The 2006–07 season was Manchester United‘s 15th season in thePremier League, and their 32nd consecutive season in the top division of English football.
United enjoyed a much more successful season than the previous three seasons, winning the Premier League by a six-point margin over Chelsea. They also reached the final of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, losing to Chelsea and Milan respectively. However, for all their success in the major competitions, the club was unable to defend the League Cup title they had won in 2005–06, losing to Southend United in the Fourth Round.
Manchester United were not only dominant on a team level in 2006–07, but also on an individual level, with eight United players earning spots in the PFA Team of the Year, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo picking up no less than eight individual awards for his performances over the season and Sir Alex Ferguson winning the Premier League’s Manager of the Season award.
The 2006–07 season also marked the 50th anniversary of the Busby Babes‘ first foray into European competition. The event was marked by a charity football match, organised in collaboration with UEFA, who were commemorating 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome, against a team of the best players from Europe’s top clubs.
Pre-season and friendlies
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result
F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 July 2006 | Orlando Pirates | N | 4–0 | Solskjær (2) 4′, 43′, Richardson 57′, Seema 60′ (o.g.) | |
| 18 July 2006 | Kaizer Chiefs | N | 1–0 | Dong 83′ | |
| 22 July 2006 | Kaizer Chiefs | A | 0–0
(3–4p) |
||
| 26 July 2006 | Celtic | A | 3–0 | Evans 8′, Scholes (2) 61′, 85′ | |
| 29 July 2006 | Preston North End | A | 1–2 | Solskjær 85′ (pen.) | 12,541 |
| 31 July 2006 | Macclesfield Town | A | 2–1 | Rooney 46′, Campbell 71′ | |
| 4 August 2006 | FC Porto | N | 3–1 | Scholes 11′, Rooney 19′, Solskjær 73′ | 25,000 |
| 5 August 2006 | Ajax | A | 1–0 | Giggs 76′ | |
| 8 August 2006 | Oxford United | A | 4–1 | Solskjær 6′, Ronaldo (2) 13′, 58′, Fletcher 15′ | |
| 12 August 2006 | Sevilla | H | 3–0 | Saha 63′, Ronaldo 88′, D. Jones 90′ | 40,134 |
| 13 March 2007 | Europe XI | H | 4–3 | Rooney (2) 6′, 43′, Brown 9′, Ronaldo 35′ | 74,343 |
Premier League
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result
F–A |
Scorers | Attendance | League
position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 August 2006 | Fulham | H | 5–1 | Saha 8′, Pearce 14′ (o.g.), Rooney (2) 16′, 64′,Ronaldo 19′ | 75,115 | 1st |
| 23 August 2006 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3–0 | Fletcher 49′, Saha 80′, Solskjær 90′ | 25,422 | 1st |
| 26 August 2006 | Watford | A | 2–1 | Silvestre 12′, Giggs 52′ | 19,453 | 1st |
| 9 September 2006 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | Giggs 9′ | 75,453 | 1st |
| 17 September 2006 | Arsenal | H | 0–1 | 75,595 | 2nd | |
| 23 September 2006 | Reading | A | 1–1 | Ronaldo 73′ | 24,098 | 2nd |
| 1 October 2006 | Newcastle United | H | 2–0 | Solskjær (2) 41′, 49′ | 75,664 | 1st |
| 14 October 2006 | Wigan Athletic | A | 3–1 | Vidić 62′, Saha 66′, Solskjær 90′ | 20,631 | 1st |
| 22 October 2006 | Liverpool | H | 2–0 | Scholes 39′, Ferdinand 66′ | 75,828 | 1st |
| 28 October 2006 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 4–0 | Rooney (3) 10′, 16′, 89′, Ronaldo 82′ | 27,229 | 1st |
| 4 November 2006 | Portsmouth | H | 3–0 | Saha 3′ (pen.), Ronaldo 10′, Vidić 66′ | 76,004 | 1st |
| 11 November 2006 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–0 | Saha 64′ | 26,162 | 1st |
| 18 November 2006 | Sheffield United | A | 2–1 | Rooney (2) 30′, 75′ | 32,584 | 1st |
| 26 November 2006 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | Saha 29′ | 75,948 | 1st |
| 29 November 2006 | Everton | H | 3–0 | Ronaldo 39′, Evra 63′, O’Shea 88′ | 75,723 | 1st |
| 2 December 2006 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–1 | Saha 19′ (pen.), Fletcher 68′ | 31,238 | 1st |
| 9 December 2006 | Manchester City | H | 3–1 | Rooney 6′, Saha 45′, Ronaldo 84′ | 75,858 | 1st |
