The Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United season-by-season breakdown, records, signings and achievements

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Sir Alex Ferguson led Manchester United to unprecedented success during his managerial reign between 1986 and 2013.

The former Aberdeen boss is now regarded as the greatest football manager of all time after his staggering success with Manchester United.

Let’s take a look at a season-by-season breakdown of how Sir Alex Ferguson fared in each campaign…

1986/87

Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Ron Atkinson as manager on November 6, 1986. He had a galvanising impact, steering the club away from the relegation zone and securing a comfortable mid-season finish.

• Position when Ferguson arrived: 19th of 22 teams
• Position at end of the season: 11th
• Top scorer under Ferguson: Peter Davenport (14)
• Most appearances under Ferguson: Peter Davenport and Chris Turner (32)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round. Eliminated by eventual winners Coventry City
• League Cup: Eliminated before Ferguson’s appointment
• Points under Ferguson vs League average: 1.48 ppg vs 1.33

1987/88

• Incomings: Viv Anderson, Brian McClair, Steve Bruce, Liam O’Brien, Mark Higgins
• Outgoings: Frank Stapleton, Gary Bailey, John Sivebæk, Terry Gibson, John Gidman, Peter Barnes, Joe Hanrahan, Simon Ratcliffe

Sir Alex Ferguson put his own stamp on the side in 1987 with the signings of Viv Anderson, Brian McClair and Steve Bruce, while overseeing several outgoings. The impact was almost immediate.

Ferguson led United to a second place finish, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, a staggering jump in fortunes compared to the position the team was in when he took over 18 months earlier. McClair was a transformational signing with 31 goals in total, a cornerstone for Ferguson to build around.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Brian McClair (31 goals in all competitions; 24 in the league)
• Most appearances: Brian McClair (48 games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Arsenal)
• League Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Oxford United)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.03 ppg vs 1.33

1988/89

• Incomings: Mark Hughes, Jim Leighton, Mal Donaghy, Lee Sharpe, Ralph Milne, Giuliano Maiorana
• Outgoings: Gordon Strachan, Jesper Olsen, Kevin Moran, Graeme Hogg, Chris Turner, Peter Davenport, Remi Moses (retired), Arthur Albiston

Ferguson’s United took a big step back in 1988/99 despite the popular return of Mark Hughes. The team won only 13 league games and had to settle for 11th place, a big disappointment from the second placed finish a year earlier.

• Position: 11th
• Top scorer: Brian McClair (16 goals in all competitions; 10 in the league)
• Most appearances: Brian McClair (48 games)
• FA Cup: Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Everton)
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Wimbledon)
• Points vs. League Average: 1.34 ppg vs 1.33

1989/90

• Incomings: Gary Pallister, Neil Webb, Paul Ince, Mike Phelan, Danny Wallace, Craig Lawton
• Outgoings: Norman Whiteside, Paul McGrath, Shaun Goater, Mike Duxbury, Ralph Milne (loaned), Liam O’Brien

1989/90 turned out to be a make-or-break year for Ferguson amid dire league form. United finished in 13th place, averaging fewer points per game than league average for the one time during his many seasons in charge.

Ferguson was under pressure and was saved by the FA Cup run, culminating in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in a replay, after a dramatic 3-3 draw in the first Final. This first taste of silverware set the wheels in motion for many more trophies.

• Position: 13th
• Top scorer: Mark Hughes (15 goals in all competitions; 13 in the league)
• Most appearances: Mike Phelan, Mark Hughes, and Brian McClair (48 games)
• FA Cup: Winners (Beat Crystal Palace 1–0 in Final Replay)
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur)
• Points vs. League Average: 1.26 PPG vs 1.33

1990/91

• Incomings: Denis Irwin, Neil Whitworth, Les Sealey
• Outgoings: Colin Gibson, Mike Duxbury, Mark Higgins, Les Sealey

United took a step forward in 1990/91, finishing in sixth place and winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup, beating Barcelona in the final. Denis Irwin was the pick of the signings, with Ferguson landing his left-back for the next decade.

Defender Steve Bruce scored a staggering 19 goals, running forwards McClair and Hughes close, who both netted 21 in total.

