The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1981 throughout the world.

[edit] Events

• Copa Libertadores 1981: Won by Flamengo after defeating Cobreloa on the playoff match 2-0.
• European Cup 1980-81: 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.

[edit] Winners club national championship

[edit] Europe

• Albania – KF Partizani Tirana
• Austria – Austria Wien
• Belgium – R.S.C. Anderlecht
• Bulgaria – CSKA Sofia
• Cyprus – AC Omonoia
• Czechoslovakia – Banik Ostrava
• Denmark – Hvidovre IF
• East Germany – Dynamo Berlin
• England – Aston Villa
• Faroe – HB Torshavn
• Finland – HJK Helsinki
• France – AS Saint-Etienne
• Greece – Olympiacos FC
• Hungary – Ferencvaros
• Iceland – Vikingur
• Republic of Ireland – Athlone Town A.F.C.
• Italy – Juventus
• Luxembourg – Progrès Niedercorn
• Malta – Hibernians FC
• Netherlands
  • Eredivisie – AZ Alkmaar
  • Eerste Divisie – HFC Haarlem
• Northern Ireland – Glentoran F.C.
• Norway – Vålerenga IF
• Poland – Widzew Lodz
• Portugal – SL Benfica
• Romania – Universitatea Craiova
• Scotland – Celtic F.C.
• Spain – Real Sociedad
• Sweden– Östers IF
• Switzerland – FC Zurich
• Turkey – Trabzonspor
• USSR – FC Dynamo Kiev
• West Germany – Bayern Munchen
• Yugoslavia – Red Star Belgrade

[edit] 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 – Melgar FBC
• Uruguay – Penarol
• Venezuela – Deportivo Tachira

[edit] International Tournaments

• Mundialito in Montevideo, Uruguay (December 30, 1980 – January 10, 1981)

1.  Uruguay
2.  Brazil

• 1981 British Home Championship (May 16 – May 23, 1981)

Abandoned following severe civil unrest in Northern Ireland.

[edit] National Teams

[edit]  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

[edit] Movies

• Escape to Victory

[edit] 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 footballer
• 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

[edit] Deaths

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

[edit] References

• (English) Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
• (Dutch) VoetbalStats