How did United win the Treble?

  1. Ten days in May

    You know how this ends — ten days in May, three trophies, the only English Treble. 59 matches to get there, 3 defeats in the competitions that mattered — then Spurs, Newcastle, and that night in the Nou Camp.

    1. 16 MayThe title2–1 v Tottenham HotspurFinal day at Old Trafford. One point clear. Came from behind anyway.
    2. 22 MayWembley2–0 v Newcastle UnitedFive days after the league — the Double was on the line.
    3. 26 MayBarcelona2–1 v FC Bayern MunichBasler had it won. Teddy in the 91st. Ole in the 93rd.
    The whole 1998-99 season — 63 matches, League Cup and Charity Shield included
    9 Aug 1998 n Arsenal: 0–312 Aug 1998 v ŁKS Łódź: 2–015 Aug 1998 v Leicester City: 2–222 Aug 1998 @ West Ham United: 0–026 Aug 1998 @ ŁKS Łódź: 0–09 Sep 1998 v Charlton Athletic: 4–112 Sep 1998 v Coventry City: 2–016 Sep 1998 v FC Barcelona: 3–320 Sep 1998 @ Arsenal: 0–324 Sep 1998 v Liverpool: 2–030 Sep 1998 @ FC Bayern Munich: 2–23 Oct 1998 @ Southampton: 3–017 Oct 1998 v Wimbledon: 5–121 Oct 1998 @ Brøndby IF: 6–224 Oct 1998 @ Derby County: 1–128 Oct 1998 v Bury: 2–031 Oct 1998 @ Everton: 4–14 Nov 1998 v Brøndby IF: 5–08 Nov 1998 v Newcastle United: 0–011 Nov 1998 v Nottingham Forest: 2–114 Nov 1998 v Blackburn Rovers: 3–221 Nov 1998 @ Sheffield Wednesday: 1–325 Nov 1998 @ FC Barcelona: 3–329 Nov 1998 v Leeds United: 3–22 Dec 1998 @ Tottenham Hotspur: 1–35 Dec 1998 @ Aston Villa: 1–19 Dec 1998 v FC Bayern Munich: 1–112 Dec 1998 @ Tottenham Hotspur: 2–216 Dec 1998 v Chelsea: 1–119 Dec 1998 v Middlesbrough: 2–326 Dec 1998 v Nottingham Forest: 3–029 Dec 1998 @ Chelsea: 0–03 Jan 1999 v Middlesbrough: 3–110 Jan 1999 v West Ham United: 4–116 Jan 1999 @ Leicester City: 6–224 Jan 1999 v Liverpool: 2–131 Jan 1999 @ Charlton Athletic: 1–03 Feb 1999 v Derby County: 1–06 Feb 1999 @ Nottingham Forest: 8–114 Feb 1999 v Fulham: 1–017 Feb 1999 v Arsenal: 1–120 Feb 1999 @ Coventry City: 1–027 Feb 1999 v Southampton: 2–13 Mar 1999 v Inter Milan: 2–07 Mar 1999 v Chelsea: 0–010 Mar 1999 @ Chelsea: 2–013 Mar 1999 @ Newcastle United: 2–117 Mar 1999 @ Inter Milan: 1–121 Mar 1999 v Everton: 3–13 Apr 1999 @ Wimbledon: 1–17 Apr 1999 v Juventus: 1–111 Apr 1999 n Arsenal: 0–014 Apr 1999 n Arsenal: 2–117 Apr 1999 v Sheffield Wednesday: 3–021 Apr 1999 @ Juventus: 3–225 Apr 1999 @ Leeds United: 1–11 May 1999 v Aston Villa: 2–15 May 1999 @ Liverpool: 2–29 May 1999 @ Middlesbrough: 1–012 May 1999 @ Blackburn Rovers: 0–016 May 1999 v Tottenham Hotspur: 2–122 May 1999 n Newcastle United: 2–026 May 1999 n FC Bayern Munich: 2–1
    Aug '98Oct '98Dec '98Feb '99Apr '99May '99

    Every result on the way — most of it building toward a May everyone still talks about. Wins above the line, losses below; the three trophies pin the nights you remember. Open the full 1998-99 campaign →

  2. Answer

    Every United fan knows the shape of it — Spurs on the final day, Newcastle at Wembley five days later, then Barcelona and those two goals after the 90th. Underneath: 59 matches across league, cup and Europe, just 3 defeats, and the only English Treble, all inside 10 days in May 1999.

  3. The evidence

    Ten days in May — the three everyone recites

    Old Trafford, Wembley, the Nou Camp — 2 wins after going behind, the last settled in stoppage time.

    16 May·Premier LeaguevTottenham Hotspur2–1
    43′Beckham
    48′Cole
    26′Ferdinand
    0′HTFT
    1. 26' Les Ferdinand
    2. 43' David Beckham
    3. 48' Andy Cole
    22 May·FA CupnNewcastle United2–0
    11′Sheringham
    52′Scholes
    0′HTFT
    1. 11' Teddy Sheringham
    2. 52' Paul Scholes
    26 May·UEFA Champions LeaguenFC Bayern Munich2–1
    90+1′Sheringham
    90+3′Solskjær
    6′Basler
    0′HTFT
    1. 6' Mario Basler
    2. 90+1' Teddy Sheringham
    3. 90+3' Ole Gunnar Solskjær

    Basler's free-kick had Bayern ahead. Teddy levelled in the 91st, Ole won it in the 93rd — still the latest any Champions League final has been turned around.

    Before May — the nights it nearly slipped

    Giggs against Arsenal. Keane booked in Turin. Extra time at Villa Park. The Treble was never a procession — these are the deciding legs only; scoreless first legs omitted.

    FA Cup14 Apr
    nArsenal2–1(a.e.t)
    17′Beckham
    109′Giggs
    69′Bergkamp
    0′HT90FT
    1. 17' David Beckham
    2. 69' Dennis Bergkamp
    3. 109' Ryan Giggs
    UEFA Champions League21 Apr
    @Juventus3–2
    24′Keane
    34′Yorke
    84′Cole
    6′Inzaghi
    11′Inzaghi
    0′HTFT
    1. 6' Filippo Inzaghi
    2. 11' Filippo Inzaghi
    3. 24' Roy Keane
    4. 34' Dwight Yorke
    5. 84' Andy Cole

    Trailed by 2 after eleven minutes — came back to win.

    Three runs, one season

    FA Cup
    8 played · 12–3 goals
    UEFA Champions League
    13 played · 31–16 goals
    Premier Leaguefinished 1st
    38 played · 80–37 goals

  4. Definition

    Show definition

    Every match of 1998-99 is in the timeline up top. The matches below show who scored and when in the decisive games and semi-finals — the deciding legs that forged the Treble, not the full two-legged ties (scoreless first legs omitted).

  5. Coverage

    Show coverage

    Full 1998-99 match and goal record across all three competitions.

  6. The matches

    Every match of 1998-9963 matches behind this answer

More answers

  1. Another question

    Was Fergie time unique to Fergie?

    That final in Barcelona was decided in stoppage time.

  2. Another question

    What happened after Ferguson left?

    The Treble was the high-water mark of the Ferguson years.

  3. A way to slice it

    Seasons, ranked by points per game

    1998-99 against every other season, by points per game.