• Position: 6th (one point was deducted)
• Top scorer: Brian McClair / Mark Hughes (21 goals each)
• Most appearances: Steve Bruce (53 games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round
• League Cup: Finalists (Runners-up)
• Europe: Winners (European Cup Winners’ Cup)
• Points vs. League Average: 1.55 PPG vs 1.33

1991/92

• Incomings: Peter Schmeichel, Paul Parker, Andrei Kanchelskis
• Outgoings: Ralph Milne, Alan Fettis

More silverware followed in 1991/92 with more real tangible progress being made in the league. United finished in second place, just pipped to the title by rivals Leeds.

United won the UEFA Super Cup to begin the season, and won the League Cup with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, thanks to a Brian McClair winner. The big change came in goal, with Danish powerhouse Peter Schmeichel snapped up for a bargain fee.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Brian McClair (24 goals)
• Most appearances: Peter Schmeichel (53 games)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round
• League Cup: Winners
• Europe: Cup Winners’ Cup Second Round / UEFA Super Cup Winners
• Points vs. League Average: 1.86 PPG vs 1.33

1992/93

• Incomings: Eric Cantona, Dion Dublin, Pat McGibbon
• Outgoings: Neil Webb, Mal Donaghy

Champions at last! The mid-season signing of Eric Cantona helped to tip the balance of power in the newly formed Premier League.

The lack of success in cup competitions did not matter, with Ferguson ending United’s 26-year wait to win a league title… and this was just the start.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Mark Hughes (16 goals)
• Most appearances: Peter Schmeichel / Gary Pallister (42 league games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round
• League Cup: Third Round
• Europe: UEFA Cup First Round
• Points vs. League Average: 2.00 PPG vs 1.34

1993/94

• Incomings: Roy Keane
• Outgoings: Mike Phelan

1993/94 saw the peak of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first great team, and for many fans, this is their favourite side, marked by the arrival of Roy Keane. United won the Double for the first time in the club’s history, and also reached the League Cup Final. The FA Cup win was achieved with a memorable 4-0 win over Chelsea.

Eric Cantona led United’s success with 25 goals, while the team went on to amass 92 points, finishing eight points ahead of Blackburn.

The total return of 92 points was United’s highest in the Premier League era under Ferguson, although it is worth noting that it was a 42-game league season.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Eric Cantona (25 goals)
• Most appearances: Denis Irwin and Steve Bruce (62 games)
• FA Cup: Winners
• League Cup: Finalists
• Europe: Champions League second round
• Points vs. League Average: 2.19 PPG vs 1.34

1994/95

• Incomings: Andy Cole, David May, Graeme Tomlinson
• Outgoings: Bryan Robson, Dion Dublin, Bryan Robson, Clayton Blackmore, Les Sealey

1994/95 was an agonising season for United, missing out on silverware with an FA Cup Final defeat to Everton. In the league, United lost the title by a single point to Blackburn, after drawing against West Ham on the final day of the season.

Eric Cantona was suspended mid-season after a kung-fu on a Crystal Palace supporter. This lengthy ban was likely the difference-maker to miss out on trophies. Andy Cole signed mid-season and scored five goals in a 9-0 win over Ipswich, the biggest ever win under Ferguson. He was cup-tied for the FA Cup.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Eric Cantona (14 goals in all competitions)
• Most appearances: Steve Bruce (48 games)
• FA Cup: Finalists (Runners-up; lost 1–0 to Everton)
• League Cup: Third Round
• Europe: Champions League Group Stage
• Points vs. League Average: 2.10 PPG vs 1.34

1995/96

• Incomings: Nick Culkin
• Outgoings: Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis

A transformative year for United, with Sir Alex taking the ruthless decision to offload three established stars and put his faith in the ‘Class of 92‘. It began badly with a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, where Alan Hansen warned ‘You can’t win anything with kids’.

Buoyed by Eric Cantona’s return. by the end of the season United had won two trophies, the Premier League and FA Cup, becoming the first English club to win the ‘Double Double’.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Eric Cantona (19 goals in all competitions; 14 in the league)
• Most appearances: Peter Schmeichel (45 games)
• FA Cup: Winners (Beat Liverpool 1–0 in the Final)
• League Cup: Second Round (Eliminated by York City)
• How far United went in Europe: UEFA Cup First Round (Eliminated by Rotor Volgograd)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.16 PPG vs 1.34

1996/97

• Incomings: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ronny Johnsen, Raimond van der Gouw, Jordi Cruyff, Karel Poborsky
• Outgoings: Steve Bruce, Paul Parker, Lee Sharpe, Tony Coton

Sir Alex Ferguson’s United won a fourth title in five years, beginning to really establish a new dynasty in English football.