| 17 December 2006 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 34,966 | 1st | |
| 23 December 2006 | Aston Villa | A | 3–0 | Ronaldo (2) 58′, 85′, Scholes 64′ | 42,551 | 1st |
| 26 December 2006 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–1 | Ronaldo (2) 47′, 51′, Solskjær 59′ | 76,018 | 1st |
| 30 December 2006 | Reading | H | 3–2 | Solskjær 33′, Ronaldo (2) 59′, 77′ | 75,910 | 1st |
| 1 January 2007 | Newcastle United | A | 2–2 | Scholes (2) 40′, 46′ | 52,302 | 1st |
| 13 January 2007 | Aston Villa | H | 3–1 | Park 11′, Carrick 13′, Ronaldo 35′ | 76,078 | 1st |
| 21 January 2007 | Arsenal | A | 1–2 | Rooney 53′ | 60,128 | 1st |
| 31 January 2007 | Watford | H | 4–0 | Ronaldo 20′ (pen.), Doyley 60′ (o.g.), Larsson 70′,Rooney 71′ | 76,032 | 1st |
| 4 February 2007 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 4–0 | Ronaldo 45′ (pen.), Vidić 48′, Scholes 52′, Giggs77′ | 36,146 | 1st |
| 10 February 2007 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–0 | Park 24′, Fletcher 82′ | 75,883 | 1st |
| 24 February 2007 | Fulham | A | 2–1 | Giggs 29′, Ronaldo 88′ | 24,459 | 1st |
| 3 March 2007 | Liverpool | A | 1–0 | O’Shea 90+1′ | 44,403 | 1st |
| 17 March 2007 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 4–1 | Park (2) 14′, 25′, Rooney (2) 17′, 74′ | 76,058 | 1st |
| 31 March 2007 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 4–1 | Scholes 61′, Carrick 72′, Park 83′, Solskjær 90′ | 76,098 | 1st |
| 7 April 2007 | Portsmouth | A | 1–2 | O’Shea 90′ | 20,223 | 1st |
| 17 April 2007 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | Carrick 4′, Rooney 50′ | 75,540 | 1st |
| 21 April 2007 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–1 | Richardson 3′ | 75,967 | 1st |
| 28 April 2007 | Everton | A | 4–2 | O’Shea 61′, P. Neville 68′ (o.g.), Rooney 79′,Eagles 90′ | 38,610 | 1st |
| 5 May 2007 | Manchester City | A | 1–0 | Ronaldo 34′ (pen.) | 47,244 | 1st |
| 9 May 2007 | Chelsea | A | 0–0 | 41,794 | 1st | |
| 13 May 2007 | West Ham United | H | 0–1 | 75,927 | 1st |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 83 | 27 | +56 | 89 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 64 | 24 | +40 | 83 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 68 |
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
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result
F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 2007 | Round 3 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | Larsson 55′, Solskjær 90+1′ | 74,924 |
| 27 January 2007 | Round 4 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | Rooney (2) 77′, 83′ | 71,137 |
| 17 February 2007 | Round 5 | Reading | H | 1–1 | Carrick 45′ | 70,608 |
| 27 February 2007 | Round 5 Replay | Reading | A | 3–2 | Heinze 2′, Saha 4′, Solskjær 6′ | 23,821 |
| 10 March 2007 | Round 6 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–2 | Rooney 23′, Ronaldo 68′ (pen.) | 33,308 |
| 19 March 2007 | Round 6 Replay | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | Ronaldo 76′ (pen.) | 61,325 |
| 14 April 2007 | Semi-final | Watford | N | 4–1 | Rooney (2) 7′, 66′, Ronaldo 28′,Richardson 82′ | 37,425 |
| 19 May 2007 | Final | Chelsea | N | 0–1(a.e.t.) | 89,826 |
League Cup
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result
F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 October 2006 | Round 3 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Solskjær 26′, Lee 119′ | 10,046 |
| 7 November 2006 | Round 4 | Southend United | A | 0–1 | 11,532 |
UEFA Champions League
Group stage
| Date | Opponents | H / A | ResultF–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group
position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September 2006 | Celtic | H | 3–2 | Saha 30′ (pen.), 40′, Solskjær 47′ | 74,031 | 1st |
| 26 September 2006 | Benfica | A | 1–0 | Saha 60′ | 61,000 | 1st |
| 17 October 2006 | Copenhagen | H | 3–0 | Scholes 39′, O’Shea 46′, Richardson 83′ | 72,020 | 1st |
| 1 November 2006 | Copenhagen | A | 0–1 | 40,000 | 1st | |
| 21 November 2006 | Celtic | A | 0–1 | 60,632 | 2nd | |
