Gourt Home::Gourt :: 2005-06 in English football
The 2005-2006 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.
Overview
The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether Wembley would be ready. The doubts were confirmed on 21 February 2006, when The FA announced that the final would indeed be held at Millennium Stadium. On 31 March 2006 The FA confirmed that the new Wembley would not be opened until 2007.
Two clubs opened new stadiums this season:
F.C. United of Manchester, formed by disgruntled Manchester United fans played their first competitive season, competing in the North West Counties Football League Division Two (level 10 of the English football league system), from which they gained promotion at the first time of asking.BBC.
Wigan Athletic, who earned promotion to the Premiership by finishing second in the Football League Championship, played their first ever season in the top division of English football and stayed up, staying clear from relegation all season.
Events
- August 7 2005 - Chelsea claim the first silverware of the season when they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to win the FA Community Shield.
- October 8 2005 - The England national team defeat Austria 1-0 at Old Trafford. Combined with the Netherlands' defeat of the Czech Republic the same night, this assures England automatic qualification for the 2006 World Cup, either as the top team in their qualifying group or one of the top two second-placed European teams.
- October 12 2005 - England defeat Poland 2-1 at Old Trafford to finish top of their World Cup qualifying group.
- October 17, 2005 - Middlesbrough defender Abel Xavier is banned from all football for failing a drugs test.
- October 28, 2005 - Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott gives final approval for Brighton & Hove Albion to build Falmer Stadium, now scheduled to open in 2008.
- October 29, 2005 - Manchester United become the first team to score 1000 goals since the start of the Premiership in 1992-93.
- November 6, 2005 - Manchester United are the first team to beat Chelsea in 41 Premiership matches, with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, after a Darren Fletcher header.
- November 18, 2005 - Roy Keane leaves Manchester United by mutual consent, ending his 12-year association with the club.
- November 24, 2005 - Alain Perrin is sacked as manager of Portsmouth.
- December 3, 2005 - Harry Redknapp walks out of Southampton after being refused permission to discuss terms with Portsmouth over returning as manager.
- December 7, 2005 - Harry Redknapp is appointed manager of Portsmouth for the second time with a contract until the end of the season.
- December 22, 2005 - George Burley is appointed Harry Redknapp's replacement at Southampton.
- January 4, 2006 - Alexandre Gaydamak takes a 50% stake in Portsmouth alongside Milan Mandaric.
- January 20, 2006 - The Premiership formally charges Portsmouth with "tapping up" Harry Redknapp.
- January 23, 2006 - The FA announces that Sven-Göran Eriksson will leave his post as England national coach after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- January 25, 2006 - Craig Levein is sacked as manager of Leicester City.
- January 30, 2006 - Phil Brown is sacked as manager of Derby County. Academy boss Terry Westley is appointed interim manager the next day, with player Paul Peschisolido acting as his assistant.
- February 2, 2006 - Graeme Souness is sacked as manager of Newcastle United, and Glenn Roeder was made caretaker manager with Alan Shearer his assistant manager.
- February 4, 2006 - Alan Shearer becomes Newcastle United's top goalscorer of all time, scoring his 201st goal for the club, against Portsmouth at St. James' Park, beating Jackie Milburn's 200 goal tally which had stood for 49 years.
- February 11, 2006 - Middlesbrough comfortably defeat reigning premiership champions Chelsea 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium - the first time ever José Mourinho's Chelsea have lost by more than a single goal.
- February 21, 2006 - The FA announce that the 2006 FA Cup final, set for May 13, will be held at Millennium Stadium, as the builders of the new Wembley Stadium are unable to assure that it will be ready for the match. They also announce that the national team's pre-World Cup friendlies originally scheduled for Wembley will instead be held at Old Trafford.
- February 21, 2006 - A Football League Under-21 team, composed of players from the Football League's three divisions, beats a Lega Nazionale Professionisti Under 21 team, composed of players from Serie B, 1-0 at the KC Stadium.
