| Season: | 1946–47 |
| League Result: | 2nd |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth Round |
| League Topscorer: | Jack Rowley (26) |
| Season Topscorer: | Jack Rowley (28) |
| Highest Attendance: | 65,112 vs Middlesbrough (14 September 1946) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 8,456 vs Stoke City (5 February 1947) |
| Average Attendance: | 43,327 |
| Pattern B1: | _white_collar |
| Pattern So1: | _band_red |
| Leftarm1: | E20E0E |
| Body1: | E20E0E |
| Rightarm1: | E20E0E |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | 000000 |
| Pattern B2: | _white_collar |
| Pattern So2: | _bluehoops |
| Leftarm2: | 0000C0 |
| Body2: | 0000C0 |
| Rightarm2: | 0000C0 |
| Shorts2: | FFFFFF |
| Socks2: | 000000 |
| Nextseason: | 1947–48 |
The 1946–47 season was Manchester United's 45th season in the Football League and second back in the First Division since their promotion from the Second Division in 1938. It was the first season of Football League action following the end of World War II, and the club's first in the league under the management of Matt Busby. United failed to end their wait for a major trophy which began in 1911, but they had undoubtedly their best season since then, finishing runners-up in the First Division behind Liverpool.[1]
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 1946 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–1 | Mitten, Rowley | 41,025 | |
| 4 September 1946 | Chelsea | A | 3–0 | Mitten, Pearson, Rowley | 27,750 | |
| 7 September 1946 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3–1 | Hanlon, Rowley, own goal | 44,088 | |
| 11 September 1946 | Liverpool | H | 5–0 | Pearson (3), Mitten, Rowley | 41,657 | |
| 14 September 1946 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | Rowley | 65,112 | |
| 18 September 1946 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | Chilton | 30,275 | |
| 21 September 1946 | Stoke City | A | 2–3 | Delaney, Hanlon | 41,699 | |
| 28 September 1946 | Arsenal | H | 5–2 | Hanlon (2), Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth | 62,718 | |
| 5 October 1946 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | Wrigglesworth | 55,395 | |
| 12 October 1946 | Sheffield United | A | 2–2 | Rowley (2) | 35,543 | |
| 19 October 1946 | Blackpool | A | 1–3 | Delaney | 26,307 | |
| 26 October 1946 | Sunderland | H | 0–3 | 48,385 | ||
| 2 November 1946 | Aston Villa | A | 0–0 | 53,668 | ||
| 9 November 1946 | Derby County | H | 4–1 | Pearson (2), Mitten, Rowley | 57,340 | |
| 16 November 1946 | Everton | A | 2–2 | Pearson, Rowley | 45,832 | |
| 23 November 1946 | Huddersfield Town | H | 5–2 | Mitten (2), Morris (2), Rowley | 39,216 | |
| 30 November 1946 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | Hanlon, Delaney | 46,704 | |
| 7 December 1946 | Brentford | H | 4–1 | Rowley (3), Mitten | 31,962 | |
| 14 December 1946 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–2 | Morris | 21,455 | |
| 25 December 1946 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–2 | Rowley (2) | 28,505 | |
| 26 December 1946 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | Pearson | 57,186 | |
| 28 December 1946 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–0 | 17,183 | ||
| 4 January 1947 | Charlton Athletic | H | 4–1 | Burke (2), Buckle, Pearson | 43,406 | |
| 18 January 1947 | Middlesbrough | A | 4–2 | Pearson (2), Buckle, Morris | 37,435 | |
| 1 February 1947 | Arsenal | A | 2–6 | Morris, Pearson | 29,415 | |
| 5 February 1947 | Stoke City | H | 1–1 | Buckle | 8,456 | |
| 22 February 1947 | Blackpool | H | 3–0 | Rowley (2), Hanlon | 29,993 | |
| 1 March 1947 | Sunderland | A | 1–1 | Delaney | 25,038 | |
| 8 March 1947 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | Burke, Pearson | 36,965 | |
| 15 March 1947 | Derby County | A | 3–4 | Burke (2), Pearson | 19,579 | |
| 22 March 1947 | Everton | H | 3–0 | Burke, Delaney, Warner | 43,441 | |
| 29 March 1947 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | Delaney, Pearson | 18,509 | |
| 5 April 1947 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | Rowley (2), Hanlon | 66,967 | |
| 7 April 1947 | Leeds United | H | 3–1 | Burke (2), Hanlon | 41,772 | |
| 8 April 1947 | Leeds United | A | 2–0 | Burke, McGlen | 15,528 | |
| 12 April 1947 | Brentford | A | 0–0 | 21,714 | ||
| 19 April 1947 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 4–0 | Pearson (2), Rowley, own goal | 46,196 | |
| 26 April 1947 | Portsmouth | A | 1–0 | Delaney | 30,623 | |
| 3 May 1947 | Liverpool | A | 0–1 | 48,800 | ||
| 10 May 1947 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | Pearson | 23,278 | |
| 17 May 1947 | Portsmouth | H | 3–0 | Mitten, Morris, Rowley | 37,614 | |
| 26 May 1947 | Sheffield United | H | 6–2 | Rowley (3), Morris (2), Pearson | 34,059 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 January 1947 | Round 3 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | 3–0 | Rowley (2), Buckle | 26,990 | |
| 25 January 1947 | Round 4 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–2 | 34,059 |
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | Cliff Collinson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| GK | Jack Crompton | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| GK | Bill Fielding | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| FB | John Aston, Sr. | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| FB |  Johnny Carey | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| FB | Joe Walton | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| FB | Harry Worrall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| HB | Allenby Chilton | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| HB | Henry Cockburn | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| HB | Billy McGlen | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| HB | Jack Warner | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 1 | |
| HB | Bert Whalley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FW | Ted Buckle | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | |
| FW | Ronnie Burke | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | |
| FW | Jimmy Delaney | 37 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 8 | |
| FW | Jimmy Hanlon | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 7 | |
| FW | Charlie Mitten | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | |
| FW | Johnny Morris | 24 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 8 | |
| FW | Stan Pearson | 42 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 19 | |
| FW | Jack Rowley | 37 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 28 | |
| FW | Billy Wrigglesworth | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| – | Own goals | – | 2 | – | 0 | – | 2 | |