- 2001–02 Manchester United F.C. season
-
Manchester United 2001–02 season Chairman 
Martin EdwardsManager 
Sir Alex FergusonPremier League 3rd FA Cup Fourth Round Worthington Cup Third Round Charity Shield Runners-up UEFA Champions League Semi-finals Top goalscorer League:
Ruud van Nistelrooy (23)
All:
Ruud van Nistelrooy (36)Highest home attendance 67,683 vs Middlesbrough (23 March 2002) Lowest home attendance 64,827 vs Lille (18 September 2001) Average home attendance 67,160 
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours← 2000–01 2002–03 → The 2001–02 season was Manchester United's tenth season in the Premier League and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1] The second full season of the new millennium was rather dismal for the Red Devils in comparison to the previous three years. The club finished in third place in the Premier League, their lowest finish in the history of the Premier League, and they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round. Worthington Cup success was not expected, and the club duly obliged by playing what was effectively a reserve team against a strong Arsenal side in the third round. United's best success in the 2001–02 season came in the UEFA Champions League, in which they reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen on away goals. Ultimately, United's failure to win anything boiled down a dismal run of form in November and early December when they suffered five defeats in seven league games, including three defeats in a row against Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United in December. They also lost six home games in the Premier League, their worst home record since the 1977–78 season. They only lost three more league games all season, but that terrible form earlier in the campaign counted against United for the rest of the campaign and they finished 10 points behind champions Arsenal (who sealed their crown by beating United 1–0 at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season) and seven points behind runners-up Liverpool.
Before the season began, Sir Alex Ferguson had announced his intention to retire from football at the end of the season, and the club began the process of trying to find a successor for the most successful manager in their history. However, Fergie went back on his decision to retire, many people citing his failure to win the Champions League in his home town of Glasgow as the reason for this reversal.
Winger Ryan Giggs was honoured with a testimonial match against Celtic, having now been at United for more than a decade.
£19 million striker Ruud van Nistelrooy did was expected of him by scoring 36 goals in all competitions and collecting the PFA Player of the Year award, but £28.1 million national record signing Juan Sebastián Verón was a major disappointment in midfield, though it was in defence where United were at their weakest following the shock departure of Jaap Stam to Lazio just after the start of the season, and the surprise acquisition of 35-year-old Frenchman Laurent Blanc as his successor.
2001–02 was the final season at Old Trafford for veteran players Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen after 12 and six years at the club respectively. Also on the way out of the club were goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw and striker Dwight Yorke. Striker Andy Cole left United after seven years when he sealed a transfer to Blackburn Rovers at the end of December.
Contents
Pre-season and friendlies
Date Opponents Home/
AwayResult