Alan Shearer had snubbed a move to United in summer 1996, so United signed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead for a tenth of the fee. He made an immediate impact, even finishing as the team’s top scorer.

The real story in 1996/97 was United’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, ending with an agonising home elimination to Borussia Dortmund. United were left stunned at the end of the campaign by Eric Cantona’s shock decision to retire from football.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (19 goals in all competitions; 18 in the league)
• Most appearances: Eric Cantona (50 games)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Wimbledon)
• League Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Leicester City)
• Europe: Champions League Semi-finals (Eliminated by Borussia Dortmund)
• Points vs. League Average: 1.97 PPG vs 1.34

Sir Alex Ferguson won TWO Champions League titles in 1999 and 2008, but had several near-misses…

… which Champions League run under Fergie was the ONE THAT GOT AWAY for you?

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1997/98

• Incomings: Teddy Sheringham, Henning Berg, Erik Nevland
• Outgoings: Eric Cantona, David May (loan), Karel Poborsky

Manchester United endured a first trophyless year under Sir Alex Ferguson since 1988/89, after being left stunned by Arsenal’s emergence as a major domestic force.

United’s defensive record was impressive, conceding only 26 goals, the fewest under Ferguson in a league campaign up to this point. Andy Cole’s best season yet was also notable.

Roy Keane played only 11 games before suffering a torn ACL, and his absence along with Cantona’s exit just left United a little short.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Andy Cole (25 goals in all competitions; 15 in the league)
• Most appearances: Gary Neville (53 games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Barnsley in a replay)
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Ipswich Town)
• Europe: Champions League Quarter-finals (Eliminated by AS Monaco on away goals)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.03 PPG vs 1.34

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 1997/98 season

1998/99

• Incomings: Dwight Yorke, Jaap Stam, Jesper Blomqvist
• Outgoings: Brian McClair, Gary Pallister, Ben Thornley, Chris Casper

What a way to bounce back! The greatest season in football history saw Manchester United become the first ever English club to win the Treble.

New signings Dwight Yorke and Jaap Stam had a major impact at both ends of the pitch, while United were also boosted by Roy Keane’s return from injury. Arsenal ran United close in the league, while Ryan Giggs’ epic solo goal knocked them out of the FA Cup.

Yorke established an unstoppable partnership with Andy Cole, while Sheringham and Solskjaer proved to be the perfect substitutes to win the Champions League Final in dramatic circumstances.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Dwight Yorke (29 goals in all competitions; 18 in the league)
• Most appearances: Peter Schmeichel (56 games)
• FA Cup: Winners (Beat Newcastle United 2–0 in the Final)
• League Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur)
• Europe: Champions League Winners (Beat Bayern Munich 2–1 in the Final)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.08 PPG vs 1.34

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 1998/99 season

1999/00

• Incomings: Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Mikael Silvestre, Quinton Fortune
• Outgoings: Peter Schmeichel, David May (loan), Jordi Cruyff

What can you remember about Man Utd’s ill-fated Club World Cup campaign in 2000?

This was the first XI Man Utd picked at the start of the new millennium

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How do you top the Treble season? Sir Alex Ferguson learned that was impossible, with United not even permitted to play in the FA Cup after having to fly to Brazil to play in the Club World Cup.

United were dominant in the Premier League, retaining with 91 points, the highest of any 38-game league season under Ferguson. The 2.39 points per game was his highest ever.

This was also the most prolific season of his reign, with a staggering 97 Premier League goals scored.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Dwight Yorke (24 goals in all competitions; 20 in the league)
• Most appearances: David Beckham (48 games)
• FA Cup: Did not compete
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Aston Villa)
• Europe: Champions League Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Real Madrid)
• Club World Cup: Group Stage
• Points vs. League Average: 2.39 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 1999/00 season

2000/01

• Incomings: Fabien Barthez
• Outgoings: Massimo Taibi, Jordi Cruyff, Mark Bosnich, Danny Higginbotham

2000/01 was the best season of Teddy Sheringham’s career as he won a PFA and Football Writer’s Player of the Season.

