1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season

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. 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.

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.

Pre-season
Manchester United talisman Mark Hughes returned to Old Trafford in 1988 after spells in Europe with Barcelona and Bayern Munich for a club record fee of £1.8 million. But Ferguson's other high-profile target, Paul Gascoigne, turned down an opportunity to move to Manchester United despite a verbal agreement between Ferguson and the player and a Maltese holiday paid for by the United manager. Ferguson signed Jim Leighton from former club Aberdeen for £750,000 in order to fill the goalkeeping void left by the retiring Gary Bailey, the underperforming Chris Turner and the injury-prone Gary Walsh.

Season performance
Manchester United's inconsistency was highlighted early on, recording three consecutive wins; following the 2–0 victory over West Ham United towards the end of September, before failing to record another one until early December, ten games later. Manchester United also recorded six wins from seven games between Boxing Day 1988 and 11 February 1989 before their league season faltered, recording just three more victories in the season.

With the club failing to achieve in the league, many fans began to realise that the cups would be the only realistic opportunity for silverware. They needed three games to defeat Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round, before hitting four past Oxford United in the fourth. United's three biggest attendances for the season came in the FA Cup, highlighting its importance to the fans, though the campaign eventually ended in defeat at the hands of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side in the quarter finals.

Manchester United were also unsuccessful in the season's League Cup; after confidently defeating Rotherham United over two legs, they lost 2–1 to Wimbledon at Plough Lane and were knocked out of the competition.

Events of the season
Before the season began, Paul Gascoigne snubbed Manchester United in favour of a national record move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur for £2 million, and there was also talk of a similar fee being paid for PSV Eindhoven sweeper Ronald Koeman, who helped the Netherlands win UEFA Euro 1988.

Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath had been transfer listed at the end of the previous season but the lack of interest in them disappointed Alex Ferguson, who had re-signed striker Mark Hughes from FC Barcelona and brought in goalkeeper Jim Leighton from Aberdeen as successor to Sheffield Wednesday bound Chris Turner. Gordon Strachan agreed terms with Lens of France for a £100,000 transfer, but the deal fell through. Paul McGrath then came off the transfer list at his own request. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search

On 24 September 1988, Ferguson gave debuts to 17-year-old winger Lee Sharpe and 19-year-old striker Mark Robins in the 2–0 home win over West Ham United in the First Division. This saw United occupy fifth place in the league, level on points with Southampton, a single point behind defending champions Liverpool and newly promoted Millwall, and three points behind surprise leaders Norwich City. Page not found However, a 10-match winless league run (8 draws and 2 defeats) followed Page not found, dragging them to 11th place in the table by 27 November. Page not found The winless streak ended on 3 December with an impressive 3–0 home win over Charlton Athletic. Page not found

While United were on their winless streak, they sold out of favour striker Peter Davenport to Middlesbrough for £700,000. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search They also failed in their Football League Cup quest when they lost 2–1 to Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Brian McClair scored their only goal of the game, while both of Wimbledon's goals were scored by former United striker Terry Gibson. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search

Alex Ferguson continued to build for the future in November by making a £20,000 move for 21-year-old midfielder Paul Dalton from non-league Brandon United. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search He also signed 22-year-old winger Giuliano Maiorana from non-league Histon for £30,000. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search

Five days before Christmas, Jean Busby, wife of legendary former manager and current club president Sir Matt, died after a long illness at the age of 80. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search

A thrilling clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on New Year's Day was dominated by 19-year-old midfielder Russell Beardsmore, who scored his first goal for the club and lifted them to sixth in the league, while Liverpool were fifth, and Arsenal and Norwich City were level at the top of the league. Page not found

Soon after this successful result, Manchester United were reported to be among the clubs interested in signing Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Neil Webb, who was told by manager Brian Clough that he could leave the City Ground for around £1.5 million after stating that he did not want to sign a new contract. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search

By 11 February, United were third in the league thanks to a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday that completed a four-match winning run in the First Division, though they were still 11 points behind leaders Arsenal (who had a game in hand) and 8 points behind second placed Norwich City. Page not found

Manchester United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals (for the first time since they won the competition four years ago) with a 1–0 home win over AFC Bournemouth in the fifth round replay. Page not found, but their last chance of silverware ended when they lost 1–0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final.

Their form in the final weeks of the league campaign was dismal, as they finished 11th at the end of a season which had begun with such high hopes. Alex Ferguson remained determined to turn his side into title contenders, and just after the season ended he joined the race to sign England winger Trevor Steven, who had been put on the transfer list by Everton. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search, but was beaten to his signature by Rangers.

A £600,000 offer for Fiorentina and Sweden defender Glenn Hysén was accepted, but he opted to join Liverpool instead.

Several other high-profile names were also mentioned in the media as Ferguson attempted to strengthen his squad. These included West Ham United midfielder Paul Ince, Southampton winger Danny Wallace, Nottingham Forest midfielder Neil Webb and Norwich City midfielder Mike Phelan. The Times and The Sunday Times Archive - Sample Search