F – AScorers Attendance 22 July 2001 Malaysia All-Stars N 6 – 0 Van Nistelrooy (2) 7', 36', Beckham 29', Cole (2) 46', 78', Chadwick 71' 100,000 24 July 2001 Team Singapore A 8 – 1 Solskjær (2) 30', 45', P. Neville 40', Beckham 52', Yorke (2) 65', 71', Van Nistelrooy 73', Giggs 90' 44,000 29 July 2001 Thailand A 2 – 1 Giggs 29', Yorke 78' 65,000 1 August 2001 Celtic H 3 – 4 Van Nistelrooy (2) 24', 84', Verón 64' 66,957 4 August 2001 Wrexham A 2 – 2 Solskjær 31', Verón 58' 7,614 4 August 2001 Hereford United A 6 – 0 Butt 23', Fortune 45', 65', Yorke 69', Cole 78', 87' 4,625 8 August 2001 Bury A 3 – 0 P. Neville 49', Yorke 62', Solskjær 69' 9,929 On 4 August 2001, United played two friendly matches simultaneously, against Wrexham (Brian Flynn's testimonial) and Hereford United. The first team squad was split in two, with Jimmy Ryan taking charge at Edgar Street.[2][3][4]
FA Charity Shield
Main article: 2001 FA Charity ShieldDate Opponents Home/
AwayResult
F – AScorers Attendance 12 August 2001 Liverpool N 1 – 2 Van Nistelrooy 51' 70,227 Premier League
Date Opponents H / A Result
F – AScorers Attendance League
position19 August 2001 Fulham H 3 – 2 Beckham 36', Van Nistelrooy (2) 51', 53' 67,534 22 August 2001 Blackburn Rovers A 2 – 2 Giggs 20', Beckham 78' 29,836 26 August 2001 Aston Villa A 1 – 1 Alpay 90' (o.g.) 42,632 3rd 8 September 2001 Everton H 4 – 1 Verón 4', Cole 40', Fortune 46', Beckham 90' 67,534 15 September 2001 Newcastle United A 3 – 4 Van Nistelrooy 29', Giggs 62', Verón 64' 52,056 22 September 2001 Ipswich Town H 4 – 0 Johnsen 13', Solskjær (2) 20', 90', Cole 89' 67,551 29 September 2001 Tottenham Hotspur A 5 – 3 Cole 46', Blanc 58', Van Nistelrooy 72', Verón 76', Beckham 87' 36,038 2nd 13 October 2001 Sunderland A 3 – 1 Varga 35' (o.g.), Giggs 59', Cole 66' 48,305 20 October 2001 Bolton Wanderers H 1 – 2 Verón 25' 67,559 27 October 2001 Leeds United H 1 – 1 Solskjær 89' 67,555 5th 4 November 2001 Liverpool A 1 – 3 Beckham 50' 44,361 17 November 2001 Leicester City H 2 – 0 Van Nistelrooy 21', Yorke 50' 67,651 25 November 2001 Arsenal A 1 – 3 Scholes 14' 38,174 6th 1 December 2001 Chelsea H 0 – 3 67,544 8 December 2001 West Ham United H 0 – 1 67,582 12 December 2001 Derby County H 5 – 0 Solskjær (2) 6', 58', Keane 10', Van Nistelrooy 63', Scholes 89' 67,577 15 December 2001 Middlesbrough A 1 – 0 Van Nistelrooy 76' 34,358 22 December 2001 Southampton H 6 – 1 Van Nistelrooy (3) 1', 34', 54', Solskjær 41', Keane 72', Neville 78' 67,638 26 December 2001 Everton A 2 – 0 Giggs 78', Van Nistelrooy 85' 39,948 30 December 2001 Fulham A 3 – 2 Giggs (2) 5', 47', Van Nistelrooy 45' 21,159 5th 2 January 2002 Newcastle United H 3 – 1 Van Nistelrooy 24', Scholes (2) 50', 62' 67,646 13 January 2002 Southampton A 3 – 1 Van Nistelrooy 9', Beckham 45', Solskjær 63' 31,858 19 January 2002 Blackburn Rovers H 2 – 1 Van Nistelrooy 45' (pen.), Keane 81' 67,552 22 January 2002 Liverpool H 0 – 1 67,599 29 January 2002 Bolton Wanderers A 4 – 0 Solskjær (3) 15', 39', 64', Van Nistelrooy 83' 27,350 1st 2 February 2002 Sunderland H 4 – 1 P. Neville 6', Beckham 25', Van Nistelrooy (2) 28', 44' (pen.) 67,587 10 February 2002 Charlton Athletic A 2 – 0 Solskjær (2) 33', 74' 26,475 23 February 2002 Aston Villa H 1 – 0 Van Nistelrooy 50' 67,592 1st 3 March 2002 Derby County A 2 – 2 Scholes 41', Verón 60' 33,041 6 March 2002 Tottenham Hotspur H 4 – 0 Beckham (2) 15', 64', Van Nistelrooy (2) 43' (pen.), 76' 67,599 16 March 2002 West Ham United A 5 – 3 Beckham (2) 17', 89' (pen.), Butt 22', Scholes 55', Solskjær 64' 35,281 23 March 2002 Middlesbrough H 0 – 1 67,683 30 March 2002 Leeds United A 4 – 3 Scholes 9', Solskjær (2) 37', 39', Giggs 54' 40,058 2nd 6 April 2002 Leicester City A 1 – 0 Solskjær 61' 21,447 20 April 2002 Chelsea A 3 – 0 Scholes 15', Van Nistelrooy 41', Solskjær 86' 41,725 27 April 2002 Ipswich Town A 1 – 0 Van Nistelrooy 45' (pen.) 28,433 2nd 8 May 2002 Arsenal H 0 – 1 67,580 11 May 2002 Charlton Athletic H 0 – 0 67,571 3rd Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 2 Liverpool 38 24 8 6 67 30 +37 80 3 Manchester United 38 24 5 9 87 45 +42 77 4 Newcastle United 38 21 8 9 74 52 +22 71 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 – AScorers Attendance 6 January 2002 Round 3 Aston Villa A 3 – 2 Solskjær 77', Van Nistelrooy (2) 80', 82' 38,444 26 January 2002 Round 4 Middlesbrough A 0 – 2 17,624 Worthington Cup
Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F – AScorers Attendance 5 November 2001 Round 3 Arsenal A 0 – 4 30,693 Champions League
Group stage
Date Opponents H / A Result
F – AScorers Attendance Group
position18 September 2001 Lille H 1 – 0 Beckham 90' 64,827 1st 25 September 2001 Deportivo A 1 – 2 Scholes 40' 33,108 2nd 10 October 2001 Olympiacos A 2 – 0 Beckham 66', Cole 82' 73,537 1st 17 October 2001 Deportivo H 2 – 3 Van Nistelrooy (2) 7', 40' 65,585 2nd 23 October 2001 Olympiacos H 3 – 0 Solskjær 80', Giggs 88', Van Nistelrooy 90' 66,769 2nd 31 October 2001 Lille A 1 – 1 Solskjær 6' 37,400 2nd Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 
Deportivo6 2 4 0 10 8 +2 10 Manchester United6 3 1 2 10 6 +4 10 
Lille6 1 3 2 7 7 0 6 
Olympiacos6 1 2 3 6 12 −6 5 Second group stage
Date Opponents H / A Result
F – AScorers Attendance Group
position20 November 2001 Bayern A 1 – 1 Van Nistelrooy 74' 59,000 2nd 5 December 2001 Boavista H 3 – 0 Van Nistelrooy (2) 31', 62', Blanc 55' 66,274 1st 20 February 2002 Nantes A 1 – 1 Van Nistelrooy 90' (pen.) 38,285 1st 26 February 2002 Nantes H 5 – 1 Beckham 18', Solskjær (2) 31', 78', Silvestre 38', Van Nistelrooy 64' (pen.) 66,492 1st 13 March 2002 Bayern H 0 – 0 66,818 1st 19 March 2002 Boavista A 3 – 0 Blanc 14', Solskjær 29', Beckham 51' (pen.) 13,223 1st Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Manchester United6 3 3 0 13 3 +10 12 
Bayern6 3 3 0 5 2 +3 12 
Boavista6 1 2 3 2 8 −6 5 Nantes6 0 2 4 4 11 −7 2 Knock-out stage
Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F – AScorers Attendance 2 April 2002 Quarter-final
First legDeportivo la Coruña A 2 – 0 Beckham 15', Van Nistelrooy 41' 32,351 10 April 2002 Quarter-final
Second legDeportivo la Coruña H 3 – 2 Solskjær (2) 23', 56', Giggs 69' 65,875 24 April 2002 Semi-final
First legBayer Leverkusen H 2 – 2 Živković 29' (o.g.), Van Nistelrooy 67' (pen.) 66,534 30 April 2002 Semi-final
Second legBayer Leverkusen A 1 – 1 Keane 28' 22,500 Squad statistics
No. Pos. Name League FA Cup Worthington Cup Europe Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 GK Fabien Barthez32 0 1 0 0 0 15 0 1 0 49 0 2 DF Gary Neville31(3) 0 2 0 0 0 14 0 1 0 48(3) 0 3 DF 
Denis Irwin10(2) 0 0 0 0 0 8(2) 0 1 0 19(4) 0 4 MF 
Juan Sebastián Verón24(2) 5 1 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 38(2) 5 5 DF 
Ronny Johnsen9(1) 1 0 0 0 0 8(1) 0 0 0 17(2) 1 6 DF Laurent Blanc29 1 2 0 0 0 15 2 0 0 46 3 6 DF 
Jaap Stam1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 7 MF David Beckham23(5) 11 1 0 0 0 13 5 1 0 38(5) 16 8 MF Nicky Butt20(5) 1 2 0 0 0 8(1) 0 1 0 31(6) 1 9 FW Andrew Cole7(4) 4 0 0 0 0 1(3) 1 0 0 8(7) 5 10 FW Ruud van Nistelrooy29(3) 23 0(2) 2 0 0 14 10 1 1 44(5) 36 11 MF 
Ryan Giggs18(7) 7 0(1) 0 0 0 13 2 1 0 32(8) 9 12 DF Phil Neville21(7) 2 2 0 1 0 3(4) 0 0 0 27(11) 2 13 GK 
Roy Carroll6(1) 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 9(1) 0 14 DF David May2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 15 MF Luke Chadwick5(3) 0 1(1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7(4) 0 16 MF Roy Keane (c)28 3 2 0 0 0 11(1) 1 1 0 42(1) 4 17 GK Raimond van der Gouw0(1) 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0(2) 0 18 MF Paul Scholes30(5) 8 2 0 0 0 13 1 1 0 46(5) 9 19 FW 
Dwight Yorke4(6) 1 0(1) 0 1 0 1(2) 0 0(1) 0 6(10) 1 20 FW Ole Gunnar Solskjær23(7) 17 2 1 0 0 5(10) 7 0 0 30(17) 25 21 FW 
