1981 in association football

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 FC
• : Ferencvaros
• : Vikingur
• : Athlone Town A.F.C.
• : Juventus
• : Progrès Niedercorn
• : Hibernians FC
• :
• * 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
• *Carolina Lightnin'

  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
• #
• #
• 1981 British Home Championship

  National teams

Movies

• Escape to Victory

  Births

• January 2 – Hanno Balitsch, German footballer
• January 20 – Owen Hargreaves, English footballer
• January 30 – Peter Crouch, English footballer
• February 23 – Gareth Barry, English footballer
• February 25 – Park Ji Sung, South Korea footballer
• March 27 – Terry McFlynn, British 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.

  June

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

  September

• September 22 – Néstor Carballo, Uruguayan international footballer

  October

• October 9 – František Fadrhonc, Czech football manager

  November

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

  December

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