| Club: | Manchester United |
| Season: | 1979–80 |
| Manager: | Dave Sexton |
| Chairman: | Louis Edwards (until 25 February 1980) Martin Edwards (from 22 March 1980) |
| League: | First Division |
| League Result: | 2nd |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third Round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third Round |
| League Topscorer: | Joe Jordan (13) |
| Season Topscorer: | Joe Jordan (13) |
| Highest Attendance: | 57,471 vs Leeds United (8 December 1979) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 43,329 vs Bristol City (23 February 1980) |
| Average Attendance: | 51,557 |
| Pattern La1: | _manutdh7580 |
| Pattern B1: | _manutdh7580 |
| Pattern Ra1: | _manutdh7580 |
| Pattern So1: | _redtopwhitestripe |
| Leftarm1: | E20E0E |
| Body1: | E20E0E |
| Rightarm1: | E20E0E |
| Shorts1: | FFFFFF |
| Socks1: | 000000 |
| Pattern La2: | _manutda7580 |
| Pattern B2: | _manutda7580 |
| Pattern Ra2: | _manutda7580 |
| Pattern Sh2: | _manutda7580 |
| Pattern So2: | _redtopwhitestripe |
| Leftarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Body2: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm2: | FFFFFF |
| Shorts2: | 000000 |
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| Prevseason: | 1978–79 |
| Nextseason: | 1980–81 |
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.[1] 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.[2]
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.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 1979 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | McQueen | 21,768 | |
| 22 August 1979 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–0 | McQueen, Coppell | 53,393 | |
| 25 August 1979 | Arsenal | A | 0–0 | 44,380 | ||
| 1 September 1979 | Middlesbrough | H | 2–1 | Macari (2) | 51,015 | |
| 8 September 1979 | Aston Villa | A | 3–0 | Coppell, Thomas (pen.), Grimes | 36,183 | |
| 15 September 1979 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | Grimes | 54,308 | |
| 22 September 1979 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | Macari | 35,503 | |
| 29 September 1979 | Stoke City | H | 4–0 | Wilkins, McQueen (2), McIlroy | 52,596 | |
| 6 October 1979 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–0 | Coppell, Macari | 52,641 | |
| 10 October 1979 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–2 | 27,713 | ||
| 13 October 1979 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | Macari | 28,305 | |
| 20 October 1979 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–0 | Grimes | 50,826 | |
| 27 October 1979 | Everton | A | 0–0 | 37,708 | ||
| 3 November 1979 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | Macari | 50,215 | |
| 10 November 1979 | Manchester City | A | 0–2 | 50,567 | ||
| 17 November 1979 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | Jordan | 52,800 | |
| 24 November 1979 | Norwich City | H | 5–0 | Macari, Moran, Coppell, Jordan (2) | 46,540 | |
| 1 December 1979 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2–1 | Macari, Coppell | 51,389 | |
| 8 December 1979 | Leeds United | H | 1–1 | Thomas | 57,471 | |
| 15 December 1979 | Coventry City | A | 2–1 | McQueen, Macari | 25,541 | |
| 22 December 1979 | Nottingham Forest | H | 3–0 | Jordan (2), McQueen | 54,607 | |
| 26 December 1979 | Liverpool | A | 0–2 | 51,073 | ||
| 29 December 1979 | Arsenal | H | 3–0 | McQueen, Jordan, McIlroy (pen.) | 54,295 | |
| 12 January 1980 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–1 | Thomas | 30,587 | |
| 2 February 1980 | Derby County | A | 3–1 | Thomas, McIlroy, B. Powell (o.g.) | 27,783 | |
| 9 February 1980 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 51,568 | ||
| 16 February 1980 | Stoke City | A | 1–1 | Coppell | 28,389 | |
| 23 February 1980 | Bristol City | H | 4–0 | Jordan (2), McIlroy, Merrick (o.g.) | 43,329 | |
| 27 February 1980 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–0 | McQueen, Coppell | 47,546 | |
| 1 March 1980 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–6 | 30,229 | ||
| 12 March 1980 | Everton | H | 0–0 | 45,515 | ||
| 15 March 1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–0 | 30,243 | ||
| 22 March 1980 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Thomas | 56,387 | |
| 29 March 1980 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | Jordan, Thomas | 33,056 | |
| 2 April 1980 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–2 | 31,417 | ||
| 5 April 1980 | Liverpool | H | 2–1 | Thomas, Greenhoff | 57,342 | |
| 7 April 1980 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 3–1 | McQueen, Thomas, Coppell | 31,902 | |
| 12 April 1980 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 4–1 | Ritchie (3), Wilkins | 53,151 | |
| 19 April 1980 | Norwich City | A | 2–0 | Jordan (2) | 24,697 | |
| 23 April 1980 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | Jordan (2) | 45,201 | |
| 26 April 1980 | Coventry City | H | 2–1 | McIlroy (2; 1 pen) | 52,154 | |
| 3 May 1980 | Leeds United | A | 0–2 | 39,625 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January 1980 | Round 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | McIlroy (pen.) | 45,207 | |
| 9 January 1980 | Round 3 Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–1 | 53,762 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 August 1979 | Round 2 First leg | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–2 | Thomas | 29,163 | |
| 5 September 1979 | Round 2 Second leg | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 3–1 | Thomas, Coppell, Miller (o.g.) | 48,292 | |
| 26 September 1979 | Round 3 | Norwich City | A | 1–4 | McIlroy | 18,312 |
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | Gary Bailey | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| DF | Arthur Albiston | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| DF | Martin Buchan | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| DF | Stewart Houston | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| DF | Nikola Jovanović | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | |
| DF | Gordon McQueen | 33 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 9 | |
| DF |  Kevin Moran | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| DF | Jimmy Nicholl | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| DF | Steve Paterson | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | |
| MF | Steve Coppell | 42 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 9 | |
| MF | Ashley Grimes | 20(6) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21(6) | 3 | |
| MF | Lou Macari | 39 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 9 | |
| MF | Chris McGrath | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | |
| MF | Sammy McIlroy | 41 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 8 | |
| MF | Tom Sloan | 1(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(4) | 0 | |
| MF | Mickey Thomas | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 10 | |
| MF | Ray Wilkins | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| FW | Jimmy Greenhoff | 4(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 1 | |
| FW | Joe Jordan | 32 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 13 | |
| FW | Andy Ritchie | 3(5) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 4(7) | 3 | |
| — | Own goals | — | 2 | — | 0 | — | 1 | — | 3 | |