Season Dates: August 1999 – May 2000
Champions: Manchester United
Top Scorer (Golden Boot): Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) – 30 goals
Relegated Teams: Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford
European Qualification:
Champions League: Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds United
UEFA Cup (Europa League): Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa
Season Overview:
Manchester United dominated the 1999/00 Premier League season, finishing a massive 18 points clear of second-placed Arsenal to win the first title of the 21st century. The Red Devils retained their title in emphatic fashion, becoming the first team in the Premier League era to win back-to-back titles with such dominance.
Leeds United secured third place and Champions League qualification, while Liverpool, Chelsea, and Aston Villa earned UEFA Cup spots. Newly promoted Sunderland impressed, with Kevin Phillips winning the Golden Boot with 30 goals, the highest tally in a 38-game Premier League season.
At the bottom, Watford endured a miserable campaign, finishing with just 24 points. Wimbledon’s 14-year stay in the top flight ended, while Sheffield Wednesday also suffered relegation.
Final Premier League 1999-2000 Table
The final Premier League table for the 1999-2000 season was a testament to the competitive spirit and high-quality football that fans had come to expect. The top teams battled it out fiercely, with each match proving crucial in the race for the title. The lower half of the table was equally intense, with teams fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation. The final standings were a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and talent of all the teams involved.
Month-by-Month Breakdown
August 1999 – The Season Begins
Manchester United picked up a 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in their first home game, while newly promoted Sunderland drew 0-0 with Arsenal.
Player of the Month: Robbie Keane (Coventry City)
September 1999 – Leeds Impress
Leeds United climbed to the top of the table, while Chelsea secured a 5-0 win over Manchester United in a statement victory.
Player of the Month: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester City)
October 1999 – United Take Control
Manchester United began to pick up form reclaiming top spot with dominant performances against Watford and Aston Villa.
Player of the Month: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland)
November 1999 – Arsenal Challenge
Arsenal and Leeds continued their chase, with the Gunners winning three of their four games in the month, while Liverpool’s inconsistent form kept them out of the top three.
Player of the Month: Sami Hyypia (Liverpool)
December 1999 – Festive Period Drama
Manchester United extended their lead at the top, while Sunderland continued their impressive season, with wins in the final month of the year against Chelsea and Southampton.
Player of the Month: Roy Keane (Manchester United)
January 2000 – Title Race Narrows
Arsenal cut the gap on United, while Aston Villa entered the top six, remaining unbeaten for the entire month.
Player of the Month: Gareth Southgate (Aston Villa)
February 2000 – Leeds Strengthen Third
Leeds United picked up crucial points against Tottenham and Middlesbrough to strengthen their hold on third place.
Player of the Month: Paul Merson (Aston Villa)
March 2000 – Relegation Battle Intensifies
Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday dropped further into trouble. It seemed like staying in the Premier League was now becoming seriously unlikely for both sides.
Player of the Month: Dwight Yorke (Manchester United)
April 2000 – Champions Again
Manchester United sealed the title with a 3-1 win over Southampton.
Player of the Month: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
May 2000 – Final Day Drama
Wimbledon were relegated after a 2-0 defeat to Southampton, ending their 14-year top-flight stay.
Season Stats & Key Records
Golden Boot & Top Goal Scorers
- Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) – 30 goals
- Alan Shearer (Newcastle United) – 23 goals
- Dwight Yorke (Manchester United) – 20 goals
Most Assists
- David Beckham (Manchester United) – 15 assists
- Nolberto Solano (Newcastle United) – 15 assists
- Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) – 13 assists
Golden Glove (Most Clean Sheets)
- Ed de Goey (Chelsea) – 16 clean sheets
- Sander Westerveld (Liverpool) – 14 clean sheets
- Nigel Martyn (Leeds United) – 13 clean sheets
Big Matches & Moments
Best Match: West Ham 5-4 Bradford City (February 12, 2000) – Some try and say that games don’t make football matches, but sometimes they really do. Nine goals were shared between the two sides in East London, with a young Frank Lampard saving the day for the Hammers with a late winner.
Biggest Upset: Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United (October 3, 1999) – A dominant display at Stamford Bridge in 1999 saw a Gus Poyet double shock the Red Devils.
Most Dramatic Match: Sunderland 4-1 Chelsea (December 4, 1999) – A thrilling game featuring a Kevin Phillips brace saw newly promoted Sunderland shock Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
Best Goal: David Beckham (Manchester United vs Everton – January 22, 2000) – A stunning long-range effort.
Managerial Changes
- Newcastle United – Ruud Gullit resigned (August 28, 1999) – replaced by Bobby Robson
- Southampton – Dave Jones contract terminated (January 27, 2000) – replaced by Glenn Hoddle
- Sheffield Wednesday – Danny Wilson sacked (March 2000) – replaced by Peter Shreeves (interim)
- Wimbledon – Egil Olsen sacked (May 1, 2000) – replaced by Terry Burton
Transfers & Squad Movement
- Emile Heskey – Leicester to Liverpool – £13.6m
- Chris Sutton – Blackburn Rovers to Chelsea – £12.4m
- Dietmar Hamann – Newcastle United to Liverpool – £9.9m
Awards & Honors
- Premier League Manager of the Season: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
- Premier League Player of the Season: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland)
- Premier League Young Player of the Season: Harry Kewell (Leeds United)
European Performance
- Manchester United – UCL Quarter-Finals by Real Madrid
- Arsenal – UCL Second Group Stage
- Chelsea – UCL Quarter-Finals by Barcelona
- Leeds United – UC Semi-Finals by Galatasaray
- Newcastle United – UC Third Round by Roma
- West Ham United – UC Second Round by Steaua Bucharest
- Aston Villa – UC First Round by Celta Vigo
