1998–99 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was Sheffield Wednesday F.C.'s 132nd season in existence. They competed in the twenty-team FA Premier League, the top tier of English football, finishing twelfth. It was the club's 100th season at their Hillsborough ground.

Sheffield Wednesday F.C.

1998–99 season
Chairman	Dave Richards
Manager	Danny Wilson
FA Premier League	12th
FA Cup	Fifth round
League Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Benito Carbone (8) All: Benito Carbone (9)
Highest home attendance	39,475 (vs. Manchester United, FA Premier League)
Lowest home attendance	8,921 (vs. Cambridge United, League Cup)
Average home league attendance	26,745 (league)
← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

Season summary

Danny Wilson's return to Hillsborough as manager^[1] saw them begin the season among the favourites for relegation of many pundits. But they performed reasonably well throughout the season, being one of just three sides to beat treble winners Manchester United in addition to being one of just four sides to beat second-placed Arsenal, who would finish just one point behind Manchester United. Up to 27 February 1999 – their 3–1 home win over Middlesbrough – they were boasting somewhat inconsistent yet very stable, promising mid-table form: 10th in the table, winning ten, drawing five and losing 11 of their first 26 games with an impressive goal difference of +9 and were looking like good bets for a UEFA Cup slot. However, they couldn't quite keep up the momentum and would lose their next five games which ultimately ended such hopes. However, winning three of their final seven matches ensured that they would finish 12th at the end of a campaign during which they had never faced any serious threat of relegation; a significant improvement to the previous season. The only major concern at the club was a growing mountain of debts which would have been even more of a worry had the Owls suffered relegation. An expensively assembled squad including Paolo Di Canio, Benito Carbone and Wim Jonk failed to live up to the massive wage bill the club was paying and things eventually came to a head when Italian firebrand Di Canio was sent off in a match against Arsenal and infamously proceeded to push the referee Paul Alcock on his way off, which resulted in an extended ban of 11 matches^[2] and him being fined £10,000.^[3]

Final league table

Main article: 1998–99 FA Premier League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
10	Leicester City	38	12	13	13	40	46	−6	49
11	Tottenham Hotspur	38	11	14	13	47	50	−3	47	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
12	Sheffield Wednesday	38	13	7	18	41	42	−1	46
13	Newcastle United	38	11	13	14	48	54	−6	46	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
14	Everton	38	11	10	17	42	47	−5	43

Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners.
2. As Manchester United qualified for the Champions League, their UEFA Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
38	13	7	18	41	42	−1	46	7	5	7	20	15	+5	6	2	11	21	27	−6

Source: 1998–99 FA Premier League table

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A
Result	L	W	L	L	W	L	W	L	L	D	D	L	D	W	D	W	W	L	L	L	D	W	L	W	W	W	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	D	D	L	W	W
Position	19	7	12	17	9	13	10	15	16	16	16	16	15	15	16	14	13	14	15	15	15	13	14	14	12	10	11	11	12	13	14	13	14	14	14	14	13	12

Source: 11v11.com: 1998-99 Sheffield Wednesday results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Sheffield Wednesday's score comes first^[4]

