The 1990–91 season was Manchester United’s 89th season in the Football League, and their 16th consecutive season in the top division of English football.
After winning the FA Cup the previous year to end a five-year trophy drought and claim their first major trophy under the management of Alex Ferguson, United went on to achieve more success by lifting the European Cup Winners’ Cup – their first major trophy since their European Cup triumph 23 years earlier – by beating Barcelona 2–1 in Rotterdam, with Mark Hughes scoring both goals. It was the first season back in European competitions for English clubs following the lifting of the ban which had been imposed back in 1985 due to the Heysel Stadium disaster.
Hughes was voted PFA Player of the Year, while promising young winger Lee Sharpe was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Fellow winger Ryan Giggs, aged 17 and said to be the club’s finest young prospect since George Best, signed a professional contract in late November, and soon broke into the first team, making two league appearances and scoring one goal. A new arrival at the club was full-back Denis Irwin, signed from Oldham Athletic for a fee of £625,000 in the close season. Following his impressive performance in the previous season’s FA Cup final replay, Les Sealey’s loan move became permanent on a one-year contract, and he was the club’s first choice goalkeeper for the season, but left on a free transfer at the season’s end and signed for Aston Villa.
United also reached the League Cup final for the second time, but suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday (managed by former United boss Ron Atkinson). In the league, United improved upon the previous season’s 13th-place finish, but erratic form meant that they failed to mount a title challenge and finished sixth and were below neighbours Manchester City for the first time in more than a decade. Their defence of the FA Cup ended in the Fifth Round when they lost 2–1 to Norwich City.
Assistant manager Archie Knox resigned late in the campaign to take the same role at Rangers, and was replaced by Brian Kidd.
It was the final season at Old Trafford for veteran defender Viv Anderson, who had failed to reclaim his place in the first team and was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in January 1991. Winger Ralph Milne, who had not played a first team game for the club for nearly two years, was given a free transfer at the end of the season. Colin Gibson, who had rarely been selected since the 1988-89 season, was sold to Leicester City just before Christmas.
Goalkeeper Gary Walsh, who stood in for the injured Les Sealey in several late season games, made his first appearances for United in three years.
Lee Martin, the hero of the previous season’s FA Cup final, suffered a back injury and appeared in less than half of the season’s games, as Alex Ferguson chose Denis Irwin as his regular right-back and Clayton Blackmore as his regular left-back. Striker Mark Robins, another star of the cup run, had a less successful season, with fewer first team opportunities and just five goals in all competitions, despite some promising performances in the autumn.
Pre-season and friendlies
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August 1990 | Bury | A | 0–0 | 7,162 | |
| 3 August 1990 | Cork City | A | 0–0 | 8,000 | |
| 5 August 1990 | Waterford United | A | 4–0 | Hughes, Anderson, Robins, Sharpe | 4,750 |
| 8 August 1990 | Derry City | A | 1–1 | Robins | 9,710 |
| 11 August 1990 | Irish League | N | 3–0 | McClair, Hughes, Wallace | 10,037 |
| 13 August 1990 | Bohemians | A | 3–0 | Robins (2), Wallace | 13,878 |
| 15 August 1990 | Rangers | A | 1–0 | Beardsmore | 31,818 |
| 20 November 1990 | Celtic | H | 1–3 | Hughes | 41,658 |
FA Charity Shield
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 1990 | Liverpool | N | 1–1 | Blackmore 44′ | 66,558 |
First Division
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance | League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1990 | Coventry City | H | 2–0 | Bruce 57′, Webb 70′ | 46,715 | 4th |
| 28 August 1990 | Leeds United | A | 0–0 | 29,174 | 3rd | |
| 1 September 1990 | Sunderland | A | 1–2 | McClair 70′ | 26,105 | 6th |
