Manchester United 1999–2000 football season
The 1999–2000 season was Manchester United's eighth season in the Premier League, and their 25th consecutive 2️⃣ season in the top division of English football.[1] United won the Premier League title for the sixth time in eight 2️⃣ seasons (with a record 18-point margin and 97 goals scored) as well as becoming the first English club to win 2️⃣ the Intercontinental Cup when they defeated Palmeiras in Tokyo. However, they surrendered their Champions League title with a 3–2 defeat 2️⃣ by eventual champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. The club controversially did not defend their FA Cup crown, upon request 2️⃣ by The Football Association, to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil instead.[2]
Mark Bosnich, previously at United 2️⃣ as a reserve goalkeeper from 1989 to 1991, returned to the club as Peter Schmeichel's successor, but failed to live 2️⃣ up to expectations and in September, the club swooped for Italian Massimo Taibi to provide competition for him. However, Taibi 2️⃣ suffered some high-profile mistakes and returned to his homeland at the end of the season after just four games for 2️⃣ the club. As the season wore on, long-time reserve goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw was increasingly called on as the 2️⃣ starting goalkeeper, and proved a fairly reliable performer, but at 37 years old as of the end of the season, 2️⃣ it was clear that he would not be a long-term solution. United then solved the goalkeeping crisis by paying AS 2️⃣ Monaco £7.8 million for Fabien Barthez. Also new to the squad for 1999–2000 were French defender Mikaël Silvestre and South 2️⃣ African winger Quinton Fortune. Jesper Blomqvist and Wes Brown missed the entire season due to injury, while similar misfortune restricted 2️⃣ defenders David May and Ronny Johnsen to three first-team appearances between them. Jordi Cruyff left the club on a free 2️⃣ transfer to Deportivo Alavés at the end of the season, seeing out his four-year contract at a club where he 2️⃣ had failed to claim a regular first-team place.
Pre-season and friendlies [ edit ]
FA Charity Shield [ edit ]