United 98/99

The 1998–99 season was the most successful season in the history of Manchester United Football Club. After finishing the previous season without winning any titles, United won a treble of trophies (the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League), the first side in English football to achieve such a feat. During the campaign United lost only five times, including a one-off Charity Shield fixture, in the League Cup against eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur and their only home defeat, a league match against Middlesbrough in December 1998. A run of 33 games unbeaten in all competitions began on 26 December at home to Nottingham Forest.
Veteran players Brian McClair and Gary Pallister, along with a host of younger and less experienced players such as goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington and striker Graeme Tomlinson, had left the club before the season began. The big news of the pre-season was the arrival of Dutch defender Jaap Stam for a club record fee of £10.75 million. Other additions included striker Dwight Yorke and Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist. Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel announced his intention to leave the club after eight years at Old Trafford, joining Sporting Clube de Portugal at the end of the season.
The team’s never-say-die attitude, instilled in previous seasons, was key to their success as the players often thrived in difficult situations. The highlight was United’s dramatic comeback in the Champions League final, when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær each scored in injury time to overturn Bayern Munich’s first-half lead. David Beckham was runner up to Rivaldo for 1999’s European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
Fans and writers regard the treble haul as manager Alex Ferguson’s finest hour, although he dismissed that assertion in later years. Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of Manchester to welcome the team as the season drew to a close. In recognition of his achievements Ferguson was awarded a knighthood,and handed the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in November 1999.
By the end of the season Manchester United had become the world’s richest football club, and the most valuable sporting brand worldwide. The club was also at the centre of a takeover bid by BSkyB, which was blocked by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in March 1999.

Friendlies

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
25 July 1998	Birmingham City	A	3–4	Mulryne (3, 1 pen.) 21′, 38′, 56′	20,708
27 July 1998	Vålerenga IF	A	2–2	Scholes 12′, Solskjær 14′	19,700
31 July 1998	Brøndby	A	6–0	Sheringham (2) 33′, 71′, Scholes 44′, Cole (2) 66′, 84′, Cruyff 90′	27,022
4 August 1998	Brann	A	4–0	Irwin (3) 43′, 44′ (pen.), 55′ (pen.), Cole 82′	16,100
18 August 1998	Eric Cantona European XI	H	8–4	P. Neville, Butt, Scholes, Giggs, Cantona, Cruyff, Notman (2)	55,121
18 January 1999	Aberdeen	A	1–1 (6–7p)	Johnsen 51′	21,500

FA Charity Shield

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
9 August 1998	Arsenal	N	0–3		67,342