Diego Forlán6(7) 0 0 0 0 0 1(4) 0 0 0 7(11) 0 22 DF Ronnie Wallwork0(1) 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2(1) 0 23 DF Michael Clegg0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 24 DF Wes Brown15(2) 0 0 0 0 0 5(2) 0 0 0 20(4) 0 25 MF 
Quinton Fortune8(6) 1 0 0 0 0 3(2) 0 0 0 11(8) 1 27 DF Mikaël Silvestre31(4) 0 2 0 0 0 10(3) 1 1 0 44(7) 1 28 MF Michael Stewart2(1) 0 0 0 1 0 0(1) 0 0 0 3(2) 0 30 DF John O'Shea4(5) 0 0 0 1 0 0(3) 0 0 0 5(8) 0 32 MF 
Bojan Djordjic0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 DF Lee Roche0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 36 FW Jimmy Davis0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 FW Danny Webber0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 FW Daniel Nardiello0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 – – Own goals – 2 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 3 Transfers
United's first departures of the 2001–02 season were midfield duo Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson, who both signed for Middlesbrough on 9 August. On 27 August, Jaap Stam was controversially sold to Lazio for a fee of £16.5 million, while on 8 November, Jesper Blomqvist signed for Everton.
Arriving in the summer transfer window were Northern Irish goalkeeper Roy Carroll, Dutch forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón and French defender Laurent Blanc. Out of these players, only van Nistelrooy made much of an impact, staying at United until 2006 and scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances for United.
Departing during the winter transfer window were forward Andrew Cole, who left United after six years, and Michael Clegg, who signed for Oldham Athletic on a free transfer. Paul Rachubka left United on 20 May for Charlton Athletic. Goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw signed for West Ham United on 28 June on a free transfer, while on 30 June, defenders Denis Irwin, Ronny Johnsen and Ronnie Wallwork were released.
Luke Steele joined United on 11 May for a fee of £500,000.
In
Date Pos. Name From Fee 1 July 2001 GK Roy Carroll Wigan AthleticUndisclosed 1 July 2001 FW Ruud van Nistelrooy PSV Eindhoven£19m 12 July 2001 MF Juan Sebastián Verón
Lazio£29.1m 30 August 2001 DF Laurent Blanc Internazionale£2.5m 22 January 2002 FW Diego Forlán Independiente£7.5m 11 May 2002 GK Luke Steele Peterborough United£500k Out
Date Pos. Name To Fee 9 August 2001 MF Jonathan Greening Middlesbrough£2m 9 August 2001 MF Mark Wilson Middlesbrough£1.5m 27 August 2001 DF Jaap Stam Lazio£16.5m 8 November 2001 MF Jesper Blomqvist EvertonFree 29 December 2001 FW Andrew Cole Blackburn RoversUndisclosed 19 February 2002 DF Michael Clegg Oldham AthleticFree 20 May 2002 GK Paul Rachubka Charlton Athletic£200k 28 June 2002 GK Raimond van der Gouw West Ham UnitedFree 30 June 2002 DF Denis IrwinUnattached Free 30 June 2002 DF Ronny JohnsenUnattached Free 30 June 2002 DF Ronnie WallworkUnattached Free Loan in
Date from Date to Position Name From 4 March 2002 30 June 2002 GK Luke Steele Peterborough UnitedLoan out
Date from Date to Position Name To 23 November 2001 22 December 2001 FW Danny Webber Port Vale23 November 2001 17 May 2002 GK Paul Rachubka Oldham Athletic7 December 2001 30 June 2002 MF Bojan Djordjic Sheffield Wednesday28 March 2002 27 April 2002 FW Danny Webber WatfordSee also
References
- ^ "Manchester United Season 2001/02". StretfordEnd.co.uk. http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season2002.html. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
- ^ Man Utd star line-up turns on the style Hereford Times, 9 August 2001. Retrieved on 21 July 2008.
- ^ Bulls let in six but fans happy HU-FC.co.uk, 4 August 2001. Retrieved on 21 July 2008.
- ^ Double trouble for Reds' rivals Manchester Evening News, 6 August 2001. Retrieved on 21 July 2008.
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