1981 in association football explained

The following are the association football events of the year 1981 throughout the world.

Events

• 1981 Copa Libertadores

Won by Flamengo after defeating Cobreloa on the playoff match 2–0.

• 1980–81 European Cup

Won by Liverpool FC after defeating Real Madrid in final match 1–0.

• World Club Championship

Won by Flamengo after defeating Liverpool FC on a single match 3–0.

• March 25 – Kees Rijvers makes his debut as the manager of Dutch national team with a 1–0 win in the World Cup Qualifier against France. One player makes his debut for the Dutch: defender Edo Ophof from Ajax Amsterdam.
• September 1 – Dutch striker Wim Kieft makes his debut for the Netherlands national football team in the friendly against Switzerland. It's the 400th game in the history of the Dutch national team.

Winners club national championship

Asia

• Qatar  - Al-Sadd SC

Europe

•  - KF Partizani Tirana
•  - Austria Wien
•  - R.S.C. Anderlecht
•  - CSKA Sofia
•  - AC Omonoia
•  - Baník Ostrava
•  - Hvidovre IF
•  - Dynamo Berlin
•  - Aston Villa
•  - HB Torshavn
•  - HJK Helsinki
•  - AS Saint-Étienne
•  - Olympiacos F.C.
•  - Ferencváros
•  - Vikingur
•  - Athlone Town A.F.C.
•  - Juventus
•  - Progrès Niedercorn
•  - Hibernians F.C.
  • • Eredivisie – AZ Alkmaar
  • Eerste Divisie – HFC Haarlem
•  - Glentoran F.C.
•  - Vålerenga IF
•  - Widzew Łódź
•  - Benfica
•  - Universitatea Craiova
•  - Celtic F.C.
•  - Real Sociedad
•  - Östers IF
•  - FC Zürich
•  - Trabzonspor
•  - FC Dynamo Kiev
•  - Bayern Munich
•  - Red Star Belgrade

North America

•  - UNAM
• /  -
  • Chicago Sting (NASL)

Oceania

•  - Sydney Slickers

South America

• • • Metropolitano – Boca Juniors
  • Nacional – River Plate
•  - Jorge Wilstermann
•  - Grêmio
•  - Colo-Colo
•  - Atlético Nacional
•  - Barcelona
• Paraguay  - Olimpia Asunción
•  - FBC Melgar
•  - Peñarol
•  - Deportivo Táchira

International tournaments

• Mundialito in Montevideo, Uruguay (December 30, 1980 – January 10, 1981)
  1. • 1. • 1981 British Home Championship (May 16–23, 1981)

Abandoned following severe civil unrest in Northern Ireland.

National teams

Date	Opponent	Final Score	Result	Competition	Venue
January 6		1–1	D	Mundialito	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
February 22		3–0	W	World Cup Qualifier	Oosterpark Stadion, Groningen
March 25		1–0	W	World Cup Qualifier	De Kuip, Rotterdam
April 29		0–1	W	World Cup Qualifier	Makario Stadium, Nicosia
March 26		2–1	L	Friendly	Hardturm, Zürich
September 9		2–2	D	World Cup Qualifier	De Kuip, Rotterdam
October 14		3–0	W	World Cup Qualifier	De Kuip, Rotterdam
November 18		2–0	L	World Cup Qualifier	Parc des Princes, Paris

