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.
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 Unitedfor £1.2 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.
Mark Hughes topped the goalscoring charts with 15 league goals, while the brilliant 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 bowed out 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. The FA Cup bid ended in the Fifth Round when they lost 2–1 to Sheffield United in a game where Steve Bruce uncharacteristically missed a penalty.
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, who had first been mentioned in the media as a possible transfer target during the autumn of 1991, 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 the signature of numerous other strikers. A £3million 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 £1million.
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 nearly signed for Blackburn, United snapped him up on 19 July 1993 for a British record fee of £3.75million.
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 all season, joined AFC Bournemouth on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Pre-season and friendlies
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 July 1992 | Start | A | 3–0 | Blackmore, Hughes, Wallace | 4,118 |
| 29 July 1992 | Celtic | A | 1–1 | Ince | 34,368 |
| 31 July 1992 | Lillestrøm | A | 1–1 | McClair | 5,569 |
| 2 August 1992 | Rosenborg | A | 3–2 | Ince, McClair, Irwin | 9,379 |
| 4 August 1992 | Elfsborg | A | 0–0 | 4,491 | |
| 9 August 1992 | Republic of Ireland XI | A | 2–0 | McClair, Hughes | 30,069 |
| 11 August 1992 | Swansea City | A | 1–1 | Hughes | 9,744 |
| 11 November 1992 | Brøndby | H | 3–2 | McClair, Wallace, Phelan | 5,102 |
| 1 December 1992 | Benfica | A | 0–1 | 40,000 | |
| 12 May 1993 | Aston Villa | N | 1–1 | Phelan | 22,000 |
| 14 May 1993 | Bristol City | A | 3–3 | Hughes (2), Blackmore | 21,716 |
| 17 May 1993 | Arsenal | A | 4–4 | Dublin (2), Sharpe (2) | 22,117 |
FA Premier League
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance | League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August 1992 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | Hughes 61′ | 28,070 | 19th |
| 19 August 1992 | Everton | H | 0–3 | 31,901 | 22nd | |
| 22 August 1992 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | Irwin 57′ | 31,704 | 20th |
| 24 August 1992 | Southampton | A | 1–0 | Dublin 88′ | 15,623 | 11th |
| 29 August 1992 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2–0 | Hughes 16′, Giggs 49′ | 19,694 | 8th |
| 2 September 1992 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | Hughes 88′ | 29,736 | 6th |
| 6 September 1992 | Leeds United | H | 2–0 | Kanchelskis 28′, Bruce 44′ | 31,296 | 4th |
| 12 September 1992 | Everton | A | 2–0 | McClair 29′, Bruce 76′ (pen.) | 30,002 | 3rd |
| 19 September 1992 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | Giggs 44′ | 33,296 | 4th |
| 26 September 1992 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–0 | 33,287 | 4th | |
| 3 October 1992 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–1 | Bruce 44′ (pen.) | 24,172 | 6th |
| 18 October 1992 | Liverpool | H | 2–2 | Hughes (2) 79′, 89′ | 33,243 | 5th |
| 24 October 1992 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–0 | 20,305 | 7th | |
| 31 October 1992 | Wimbledon | H | 0–1 | 32,622 | 7th | |
| 7 November 1992 | Aston Villa | A | 0–1 | 39,063 | 10th | |
| 21 November 1992 | Oldham Athletic | H | 3–0 | McClair (2) 10′, 28′, Hughes 11′ | 33,497 | 8th |
| 28 November 1992 | Arsenal | A | 1–0 | Hughes 27′ | 29,739 | 5th |
| 6 December 1992 | Manchester City | H | 2–1 | Ince 20′, Hughes 74′ | 35,408 | 5th |
| 12 December 1992 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | Hughes 59′ | 34,500 | 4th |
| 19 December 1992 | Chelsea | A | 1–1 | Cantona 71′ | 34,464 | 3rd |
| 26 December 1992 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–3 | McClair (2) 67′, 80′, Cantona 84′ | 37,708 | 2nd |
| 28 December 1992 | Coventry City | H | 5–0 | Giggs 6′, Hughes 40′, Cantona 64′ (pen.), Sharpe 78′, Irwin 83′ | 36,025 | 1st |
| 9 January 1993 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 4–1 | Cantona 40′, Irwin 52′, McClair 53′, Parker 57′ | 35,648 | 1st |
| 18 January 1993 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 3–1 | Ince 26′, Giggs 30′, Kanchelskis 48′ | 21,117 | 1st |
| 27 January 1993 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–0 | Ince 47′, Hughes 68′ | 36,085 | 2nd |
| 30 January 1993 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–2 | McClair 84′ | 22,068 | 2nd |
| 6 February 1993 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | McClair 65′, Cantona 80′ | 36,156 | 1st |