- February 26, 2006 - Manchester United defeat Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium to win the Carling Cup.
- March 6, 2006 - Mick McCarthy is sacked as manager of Sunderland after his team accumulated just 10 points in 28 matches, with Kevin Ball made caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.
- March 25, 2006 - Reading became the first side to be promoted to the 2006-07 FA Premier League campaign after drawing 1-1 at Leicester. It will be The Royals' first ever season in England's top flight.
- April 1, 2006 - Reading win The Football League after the combination of Reading defeating Derby County and Sheffield United being held to a draw means that Reading can not be overtaken.
- April 14, 2006 - Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. This is the first relegation in the league.
- April 15, 2006 - Sheffield United became the second side to secure promotion to the Premiership after they beat Cardiff City while Watford and Leeds United only drew with Wolves and champions Reading respectively.
- April 15, 2006 - Accrington Stanley regained their Football League status 44 years after losing it due to bankruptcy after they beat Woking to win the Conference title.
- April 17, 2006 - Sheffield Wednesday's 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion ensured that the trio of Brighton, Crewe Alexandra and Millwall are all relegated from the Championship.
- April 17, 2006 - Alan Shearer plays his last competitive match against, rather fittingly, Sunderland, after a Julio Arca tackle tore his medial collateral ligament.
- April 20, 2006 - Altrincham of the Conference had 18 points deducted for fielding an ineligible player thirteen times. This points deduction relegates the club to the Conference North.
- April 22, 2006 - Carlisle United secured promotion to League One after a 1-1 draw at Mansfield while Leyton Orient were also held to a draw by the same scoreline at Lincoln City.
- April 22, 2006 - Walsall were relegated to League Two after losing 1-3 at home to Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United drew with Scunthorpe United.
- April 29, 2006 - Chelsea successfully retained their Premiership title after they beat Manchester United 3-0.
- April 29, 2006 - West Bromwich Albion are relegated from the Premiership after Portsmouth won 2-1 away at Wigan Athletic. Birmingham City are also relegated after Portsmouth's victory combined with their 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.
- April 29, 2006 - Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley announces that he will resign at the end of the season, ending a 15-year long tenure as manager at The Valley.
- April 29, 2006 - Southend United secured promotion from League One after they drew 2-2 at Swansea City while Brentford also drew against Hartlepool United. Also in League One, Swindon Town are relegated to League Two after they could only draw 1-1 against Bristol City.
- April 29, 2006 - Northampton Town secured promotion from League Two after beating Chester City 1-0. Rushden & Diamonds were relegated to the Conference when they lost 2-0 away to Boston United and other results went against them.
- April 30, 2006 - Reading broke Sunderland's record for most points in any professional English league, beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 to finish on 106 points.
- May 4, 2006 - Current Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren signs a four-year contract agreeing to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson as England head coach after the World Cup. The contract begins on August 1.
- May 6, 2006 - , after defeating , become League One champions, while secure the second automatic place to The Championship, they will play in the top two tiers in English football for the first time in their history after their promotion. and are relegated to League Two.
- May 6, 2006 - lose their league status after 44 years following a 3-2 defeat by , who are promoted to League One.
- May 7, 2006 - Sunderland finish the season on 15 points, the lowest points total ever in top flight English football since 3 points for a win was introduced in the 1981-82 season.
- May 9, 2006 - Roy Keane's testimonial is played at Old Trafford.
- May 10, 2006 - lose the UEFA Cup final 4-0 to Sevilla in Steve McClaren's last game in charge at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.
- May 11, 2006 - Alan Shearer's testimonial is played at St James' Park, with a Newcastle XI beating Celtic 3-2, with Shearer scoring the winning penalty.
- - Joe Royle leaves Ipswich "by mutual consent"
- May 13, 2006 - won the 125th FA Cup final beating West Ham 3-1 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time.