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

FA Premier League

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
15 August 1998	West Ham United	H	0–1	30,236
22 August 1998	Tottenham Hotspur	A	3–0	32,129	Atherton, Di Canio, Hinchcliffe
29 August 1998	Aston Villa	H	0–1	25,989
9 September 1998	Derby County	A	0–1	26,209
12 September 1998	Blackburn Rovers	H	3–0	20,846	Atherton, Hinchcliffe, Di Canio
19 September 1998	Wimbledon	A	1–2	13,163	Di Canio
26 September 1998	Arsenal	H	1–0	27,949	Briscoe
3 October 1998	Middlesbrough	A	0–4	34,163
18 October 1998	Coventry City	A	0–1	16,006
24 October 1998	Everton	H	0–0	26,592
31 October 1998	Southampton	H	0–0	30,078
8 November 1998	Leeds United	A	1–2	30,012	Booth
14 November 1998	Newcastle United	A	1–1	36,698	Rudi
21 November 1998	Manchester United	H	3–1	39,475	Alexandersson (2), Jonk
28 November 1998	Chelsea	A	1–1	34,451	Booth
7 December 1998	Nottingham Forest	H	3–2	19,321	Alexandersson, Carbone (2)
12 December 1998	Charlton Athletic	H	3–0	26,010	Booth, Carbone, Rudi
19 December 1998	Liverpool	A	0–2	40,003
26 December 1998	Leicester City	H	0–1	33,513
28 December 1998	Aston Villa	A	1–2	39,217	Carbone
9 January 1999	Tottenham Hotspur	H	0–0	28,204
16 January 1999	West Ham United	A	4–0	25,642	Hinchcliffe, Rudi, Humphreys, Carbone (pen)
30 January 1999	Derby County	H	0–1	24,440
6 February 1999	Leicester City	A	2–0	20,113	Jonk, Carbone
20 February 1999	Blackburn Rovers	A	4–1	24,643	Sonner, Rudi (2), Booth
27 February 1999	Middlesbrough	H	3–1	24,534	Booth (2), Sonner
3 March 1999	Wimbledon	H	1–2	24,116	Thome
9 March 1999	Arsenal	A	0–3	37,792
13 March 1999	Leeds United	H	0–2	28,142
20 March 1999	Southampton	A	0–1	15,201
3 April 1999	Coventry City	H	1–2	28,136	Rudi
5 April 1999	Everton	A	2–1	35,270	Carbone (2)
17 April 1999	Manchester United	A	0–3	55,270
21 April 1999	Newcastle United	H	1–1	21,545	Scott
25 April 1999	Chelsea	H	0–0	21,652
1 May 1999	Nottingham Forest	A	0–2	20,480
8 May 1999	Liverpool	H	1–0	27,383	Cresswell
16 May 1999	Charlton Athletic	A	1–0	20,043	Sonner

FA Cup

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	3 January 1999	Norwich City	H	4–1	18,737	Humphreys (2), Rudi, Stefanović
R4	23 January 1999	Stockport County	H	2–0	20,984	Thome, Carbone
R5	13 February 1999	Chelsea	H	0–1	29,410

League Cup

Main article: 1998–99 Football League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R2 1st Leg	16 September 1998	Cambridge United	H	0–1	8,921
R2 2nd Leg	22 September 1998	Cambridge United	A	1–1 (lost 1–2 on agg)	8,502	Campbell (own goal)

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season^[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Kevin Pressman 2 DF  ENG Peter Atherton (captain) 3 DF  NIR Ian Nolan[notes 1] 4 MF  NED Wim Jonk 5 DF  ENG Jon Newsome 6 DF  ENG Des Walker 7 FW  ENG Guy Whittingham 8 FW  ITA Benito Carbone 10 FW  ENG Andy Booth 12 MF  SCO Philip Scott 13 GK  ENG Matt Clarke 14 FW  ITA Francesco Sanetti 15 DF  ARG Juan Cobián 16 MF  ENG Ritchie Humphreys 17 MF  ENG Lee Briscoe 18 DF  YUG Dejan Stefanović 19 MF  ENG Scott Oakes

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 DF  ENG Andy Hinchcliffe 21 FW  ENG Richard Cresswell 22 DF  BRA Emerson Thome 23 FW  GHA Junior Agogo 25 MF  NOR Petter Rudi 26 MF  SWE Niclas Alexandersson 27 DF  ENG Earl Barrett 28 MF  IRL Alan Quinn 29 MF  ENG Krystof Kotylo 30 FW  ENG Andrew Douglas 31 MF  IRL Mark McKeever[notes 2] 32 MF  NIR Danny Sonner[notes 3] 33 GK  CZE Pavel Srníček 34 MF  NIR Owen Morrison 35 DF  ENG Steve Haslam 36 MF  ENG Alex Higgins

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 DF  MKD Goce Sedloski (to Dinamo Zagreb) 11 FW  ITA Paolo Di Canio (to West Ham United) 12 MF  ENG Graham Hyde (to Birmingham City)

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 MF  NIR Jim Magilton (to Ipswich Town) — MF  ENG Mark Platts (to Torquay United)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ENG Stuart Jones — DF  ENG Leigh Bromby — DF  IRL Derek Geary

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ENG Kevin Nicholson — MF  ENG Peter Holmes

