1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
107th season in existence of Manchester United / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1988–89 season was Manchester United's 87th season in the Football League, and their 14th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1] Despite finishing second in the 1987–88 season, Manchester United did not play in the UEFA Cup in 1988–89 due to the ban on English clubs in Europe since the Heysel stadium disaster.
1988–89 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Martin Edwards | |||
Manager | Alex Ferguson | |||
First Division | 11th | |||
FA Cup | Sixth Round | |||
League Cup | Third Round | |||
Centenary Trophy | Runners-up | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Mark Hughes (14) All: Mark Hughes, Brian McClair (16) | |||
Highest home attendance | 55,040 vs Nottingham Forest (18 March 1989) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 23,368 vs Wimbledon (2 May 1989) | |||
Average home league attendance | 36,487 | |||
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Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes returned to the club following spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, finishing the season as PFA Player of the Year and also as United's joint top scorer alongside Brian McClair with 16 goals in all competitions.
United had tried to sign midfielder Paul Gascoigne from Newcastle United in the close season, but lost out to Tottenham Hotspur.
17-year-old winger Lee Sharpe was signed from Torquay United and became a semi-regular player, appearing either as a left-back or a left-winger. Full-back Lee Martin, who had made his debut at the end of the previous season, became a regular choice on either side of defence during the season. Striker Mark Robins made his debut early in the season and turned out 10 times for the first team, starting just once. Young midfielder Russell Beardsmore scored and set up two goals in United's 3–1 win over Liverpool on New Year's Day, in one of his first appearances for the senior side. Midfielders Deiniol Graham and Tony Gill also broke into the first team during the season, but made only occasional appearances, and Gill suffered a broken ankle which would eventually force him into retirement. 19-year-old winger Giuliano Maiorana was signed from non-league Histon and played six times for the first team, including a highly promising performance in a 1–1 home draw with Arsenal in the league.
Also new to the squad was goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who conceded just 35 goals in 38 league games and kept 15 clean sheets. Mid-season signings were defender Mal Donaghy from Luton Town and winger Ralph Milne from Bristol City. It was the final season at the club for Gordon Strachan, who left in March, and was followed at the end of the season by the departures of Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath, while Remi Moses retired due to injury.
United had a slow start in the league, including a nine-match winless run incorporating eight draws and a defeat, from September to November, followed by a mid-season run of strong form which lifted them from mid table to the top three, before a run of disappointing results to the season dragged them down to 11th place in the final table. They suffered an early exit from the League Cup and lost their final chance of silverware in March when they were beaten by Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
By the end of the season, it was clear the United squad needed further strengthening to push for honours in 1989–90. For several months, United had been strongly linked to the signature of English international midfielder Neil Webb, who had expressed his desire to leave Nottingham Forest after four successful seasons. A deal was soon agreed to sign the player, along with a deal to sign Norwich City midfielder Mike Phelan.