Manchester United won the 1998/99 Premier League. They finished on 79 points, 1 point ahead of Arsenal, and claimed their fifth Premier League title.
Title outcome and season context
The season ran from 15 August 1998 to 16 May 1999. It featured 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 matches, for a total of 380 matches and 959 goals, an average of 2.52 per match.
The title was decided by a single point. Manchester United finished first, Arsenal were second, and the top four was completed by Chelsea and Leeds United.
Final table: Premier League 1998/99
The clearest way to see the season is the full final table.
| Pos | Club | Played | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | +43 | 79 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 38 | +42 | 78 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 38 | +27 | 75 |
| 4 | Leeds United | 38 | +28 | 67 |
| 5 | West Ham United | 38 | -7 | 57 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 38 | +5 | 55 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 38 | +19 | 54 |
| 8 | Derby County | 38 | -5 | 52 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 38 | -6 | 51 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 38 | -6 | 49 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | -3 | 47 |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | -1 | 46 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 38 | -6 | 46 |
| 14 | Everton | 38 | -5 | 43 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 38 | -12 | 42 |
| 16 | Wimbledon | 38 | -23 | 42 |
| 17 | Southampton | 38 | -27 | 41 |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic | 38 | -15 | 36 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | -14 | 35 |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 38 | -34 | 30 |
The table shows a very narrow finish at the top and a clear bottom three. Of the promoted clubs, Middlesbrough stayed up, while Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest went straight back down.
Why Manchester United finished first
Their league record was 22 wins, 13 draws and 3 defeats, paired with a goal difference of +43.
Arsenal finished one point behind, and Chelsea and Leeds United made up the rest of the top four.
Season awards and statistical leaders
The individual honours and statistical leaders of the season are below.
| Award | Winner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Michael Owen (Liverpool), Dwight Yorke (Manchester United), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United) | 18 goals |
| Most clean sheets | David Seaman | 19 clean sheets |
| Most assists | Dennis Bergkamp, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 13 assists |
| Player of the Season | Dwight Yorke (Manchester United) | - |
| Manager of the Season | Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) | - |
Two pieces of context help with these honours. The clean-sheet leader is listed for the season, but the Golden Glove award was not introduced until 2004/05. The assists leader is also listed, while the Playmaker award did not exist until 2017/18.
FAQ
Which teams were relegated from the Premier League in 1998/99?
Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest went down. They finished in the bottom three places of the final table.
Who were the top scorers in the Premier League in 1998/99?
The Golden Boot was shared by Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Each player scored 18 league goals.
Who won the Premier League in 1999?
If the reference is to the season that ended in 1999, the champion was Manchester United. The 1998/99 Premier League concluded on 16 May 1999.
Which clubs came up for the 1998/99 season?
Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest were the promoted clubs. Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest went straight back down at the end of the season.