New signing Ole Gunnar Solskjær was one of the biggest breakthrough stars in the 1996–97 Premier League season, with 19 goals in all competitions, making him the club's top goalscorer.

Twenty-two-year-old midfielder David Beckham clinched the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the same season he won his first England cap.

Solskjær's fellow Norwegian, Ronny Johnsen, proved himself as a fine successor to Steve Bruce in central defence, but £3.5 million Czech winger Karel Poborský failed to win a regular first team place and was one of the Premier League's biggest disappointments that season.

The season ended with a major shock as Eric Cantona announced his retirement from playing, prompting manager Alex Ferguson to search for a new striker.

United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 to reach the Fourth Round,[2] where they faced Wimbledon, who they had beaten easily 3–0 on the first day of the season; the game ended 1–1.

This proved to be a bad move, as the Red Devils just managed to squeeze past Swindon Town to get into the Fourth Round,[5] but they were then defeated by Leicester City 2–0.