| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 8th |
| Cup1 Result: | Quarter-finals |
| Cup2 Result: | Second round |
| League Topscorer: | Tommy Coyne (11) |
| Season Topscorer: | Tommy Coyne (11) |
| Nextseason: | 1997–98 |
The 1996–97 season was Motherwell's 12th consecutive season in the Scottish Premier Division, the top division of Scottish Football.
Motherwell started the season with pre-season friendlies in England against Southend United, Baldock Town and Blyth Spartans. Motherwell lost to Southend United, defeated Baldock Town and Blyth Spartans before returning to Fir Park to face Portuguese giants Porto, losing 1–0.[1]
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||||
| Scott Howie | GK | 1997 5, df=yes | Norwich City | 1994 | ||||||
| Stevie Woods | GK | 1997 5, df=yes | Preston North End | 1994 | ||||||
| Defenders | ||||||||||
| Mitchell van der Gaag |  | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | PSV Eindhoven | 1995 | |||||
| Stephen Craigan | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Blantyre Victoria | 1995 | ||||||
| Kevin Christie | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | East Fife | 1997 | ||||||
| Greig Denham | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1994 | ||||||
| Brian Martin | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | St Mirren | 1991 | ||||||
| Eddie May | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Falkirk | 1994 | ||||||
| David McCallum | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Bearsden BC | 1995 | ||||||
| Chris McCart | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1985 | ||||||
| Steve McMillan | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Troon | 1993 | ||||||
| John Philliben | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Doncaster Rovers | 1986 | ||||||
| Fraser Wishart | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Heart of Midlothian | 1996 | ||||||
| Midfielders | ||||||||||
| Joni Lehtonen |  | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Ilves | 1996 | |||||
| Simo Valakari | | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | FinnPa | 1996 | |||||
| Billy Davies | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Dunfermline Athletic | 1993 | ||||||
| Lee McCulloch | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1994 | 21 | 0 | ||||
| Shaun McSkimming | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Kilmarnock | 1994 | ||||||
| Ian Ross | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1995 | ||||||
| Mickey Weir | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Hibernian | 1996 | ||||||
| Forwards | ||||||||||
| Owen Coyle |  | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Dundee United | 1997 | |||||
| Tommy Coyne | | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Tranmere Rovers | 1993 | |||||
| Roy Essandoh | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Cumbernauld United | 1994 | ||||||
| Dougie Arnott | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Pollok | 1986 | ||||||
| Alex Burns | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1991 | ||||||
| Willie Falconer | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Celtic | 1996 | ||||||
| John Hendry | FW | 1997 5, df=yes | Tottenham Hotspur | 1995 | ||||||
| Left during the season | ||||||||||
| Jamie Dolan | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1987 | ||||||
| Innes Ritchie | DF | 1997 5, df=yes | Youth team | 1992 | ||||||
| Andy Roddie | MF | 1997 5, df=yes | Aberdeen | 1994 | ||||||
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 November 1997 | MF | | Joni Lehtonen | Ilves | Undisclosed | ||
| 7 January 1998 | FW | | Owen Coyle | Dundee United | Player swap | ||
| 7 February 1998 | MF | | Simo Valakari | FinnPa | Undisclosed | ||
| 14 March 1998 | MF | Mickey Weir | Hibernian | Undisclosed | |||
| 21 March 1998 | DF | Kevin Christie | East Fife | Undisclosed |
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January 1998 | MF | Jamie Dolan | Dundee United | Player swap | |||
| 11 January 1998 | DF | Innes Ritchie | East Fife | Undisclosed | |||
| 27 January 1998 | MF | Andy Roddie | Notts County | Undisclosed |
See main article: 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division.
See main article: 1996-97 Scottish Cup.
See main article: 1996–97 Scottish League Cup.
| width=60 | Ranking | width=60 | Position | width=60 | Nation | width=60 | Number | width=150 | Name | width=150 | Premier Division | width=100 | Scottish Cup | width=150 | League Cup | width=80 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | | Tommy Coyne | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||
| 2 | FW | | Owen Coyle | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 3 | DF | | Mitchell van der Gaag | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 4 | MF | Shaun McSkimming | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 5 | FW | Dougie Arnott | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||
| 6 | FW | Willie Falconer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| MF | Eddie May | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| MF | Ian Ross | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| MF | Mickey Weir | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| MF | Billy Davies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Own goal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 12 | FW | Alex Burns | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| DF | John Philliben | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 44 | 6 | 0 | 50 | |||||||||||||