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		FA Premier League		FA Cup		League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	GK	ENG	Kevin Pressman	18	0	14+1	0	1	0	2	0
33	GK	CZE	Pavel Srníček	26	0	24	0	2	0	0	0
Defenders
2	DF	ENG	Peter Atherton	43	2	38	2	3	0	2	0
5	DF	ENG	Jon Newsome	7	0	2+3	0	0+1	0	1	0
6	DF	ENG	Des Walker	42	0	37	0	3	0	2	0
15	DF	ARG	Juan Cobián	10	0	7+2	0	0	0	1	0
18	DF	SCG	Dejan Stefanović	13	1	8+3	0	2	1	0	0
20	DF	ENG	Andy Hinchcliffe	36	3	32	3	2	0	2	0
22	DF	BRA	Emerson Thome	43	2	38	1	3	1	2	0
27	DF	ENG	Earl Barrett	6	0	0+5	0	0	0	0+1	0
35	DF	ENG	Steve Haslam	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
Midfielders
4	MF	NED	Wim Jonk	43	2	38	2	3	0	2	0
12	MF	SCO	Phillip Scott	4	1	0+4	1	0	0	0	0
16	MF	ENG	Richie Humphreys	21	3	10+9	1	2	2	0	0
17	MF	ENG	Lee Briscoe	19	1	5+11	1	0+2	0	1	0
19	MF	ENG	Scott Oakes	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF	NOR	Petter Rudi	38	7	33+1	6	3	1	1	0
26	MF	SWE	Niclas Alexandersson	36	3	31+1	3	3	0	0+1	0
28	MF	IRL	Alan Quinn	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
31	MF	IRL	Mark McKeever	3	0	1+2	0	0	0	0	0
32	MF	NIR	Danny Sonner	29	3	24+2	3	2+1	0	0	0
34	MF	NIR	Owen Morrison	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
Forwards
7	FW	ENG	Guy Whittingham	3	0	1+1	0	0	0	0+1	0
8	FW	ITA	Benito Carbone	36	9	31	8	3	1	2	0
10	FW	ENG	Andy Booth	38	6	34	6	1+1	0	2	0
14	FW	ITA	Francesco Sanetti	5	0	0+3	0	0	0	0+2	0
21	FW	ENG	Richard Cresswell	7	1	1+6	1	0	0	0	0
23	FW	GHA	Junior Agogo	2	0	0+1	0	0+1	0	0	0
Players transferred out during the season
11	FW	ITA	Paolo Di Canio	8	3	5+1	3	0	0	2	0
12	MF	ENG	Graham Hyde	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF	NIR	Jim Magilton	6	0	1+5	0	0	0	0	0

Last updated: 16 May 1999
Source: Competitions

Starting 11

Considering starts in all competitions^[6]

• GK: #33, Pavel Srnicek, 26
• RB: #2, Peter Atherton, 43
• CB: #22, Emerson Thome, 43
• CB: #6, Des Walker, 42
• LB: #20, Andy Hinchcliffe, 36
• RM: #26, Niclas Alexandersson, 34
• CM: #4, Wim Jonk, 43
• CM: #25, Petter Rudi, 37
• LM: #32, Danny Sonner, 26
• CF: #10, Andy Booth, 25
• CF: #8, Benito Carbone, 36

Transfers

In

Date	Pos.	Name	From	Fee
6 August 1998	MF	Wim Jonk	PSV Eindhoven	£2,500,000
11 August 1998	DF	Juan Cobián	Boca Juniors	Undisclosed
14 October 1998	MF	Danny Sonner	Ipswich Town	£75,000
11 November 1998	GK	Pavel Srníček	Consenza	Free
25 March 1999	FW	Richard Cresswell	York City	£950,000
25 March 1999	MF	Philip Scott	St Johnstone	£75,000

Out

Date	Pos.	Name	To	Fee
27 January 1999	FW	Paolo Di Canio	West Ham United	£1,750,000
5 February 1999	MF	Graham Hyde	Birmingham City	Free
22 March 1999	MF	Jim Magilton	Ipswich Town	£682,500
25 March 1999	MF	Mark Platts	Torquay United	Free

Transfers in: £3,600,000

Transfers out: £2,432,500

Total spending: £1,167,500

Notes

1. Nolan was born in Liverpool, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1996.
2. McKeever was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented them at U-19 and U-21 level.
3. Sonner was born in Wigan, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and represented them at B level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in September 1997.