The 1980–81 season was Manchester United's 79th season in the Football League, and their 6th consecutive season in the top division of English football. It was the last of their four seasons under the management of Dave Sexton, who was sacked after the end of the season after failing to win the club a major trophy. The likes of Lawrie McMenemy, Brian Clough, Bobby Robson and Ron Saunders were all linked with the job, before Sexton was succeeded by West Bromwich Albion manager Ron Atkinson.
The club also paid a club record of more than £1 million for Nottingham Forest striker Garry Birtles, but the player was a huge disappointment and ended the season with just one goal from 28 appearances. The club's top scorer was Joe Jordan, who found the back of the net 15 times.
United were indeed one of the hardest teams to beat in the First Division this season, losing just nine out of 42 games and winning their final seven, but they were also held to a draw on 18 occasions. This restricted them to eighth-place finish.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance16 August 1980MiddlesbroughH3–0Macari, Grimes, Thomas54,39419 August 1980Wolverhampton WanderersA0–131,95523 August 1980Birmingham CityA0–028,66130 August 1980SunderlandH1–1Jovanović51,4986 September 1980Tottenham HotspurA0–040,99513 September 1980Leicester CityH5–0Coppell, Grimes, Jovanović (2), Macari43,22920 September 1980Leeds UnitedA0–032,53927 September 1980Manchester CityH2–2Coppell, Albiston55,9184 October 1980Nottingham ForestA2–1Macari, Coppell29,8018 October 1980Aston VillaH3–3McIlroy (2; 1 pen.), Coppell38,83111 October 1980ArsenalH0–049,03618 October 1980Ipswich TownA1–1McIlroy (pen.)28,57222 October 1980Stoke CityA2–1Jordan, Macari24,53425 October 1980EvertonH2–0Jordan, Coppell54,2601 November 1980Crystal PalaceA0–131,4498 November 1980Coventry CityH0–042,79412 November 1980Wolverhampton WanderersH0–037,95915 November 1980MiddlesbroughA1–1Jordan20,60622 November 1980Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–1Jordan (2), McIlroy, Duxbury23,92329 November 1980SouthamptonH1–1Jordan47,7836 December 1980Norwich CityA2–2Bond (o.g.), Coppell18,78013 December 1980Stoke CityH2–2Macari, Jordan39,56820 December 1980ArsenalA1–2Macari33,73026 December 1980LiverpoolH0–057,04927 December 1980West Bromwich AlbionA1–3Jovanović38,61510 January 1981Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–1McQueen, Macari42,20828 January 1981SunderlandA0–231,91031 January 1981Birmingham CityH2–0Jordan, Macari39,0817 February 1981Leicester CityA0–126,08517 February 1981Tottenham HotspurH0–040,64221 February 1981Manchester CityA0–150,11428 February 1981Leeds UnitedH0–145,7337 March 1981SouthamptonA0–122,69814 March 1981Aston VillaA3–3Jordan (2), McIlroy (pen.)42,18218 March 1981Nottingham ForestH1–1Burns (o.g.)38,20521 March 1981Ipswich TownH2–1Thomas, Nicholl46,68528 March 1981EvertonA1–0Jordan25,8564 April 1981Crystal PalaceH1–0Duxbury37,95411 April 1981Coventry CityA2–0Jordan (2)20,20114 April 1981LiverpoolA1–0McQueen31,27618 April 1981West Bromwich AlbionH2–1Jordan, Macari44,44225 April 1981Norwich CityH1–0Jordan40,165
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance3 January 1981Round 3Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–2Duxbury, Thomas42,1997 January 1981Round 3ReplayBrighton & Hove AlbionA2–0Nicholl, Birtles26,91524 January 1981Round 4Nottingham ForestA0–134,110
League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance27 August 1980Round 2First legCoventry CityH0–131,6562 September 1980Round 2Second legCoventry CityA0–118,946
UEFA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance17 September 1980Round 1First legWidzew ŁódźH1–1McIlroy38,0371 October 1980Round 1Second legWidzew ŁódźA0–040,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupUEFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Gary Bailey400302020470GK Paddy Roche2000000020DF Arthur Albiston421302020491DF Martin Buchan260202020320DF Mike Duxbury27(6)20(2)1001(1)028(9)3DF Nikola Jovanović194102020244DF Gordon McQueen112200000132DF Kevin Moran32010000(1)033(1)0DF Jimmy Nicholl361312020432DF Anthony Whelan0(1)00000000(1)0MF Steve Coppell426302020496MF Ashley Grimes6(2)20000208(2)2MF Lou Macari37(1)930201043(1)9MF Chris McGrath1000000010MF Sammy McIlroy31(1)510202136(1)6MF Tom Sloan0(2)0000(1)0000(3)0MF Mickey Thomas302312020373MF Ray Wilkins11(2)020000013(2)0FW Garry Birtles250310000281FW Jimmy Greenhoff8(1)000201011(1)0FW Joe Jordan33153000103715FW Scott McGarvey0(2)00000000(2)0FW Andy Ritchie3(1)00020005(1)0
References