FA Premier League

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance	League position
15 August 1998	Leicester City	H	2–2	Sheringham 79′, Beckham 90′	55,052	7th
22 August 1998	West Ham United	A	0–0		26,039	11th
9 September 1998	Charlton Athletic	H	4–1	Solskjær (2) 39′, 63′, Yorke 45′, 48′	55,147	9th
12 September 1998	Coventry City	H	2–0	Yorke 20′, Johnsen 48′	55,193	5th
20 September 1998	Arsenal	A	0–3		38,142	10th
24 September 1998	Liverpool	H	2–0	Irwin 19′ (pen.), Scholes 80′	55,181	5th
3 October 1998	Southampton	A	3–0	Yorke 12′, Cole 60′, Cruyff 75′	15,251	2nd
17 October 1998	Wimbledon	H	5–1	Cole (2) 19′, 88′, Giggs 45′, Beckham 47′, Yorke 52′	55,265	2nd
24 October 1998	Derby County	A	1–1	Cruyff 86′	30,867	2nd
31 October 1998	Everton	A	4–1	Yorke 14′, Short 23′ (o.g.), Cole 59′, Blomqvist 64′	40,079	2nd
8 November 1998	Newcastle United	H	0–0		55,174	3rd
14 November 1998	Blackburn Rovers	H	3–2	Scholes (2) 31′, 59′, Yorke 43′	55,198	2nd
21 November 1998	Sheffield Wednesday	A	1–3	Cole 29′	39,475	2nd
29 November 1998	Leeds United	H	3–2	Solskjær 45′, Keane 46′, Butt 78′	55,172	2nd
5 December 1998	Aston Villa	A	1–1	Scholes 47′	39,241	2nd
12 December 1998	Tottenham Hotspur	A	2–2	Solskjær (2) 11′, 18′	36,079	1st
16 December 1998	Chelsea	H	1–1	Cole 45′	55,159	2nd
19 December 1998	Middlesbrough	H	2–3	Butt 62′, Scholes 70′	55,152	3rd
26 December 1998	Nottingham Forest	H	3–0	Johnsen (2) 28′, 60′, Giggs 62′	55,216	4th
29 December 1998	Chelsea	A	0–0		34,741	4th
10 January 1999	West Ham United	H	4–1	Yorke 10′, Cole (2) 40′, 68′, Solskjær 81′	55,180	3rd
16 January 1999	Leicester City	A	6–2	Yorke (3) 10′, 64′, 86′, Cole (2) 50′, 62′, Stam 90′	22,091	3rd
31 January 1999	Charlton Athletic	A	1–0	Yorke 89′	20,043	1st
3 February 1999	Derby County	H	1–0	Yorke 65′	55,174	1st
6 February 1999	Nottingham Forest	A	8–1	Yorke (2) 2′, 67′, Cole (2) 7′, 50′, Solskjær (4) 80′, 88′, 90′, 90′	30,025	1st
17 February 1999	Arsenal	H	1–1	Cole 61′	55,171	1st
20 February 1999	Coventry City	A	1–0	Giggs 79′	22,596	1st
27 February 1999	Southampton	H	2–1	Keane 80′, Yorke 84′	55,316	1st
13 March 1999	Newcastle United	A	2–1	Cole 25′, 51′	36,776	1st
21 March 1999	Everton	H	3–1	Solskjær 55′, G. Neville 64′, Beckham 67′	55,182	1st
3 April 1999	Wimbledon	A	1–1	Beckham 44′	26,121	1st
17 April 1999	Sheffield Wednesday	H	3–0	Solskjær 34′, Sheringham 45′, Scholes 62′	55,270	1st
25 April 1999	Leeds United	A	1–1	Cole 55′	40,255	2nd
1 May 1999	Aston Villa	H	2–1	Watson 20′ (o.g.), Beckham 47′	55,189	2nd
5 May 1999	Liverpool	A	2–2	Yorke 22′, Irwin 57′ (pen.)	44,702	2nd
9 May 1999	Middlesbrough	A	1–0	Yorke 45′	34,665	1st
12 May 1999	Blackburn Rovers	A	0–0		30,436	1st
16 May 1999	Tottenham Hotspur	H	2–1	Beckham 43′, Cole 48′	55,189	1st

Colours: Green = Manchester United win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Manchester United	38	22	13	3	80	37	+43	79
2	Arsenal	38	22	12	4	59	17	+42	78
3	Chelsea	38	20	15	3	57	30	+27	75

Points allocation: Three points awarded for a win; one for a drawn match; none for a loss.

FA Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
3 January 1999	Round 3	Middlesbrough	H	3–1	Cole 68′, Irwin 82′ (pen.), Giggs 90′	52,232
24 January 1999	Round 4	Liverpool	H	2–1	Yorke 88′, Solskjær 90′	54,591
14 February 1999	Round 5	Fulham	H	1–0	Cole 26′	54,798
7 March 1999	Round 6	Chelsea	H	0–0		54,587
10 March 1999	Round 6 replay	Chelsea	A	2–0	Yorke (2) 4′, 59′	33,075
11 April 1999	Semi-final	Arsenal	N	0–0 (a.e.t.)		39,217
14 April 1999	Semi-final replay	Arsenal	N	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Beckham 17′, Giggs 109′	30,223
22 May 1999	Final	Newcastle United	N	2–0	Sheringham 11′, Scholes 52′	79,101

Colours: Green = Manchester United win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.

League Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
28 October 1998	Round 3	Bury	H	2–0 (a.e.t.)	Solskjær 106′, Nevland 115′	52,495
11 November 1998	Round 4	Nottingham Forest	H	2–1	Solskjær (2) 57′, 60′	37,337
2 December 1998	Round 5	Tottenham Hotspur	A	1–3	Sheringham 70′	35,702

Colours: Green = Manchester United win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.

UEFA Champions League

Second qualifying round

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
12 August 1998	Second qualifying round First leg	ŁKS Łódź	H	2–0	Giggs 16′, Cole 81′	50,906
26 August 1998	Second qualifying round Second leg	ŁKS Łódź	A	0–0		8,000

Group stage

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance	Group position
16 September 1998	Barcelona	H	3–3	Giggs 17′, Scholes 25′, Beckham 64′	53,601	3rd
30 September 1998	Bayern Munich	A	2–2	Yorke 30′, Scholes 49′	53,000	3rd
21 October 1998	Brøndby	A	6–2	Giggs (2) 2′, 21′, Cole 28′, Keane 55′, Yorke 60′, Solskjær 62′	40,315	1st
4 November 1998	Brøndby	H	5–0	Beckham 7′, Cole 13′, P. Neville 16′, Yorke 28′, Scholes 62′	53,250	1st
25 November 1998	Barcelona	A	3–3	Yorke (2) 25′, 68′, Cole 53′	67,648	2nd
9 December 1998	Bayern Munich	H	1–1	Keane 43′	54,434	2nd