- May 16, 2006 - Lincoln City became the first team to lose four consecutive play-off competitions following a 3-1 aggregate defeat to neighbours Grimsby Town in the League Two semi-finals.
- May 17, 2006 - Arsenal lost the UEFA Champions League to Barcelona 2-1 in the Stade de France. Jens Lehmann was sent off controversially after fouling Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly put the ball into the back off the net.
- May 20, 2006 - Hereford United gain promotion to League Two via the playoffs, after beating Halifax Town 3-2 after extra time.
- May 21, 2006 - Watford gain promotion to the FA Premier League after defeating Leeds 3-0 in the Championship play-off final.
- May 27, 2006 - Barnsley win promotion to the Championship after overcoming Swansea City in the League One play-off final. They won 4-3 on penalties after both sides remained level at 2-2 after extra time.
- May 28, 2006 - Cheltenham Town wins promotion to the League One by defeating Grimsby Town 1-0 in the League Two play-off final.
- June 2, 2006 - Billy Davies leaves Preston North End to become manager of Derby County.
- June 4, 2006 - Scarborough are relegated from the Nationwide Conference for a breach of league rules. They take Altrincham's relegation place.
National team
England have qualified for the Football World Cup 2006, after finishing top of European Qualifying Group 6.
- England score given first
- Key
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- N = Neutral site match
- F = Friendly
- WCQ = FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying, European Zone Group 6
- WCF = FIFA World Cup 2006 Finals Group stage
Honours
| Competition | Winner | Details | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Super Cup | Liverpool | Beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 | UEFA |
| FA Premier League | Chelsea | FA Premier League 2005-06 | BBC |
| FA Cup | Liverpool | FA Cup 2005-06 | BBC |
| Carling Cup | Manchester United | Beat Wigan 4-0 | BBC |
| Football League Championship | Reading | Finished on record 106 points | BBC |
| Football League One | Southend United | Consecutive Promotions | BBC |
| Football League Two | Carlisle United | Consecutive Promotions | BBC |
| FA Community Shield | Chelsea | Beat Arsenal 2-1 | BBC |
European Qualification
| Competition | Qualifiers | Reason for Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 1st in FA Premier League | |
| 2nd in FA Premier League | ||
| UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round | 3rd in FA Premier League | |
| 4th in FA Premier League | ||
| UEFA Cup | 5th in FA Premier League | |
| In lieu of FA Cup winners (qualification awarded as FA Cup runners-up because FA Cup winners Liverpool had already qualified for the Champions League) | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | In lieu of League Cup winners (qualification awarded as next-highest (6th) Premier League finishers to have not qualified for Europe because League Cup winners Manchester United had already qualified for the Champions League) | |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup Third Round | Newcastle United | Highest Premier League finishers (7th) to have entered and not qualified for any other European competition |
League tables
FA Premier League
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | align="left" | 38 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 72 | 22 | +50 | 91 |
| 2 | align="left" | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 34 | +38 | 83 | |
| 3 | align="left" | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 57 | 25 | +32 | 82 | |
| 4 | align="left" | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 67 | |
| 5 | align="left" | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 53 | 38 | +15 | 65 | |
| 6 | align="left" | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 63 | |
| 7 | align="left" | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 58 | |
| 8 | align="left" | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 56 | |
| 9 | align="left" | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 55 | -3 | 55 | |
| 10 | align="left" | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 45 | 52 | -7 | 51 | |
| 11 | align="left" | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 49 | -15 | 50 | |
| 12 | align="left" | 38 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 48 | 58 | -10 | 48 | |
| 13 | align="left" | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 41 | 55 | -14 | 47 | |
| 14 | align="left" | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 48 | 58 | -10 | 45 | |
| 15 | align="left" | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 43 | 48 | -5 | 43 | |
| 16 | align="left" | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 42 | 55 | -13 | 42 | |
| 17 | align="left" | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 37 | 62 | -25 | 38 | |
| R | 18 | align="left" | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 28 | 50 | -22 | 34 |
| R | 19 | align="left" | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 58 | -27 | 30 |
| R | 20 | align="left" | 38 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 26 | 69 | -43 | 15 |
The Football League
Football League Championship
Reading entered the top flight for the first time in their history, breaking Sunderland's points record in the process. (Co-incidentally, Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership while breaking the record for lowest number of points under the current scoring system). Sheffield United joined them, returning to the Premiership after twelve years. Surprise package Watford, initially tipped for relegation, entered the play-offs and beat Leeds United, who were unable to shake off an awful run of form (even worse than any of the three relegated sides) that had saw them crash out of automatic promotion contention.