| 6 December 2006 | Benfica | H | 3–1 | Vidić 45+1′, Giggs 61′, Saha 75′ | 74,955 | 1st |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 12 |
| Celtic | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 9 |
| Benfica | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 7 |
| Copenhagen | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 7 |
Knockout phase
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result
F–A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 2007 | First knockout round
First leg |
Lille | A | 1–0 | Giggs 83′ | 41,000 |
| 7 March 2007 | First knockout round
Second leg |
Lille | H | 1–0 | Larsson 72′ | 75,182 |
| 4 April 2007 | Quarter-final
First leg |
Roma | A | 1–2 | Rooney 60′ | 77,000 |
| 10 April 2007 | Quarter-final
Second leg |
Roma | H | 7–1 | Carrick (2) 11′, 60′, Smith 17′, Rooney 19′ | 74,476 |
| 24 April 2007 | Semi-final
First leg |
Milan | H | 3–2 | Ronaldo 5′, Rooney (2) 59′, 90+1′ | 73,820 |
| 2 May 2007 | Semi-final
Second leg |
Milan | A | 0–3 | 78,500 |
Squad statistics
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1 | GK | Edwin van der Sar | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Gary Neville (c) | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Patrice Evra | 22(2) | 1 | 3(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 4(3) | 1 | 29(7) | 2 |
| 4 | DF | Gabriel Heinze | 17(5) | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7(1) | 0 | 32(6) | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Rio Ferdinand | 33 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(1) | 0 | 47(1) | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Wes Brown | 17(5) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 32(5) | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Cristiano Ronaldo | 31(3) | 17 | 6(1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 49(4) | 23 |
| 8 | FW | Wayne Rooney | 33(2) | 14 | 5(2) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 51(4) | 23 |
| 9 | FW | Louis Saha | 18(6) | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5(3) | 4 | 25(9) | 13 |
| 11 | MF | Ryan Giggs (vc) | 25(5) | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 39(5) | 6 |
| 13 | MF | Park Ji-Sung | 8(6) | 5 | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 12(8) | 5 |
| 14 | FW | Alan Smith | 6(3) | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1(3) | 1 | 11(7) | 1 |
| 15 | DF | Nemanja Vidić | 25 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 38 | 4 |
| 16 | MF | Michael Carrick | 29(4) | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 48(4) | 6 |
| 17 | FW | Henrik Larsson | 5(2) | 1 | 3(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10(3) | 3 |
| 18 | MF | Paul Scholes | 29(1) | 6 | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10(1) | 1 | 42(3) | 7 |
| 20 | FW | Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 9(10) | 7 | 3(3) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2(4) | 1 | 15(17) | 11 |
| 21 | FW | Dong Fangzhuo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | John O’Shea | 16(16) | 4 | 2(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8(3) | 1 | 27(22) | 5 |
| 23 | MF | Kieran Richardson | 8(7) | 1 | 2(1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0(4) | 1 | 12(12) | 3 |
| 24 | MF | Darren Fletcher | 16(8) | 3 | 3(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6(3) | 0 | 26(14) | 3 |
| 25 | MF | David Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | Mikaël Silvestre | 6(8) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13(8) | 1 |
| 29 | GK | Tomasz Kuszczak | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | Chris Eagles | 1(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 |
| 34 | DF | Ryan Shawcross | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| 35 | DF | Kieran Lee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 1 |
| 36 | DF | David Gray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 41 | FW | Phil Marsh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 42 | MF | Michael Barnes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 |
| 49 | MF | Ritchie Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |