1981 in association football
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1981 throughout the world.
Contents
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
Europe
- Albania: KF Partizani Tirana
- Austria: Austria Wien
- Belgium: R.S.C. Anderlecht
- Bulgaria: CSKA Sofia
- Cyprus: AC Omonoia
- Czechoslovakia: Baník Ostrava
- Denmark: Hvidovre IF
- East Germany: Dynamo Berlin
- England: Aston Villa
- Faroe: HB Torshavn
- Finland: HJK Helsinki
- France: AS Saint-Étienne
- Greece: Olympiacos FC
- Hungary: Ferencvaros
- Iceland: Vikingur
- Republic of Ireland: Athlone Town A.F.C.
- Italy: Juventus
- Luxembourg: Progrès Niedercorn
- Malta: Hibernians FC
- Netherlands:
- Northern Ireland: Glentoran F.C.
- Norway: Vålerenga IF
- Poland: Widzew Łódź
- Portugal: Benfica
- Romania: Universitatea Craiova
- Scotland: Celtic F.C.
- Spain: Real Sociedad
- Sweden: Östers IF
- Switzerland: FC Zürich
- Turkey: Trabzonspor
- USSR:FC Dynamo Kiev
- West Germany: Bayern Munich
- Yugoslavia: Red Star Belgrade
North America
South America
Argentina
- Metropolitano – Boca Juniors
- Nacional – River Plate
Bolivia: Jorge Wilstermann
Brazil: Grêmio
Chile: Colo-Colo
Colombia: Atlético Nacional
Ecuador: Barcelona
Paraguay: Olimpia Asunción
Peru: FBC Melgar
Uruguay: Peñarol
Venezuela: Deportivo Táchira
International tournaments
- Mundialito in Montevideo, Uruguay (December 30, 1980 – January 10, 1981)
- 1981 British Home Championship (May 16–23, 1981)
-
- Abandoned following severe civil unrest in Northern Ireland.
National teams
Netherlands
| Date | Opponent | Final Score | Result | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 |  Italy |
1–1 | D | Mundialito | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
| February 22 |  Cyprus |
3–0 | W | World Cup Qualifier | Oosterpark Stadion, Groningen |
| March 25 |  France |
1–0 | W | World Cup Qualifier | De Kuip, Rotterdam |
| April 29 | Cyprus |
0–1 | W | World Cup Qualifier | Makario Stadium, Nicosia |
| March 26 |  Switzerland |
2–1 | L | Friendly | Hardturm, Zürich |
| September 9 |  Republic of Ireland |
2–2 | D | World Cup Qualifier | De Kuip, Rotterdam |
| October 14 |  Belgium |
3–0 | W | World Cup Qualifier | De Kuip, Rotterdam |
| November 18 | France |
2–0 | L | World Cup Qualifier | Parc des Princes, Paris |
Movies
Births
- January 20 – Owen Hargreaves, English footballer
- January 30 – Peter Crouch, English footballer
- February 23 – Gareth Barry, English footballer
- April 12 – Nicolás Burdisso, Argentinian footballer
- May 8 – Andrea Barzagli, Italian footballer
- May 27 – Johan Elmander, Swedish footballer
- June 27 – Jennifer Molina, Mexican female footballer
- July 28 – Michael Carrick, English footballer
- September 11 – Victor Kros, Dutch footballer
- September 22 – Alma Martinéz, Mexican female footballer
- October 3 – Zlatan Ibrahimović, Swedish footballer
- October 3 – Andreas Isaksson, Swedish football goalkeeper
- October 6 – Mikael Dorsin, Swedish footballer
- November 8 – Joe Cole, English footballer
- November 21 – Martin van Leeuwen, Dutch footballer
- December 3 – David Villa, Spanish footballer
- December 3 – Ioannis Amanatidis, Greek footballer
- December 21 – Cristian Zaccardo, Italian footballer
- December 28 – Khalid Boulahrouz, Dutch footballer
Deaths
May
- 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)
