The 1979–80 season was Manchester United's 78th season in the Football League, and their fifth consecutive season in the top division of English football. They finished the season second in the league, just two points behind champions Liverpool, and qualified for the 1980–81 UEFA Cup. It was the first season at the club for new midfielder Ray Wilkins, signed in the 1979 close season for a club record fee of £750,000. However, United had gained a reputation for playing relatively dull football under Sexton after the more entertaining style of play under Tommy Docherty, and by the end of his third season as manager they had still yet to win a major trophy, as Liverpool won a fifth title in eight seasons.
On 25 February 1980 United's chairman since 1965, Louis Edwards died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack. His son Martin Edwards replaced him as chairman on 22 March 1980.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 August 1979SouthamptonA1–1McQueen21,76822 August 1979West Bromwich AlbionH2–0McQueen, Coppell53,39325 August 1979ArsenalA0–044,3801 September 1979MiddlesbroughH2–1Macari (2)51,0158 September 1979Aston VillaA3–0Coppell, Thomas (pen.), Grimes36,18315 September 1979Derby CountyH1–0Grimes54,30822 September 1979Wolverhampton WanderersA1–3Macari35,50329 September 1979Stoke CityH4–0Wilkins, McQueen (2), McIlroy52,5966 October 1979Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–0Coppell, Macari52,64110 October 1979West Bromwich AlbionA0–227,71313 October 1979Bristol CityA1–1Macari28,30520 October 1979Ipswich TownH1–0Grimes50,82627 October 1979EvertonA0–037,7083 November 1979SouthamptonH1–0Macari50,21510 November 1979Manchester CityA0–250,56717 November 1979Crystal PalaceH1–1Jordan52,80024 November 1979Norwich CityH5–0Macari, Moran, Coppell, Jordan (2)46,5401 December 1979Tottenham HotspurA2–1Macari, Coppell51,3898 December 1979Leeds UnitedH1–1Thomas57,47115 December 1979Coventry CityA2–1McQueen, Macari25,54122 December 1979Nottingham ForestH3–0Jordan (2), McQueen54,60726 December 1979LiverpoolA0–251,07329 December 1979ArsenalH3–0McQueen, Jordan, McIlroy (pen.)54,29512 January 1980MiddlesbroughA1–1Thomas30,5872 February 1980Derby CountyA3–1Thomas, McIlroy, B. Powell (o.g.)27,7839 February 1980Wolverhampton WanderersH0–151,56816 February 1980Stoke CityA1–1Coppell28,38923 February 1980Bristol CityH4–0Jordan (2), McIlroy, Merrick (o.g.)43,32927 February 1980Bolton WanderersH2–0McQueen, Coppell47,5461 March 1980Ipswich TownA0–630,22912 March 1980EvertonH0–045,51515 March 1980Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–030,24322 March 1980Manchester CityH1–0Thomas56,38729 March 1980Crystal PalaceA2–0Jordan, Thomas33,0562 April 1980Nottingham ForestA0–231,4175 April 1980LiverpoolH2–1Thomas, Greenhoff57,3427 April 1980Bolton WanderersA3–1McQueen, Thomas, Coppell31,90212 April 1980Tottenham HotspurH4–1Ritchie (3), Wilkins53,15119 April 1980Norwich CityA2–0Jordan (2)24,69723 April 1980Aston VillaH2–1Jordan (2)45,20126 April 1980Coventry CityH2–1McIlroy (2; 1 pen)52,1543 May 1980Leeds UnitedA0–239,625
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 January 1980Round 3Tottenham HotspurA1–1McIlroy (pen.)45,2079 January 1980Round 3ReplayTottenham HotspurH0–153,762
League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance29 August 1979Round 2First legTottenham HotspurA1–2Thomas29,1635 September 1979Round 2Second legTottenham HotspurH3–1Thomas, Coppell, Miller (o.g.)48,29226 September 1979Round 3Norwich CityA1–4McIlroy18,312
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Gary Bailey4202030470DF Arthur Albiston2500030280DF Martin Buchan4202030470DF Stewart Houston1402010170DF Nikola Jovanović1(1)000001(1)0DF Gordon McQueen3392020379DF Kevin Moran91000091DF Jimmy Nicholl4202030470DF Steve Paterson0(1)000101(1)0MF Steve Coppell4282021469MF Ashley Grimes20(6)3001021(6)3MF Lou Macari3992030449MF Chris McGrath0(1)000000(1)0MF Sammy McIlroy4162121458MF Tom Sloan1(4)000001(4)0MF Mickey Thomas35820324010MF Ray Wilkins3722030422FW Jimmy Greenhoff4(1)100004(1)1FW Joe Jordan321320203613FW Andy Ritchie3(5)3001(2)04(7)3—Own goals—2—0—1—3
References