Steve Coppell On Starring With Tranmere And Representing Manchester United And England | OneFootball

You began your professional career at Tranmere Rovers, where you quickly made an impact upon breaking into the first team. Could you share what that experience was like for you, both in terms of your personal development and the challenges you faced stepping into senior football?

“Well, arriving at Tranmere was a story in itself because I was playing football for my boys’ club at the time. I used to play for my school, and we also had a street team. So, weekends for me were packed: Saturday morning, school; Saturday afternoon, boys’ club; and Sunday, either morning or afternoon, the street team. My weekends were always busy.

“I was playing for my boys’ club just before my A-levels at school when a Tranmere scout came to me after a game and said, “We’re having trials for Tranmere. Would you like to come along?” I replied, “I’m sorry, but no. I’m doing my A-levels and revising hard at the moment.”

“At that point, I had more or less given up the idea of becoming a professional player, so I turned down the opportunity. Then, luckily for me, about three weeks later, I received another phone call from the same scout. He said, “I’m just phoning up on the off chance. We’re having a trial game this weekend,” and then he mentioned the magic words: the game was going to be at Prenton Park, their league ground. At the time, I’d never played on a league ground, and frankly, I was getting fed up with revising for my A-levels. So I said, “Yes, I’m available. I’ll come along.”

“I went along, and luckily for me, I scored a hat-trick in the game, so they wanted to sign me. At that point, I was still doing my A-levels and had already secured a place at Liverpool University. However, my course wasn’t set to start until October, so I had the summer and early autumn free to train full-time. Even though I wasn’t being paid—I was still an amateur—I got a lift to training every morning from Tommy Lawrence, the legendary Liverpool goalkeeper. That was an incredible experience for me as a Liverpool fan. So I’d get a ride from him every day, which didn’t cost me much, and for three months, I trained almost full-time as a professional.

“Throughout the season, I was determined to make my debut, but for reasons I can’t fully explain now, I wanted to make my debut in the Football League as an amateur. Towards the end of that season, I finally got my chance to play and made my first-team debut. By halfway through my second year at university, I was transferred to Manchester United.

“Playing for Tranmere was a unique experience because I was a full-time student at the same time. Once university started, I never trained with the team at all. In fact, I didn’t actually make my debut until February. But it was an incredible time for me. I always say, when I got fed up with studying, I’d go train, and when I got fed up with football, I’d focus on my studies. It was the perfect balance for me—a unique introduction to the game and one that probably wouldn’t happen now. I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it.”

Considering the unique balance you maintained between your university studies and football at Tranmere, would you say that your move to Manchester United under Tommy Docherty marked a transformative moment in your life, both professionally and personally?

“Well, it didn’t change my life overnight, to be honest. When I signed with Manchester United, I met Tommy Docherty, and you have to remember this was a time when there were no agents. By then, I was in my second year at university, and I had signed a £10-a-week contract. For me, as a student, £10 a week was a lot—it was good money. On top of that, we earned bonuses when we won matches, so I was able to supplement my university life with money from football. Life was good. I thought, “I’ll finish my degree, then try to get a full-time contract playing football.”

“Halfway through my second year, I got a phone call: “Tommy Docherty is in the office; we’ve agreed to sell you. Get yourself over here to discuss terms with him.” I had no clue what the going rate for a player was back then. There were no agents or anyone to advise me other than my father. My dad and I were Liverpool fans at the time, and he gave me some excellent advice. He said, “Listen, you don’t turn down Manchester United.”

“So, I met Tommy Docherty, and I was still very keen to finish my second year at university. I thought, “This club, Manchester United, is buying me; they won’t want to see me attending lectures and tutorials all the time.” But when I met Tommy, I asked him, “Would it be okay if I finished my second year? I can complete my third year anytime.” He gave me some great advice, and I always say Tommy Docherty had the second biggest influence on my life outside of my dad. He said to me, “Listen, son, you’re going to finish your university education. Football will chew you up and spit you out at a moment’s notice, but your university degree will stay with you for life.” Looking back, it was such wise advice.

“For the next 15 months, I trained with the team one day a week and spent the rest of my time at university. During that time, we got promoted from the old second division, and then we took the first division by storm. In my first year, we finished third in the league and reached the FA Cup final. So maybe being a student didn’t harm the team too much!

“Honestly, it was a dream couple of years.”

“When I joined, the team was going through a bit of a sticky patch, but from the time I signed, we went unbeaten for the rest of the season. I played in around 11 or 12 games during that run. My debut was a home game, and it all happened very quickly. I signed on a Wednesday, trained on Thursday and Friday, and the manager, Tommy Docherty, told me to turn up for the pre-match meal at the cricket ground, which was about 400 yards from the football stadium.

“I arrived not knowing any of the players and was told I’d be on the bench. It was surreal sitting alongside players I’d only seen on TV—icons like Lou Macari and Martin Buchan, who were already becoming legends. We won that game 4-0, and from then on, we stayed unbeaten until the end of the season.

“That period really opened my eyes to how massive Manchester United was, not just in Manchester but across the UK. It was a tremendous learning experience—being part of a team with that level of quality and professionalism. Ironically, I only trained with the team one day a week, usually on a Tuesday. If there was a midweek game, I didn’t train at all, but the team kept winning.

“One standout memory from that season was the Easter weekend. We had three games in four days—Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Back then, with much smaller squads, it was incredibly physically demanding. That stretch really highlighted the grit and determination of the team. It was a remarkable time and something I’ll always treasure.”