Crystal Palace fared the best out of the Premiership teams relegated the previous season, by getting to the play-offs but losing in the semi finals. Norwich never managed better than mid-table, while Southampton endured an awful season that saw Sir Clive Woodward take up a much-criticised role as Director of Football, manager Harry Redknapp return to local rivals Portsmouth and the side looking in danger of relegation for much of the season, only managing a mid-table finish with a late surge in form. Chairman Rupert Lowe ultimately paid the price by being forced to resign after the end of the season.
The relegation battle was principally fought by four sides, Crewe, Brighton, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday ultimately won the battle, and the remaining three were relegated. While Crewe and Brighton hadn't spent long in the division and were considered to be punching above their weight, Millwall underwent a disasterous season, getting through five managers and four chairman before relegation.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | align="left" | 46 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 99 | 32 | +67 | 106 |
| P | 2 | align="left" | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 76 | 46 | +30 | 90 |
| P | 3 | align="left" | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 77 | 53 | +24 | 81 |
| 4 | align="left" | 46 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 59 | 30 | +29 | 80 | |
| 5 | align="left" | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 57 | 38 | +19 | 78 | |
| 6 | align="left" | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 75 | |
| 7 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 67 | |
| 8 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 62 | 65 | -3 | 63 | |
| 9 | align="left" | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 56 | 65 | -9 | 62 | |
| 10 | align="left" | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 66 | 67 | -1 | 61 | |
| 11 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 58 | 59 | -1 | 60 | |
| 12 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 49 | 50 | -1 | 58 | |
| 13 | align="left" | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 54 | 63 | -9 | 58 | |
| 14 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 39 | 46 | -7 | 56 | |
| 15 | align="left" | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 66 | -13 | 56 | |
| 16 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 59 | -8 | 54 | |
| 17 | align="left" | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 54 | |
| 18 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 39 | 52 | -13 | 52 | |
| 19 | Hull City | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 49 | 55 | -6 | 51 | |
| 20 | align="left" | 46 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 53 | 67 | -14 | 50 | |
| 21 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 50 | 65 | -15 | 50 | |
| R | 22 | align="left" | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 57 | 86 | -29 | 42 |
| R | 23 | align="left" | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 35 | 62 | -27 | 40 |
| R | 24 | align="left" | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 71 | -32 | 38 |
Football League One
Southend surprised many by winning a second successive promotion, returning to the Championship after nearly a decade (when it was called Division One). Colchester also made the Championship for the first time in their history, but their promotion was tempered by the loss of manager Phil Parkinson to Hull City. A highly competetive play-off race ultimately saw Barnsley emerge as winners, beating Swansea to return to the Championship after three seasons of struggle in Division Two/League One.
