The 1956–1957 season was Manchester United's 55th season in the Football League, and their 12th consecutive season in the top division of English football.

[1] United retained their league title this season, which was also notable for being the breakthrough season of forward Bobby Charlton, who made his debut on 6 October 1956 in the league match against Charlton Athletic a few days before his 19th birthday and scored twice, making 17 appearances and scoring 12 goals that season and collecting a league title medal, his appearances mostly coming at the expense of Dennis Viollet.

[2] As Old Trafford didn't have floodlights installed at the time, United's first three European home games were played at Maine Road instead.

[3] United reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, where they were beaten by eventual winners Real Madrid.

They also reached the FA Cup final, where they lost 2–1 to Aston Villa in a game where they were handicapped by an injury to goalkeeper Ray Wood, meaning Jackie Blanchflower had to stand in for him in goal.