United 2–1 at Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round, ending their double hopes, though it freed them up to concentrate on the league. They finally went top on 6 March with a 2–1 win at Anfield over a Liverpool side who were now 15th in the table and just three points above the relegation zone, though this result was arguably the catalyst for United's fierce north western rivals who then turned their season around to climb to sixth place in the final table. However, a four match winless run (a defeat and three draws) then dragged United down to third place as Norwich City and Aston Villa gained a slim lead over them by the end of March. United then dealt a major blow to Norwich's title hopes on 5 April with a 3–1 win over them at Carrow Road, before two injury time goals from Steve Bruce inspired a 2–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford five days later to return United to the top of the table. United's final six games all ended in victory, with Aston Villa's surprise 1–0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic on 2 May meaning that United were now out of reach at the top of the league and the 26-year wait was over. The next day, United won 3–1 at home against fourth placed Blackburn Rovers, whose title challenge had faded away after Alan Shearer was ruled out for the second half of the season with a knee injury. The campaign ended at Selhurst Park on 9 May when United won 2–1 against Wimbledon, in a game where Bryan Robson scored his first goal in 18 months. Robson, now 36, was now United's longest serving player with 12 years of unbroken service (though Mark Hughes had begun his career at Old Trafford a year earlier he did have two seasons away from the club at FC Barcelona and then Bayern Munich) but his days were looking numbered as it became clear that a younger central midfield partner was needed for Paul Ince. By the end of May, a name strongly linked to United was the 21-year-old Nottingham Forest and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane. However, Alex Ferguson faced competition from Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers for Keane's signature. The deal was finally done on 22 July, when Keane completed his move to United for an English record fee of £3.75 million. References 1992–93 Manchester United F.C. kits Category:Manchester United F.C. seasons Manchester United 1993