At the bottom, Walsall endured their second relegation in three seasons, Swindon became the first former Premiership side to slip to the bottom division (MK Dons were relegated a few weeks later, and it's debatable whether they can be considered a "former Premiership" team), Hartlepool crashed out of the division the season after they nearly earned promotion to the Championship, while MK Dons suffered the relegation they only avoided the previous season when Wrexham were docked points for entering administration.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1 | align="left" | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 72 | 43 | +29 | 82 |
| P | 2 | align="left" | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 79 |
| 3 | align="left" | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 76 | |
| 4 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 73 | |
| P | 5 | align="left" | 46 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 72 |
| 6 | Swansea City | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 78 | 55 | +23 | 71 | |
| 7 | align="left" | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 52 | +15 | 69 | |
| 8 | align="left" | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 51 | +4 | 69 | |
| 9 | align="left" | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 66 | 62 | +4 | 65 | |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 60 | -2 | 65 | |
| 11 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 60 | |
| 12 | align="left" | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 68 | 73 | -5 | 60 | |
| 13 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 54 | -5 | 60 | |
| 14 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 50 | 64 | -14 | 60 | |
| 15 | align="left" | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 54 | 62 | -8 | 56 | |
| 16 | align="left" | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 63 | 73 | -10 | 56 | |
| 17 | Bournemouth | 46 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 49 | 53 | -4 | 55 | |
| 18 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 52 | -2 | 54 | |
| 19 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 53 | |
| 20 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 62 | -10 | 52 | |
| R | 21 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 44 | 59 | -15 | 50 |
| R | 22 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 66 | -21 | 50 |
| R | 23 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 46 | 65 | -19 | 48 |
| R | 24 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 47 | 70 | -23 | 47 |
Football League Two
Carlisle were another side who earned a second successive promotion, only two years after a relegation from the League that some predicted would see the end of the club. Northampton joined them, making up for two seasons of play-off disappointment, and Leyton Orient ended a decade in the bottom division by earning promotion on nearly the last minute of the season. The side that they beat out, Grimsby, ultimately lost to Cheltenham in the play-off final.
Rushden and Diamonds failed to improve on the previous season, and paid the price with relegation to the Conference. Oxford United joined them, despite the return of manager Jim Smith.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1 | align="left" | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 84 | 42 | +42 | 86 |
| P | 2 | align="left" | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 63 | 37 | +26 | 83 |
| P | 3 | align="left" | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 81 |
| 4 | align="left" | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 64 | 44 | +20 | 78 | |
| P | 5 | align="left" | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 72 |
| 6 | align="left" | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 72 | 56 | +16 | 71 | |
| 7 | align="left" | 46 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 66 | |
| 8 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 63 | |
| 9 | align="left" | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 57 | 49 | +8 | 62 | |