The FA Cup was a monumental event in your era, particularly given how rare televised football was at the time. You had the unique experience of reaching the final in 1976 against Southampton, where United were favourites but suffered a shock defeat. Then, the following year, you returned to the final, this time against your boyhood club, Liverpool. How did those two contrasting experiences shape your perspective on the game?

“Yeah, the memories come flooding back as we talk about it now. In ’76, we made it to the final, and Tommy Docherty always used to say, “If you’re going to win the Cup, your name’s on it from the third round.” There were moments in the earlier rounds where we felt lucky to get through, which made us think there might be some truth to that.

“We faced Southampton in the final, and being part of that spectacle was surreal. Cup final day was such a big deal on TV, and suddenly, I was part of it. People were asking me things like what I had for breakfast—it was such a strange experience. Looking back, I think the occasion may have got to us, which might explain why we didn’t play well that day.

“The next day, despite the loss, there was a city centre open-top bus tour planned. The fans came out in huge numbers to celebrate our progress and attacking style that season, even though we hadn’t won. During the event, Tommy Docherty told the crowd, “We’ll be back in 12 months with the Cup,” and I remember thinking, “How can you promise something like that?” But, incredibly, 12 months later, we were back, this time against Liverpool, who were an exceptional team at the time.

“That final could’ve gone either way, and our winning goal was certainly fortuitous. Still, it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in football, right up there with my debut for United and England. To go from the heartbreak of losing the previous final to lifting the trophy and earning a winner’s medal was very special.

“Both finals were baking hot, and in those days, we didn’t know much about hydration or energy bars. I felt absolutely exhausted after both finals, but when you walk up those steps and see the trophy, it’s light as a feather when you win it. I think everyone who’s lifted the trophy would say the same—it gives you such a good feeling.

“I’ve got a photo in my office of me holding the trophy where I am speaking to you from and whenever I look at it, wish I could do it again.”

“Not just across the UK, but across the world, Manchester United’s reach was immense even back then. The club regularly embarked on world tours to raise funds and spread its influence—long before “spreading the brand” became a common phrase. After my first year at United, we went on a five-week world tour that took us to Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and then back via America. It was primarily a money-making trip, but it also reinforced the club’s global appeal.

“The legacy of the Munich disaster played a significant role in that. The empathy and admiration people felt for United following that tragedy remained deeply rooted around the world. I remember arriving in Hong Kong and being completely stunned by the sheer number of Manchester United fans there. It was remarkable to see how the club’s name and history had resonated so far beyond Manchester.

“Playing for United also came with immense expectations. When you represent the club, you quickly learn that you’re not just expected to win—you’re expected to win in a particular way. There’s a “United way” of playing, which isn’t necessarily a rigid tactic but more of an ethos. It’s about playing on the front foot, being positive, and attacking. In my era, that meant width, with two wingers, and a focus on moving the ball forward with intent—but without aimlessly hoofing it into space. It was aggressive, exciting football. Tommy Docherty epitomised that mentality—he’d rather win a game 4-3 than grind out a 1-0 victory.

“But the “United Way” extends beyond the pitch. There’s an expectation in how you conduct yourself, how you represent the club, and how you embody its traditions. If you don’t meet those standards across all aspects, you quickly realise you’re not considered a true Manchester United player.

“That sense of responsibility still stays with me today. When I watch United games now, there are times when they win, and I think, “That’s superb—that’s the United way.” Other times, they might win, but it doesn’t feel quite right—it doesn’t align with that ethos. It’s been fascinating to see how different managers have brought their own styles in recent years, but the expectation to play a certain way always lingers when you’re connected to Manchester United.”

Finally, Steve, with over 40 caps for England and the honour of representing your country at major tournaments, how proud did that make you feel?

“Yeah, without a doubt, it was a huge source of pride for me, but it also contributed to my downfall to some extent. I made my debut against Italy, and when Ron Greenwood became manager, he made a number of changes. The night I debuted, myself, Peter Barnes, and Bob Latchford all made our first appearances, so it was a bit chaotic. There was a lot of upheaval in the team and the makeup of the squad, but I played in quite a few games under Greenwood. I was desperate to play in a World Cup.

“I had already played in the European Championships in Italy, but the team didn’t perform well, and I felt a strong desire to help get things back on track. With the World Cup in Spain on the horizon, we had a qualification match against Hungary at Wembley, I think in November, and that’s when I got injured. I took a bad tackle from the Hungarian fullback, and I immediately knew something was wrong. It felt like a firework had gone off in my knee. At that point, even though we had qualified for Spain, I was determined to be part of the squad, but I knew I had this knee injury.

“I struggled for a few months recovering from the injury and getting back up to speed in time to try and make the squad. The club wanted me to have surgery early in the new year, but I resisted because I thought, if I’m out for six to eight weeks, I won’t make the squad for Spain with the recovery time and everything. So, I avoided surgery and just battled on. Unfortunately, by playing through the injury, I had ruptured my cruciate ligament and damaged the joint surfaces. After playing for seven months and then going to the World Cup, the damage was irreparable.

“I played decently in the World Cup and enjoyed the experience. The first game, when we beat France and I scored a goal after just 30 seconds, was fantastic. It was a tournament where we went unbeaten, conceding only one goal, I think, but we were still knocked out. It seems ironic, but it didn’t go the way we expected. Our two best and most creative players, Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking, were both injured. I truly believe that if both Kevin and Trevor had been fit, we could have won that tournament. I really felt we had the potential to win.”