United won the Premier League for a third successive time for the first time in the Ferguson era, despite accruing only 80 points.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Teddy Sheringham (21 goals in all competitions; 15 in the league)
• Most appearances: Gary Neville (49 games)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by West Ham United)
• League Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Sunderland)
• Europe: Champions League Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Bayern Munich)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.11 PPG vs 1.34

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2000/01 season

2001/02

• Incomings: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron, Laurent Blanc, Diego Forlan
• Outgoings: Jaap Stam, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Jesper Blomqvist

Ferguson decided to shake his team up by signing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron, leaning towards a change of system. To compete in Europe, Fergie decided he wanted a three-man midfield and a lone striker.

Van Nistelrooy was an instant success with 36 goals, while record signing Veron found the adaptation tougher despite a promising start. The away goals defeat to Leverkusen in the Champions League was a crushing blow, with Ferguson missing out on a dream Final against Madrid at Hampden Park,

United ended the season trophyless, and one the catalysts for this was Ferguson’s falling out with Jaap Stam, who was sold at the start of the campaign. Crucially despite the disappointing season, Fergie was convinced to stay on as manager and postpone his planned retirement indefinitely.

• Position: 3rd
• Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy (36 goals in all competitions; 23 in the league)
• Most appearances: Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Mikael Silvestre (51 games)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Middlesbrough)
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Arsenal)
• Europe: Champions League Semi-finals (Eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen on away goals)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.03 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2001/02 season

2002/03

• Incomings: Rio Ferdinand, Ricardo, Luke Steele
• Outgoings: Dwight Yorke, Ronny Johnsen, Denis Irwin, Raymond van der Gouw

Manchester United bounced back to reclaim the Premier League title from Arsenal thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s prolific performances.

The 2-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford set the tone for United’s resilience, with Veron on the scoresheet too. New signing Rio Ferdinand provided the stability the backline needed to build around. United had trailed the Gunners by eight points in March before staging a late fightback.

The most memorable game saw United defeated by Real Madrid in the Champions League. This was David Beckham’s final season at the club.

Position: 1st

• Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy (44 goals in all competitions; 25 in the league)
• Most appearances: Mikael Silvestre (54 games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Arsenal)
• League Cup: Finalists (Runners-up; lost 2–0 to Liverpool)
• Europe: Champions League Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Real Madrid)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.18 PPG vs 1.34

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2002/03 season

2003/04

• Incomings: Cristiano Ronaldo, Tim Howard, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, David Bellion, Louis Saha
• Outgoings: David Beckham, Juan Sebastian Veron, Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc

A frustrating season for United and Ferguson, where FA Cup success was a consolation rather than a prize. A third placed league finish was the club’s worst placing in more than a decade.

Ruud van Nistelrooy hitting the crossbar from the penalty spot against Arsenal in the ‘Battle of Old Trafford’ changed the course of the season, with the Gunners going unbeaten in the league. United knocked them out of the FA Cup.

The Champions League exit to Porto was a bitter disappointment, in a campaign that was notable for two reasons. Rio Ferdinand missed large parts of the season due to an eight-month ban, while United signed a promising young prospect for the future, Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Position: 3rd
• Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy (30 goals in all competitions; 20 in the league)
• Most appearances: Mikael Silvestre (54 games)
• FA Cup: Winners (Beat Millwall 3–0 in the Final)
• League Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by West Bromwich Albion)
• Europe: Champions League Round of 16 (Eliminated by FC Porto)
• Points vs. League Average: 1.97 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2003/04 season

2004/05

• Incomings: Wayne Rooney, Gabriel Heinze, Alan Smith, Liam Miller, Giuseppe Rossi
• Outgoings: Nicky Butt, Diego Forlan, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Ricardo

Manchester United began the season with Sir Alex Ferguson signing a young phenom, buying Wayne Rooney on deadline day. He marked his debut with a spectacular hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Despite this hope for the future, this United side were caught between generations of Fergie’s old guard and his young talented prospects. Chelsea were on the charge and United had to settle for third place again. A penalty shootout loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup Final piled on the pain.

• Position: 3rd
• Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (17 goals in all competitions; 11 in the league)
• Most appearances: Mikael Silvestre (46 games)
• FA Cup: Finalists (Runners-up; lost to Arsenal on penalties)
• League Cup: Semi-finals (Eliminated by Chelsea)
• Europe: Champions League Round of 16 (Eliminated by AC Milan)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.03 PPG vs 1.34

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2004/05 season

2005/06

• Incomings: Edwin van der Sar, Park Ji-Sung, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Ben Foster
• Outgoings: Roy Keane, Phil Neville, Kleberson, Ricardo, Roy Carroll

2005 was another transitional year for United, with signs of progress. Edwin van der Sar finally solved the post-Schmeichel problem in goal. Why wasn’t he signed in 1999?