| 10 | align="left" | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 55 | 55 | +0 | 61 | |
| 11 | align="left" | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 50 | 60 | -10 | 61 | |
| 12 | align="left" | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 59 | 67 | -8 | 60 | |
| 13 | Wrexham | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 59 | |
| 14 | align="left" | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 66 | 69 | -3 | 56 | |
| 15 | align="left" | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 53 | 59 | -6 | 54 | |
| 16 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 59 | 66 | -7 | 54 | |
| 17 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 60 | 71 | -11 | 54 | |
| 18 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 44 | 57 | -13 | 54 | |
| 19 | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 52 | ||
| 20 | align="left" | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 53 | 66 | -13 | 52 | |
| 21 | align="left" | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 48 | 63 | -15 | 52 | |
| 22 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 57 | 78 | -21 | 52 | |
| R | 23 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 43 | 56 | -14 | 49 |
| R | 24 | align="left" | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 76 | -32 | 45 |
Transfer deals
Summer transfer window
The summer transfer window runs from the end of the previous season until 31 August.- Paul Stalteri from Werder Bremen to Spurs, free
- Patrik Berger from Portsmouth to Aston Villa, free
- Aaron Hughes from Newcastle United to Aston Villa, £1m
- Simon Davies from Tottenham Hotspur to Everton, £4m
- Darren Bent from Ipswich to Charlton, £2.5m
- Patrick Kluivert from Newcastle United to Valencia, free (finalized on 20 June)
- Edwin van der Sar from Fulham to Man United, undisclosed fee
- Kevin Doyle from Cork City to Reading, €117,000 (c. £78,000)
- Mikael Forssell from Chelsea to Birmingham City, £3m
- Andy O'Brien from Newcastle United to Portsmouth, £2m
- Vladimír Šmicer from Liverpool to Bordeaux, free
- Jonathan Stead from Blackburn to Sunderland, £1.8m
- Kelvin Davis from Ipswich to Sunderland, £1.25m
- Laurent Robert from Newcastle United to Portsmouth, loan
- Scott Parker from Chelsea to Newcastle United, £6.5m
- El Hadji Diouf from Liverpool to Bolton, undisclosed fee (making a previous loan deal permanent)
- Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea, £8m
- Park Ji-Sung from PSV Eindhoven to Man United, £4m
- Alexander Hleb from VfB Stuttgart to Arsenal, £6m
- Heiðar Helguson from Watford to Fulham, £1.3m
- Per Krøldrup from Udinese to Everton, £5m
- Emanuel Pogatetz from Bayer Leverkusen to Middlesbrough, £1.8m
- Mateja Kežman from Chelsea to Atlético Madrid, £5.3m
- Kevin Phillips from Southampton to Aston Villa, £1m
- Darren Carter from Birmingham City to West Brom, £1.5m
- Boudewijn Zenden from Middlesbrough to Liverpool, free
- Paul Konchesky from Charlton to West Ham, undisclosed fee
- Craig Bellamy from Newcastle United to Blackburn, £5m
- John Viafara from Once Caldas to Portsmouth, £1.6m
- Aiyegbeni Yakubu from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough, £7.5m
- Emre Belözoğlu from Inter Milan to Newcastle United, £4m
- Patrick Vieira from Arsenal to Juventus, £13.7m
- Leroy Lita from Bristol City to Reading, £1m
- Jared Borgetti from CF Pachuca to Bolton, £1.5m
- Yossi Benayoun from Racing Santander to West Ham, £2.5m
- Shaun Wright-Phillips from Man City to Chelsea, £21m
- Andy Cole from Fulham to Man City, free
- Peter Crouch from Southampton to Liverpool, £7m
- Sander Westerveld from Mallorca to Portsmouth, free
- Diomansy Kamara from Modena to West Brom, £1.5m
- Darius Vassell from Aston Villa to Manchester City, £2m
- Edgar Davids from Inter Milan to Spurs, free
- Philip Neville from Man United to Everton, undisclosed fee (over £3m; some reports say over £5m)
- Damien Francis from Norwich to Wigan, undisclosed fee
- Walter Pandiani from Deportivo to Birmingham City, £3m (making a previous loan deal permanent)