Movies

• Escape to Victory

Births

• January 1 – Mladen Petrić, Croatian international^[1]
• January 2
  • Hanno Balitsch, German footballer
  • Maxi Rodríguez, Argentine footballer
• January 9 – Ebi Smolarek, Polish international
• January 10 – James Coppinger, English club footballer
• January 15 – El Hadji Diouf, Senegalese international
• January 19 – Lucho González, Argentine international
• January 20 – Owen Hargreaves, Canadian-born English footballer
• January 21
  • Ivan Ergić, Serbian footballer
  • Roberto Guana Italian footballer
  • Mohd Amri Yahyah, Malaysian international
• January 23 – Lee Dong-geun, South Korean former footballer^[2]
• January 25
  • Rodrigo Calaça, Brazilian footballer^[3]
  • Dmitry Izvekov, former Russian professional footballer^[4]
• January 26 – Fernando Curcio, Uruguayan footballer^[5]
• January 28 – Thomas Schlieter, German footballer^[6]
• January 30
  • Dimitar Berbatov, Bulgarian footballer^[7]
  • Afonso Alves, Brazilian footballer
  • Peter Crouch, English footballer
• February 13
  • Durahim Jamaluddin, Malaysian international (d. 2018)
  • Liam Miller, Irish international (d. 2018)
• February 18 – Ivan Sproule, Northern Ireland international
• February 21 – Nery Fernández, Paraguayan former professional footballer^[8]
• February 23 – Gareth Barry, English footballer
• February 24
  • Felipe Baloy, Panamanian international
  • Mauro Rosales, Argentinian footballer
• February 25 – Park Ji Sung, South Korea footballer
• February 27 – Alessandro Rottoli, Italian professional footballer^[9]
• March 9 – Didi Longuet, former professional footballer^[10]
• March 10 – Samuel Eto'o, Cameroonian international
• March 15 – Aymen Mnafeg, Tunisian footballer^[11]
• March 16 – Johannes Aigner, Austrian footballer
• March 18 – Cristián Basaure, Chilean former footballer^[12]
• March 19
  • Maksim Arap, former Russian footballer^[13]
  • Matt Haddrell, English footballer^[14]
  • Kolo Touré, Ivorian footballer
• March 27 – Terry McFlynn, British footballer
• March 29 – Jlloyd Samuel, Trinidadian footballer (d. 2018)
• March 31 – Wolfgang Bubenik, Austrian footballer^[15]
• April 8 – Cédric Faivre, French professional football^[16]
• April 9 – Ireneusz Jeleń, Polish international
• April 12 – Nicolás Burdisso, Argentinian footballer
• April 29 – George McCartney, Northern Ireland international
• May 7 – Azrine Effendy Sa'duddin, Malaysian footballer^[17]
• May 8
  • Andrea Barzagli, Italian footballer
  • Sam Ketsekile, Mosotho footballer
  • Shimane Kgope Ntshweu, Botswana footballer
• May 13 – Carciano, Brazilian footballer^[18]
• May 15 – Patrice Evra, Senegalese-born French international
• May 27 – Johan Elmander, Swedish footballer
• May 31
  • Josefine Krengel, German footballer^[19]
  • Neddy Rose, Seychellois footballer^[20]
• June 4 – Giourkas Seitaridis, Greek international
• June 10 – Burton O'Brien, Scottish footballer
• June 13 – Danny Curran, English former footballer
• June 16 – David Buxo, Andorran footballer^[21]
• June 17 – Doddy Édouard, Mauritian footballer^[22]
• June 18 – Denis Shevelev, former Russian professional footballer^[23]
• June 21 – İbrahim Öztürk, Turkish club footballer
• June 22
  • Mathias Abel, German footballer
  • Péter Bajzát, Hungarian footballer
  • Ronald Spuller, Austrian retired professional footballer^[24]
• June 23 – Björn Schlicke, German youth international
• June 27
  • Jennifer Molina, Mexican female footballer
  • Jean-Renaud Nemouthé, French retired footballer^[25]
  • Cléber Santana, Brazilian footballer (d. 2016)
• June 30 – Irakli Toçi, Albanian retired footballer^[26]
• July 2 – Baptiste Lafleuriel, former French professional footballer^[27]
• July 10 – Aleksandar Tunchev, Bulgarian international
• July 14 – Khaled Aziz, Saudi Arabian midfielder
• July 16 – Paulo (Gideon Paulo da Silva), Brazilian footballer^[28]
• July 19 – Anderson Luiz de Carvalho, Brazilian club footballer
• July 20 – Damien Delaney, Irish footballer
• July 28 – Michael Carrick, English footballer
• August 4 – Hadson da Silva Nery, Brazilian midfielder
• August 8  – Witold Sabela, Polish former professional footballer^[29]
• August 10 – Malek Mouath, Saudi Arabian footballer
• August 12 – Oliver Đokić, Serbian footballer^[30]
• August 21 – Benjamín Ruiz, Chilean footballer^[31]
• August 24 – Mickaël Germain, Guadelopean former professional footballer^[32]
• September 1
  • Mana Nopnech, Thai retired professional footballer^[33]
  • Maksim Rybalko, former Russian professional football player
• September 9 – Pacheta (Héctor Carrasco Rojo), Spanish professional footballer^[34]
• September 11 – Victor Kros, Dutch footballer
• September 22 – Alma Martinéz, Mexican female footballer
• September 23 – Jay Murray, English footballer^[35]
• October 1 – Ivan Semenets, former Russian professional footballer^[36]
• October 3
  • Zlatan Ibrahimović, Swedish footballer
  • Andreas Isaksson, Swedish football goalkeeper
  • Iván Pailós, Uruguayan footballer^[37]
• October 6 – Mikael Dorsin, Swedish footballer
• October 8 – Chris Killen, New Zealand international
• October 9 – Ryoichi Maeda, Japanese international
• October 12  - Shola Ameobi, Nigerian international
• October 13  - Koen Brack, Dutch footballer^[38]
• October 21  - Yohan Viola, Dominican Republic footballer^[39]
• October 23
  • Marcin Folc, Polish footballer^[40]
  • Olivier Occéan, Canadian international
• October 24 – Soeris Baidjoe, Dutch footballer^[41]
• October 28 – Milan Baroš, Czech footballer
• November 8 – Joe Cole, English footballer
• November 20
  • Espen Hoff, Norwegian footballer
  • İbrahim Toraman, Turkish international footballer
• November 21 – Martin van Leeuwen, Dutch footballer
• November 22 – Seweryn Gancarczyk, Polish international
• November 25 – Xabi Alonso, Spanish international
• December 3 – David Villa, Spanish footballer
• December 3
  • Ioannis Amanatidis, Greek footballer
  • Aleksandr Galakhov, former Russian professional footballer
• December 6 – Gil Ferreira, Brazilian footballer^[42]
• December 12 – Federico Tafani, Italian footballer^[43]
• December 20 – Leo Bertos, New Zealand international
• December 21 – Cristian Zaccardo, Italian international defender
• December 28 – Khalid Boulahrouz, Dutch footballer
• December 30 – Umar Karsanov, former Russian professional footballer^[44]
• December 31 – Dadi Mayuma, Congolese former footballer^[45]