| 4 September 1990 | Luton Town | A | 1–0 | Robins 24′ | 12,576 | 4th |
| 8 September 1990 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 3–1 | McClair 3′, Robins (2) 62′, 81′ | 43,427 | 3rd |
| 16 September 1990 | Liverpool | A | 0–4 | 35,726 | 6th | |
| 22 September 1990 | Southampton | H | 3–2 | McClair 20′, Blackmore 61′, Hughes 62′ | 41,288 | 3rd |
| 29 September 1990 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–1 | 46,766 | 5th | |
| 20 October 1990 | Arsenal | H | 0–1 | 47,322 | 7th | |
| 27 October 1990 | Manchester City | A | 3–3 | Hughes 37′, McClair (2) 80′, 83′ | 36,427 | 6th |
| 3 November 1990 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–0 | Webb 11′, Wallace 19′ | 45,724 | 6th |
| 10 November 1990 | Derby County | A | 0–0 | 21,115 | 6th | |
| 17 November 1990 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | Bruce 65′, Hughes 86′ | 45,903 | 6th |
| 25 November 1990 | Chelsea | H | 2–3 | Wallace 23′, Hughes 72′ | 37,836 | 7th |
| 1 December 1990 | Everton | A | 1–0 | Sharpe 64′ | 32,400 | 7th |
| 8 December 1990 | Leeds United | H | 1–1 | Webb 49′ | 40,947 | 7th |
| 15 December 1990 | Coventry City | A | 2–2 | Hughes 5′, Wallace 89′ | 17,106 | 9th |
| 22 December 1990 | Wimbledon | A | 3–1 | Bruce (2) 69′ (pen.), 88′ (pen.), Hughes 80′ | 9,644 | 7th |
| 26 December 1990 | Norwich City | H | 3–0 | Hughes 54′, McClair (2) 69′, 90′ | 39,801 | 6th |
| 29 December 1990 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | Bruce 17′ (pen.) | 47,485 | 6th |
| 1 January 1991 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2–1 | Bruce 37′ (pen.), McClair 90′ | 29,399 | 5th |
| 12 January 1991 | Sunderland | H | 3–0 | Hughes (2) 8′, 41′, McClair 15′ | 45,394 | 5th |
| 19 January 1991 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | Phelan 83′ | 18,544 | 5th |
| 3 February 1991 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | Bruce 26′ (pen.) | 43,690 | 5th |
| 26 February 1991 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | Blackmore 52′ (pen.) | 27,570 | 5th |
| 2 March 1991 | Everton | H | 0–2 | 45,656 | 5th | |
| 9 March 1991 | Chelsea | A | 2–3 | Hughes 33′, McClair 62′ | 22,818 | 6th |
| 13 March 1991 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | Ince 57′ | 15,701 | 5th |
| 16 March 1991 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | Blackmore 38′ | 23,859 | 5th |
| 23 March 1991 | Luton Town | H | 4–1 | Bruce (2) 7′, 47′, Robins 70′, McClair 83′ | 41,752 | 5th |
| 30 March 1991 | Norwich City | A | 3–0 | Bruce (2) 18′, 74′ (pen.), Ince 30′ | 18,282 | 5th |
| 2 April 1991 | Wimbledon | H | 2–1 | Bruce 54′, McClair 88′ | 36,660 | 5th |
| 6 April 1991 | Aston Villa | A | 1–1 | Sharpe 63′ | 33,307 | 5th |
| 16 April 1991 | Derby County | H | 3–1 | Blackmore 22′, McClair 66′, Robson 85′ | 32,776 | 4th |
| 4 May 1991 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Giggs 22′ | 45,286 | 6th |
| 6 May 1991 | Arsenal | A | 1–3 | Bruce 90′ (pen.) | 40,229 | 6th |
| 11 May 1991 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–3 | 25,301 | 6th | |
| 20 May 1991 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–1 | Ince 7′ | 46,791 | 6th |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Manchester City | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 64 | 53 | +11 | 62 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 59[2] |
| 7 | Wimbledon | 38 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 53 | 46 | +7 | 56 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
FA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 1991 | Round 3 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | Hughes 19′, McClair 74′ | 35,065 |
| 26 January 1991 | Round 4 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | Hughes 79′ | 43,293 |
| 18 February 1991 | Round 5 | Norwich City | A | 1–2 | McClair 37′ | 23,058 |
League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 September 1990 | Round 2 First leg |
Halifax Town | A | 3–1 | Blackmore 25′, McClair 87′, Webb 88′ | 6,841 |
| 10 October 1990 | Round 2 Second leg |
Halifax Town | H | 2–1 | Bruce 42′ (pen.), Anderson 58′ | 22,295 |
| 31 October 1990 | Round 3 | Liverpool | H | 3–1 | Bruce 36′ (pen.), Hughes 37′, Sharpe 81′ | 42,033 |