United snapped up Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra mid-season, deals that would have a big impact in years to come. Roy Keane left mid-season after a dramatic fallout, that saw United exit the Champions League in the group stages.

Ferguson’s side improved in the second half of the season and got back to winning ways by lifting the League Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney both scoring. Another special team was beginning to take shape.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy (24 goals in all competitions; 21 in the league)
• Most appearances: Wayne Rooney (48 games)
• FA Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Liverpool)
• League Cup: Winners (Beat Wigan Athletic 4–0 in the Final)
• Europe: Champions League Group Stage
• Points vs. League Average: 2.18 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2005/06 season

2006/07

• Incomings: Michael Carrick, Henrik Larsson (Loan), Tomasz Kuszczak
• Outgoings: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gerard Pique (Loan), Tim Howard (Loan), Quinton Fortune

Manchester United reclaimed the Premier League title to end a three-year drought, led by the Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo partnership.

The press tried to drive them apart after their World Cup 2006 clash, and Ferguson used it to bring them closer together. United started the season strongly, and never let up.

Michael Carrick was a major signing in midfield to replace Roy Keane, and he emphasised this by leading a 7-1 win over Roma. United fell short in the Champions League, defeated by AC Milan, while the FA Cup Final loss to Chelsea denied Ferguson another Double.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Wayne Rooney / Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals each in all competitions)
• Most appearances: Cristiano Ronaldo (53 games)
• FA Cup: Finalists (Runners-up; lost 1–0 to Chelsea)
• League Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Southend United)
• Europe: Champions League Semi-finals (Eliminated by AC Milan)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.34 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2006/07 season

2007/08

• Incomings: Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani, Manucho
• Outgoings: Gabriel Heinze, Alan Smith, Kieran Richardson, Giuseppe Rossi, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

United came out swinging ahead of the season, spending big on Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Carlos Tevez and Nani, a mix of players for immediate and future impact.

2007/08 was a dazzling success. Ferguson’s masterplan led to another Champions League title, while retaining the Premier League. It really should have been another Treble. A freak defeat at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarter-final was the one that got away.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a staggering 42 goals, combining to devastating effect with Rooney and Tevez as part of a trio we wish got to breathe together a little longer.

At the other end, United’s defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic helped the Red Devils concede the fewest league goals of any Ferguson season, only 22.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (42 goals in all competitions; 31 in the league)
• Most appearances: Wes Brown (52 games)
• FA Cup: Quarter-Finals (Eliminated by Portsmouth)
• League Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Coventry City)
• Europe: Winners (UEFA Champions League; beat Chelsea on penalties)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.29 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2007/08 season

2008/09

• Incomings: Dimitar Berbatov, Zoran Tosic, Ritchie De Laet
• Outgoings: Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre, Chris Eagles, Gerard Pique, Dong Fangzhuo

Ferguson’s relentless recruitment saw him add another top class attacker into the mix with Dimitar Berbatov, when it was arguable whether he was needed. The results were hard to argue with.

United won the title for a third straight year, seeing off a challenge from Liverpool, thanks to the surprise impact from young striker Federico Macheda. United also achieved a phenomenal 14-game clean sheet streak in the Premier League.

For the first time Ferguson and United tasted Champions League Final defeat. After demolishing Arsenal over two legs in the semi-finals, Barcelona were just too good in the Final in Rome.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (26 goals in all competitions; 18 in the league)
• Most appearances: Nemanja Vidic (55 games)
• FA Cup: Semi-finals (Eliminated by Everton on penalties)
• League Cup: Winners (Beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties)
• Europe: Finalists (Runners-up; lost 2–0 to Barcelona)
• Club World Cup: Winners
• Points vs. League Average: 2.37 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2008/09 season

2009/10

• Incomings: Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Gabriel Obertan, Mame Biram Diouf
• Outgoings: Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Fraizer Campbell, Richard Eckersley, Danny Simpson

Manchester United lost the title to Chelsea, thanks to a blatantly offside goal from Didier Drogba at Old Trafford.