Deaths

January

• January 29 – Lajos Korányi, Hungarian international (b. 1907)

May

• May 9 – Ralph Allen, English club footballer (b. 1906)
• May 14 – Michele Andreolo, Italian midfielder, winner of the 1938 FIFA World Cup. (68)

June

• June 21 – Alberto Suppici, Uruguayan midfielder, winner of the 1930 FIFA World Cup as manager. (82)

September

• September 22 – Néstor Carballo, Uruguayan international footballer (born 1929)

October

• October 9 – František Fadrhonc (66), Czech football manager (born 1914)

November

• November 3 – Eraldo Monzeglio, Italian defender, winner of the 1934 FIFA World Cup and 1938 FIFA World Cup. (75)

December

• December 4 – Zoilo Saldombide, Uruguayan striker, winner of the 1930 FIFA World Cup. (76)

External links

• Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
• VoetbalStats

Notes and References

1. Web site: Petrić, Mladen. National Football Teams. May 23, 2021.
2. Web site: K-League. 이동근 player record. Korean. 2010-01-20. 2021-01-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129200419/http://www.kleaguei.com/team/K14/player.aspx?pid=2003009. dead.
3. Web site: Rodrigo Calaça . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 17 November 2023 . en.
4. https://footballfacts.ru/person/6933 Dmitry Izvekov
5. Web site: Fernando Curcio . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 16 April 2024 . en.
6. Web site: Thomas Schlieter . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 5 February 2024 . en.
7. News: Dimitar Berbatov: factfile – Manchester United . Manchester Evening News . 2 September 2008 . 4 September 2008.
8. Web site: Nery Fernández . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 6 December 2023 . en.
9. Web site: Alessandro Rottoli . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 6 February 2024 . en.
10. Web site: Didi Longuet . worldfootball.net . 28 March 2021 . en.
11. Web site: Aymen Mnafeg . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 26 September 2023.
12. Web site: Cristián Basaure . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 7 February 2024 . en.
13. Web site: Maksim Arap . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 21 February 2024 . en.
14. Web site: Matt Haddrell . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 1 February 2024 . en.
15. Web site: Wolfgang Bubenik . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 20 February 2024 . en.
16. Web site: Cédric Faivre . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 23 May 2024 . en.
17. News: Selangor to give reserves chance to shine . New Straits Times. 22 June 2011 .
18. Web site: Carciano . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 17 April 2024 . en.
19. http://www.soccerdonna.de/de/josefine-krengel/profil/spieler_993.html Profile
20. https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/26361/Neddy_Rose.html Neddy Rose at National-Football-Teams.com
21. Web site: David Buxo . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 24 April 2024 . en.
22. Web site: Doddy Edouard . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 3 June 2024 . en.
23. Web site: Denis Shevelev . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 31 January 2024 . en.
24. Web site: Ronald Spuller . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 20 February 2024 . en.
25. Web site: Jean-Renaud Nemouthé . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 17 October 2023 . en.
26. Web site: Irakli Toci . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 16 November 2023 . en.
27. Web site: Baptiste Lafleuriel . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 9 June 2024 . en.
28. Web site: Paulo . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 31 January 2024 . en.
29. Web site: Witold Sabela . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 23 February 2024 . en.
30. Web site: Oliver Đokić . FBref.com . Sports Reference LLC . 17 October 2023 . en.
31. Web site: Benjamín Ruiz . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 3 May 2024 . en.
32. Web site: Mickaël Germain . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 30 May 2024 . en.
33. Web site: M. NOPNECH . us.soccerway.com . Perform Media Services Limited . 25 September 2023.
34. Web site: Pacheta . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 12 October 2023 . en.
35. Web site: Jay Murray . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 14 June 2024 . en.
36. https://footballfacts.ru/person/15105 Ivan Semenets
37. Web site: Iván Pailós . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 14 June 2024 . en.
38. Web site: Koen Brack . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 20 August 2024 . en.
39. Web site: Yohan Viola . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 26 May 2024 . en.
40. Web site: Marcin Folc . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 17 November 2023 . en.
41. Web site: Soeris Baidjoe . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 12 October 2023 . en.
42. Web site: Roberto Gil . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 31 October 2023 . en.
43. Web site: Federico Tafani . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 2 October 2023.
44. Web site: http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Futbol/Umar-Maharbekovich-Karsanov-Futbol-30121981 . ru:Карсанов Умар Махарбекович . sportbox.ru . Russian . August 18, 2014.
45. Web site: Dadi Mayuma . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG . 5 February 2024 . en.