- Henri Camara from Wolves to Wigan, £3m
- Kleberson from Man United to Beşiktaş, £2.5m
- Andy Gray from Sheffield United to Sunderland, £1.1m
- Nathan Ellington from Wigan to West Brom, £3m
- Hidetoshi Nakata from Fiorentina to Bolton, season-long loan
- Fredi Kanouté from Spurs to Sevilla, £4.4m
- David Bellion from Man United to West Ham, season-long loan
- Michael Essien from Lyon to Chelsea, £24.4m
- Brian Priske from Genk to Portsmouth, undisclosed fee
- Jiri Jarosik from Chelsea to Birmingham City, season-long loan
- Milan Baroš from Liverpool to Aston Villa, £6.5m
- Clinton Morrison from Birmingham City to Crystal Palace, £2m
- Albert Luque from Deportivo La Coruña to Newcastle United, £9.5m
- Nuno Valente from Porto to Everton, £1.5m
- Wilfred Bouma from PSV to Aston Villa, £3.5m
- David Connolly from Leicester City to Wigan Athletic, £2m
- Curtis Davies from Luton to West Brom, £3m
- Salif Diao from Liverpool to Portsmouth, season-long loan
- Francis Jeffers from Charlton Athletic to Rangers, six-month loan
- Jermaine Jenas from Newcastle United to Spurs, £7m
- Lee Yong-Pyo from PSV to Spurs, undisclosed fee
- Michael Owen from Real Madrid to Newcastle United, £17m
- Mart Poom from Sunderland to Arsenal, six-month loan
- Michael Reiziger from Middlesbrough to PSV, free
- Nolberto Solano from Aston Villa to Newcastle United, £1.5m
- James Milner from Newcastle United to Aston Villa, season-long loan
- Andy van der Meyde from Inter Milan to Everton, undisclosed fee
- Iain Hume from Tranmere to Leicester City, £500,000
- Elvis Hammond from Fulham to Leicester City, £250,000
January transfer window
The mid-season transfer window runs from 1 to 31 January 2006.- Tony Warner from Cardiff City to Fulham, nominal fee (making a previous loan deal permanent)
- John Obi Mikel from Lyn to Manchester United, undisclosed fee
- Yaniv Katan from Maccabi Haifa to West Ham United, £100K
- Josemi from Liverpool to Villarreal, trade for Jan Kromkamp
- Jan Kromkamp from Villarreal to Liverpool, trade for Josemi
- Laurent Robert from Portsmouth to Newcastle United, loan cancelled
- Laurent Robert from Newcastle United to Benfica, free
- Maniche from Dynamo Moscow to Chelsea, 6-month loan
- Emmanuel Olisadebe from Panathinaikos to Portsmouth, 6-month loan
- Chris Sutton from Celtic to Birmingham City, free
- Nemanja Vidić from Spartak Moscow to Manchester United, £7m
- Albert Riera from Espanyol to Manchester City, 6-month loan
- Simon Elliott from Major League Soccer (Columbus Crew) to Fulham, free
- Ali Al Habsi from Lyn to Bolton Wanderers
- Benjani Mwaruwari from Auxerre to Portsmouth, £4.1m
- David Bellion from Manchester United to Nice, 6-month loan
- Paul Scharner from Brann to Wigan Athletic, £2.5m
- Patrice Evra from Monaco to Manchester United, £5.5m
- Antti Niemi from Southampton to Fulham, £1m
- Sean Davis from Tottenham Hotspur to Portsmouth, undisclosed fee
- Pedro Mendes from Tottenham Hotspur to Portsmouth, undisclosed fee
- Noe Pamarot from Tottenham Hotspur to Portsmouth, undisclosed fee
- Daniel Agger from Brøndby to Liverpool, £5.8m
- Abou Diaby from Auxerre to Arsenal, £2m
- Walter Pandiani from Birmingham City to Espanyol, £1m
- Garry Flitcroft from Blackburn Rovers to Sheffield United, free
- Emmanuel Adebayor from Monaco to Arsenal, undisclosed fee
- Marcus Bent from Everton to Charlton Athletic, £2m
- Riccardo Scimeca from West Bromwich Albion to Cardiff City, free
- Neil Mellor from Liverpool to Wigan Athletic, 6-month loan
- David Thompson from Blackburn Rovers to Wigan Athletic free
- Wayne Bridge from Chelsea to Fulham, 6-month loan
- Alan Stubbs from Sunderland to Everton, free
- Theo Walcott from Southampton to Arsenal, £5m (Could rise to £12m)
- Dean Ashton from Norwich City to West Ham, £7.25m
- Mart Poom from Sunderland to Arsenal, undisclosed fee (making a loan deal permanent)
- Alexey Smertin from Chelsea to Dynamo Moscow, £1m
- Tomasz Frankowski from Elche to Wolves, £1.4m
- Dean Kiely from Charlton Athletic to Portsmouth, undisclosed fee
- Szilárd Németh from Middlesbrough to Strasbourg, nominal fee
