Manchester United won the 1996/97 Premier League. They finished on 75 points, 7 ahead of Newcastle United, and it was their fourth Premier League title.
Title answer and season outline
The season ran from 17 August 1996 to 11 May 1997. It featured 20 clubs, each playing 38 matches, for a total of 380 games and 970 goals, which works out at 2.55 per match.
Manchester United's league record was 21 wins, 12 draws and 5 defeats, with a goal difference of +32. The top four was completed by Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool, with the chasing group tightly packed behind the champions.
Premier League 1996/97 final table
The final standings give the clearest full picture of the season.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | +32 | 75 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 38 | +33 | 68 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 38 | +30 | 68 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | +25 | 68 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 38 | +13 | 61 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 38 | +3 | 59 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | -1 | 57 |
| 8 | Wimbledon | 38 | +3 | 56 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 38 | -8 | 47 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | -7 | 46 |
| 11 | Leeds United | 38 | -10 | 46 |
| 12 | Derby County | 38 | -13 | 46 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | -1 | 42 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 38 | -9 | 42 |
| 15 | Everton | 38 | -13 | 42 |
| 16 | Southampton | 38 | -6 | 41 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 38 | -16 | 41 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 38 | -18 | 40 |
| 19 | Middlesbrough | 38 | -9 | 39 |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 38 | -28 | 34 |
What the table shows
Manchester United finished clear at the top, while Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool all ended in the leading group. Newcastle's second-place finish came with the same points total as Arsenal and Liverpool, but United still ended the campaign 7 points in front.
At the bottom, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest were relegated. Leicester City, Derby County and Sunderland were the promoted clubs for 1996/97, and Sunderland went straight back down.
Middlesbrough's final total also needs one extra piece of context: they had 3 points deducted, which left them on 39.
Season awards and leading stats
The season's individual honours and statistical leaders are below.
| Award | Winner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) | 25 goals |
| Most clean sheets | Nigel Martyn | 19 clean sheets |
| Most assists | Eric Cantona | 12 assists |
| Player of the Season | Juninho (Middlesbrough) | - |
| Manager of the Season | Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) | - |
The naming of those categories matters. The Golden Glove was first awarded in 2004/05, so for 1996/97 the correct reference is the player with the most clean sheets. The Playmaker award did not exist until 2017/18, which is why the official record for this season lists the assists leader rather than a Playmaker winner.
FAQ
Which teams were relegated from the Premier League in 1996/97?
Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest went down. They were the bottom three in the final table at the end of the season.
Who was the top scorer in the Premier League in 1996/97?
Alan Shearer of Newcastle United finished as the top scorer. He won the Golden Boot with 25 goals.
How big was Manchester United's winning margin?
Manchester United finished 7 points ahead of Newcastle United. That gap settled the title even though the clubs behind them were close to one another.
Why is Middlesbrough's 1996/97 season notable?
Middlesbrough had 3 points deducted, and their final total was 39. They were also the club of Juninho, who won the Player of the Season award despite the team's relegation.