| 8 February 1993 | Leeds United | A | 0–0 | 34,166 | 1st | |
| 20 February 1993 | Southampton | H | 2–1 | Giggs (2) 82′ 83′ | 36,257 | 2nd |
| 27 February 1993 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–0 | Giggs 21′, Irwin 79′, Cantona 86′ | 36,251 | 2nd |
| 6 March 1993 | Liverpool | A | 2–1 | Hughes 42′, McClair 56′ | 44,374 | 1st |
| 9 March 1993 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–1 | 17,106 | 1st | |
| 14 March 1993 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | Hughes 57′ | 36,163 | 1st |
| 20 March 1993 | Manchester City | A | 1–1 | Cantona 71′ | 37,136 | 2nd |
| 24 March 1993 | Arsenal | H | 0–0 | 37,301 | 3rd | |
| 5 April 1993 | Norwich City | A | 3–1 | Giggs 13′, Kanchelskis 20′, Cantona 21′ | 20,582 | 2nd |
| 10 April 1993 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–1 | Bruce (2) 86′, 90′ | 40,102 | 1st |
| 12 April 1993 | Coventry City | A | 1–0 | Irwin 40′ | 24,249 | 1st |
| 17 April 1993 | Chelsea | H | 3–0 | Hughes 24′, Clarke 44′ (o.g.), Cantona 48′ | 40,139 | 1st |
| 21 April 1993 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | Hughes 64′, Ince 89′ | 30,115 | 1st |
| 3 May 1993 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–1 | Giggs 21′, Ince 60′, Pallister 90′ | 40,447 | 1st |
| 9 May 1993 | Wimbledon | A | 2–1 | Ince 63′, Robson 70′ | 30,115 | 1st |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 67 | 31 | +36 | 84 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 57 | 40 | +17 | 74 |
| 3 | Norwich City | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 61 | 65 | −4 | 72 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January 1993 | Round 3 | Bury | H | 2–0 | Phelan 7′, Gillespie 79′ | 30,668 |
| 23 January 1993 | Round 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | Giggs 75′ | 33,600 |
| 14 February 1993 | Round 5 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | Giggs 30′ | 27,150 |
League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 September 1992 | Round 2 First leg |
Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–1 | Wallace 36′ | 16,649 |
| 7 October 1992 | Round 2 Second leg |
Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | Hughes 14′ | 25,405 |
| 28 October 1992 | Round 3 | Aston Villa | A | 0–1 | 35,964 |
UEFA Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 September 1992 | First round First leg |
Torpedo Moscow | H | 0–0 | 19,998 | |
| 29 September 1992 | First round Second leg |
Torpedo Moscow | A | 0–0 (3–4p) |
11,357 |
Squad statistics
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | Rumbelows Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Peter Schmeichel |
42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| GK |  Gary Walsh |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF |  Clayton Blackmore |
12(2) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14(3) | 0 |
| DF | Steve Bruce |
42 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 5 |
| DF |  Denis Irwin |
40 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 5 |
| DF | Lee Martin |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Gary Neville |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| DF | Gary Pallister |
42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 1 |
| DF | Paul Parker |
31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 36(1) | 1 |
| MF | David Beckham |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| MF | Nicky Butt |
0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| MF |  Darren Ferguson |
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| MF | Ryan Giggs |
40(1) | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45(1) | 11 |
| MF |  Keith Gillespie |
0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 |
| MF | Paul Ince |
41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 6 |
| MF |  Andrei Kanchelskis |
14(13) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18(14) | 3 |
| MF | Mike Phelan |
5(6) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8(6) | 1 |
| MF | Bryan Robson |
5(9) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(11) | 1 |
| MF | Lee Sharpe |
27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| MF | Neil Webb |
0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
| FW |  Eric Cantona |
21(1) | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22(1) | 9 |
| FW | Dion Dublin |
3(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(4) | 1 |
| FW | Mark Hughes |
41 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 16 |
| FW | Brian McClair |
41(1) | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49(1) | 9 |
| FW | Danny Wallace |
0(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4(2) | 1 |