Steve Coppell, Manchester United player

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Steve Coppell made nearly four hundred appearances for Manchester United over nine seasons. These included a record 206 consecutive league matches played between January 1977 and November 1981.

Coppell was recommended to Tommy Docherty by Jimmy Murphy. Born and brought up in Liverpool, Coppell was a student at the University, playing for Third Division Tranmere Rovers. Docherty signed him in early 1975 and Coppell made his debut, as a substitute, in March. In his first match he impressed the manager with two assists and, thereafter, was selected for most of the remaining games of the season. Willie Morgan had previously played on the right but, that summer, he was sold.

Under Docherty, Coppell played as an attacking right-winger. He was a great athlete and, as a winger, was quick and direct. His crossing ability made many goals for the central strikers and, with his shooting ability, he scored a number of goals himself. Under Docherty’s successor, Dave Sexton, Coppell became a more complete midfielder. Still on the right, he would track back to defend as well as move forward to attack. Between his debut in 1975 and injuring his knee in 1981, Coppell hardly missed a match. In November 1981, while playing for England against Hungary in a World Cup Qualifier, Coppell suffered a serious knee injury. He played again after two months, but the knee was never quite the same again. He played on for a further fifteen months until April 1983 when, at only twenty-eight, he made his final Manchester United appearance before having to retire. Coppell played 396 times for Manchester United and scored seventy goals. He also made 42 appearances for England.

After finishing playing, Coppell went into club management.

profile last updated November 2010