- Ade Akinbiyi from Burnley to Sheffield United, £1.75m
- Robbie Fowler from Manchester City to Liverpool, free
- Georgios Samaras from Heerenveen to Manchester City, £6m
- David Bentley from Arsenal to Blackburn Rovers, undisclosed fee
- Andrés d'Alessandro from Wolfsburg to Portsmouth, 6-month loan
- Rory Delap from Southampton to Sunderland, free
- Robert Earnshaw from West Brom to Norwich City, £3.5m
- Hossam Ghaly from Feyenoord to Tottenham Hotspur, undisclosed fee
- Danny Murphy from Charlton Athletic to Tottenham Hotspur, £2m
- Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from Arsenal to Spartak Moscow, undisclosed fee
- Nigel Quashie from Southampton to West Brom, £1.2m
- Andy Welsh from Sunderland to Leicester City, 3-month Loan
- Zesh Rehman from Fulham to Norwich City, 6-month loan
- Lionel Scaloni from Deportivo de La Coruña to West Ham United, 6-month loan
- Florent Sinama-Pongolle from Liverpool to Blackburn Rovers, 6-month loan
- Matty Fryatt from Walsall to Leicester City, Undisclosed Fee
- Joey Gudjonsson from Leicester City to AZ Alkmaar, Free
End of season retirements
- Alan Shearer ()
- Dennis Bergkamp ()
- Nigel Martyn ()
- Muzzy Izzet ()
Deaths
- Noel Cantwell, 72, was a Republic of Ireland international at left-back during the 1950s and 1960s. He also captained Manchester United to F.A Cup glory in 1963.
- Johnny Haynes, 71, former England and Fulham midfielder, who became the first English footballer to be paid £100 a week, died after suffering a brain haemorrhage at the wheel of his car which resulted in a head-on collision with another vehicle.
- George Swindin, 90, was a former goalkeeper of Arsenal in the immediate postwar years. He helped them win two league titles and one F.A Cup. After hanging up his gloves, he served Arsenal as manager but was less successful.
- George Best, 59, Nothern Irish born striker who enjoyed the early and most successful years of his career Manchester United, died as a result of multiple organ failure three years after he underwent a liver transplant, the result of more than 30 years of heavy drinking. Personal problems meant that he played his last game for United at the age of 27, but he continued at various smaller clubs - including a brief spell with the Los Angeles Aztecs in America - until the age of 37.
- Ted Ditchburn, former England and Tottenham goalkeeper.
- Mark Philo, 21, Wycombe winger, was killed in a car crash.
- Ron Greenwood, 84, former West Ham and England manager. He managed West Ham to F.A Cup glory in 1964 and Cup Winners Cup success a year later, as well as providing the 1966 England World Cup winning team with three key players. Greenwood later managed the England team, achieving qualification for Euro 80 and the 1982 World Cup before retiring from football.
- Peter Osgood, 59, former England, Chelsea and Southampton player, died of a heart attack while attending a family funeral. He was a key player in Chelsea's 1970 F.A Cup and 1971 Cup Winners Cup triumphs, and won another F.A Cup medal in 1976 with his next club Southampton.
- John Lyall, 66, former West Ham United and Ipswich Town manager, died of a heart attack. He completed his first season in management at West Ham with F.A Cup glory in 1975, winning the trophy again in 1980 and taking West Ham to their highest ever league position - third - in 1986. He was sacked when West Ham were relegated in 1989, but make a comeback the following year with Ipswich Town. Lyall took Ipswich into the inaugural Premier League as Second Division champions in 1992, and remained in charge for another two-and-half years before he was sacked in December 1994. Lyall never returned to management after his dismissal from Ipswich.
- Brian Labone, 66, former Everton captain who played in Harry Catterick's successful 1960s side, died of a heart attack. He helped them win the F.A Cup in 1964 and 1966 as well as the league title in 1963 and 1970. Labone was also capped 26 times by England between 1962 and 1970, but did not make the squad for England's victorious 1966 World Cup campaign.
"2005-06 in English football"