Manchester United won the 1992/93 Premier League. They finished on 84 points, 10 clear of Aston Villa, and became the first champions in Premier League history.
Title winners and season context
The 1992/93 campaign was the first Premier League season. It ran from 15 August 1992 to 11 May 1993, with 22 clubs each playing 42 matches.
Across the league, there were 462 matches and 1,222 goals, which works out at 2.65 per match. Manchester United's own league record was 24 wins, 12 draws and 6 defeats, and they finished with a goal difference of +36.
Premier League 1992/93 final table
The full official final table is below.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 42 | +36 | 84 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 42 | +17 | 74 |
| 3 | Norwich City | 42 | -4 | 72 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | +22 | 71 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | +8 | 63 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 42 | +7 | 59 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | +4 | 59 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | -6 | 59 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 42 | +5 | 57 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 42 | +2 | 56 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 42 | -3 | 56 |
| 12 | Wimbledon | 42 | +1 | 54 |
| 13 | Everton | 42 | -2 | 53 |
| 14 | Sheffield United | 42 | +1 | 52 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 42 | -5 | 52 |
| 16 | Ipswich Town | 42 | -5 | 52 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 42 | -5 | 51 |
| 18 | Southampton | 42 | -7 | 50 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | -11 | 49 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 42 | -13 | 49 |
| 21 | Middlesbrough | 42 | -21 | 44 |
| 22 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | -21 | 40 |
The top four were Manchester United, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers. At the other end, Crystal Palace went down on goal difference: they and Oldham Athletic both finished on 49 points.
Relegation and season leaders
The relegated clubs and the individual leaders of the season are listed below.
| Category | Winner or club | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Relegated club | Crystal Palace | 49 points |
| Relegated club | Middlesbrough | 44 points |
| Relegated club | Nottingham Forest | 40 points |
| Golden Boot | Teddy Sheringham (Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur) | 22 goals |
| Most clean sheets | Bobby Mimms | 19 clean sheets |
| Most assists | Eric Cantona | 16 assists |
The award picture in 1992/93 was different from the one associated with later Premier League seasons. The Player of the Season award did not start until 1994/95, and the Manager of the Season award did not begin until 1993/94. The Golden Glove and the Playmaker award came later too, so for 1992/93 the official figures give the leaders in clean sheets and assists instead.
Why the 1992/93 title stands out
This championship keeps its place in league history for a simple reason: it was the first one. Manchester United were not only champions of that season, they were the first club to win the Premier League.
The margin at the top also gives the finish a clear shape. United ended well ahead of Aston Villa, so the title was settled by points rather than a tiebreak.
FAQ
Who was relegated from the Premier League in 1992/93?
Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest went down. They finished in the bottom three places of the final table.
Who was the top scorer in the Premier League in 1992/93?
Teddy Sheringham won the Golden Boot with 22 goals. The official record lists him with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur for that season.
Was 1992/93 the first ever Premier League season?
Yes. Official Premier League records identify 1992/93 as the first season of the competition, which is why Manchester United are recorded as the first Premier League champions.
Were there Player of the Season and Manager of the Season awards that year?
No. The Player of the Season award began in 1994/95, while the Manager of the Season award started in 1993/94. That leaves 1992/93 outside both award histories.