Colours: Green = Manchester United win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Bayern Munich	6	3	2	1	9	6	+3	11
Manchester United	6	2	4	0	20	11	+9	10
Barcelona	6	2	2	2	11	9	+2	8
Brøndby	6	1	0	5	4	18	−14	3

Points allocation: Three points awarded for a win; one for a drawn match; none for a loss.

Knockout phase

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
3 March 1999	Quarter-final First leg	Internazionale	H	2–0	Yorke (2) 6′, 45′	54,430
17 March 1999	Quarter-final Second leg	Internazionale	A	1–1	Scholes 88′	79,528
7 April 1999	Semi-final First leg	Juventus	H	1–1	Giggs 90+2′	54,487
21 April 1999	Semi-final Second leg	Juventus	A	3–2	Keane 24′, Yorke 34′, Cole 84′	60,806
26 May 1999	Final	Bayern Munich	N	2–1	Sheringham 90+1′, Solskjær 90+3′	91,000

Squad statistics

No.	CL no.	Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
No.	CL no.	Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	1	GK	Peter Schmeichel	34	0	8	0	0	0	13	0	1	0	56	0
2	2	DF	Gary Neville	34	1	7	0	0	0	12	0	1	0	54	1
3	3	DF	Denis Irwin	26(3)	2	6	1	0	0	12	0	1	0	45(3)	3
4	4	DF	David May	4(2)	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	7(2)	0
5	5	DF	Ronny Johnsen	19(3)	3	3(2)	0	1	0	6(2)	0	1	0	30(7)	3
6	6	DF	Jaap Stam	30	1	6(1)	0	0	0	13	0	1	0	50(1)	1
7	7	MF	David Beckham	33(1)	6	7	1	0(1)	0	12	2	1	0	53(2)	9
8	8	MF	Nicky Butt	22(9)	2	5	0	2	0	4(4)	0	1	0	34(13)	2
9	9	FW	Andy Cole	26(6)	17	6(1)	2	0	0	10	5	1	0	43(7)	24
10	10	FW	Teddy Sheringham	7(10)	2	1(3)	1	1	1	2(2)	1	0(1)	0	11(16)	5
11	11	MF	Ryan Giggs	20(4)	3	5(1)	2	1	0	9	5	1	0	36(5)	10
12	12	DF	Phil Neville	19(9)	0	4(3)	0	2	0	4(2)	1	0(1)	0	29(15)	1
13	29	DF	John Curtis	1(3)	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	4(3)	0
14	14	MF	Jordi Cruyff	0(5)	2	0	0	2	0	0(3)	0	0(1)	0	2(9)	2
15	15	MF	Jesper Blomqvist	20(5)	1	3(2)	0	0(1)	0	6(1)	0	0	0	29(9)	1
16	16	MF	Roy Keane (c)	33(2)	2	7	0	0	0	12	3	1	0	53(2)	5
17	17	GK	Raimond van der Gouw	4(1)	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	7(1)	0
18	18	MF	Paul Scholes	24(7)	6	3(3)	1	0(1)	0	10(2)	4	1	0	38(13)	11
19	19	FW	Dwight Yorke	32	18	5(3)	3	0	0	11	8	0	0	48(3)	29
20	20	FW	Ole Gunnar Solskjær	9(10)	12	4(4)	1	3	3	1(5)	2	0(1)	0	17(20)	18
21	21	DF	Henning Berg	10(6)	0	5	0	3	0	3(1)	0	0(1)	0	21(8)	0
22	22	FW	Erik Nevland	0	0	0	0	0(1)	1	0	0	0	0	0(1)	1
23	23	DF	Michael Clegg	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
24	30	DF	Wes Brown	11(3)	0	2	0	0(1)	0	3(1)	0	0	0	16(5)	0
28	28	MF	Philip Mulryne	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
29	–	FW	Alex Notman	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
30	–	DF	Ronnie Wallwork	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
31	31	GK	Nick Culkin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	33	MF	Mark Wilson	0	0	0	0	2	0	0(1)	0	0	0	2(1)	0
34	34	MF	Jonathan Greening	0(3)	0	0(1)	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3(4)	0
38	–	DF	Danny Higginbotham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0