Season Dates: August 1998 – May 1999
Champions: Manchester United
Top Scorer (Golden Boot): Dwight Yorke (Manchester United) & Michael Owen (Liverpool) & Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United) – 18 goals each
Relegated Teams: Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest
European Qualification:
Champions League: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea
UEFA Cup (Europa League): Leeds United, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur (via League Cup win)
Season Overview:
The 1998/99 Premier League season was historic as Manchester United completed an unprecedented treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. They finished a single point ahead of Arsenal, securing the title on the final day of the season with a win over Tottenham.
Chelsea finished third, earning Champions League qualification, while Leeds United secured a top-four finish. West Ham United impressed by finishing fifth, securing a place in the UEFA Cup.
At the bottom, Charlton, Blackburn, and Nottingham Forest were relegated. Blackburn’s relegation was particularly shocking, just four years after winning the title in 1995.
Arsenal began their title defence with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest, while Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Leicester City.
Player of the Month: Michael Owen (Liverpool)
Arsenal picked up a big early season win when they put three goals past Manchester United without reply at Highbury.
Player of the Month: Alan Shearer (Newcastle United)
Manchester United aimed to show that they mean business after losing to Arsenal in September but failing to win only one of their games in October, with results including a 4-1 with over Everton.
Player of the Month: Roy Keane (Manchester United)
Manchester United and Arsenal maintained their strong runs, while Leeds climbed into the top four.
Player of the Month: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa)
Manchester United had a relatively poor month, with their only win coming against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 home victory on December 29. The rest of their results were four draws and a loss.
Player of the Month: David Ginola (Tottenham)
Things got a lot better for United in January though as they overtook Arsenal in the title race after three wins out of three, where they scored 11 goals.
Player of the Month: Dwight Yorke (Manchester United)
Chelsea continued their strong form with three wins out of four including a 2-1 home win against Liverpool, while Nottingham Forest’s relegation battle worsened. A 1-1 draw between Man United and Arsenal kept the title race open.
Player of the Month: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal)
Arsenal closed the gap on United by winning all three of their Premier League games in the month of March without conceding a single goal.
Player of the Month: Ray Parlour (Arsenal)
Manchester United’s late goals against Juventus in the Champions League inspired them in the league as well, where picking up only five points out of a possible nine had the potential to throw a spanner into the works.
Player of the Month: Kevin Campbell (Everton)
Manchester United secured the league title with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on the final day before completing the treble with victories in the FA Cup and Champions League.
The final Premier League table of the 1998-99 season was a testament to the fierce competition and high-quality football that fans were treated to throughout the year. Each team, regardless of their final standing, had their moments of glory and despair, contributing to a season that was as unpredictable as it was exciting.
Every match played during the 1998-99 Premier League season was a spectacle in its own right. From stunning comebacks to last-minute winners, the results of these games often hinged on moments of individual brilliance or collective resilience. The scores from this season are a reminder of the unpredictability of football and the sheer joy it brings to millions of fans around the world.
The 1998-99 season saw some of the finest strikers in the world lighting up the Premier League with their goal-scoring prowess. These players, with their uncanny ability to find the back of the net, kept fans on the edge of their seats and played a crucial role in shaping the final league table. Their exploits on the pitch have since become part of Premier League lore, inspiring future generations of footballers.
| Place | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | Leeds United | 18 |
| 2 | Michael Owen | Liverpool | 18 |
| 3 | Dwight Yorke | Man Utd | 18 |
| 4 | Nicolas Anelka | Arsenal | 17 |
| 5 | Andrew Cole | Man Utd | 17 |
| 6 | Hamilton Ricard | Middlesbrough | 15 |
| 7 | Dion Dublin | Aston Villa | 14 |
| 8 | Robbie Fowler | Liverpool | 14 |
| 9 | Julian Joachim | Aston Villa | 14 |
| 10 | Alan Shearer | Newcastle | 14 |
| 11 | Gianfranco Zola | Chelsea | 13 |
| 12 | Dennis Bergkamp | Arsenal | 12 |
| 13 | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | Man Utd | 12 |
| 14 | Gustavo Poyet | Chelsea | 11 |
| 15 | Tony Cottee | Leicester City | 10 |
| 16 | Jason Euell | Wimbledon | 10 |
| 17 | Tore Andre Flo | Chelsea | 10 |
| 18 | Marcus Gayle | Wimbledon | 10 |
| 19 | Noel Whelan | Coventry City | 10 |
| 20 | Lee Bowyer | Leeds United | 9 |
| 21 | Deon Burton | Derby County | 9 |
| 22 | Kevin Campbell | Everton | 9 |
| 23 | Dougie Freedman | Nottm Forest | 9 |
| 24 | Darren Huckerby | Coventry City | 9 |
| 25 | Paulo Wanchope | Derby County | 9 |
| 26 | Ian Wright | West Ham Utd | 9 |
Season Stats & Key Records
Best Match: Nottingham Forest 1-8 Liverpool (February 6, 1999) – A nine-goal thriller with three of the goals being scored within the first seven minutes. A ten-minute four-goal salvo from Ole Gunnar Solkjaer sealed what was a historic win for Sir Alex Ferguson and co.
Biggest Upset: Middlesbrough 3-2 Manchester United (December 19, 1998) – A shock result in the title race saw Middlesbrough go 3-0 up. Goals from Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt teased that United could get back into the game, but they ended up waking away with none of the points.
Most Dramatic Match: Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham (May 16, 1999) – The title-winning game saw United go 1-0 down before an equaliser from David Beckham and winner from Andy Cole won the Red Devils England’s top-flight on route to a historic treble.
Best Goal: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – March 7, 1999) – Izzet produced an extraordinary volley kick from outside the box, looping the ball over the goalkeeper into the top corner to win his side the game in the dying moments.