| 28 November 1990 | Round 4 | Arsenal | A | 6–2 | Blackmore 2′, Hughes 44′, Sharpe (3) 44′, 75′, 78′, Wallace 81′ | 40,844 |
| 16 January 1991 | Round 5 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | Hughes 78′ | 21,101 |
| 23 January 1991 | Round 5 Replay |
Southampton | H | 3–2 | Hughes (3) 51′, 61′, 79′ | 41,903 |
| 10 February 1991 | Semi-final First leg |
Leeds United | H | 2–1 | Sharpe 67′, McClair 80′ | 34,050 |
| 24 February 1991 | Semi-final Second leg |
Leeds United | A | 1–0 | Sharpe 90′ | 32,014 |
| 21 April 1991 | Final | Sheffield Wednesday | N | 0–1 | 77,612 |
Cup Winners’ Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 September 1990 | Round 1 First leg |
Pécsi Munkás | H | 2–0 | Blackmore 9′, Webb 17′ | 28,411 |
| 3 October 1990 | Round 1 Second leg |
Pécsi Munkás | A | 1–0 | McClair 77′ | 17,000 |
| 23 October 1990 | Round 2 First leg |
Wrexham | H | 3–0 | McClair 40′, Bruce 42′ (pen.), Pallister 59′ | 29,405 |
| 7 November 1990 | Round 2 Second leg |
Wrexham | A | 2–0 | Robins 31′, Bruce 35′ | 13,327 |
| 6 March 1991 | Quarter-finals First leg |
Montpellier | H | 1–1 | McClair 1′ | 41,942 |
| 19 March 1991 | Quarter-finals Second leg |
Montpellier | A | 2–0 | Blackmore 2′, Bruce 47′ (pen.) | 18,000 |
| 10 April 1991 | Semi-finals First leg |
Legia Warsaw | A | 3–1 | McClair 36′, Hughes 54′, Bruce 67′ | 20,000 |
| 24 April 1991 | Semi-finals Second leg |
Legia Warsaw | H | 1–1 | Sharpe 28′ | 44,269 |
| 15 May 1991 | Final | Barcelona | N | 2–1 | Hughes (2) 68′, 75′ | 50,000 |
Squad statistics
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | Rumbelows Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Mark Bosnich |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK |  Jim Leighton |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK |  Les Sealey |
31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| GK | Gary Walsh |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | Viv Anderson |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| DF |  Clayton Blackmore |
35 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 57 | 9 |
| DF | Steve Bruce |
31 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 19 |
| DF |  Mal Donaghy |
17(8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(4) | 0 | 2(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23(15) | 0 |
| DF |  Denis Irwin |
33(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7(1) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50(2) | 0 |
| DF | Lee Martin |
7(7) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 3(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13(11) | 0 |
| DF | Gary Pallister |
36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 1 |
| DF | Neil Whitworth |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Russell Beardsmore |
5(7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(8) | 0 |
| MF | Darren Ferguson |
2(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(3) | 0 |
| MF | Ryan Giggs |
1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 |
| MF | Paul Ince |
31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 3 |
| MF |  Andrei Kanchelskis |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Mike Phelan |
30(3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7(1) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47(4) | 1 |
| MF | Bryan Robson |
15(2) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27(2) | 1 |
| MF | Lee Sharpe |
20(3) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 6(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36(5) | 9 |
| MF | Neil Webb |
31(1) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46(1) | 5 |
| MF | Paul Wratten |
0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 |
| FW | Mark Hughes |
29(2) | 10 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 7(1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 49(3) | 21 |
| FW | Brian McClair |
34(2) | 13 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 56(2) | 21 |
| FW | Mark Robins |
7(12) | 4 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 9(18) | 5 |
| FW | Danny Wallace |
13(6) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(3) | 1 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17(11) | 4 |