Manchester United F.C. season 1989–90

Infobox Football club season
club = Manchester United
season = 1989-90
manager = flagicon|SCO Alex Ferguson
chairman = flagicon|ENG Martin Edwards
league = First Division
league result = 13th
cup1 = FA Cup
cup1 result = Winners
cup2 = League Cup
cup2 result = Third Round
league topscorer = Mark Hughes (13)
season topscorer = Mark Hughes (15)
highest attendance = 47,245 vs Arsenal (19 August 1989)
lowest attendance = 26,698 vs Portsmouth (3 October 1989)The 1989-90 season was Manchester United's 98th season in the Football League, and their 15th consecutive season in the top division of English football. [cite web |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1990.html |title=Manchester United Season 1989/90 |accessdate=2008-05-23 |publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk ]

The season brought their lowest league finish since their relegation from the First Division 15 years earlier, as they finished 13th in the league, and by Christmas there were continued calls from fans for Alex Ferguson to be sacked as manager. However, the season ended on a high as United won the FA Cup by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in a replay after drawing the first game 3-3. It was their first major trophy for five years, and their first since the appointment of Alex Ferguson as manager. It also saw them enter European competition as England's representatives in the 1990-91 Cup Winners' Cup following the end of the ban on English clubs in European competition arising from the Heysel disaster of 1985.

1989-90 saw Mark Hughes top the club's goalscoring charts for the second year running, while the club welcomed four new major signings in the early part of the season - Danny Wallace, Neil Webb, Paul Ince and Gary Pallister.

This season also saw the attempted purchase of the club by businessman Michael Knighton after chairman Martin Edwards considered selling the club for a reported £10 million. The sale fell through after Knighton was found to not have the money required to maintain the club. This period is best remembered for Knighton - wearing a United kit and tracksuit top - performing a Keepie uppie routine before a United game with Arsenal. According to Alex Ferguson in his autobiography; "Managing My Life", this display of showboating annoyed Ferguson as he felt it was detrimental to his teams' preparation for the forthcoming match - although United did go on to win the game.

Pre-season and friendlies

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

FA Cup

Transfers

In

Loan out

References

ee also

*Manchester United F.C. seasons