United had lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the summer, and saw Wayne Rooney step up with his most prolific season in a United shirt. But ultimately the recruitment was disappointing, with more help required for the England international.

• Position: 2nd
• Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (34 goals in all competitions; 26 in the league)
• Most appearances: Patrice Evra (51 games)
• FA Cup: Third Round (Eliminated by Leeds United)
• League Cup: Winners (Beat Aston Villa 2–1 in the Final)
• Europe: Champions League Quarter-finals (Eliminated by Bayern Munich on away goals)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.24 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2009/10 season

2010/11

• Incomings: Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling, Bebe, Anders Lindegaard
• Outgoings: Ben Foster, Zoran Tosic, David Gray, Gary Neville

An inspired bargain move for Javier Hernandez helped Manchester United reclaim the title from Chelsea, to win a fourth in five seasons. This was a historic 19th title for United, overtaking Liverpool, Ferguson’s objective from the very start.

United reached the Champions League Final again, and had the misfortune to go up against an even better Barcelona team than the one we faced in 2009.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Dimitar Berbatov (21 goals in all competitions; 20 in the league)
• Most appearances: Patrice Evra (48 games)
• FA Cup: Semi-finals (Eliminated by Manchester City)
• League Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by West Ham United)
• Europe: Finalists (Runners-up; lost 3–1 to Barcelona)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.11 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2010/11 season

2011/12

• Incomings: David de Gea, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Paul Scholes
• Outgoings: Edwin van der Sar, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Gabriel Obertan, Darron Gibson

Another year of change saw David de Gea come in to replace Edwin van der Sar, while Paul Scholes retired and then returned to playing mid-season.

United should have won the title this season, dropping late points with a loss to Wigan and a draw to Everton. City agonisingly won it on the final day, in the final minute. 89 points would normally have been enough to win it.

• Position: 2nd (Lost title on Goal Difference)
• Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (34 goals in all competitions; 27 in the league)
• Most appearances: Patrice Evra (47 games)
• FA Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Liverpool)
• League Cup: Fifth Round (Eliminated by Crystal Palace)
• Europe: Champions League: Group Stage
• Europa League: Round of 16 (Eliminated by Athletic Bilbao)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.34 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2011/12 season

2012/13

• Incomings: Robin van Persie, Shinji Kagawa, Alexander Buttner, Nick Powell, Wilfried Zaha (January – loaned back)
• Outgoings: Dimitar Berbatov, Ji-sung Park, Michael Owen, Tomasz Kuszczak, Fabio (Loan)

Sir Alex Ferguson ensured United won the title before a ball was kicked, with the club securing the signing of Robin van Persie ahead of rivals City. Van Persie inspired United to win the title with 26 league goals, making the step up from also-rans Arsenal.

Ferguson was furious when United were beaten by Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, pointing to a harsh red card to Nani that turned the tie.

Following title celebrations, Ferguson shocked the football world by announcing his retirement, and the club was never the same again. He signed off with a dramatic 5-5 draw with West Brom.

• Position: 1st
• Top scorer: Robin van Persie (30 goals in all competitions; 26 in the league)
• Most appearances: Robin van Persie (48 games)
• FA Cup: Quarter-Finals (Eliminated by Chelsea)
• League Cup: Fourth Round (Eliminated by Chelsea)
• Europe: Champions League Round of 16 (Eliminated by Real Madrid)
• Points vs. League Average: 2.34 PPG vs 1.35

• READ MORE on Manchester United’s 2012/13 season

Sir Alex Ferguson’s total record and trophy haul

Sir Alex Ferguson remarkably managed precisely 1,500 games for Manchester United, winning almost 60 per cent of them.

• Total Games: 1,500
• Total Wins: 895
• Win Percentage: 59.7%
• Total Goals Scored: 2,769
• Manager of the Season Awards: 11

Ferguson led Manchester United to a relentless period of success, creating three great teams within his Red Devils’ dynasty.

His success in the early 90s was capped with the Double Winners, before the ‘Class of 92‘ led to his rebuild that culminated with the Treble. And then amid rising competition, Ferguson retooled again in the mid-2000s to build another Champions League winning team, who dominated the Premier League.

If not for an offside goal in 2010 and a goal difference title loss in 2012, United would have won seven successive titles between 2006/07 and 2012/13.

Ferguson is responsible for 13 of United’s 20 league title wins. Lean periods before his appointment and after his arrival further serve to underline his importance.