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Manchester United Managers
Dave Sexton (July 77-July 81)After going for nearly 25 years with one man at the helm, Manchester United appointed their fourth manager in eight years when Dave Sexton accepted the job in 1977.So far no one had measured up to the massive stature of Busby but United hoped that in Sexton they had at last found the man to steady the ship. He had enjoyed a good record as Chelsea manager, guiding them to the 1970 FA Cup Final with victory over Leeds in the Old Trafford replay, as well as to the European Cup-winners Cup Final the following year. He took QPR to wihin a whisker of the League Championship in 1975-6 and just over a year later he was appointed manager at Old Trafford The directors saw him as the best choice, not just in terms of what he had achieved, but as the most acceptable face in the wake of the scandal which had surrounded Docherty's departure. The club had nothing to show from Sexton's first year in charge and despite investing nearly #1 million in Gordon McQueen and Joe Jordan, they finished in a mid-table position, The following season, although United's League fortunes had changed little, Sexton led them to Wembley for the third time in four seasons. It was to prove a memorable FA Cup Final, if only for the last frantic minutes when United clawed their way back into the game only to see Arsenal grab a dramatic winner. In 1980-81, despite paying #1 million for Garry Birtles, United found themselves back in mid-table and with no Cup successes either. Sexton lost his job on 30 April 1981, despite the fact that United had won their last seven games.
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