Manchester United’s Nine League Titles

Manchester United lifted their tenth Premier League title on Saturday, take a jog down memory lane as we take a look at the previous nine.

1992/93 FA Premier League Season

Manchester United overcame a slow start to the season after the arrival of mercurial striker Eric Cantona. Cantona wasn’t the only player to make a name for himself though, a then 19-year-old Ryan Giggs retained the PFA Young Player of the Year award, while senior players like Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce provided the experience. United finished ten points clear of Aston Villa at the top of the table and broke their 26-year barren spell.

1993/94 FA Premier League Season

After a 2-1 win over the previous season’s runners up Aston Villa in August, United rose to the top of the table and stubbornly stayed there all season, finishing eight points clear of Blackburn Rovers. Eric Cantona was awarded the PFA Player of the Year, despite, at one point, being sent off twice in four days. Ryan Giggs, Paul Ince and Lee Sharpe continued to shine as United cruised to the double, with a 4-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley to clinch the FA Cup. The 1993/94 season also saw the arrival at Old Trafford of midfielder Roy Keane, at the time the most expensive footballer in England.

1995/96 FA Premier League Season

United struggled early in the season, but regrouped to challenge leaders Newcastle. By Christmas, United were ten points behind the Tynesiders. The Red Devils rallied though, and narrowed the gap to one point after a narrow 1-0 away win over Newcastle in March. United soon climbed to the top of the table and clinched the title with a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough on the last day of the season. United then went on to win the FA Cup, becoming the first English side to repeat the double.

1996/97 FA Premier League Season

Manchester United won their fourth title in five years with a successful 1996/97 Premiership campaign. Main challengers Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal fell away with poor results towards the end of the season, leaving United seven points clear at the finish. This season also saw the rise to prominence of two future United legends, then 22-year-old David Beckham, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and Norwegian Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. Sadly though, Eric Cantona announced his retirement on May 18 after five fantastic seasons at the club.

1998/99 FA Premier League Season

The 1998/99 season will be remembered by United fans for generations to come. This season was the season in which The Red Devils became the first English side to win the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League Treble. The season was also a fantastic one in terms of Premiership football, with United clinching the title with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on the final day of the season to finish one point clear of Arsenal. Some credit for their fantastic Treble season has to go to new signings defender Jaap Stam, and striker Dwight Yorke, both who had brilliant seasons.

1999/00 FA Premier League Season

United simply dominated the Premiership, losing just three games over the course of the campaign and finishing a staggering 18 points ahead of Arsenal. At the end of the season it was announced big Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy was too join United from PSV Eindhoven and French World Cup hero Fabian Barthez was brought in to replace the error-prone Mark Bosnich.

2000/01 FA Premier League Season

United continued their winning ways with a third straight league title in 2000/2001, finishing ten points clear of Arsenal and 11 clear of a resurgent Liverpool. Manchester United began the season strongly and were odds on favorites to win the title before Christmas. Any doubters of United’s abilities were shocked into silence as they destroyed rivals Arsenal 6-1 at Old Trafford in February. New striker Van Nistelrooy got off to a great start, scoring 23 goals in 32 games, while another record signing, Juan Sebastian Veron, was somewhat inconsistent.

2002/03 FA Premier League Season

United staged an improbable comeback after trailing leaders Arsenal by eight points in March with a game in hand. They eventually went on to seal their eighth title in eleven years after the Gunners slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Leeds United in the penultimate game of their season, a result which left United five points clear at the top of the standings. Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy had another fantastic season, with 25 goals in 38 league matches, and 44 in all competitions. He went on to pick up the Golden Boot award for most Premier League goals and also the Barclays Player of the Year award.

2006/07 FA Premier League Season

The Red Devils marched to their ninth Premier League title in the League’s 15 year history after Chelsea failed to win against Arsenal at the new Emirates Stadium. The result left United seven points clear of Chelsea with two games to play and therefore confirmed the return of the title to Manchester after a three-year absence. Winger Cristiano Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer in the league with 17 goals. Ronaldo swept the awards at the end of the season, winning the PFA Player’s Player of the Year award, the PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Fan’s Player of the Year, the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year and the Barclays Player of the Season.