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Two longstanding records that almost looked unbreakable at Manchester United have been smashed in the last 15 years. Wayne Rooney overtook Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals. Bobby 249. Ryan Giggs made 963 appearances in United colours, beating Charlton's 758 appearances.
But there is another, lesser-known accomplishment that will almost certainly never be equaled in this current era of squad rotation and deep sports analysis, and it belongs to Steve Coppell, the focus of the most recent great edition of the UTD Podcast.
The Liverpool-born winger appeared in 207 straight league appearances for United over a four-year period. His record remains unbroken, and it is improbable that anybody will ever get near. Keep up with Betway for all the latest sports events, including club and individual records like Coppell’s.
“They were the great days; I had to keep pinching myself,” Coppell enthused of his days at the club. “My only dream was to play until I dropped.”
Harry Maguire recently made news for tying Gary Pallister's record of 71 straight Premier League matches between November 1993 and May 1995. Both players were substituted in their 72nd match, which happened to be at Villa Park. Even though it seems remarkable, it's just a third of what Coppell accomplished. The Manchester United captain has been at his best recently, but he features prominently on the likely scorers with Betway’s betting enthusiasts following his ability in the air.
Coppell joined United from Tranmere Rovers as a part-time player in 1974. Coppell, an economics student at the University of Liverpool, had made an unusual economic decision when he first insisted on an amateur contract with Tranmere Rovers. His great form at Prenton Park earned him a paycheck, but he made another strange decision when Tommy Docherty arrived in Birkenhead hoping to sign him to M16. Coppell decided to join United on the condition that he be able to finish his education and so work part-time.
That he did, and for the following 18 months, he only practiced with the squad on Tuesday evenings and took economics books and papers on away trips. Despite this, he was a frequent first-team player, appearing in 10 games before the end of the 1974/75 season following his March transfer. Coppell made 49 appearances the next year, completing a finals double: his university examinations and the FA Cup final against Southampton. Following United's stunning defeat at Wembley, the winger became full-time with the club, embarking on a global tour with the Reds.
United was 11th in England's premier league in January 1977. Coppell had created a name for himself as a quick, straight winger with excellent ball control, a spectacular cross, and a penchant for arriving late and in the correct spot in the box. He'd previously made 86 appearances for the Reds and was a popular No. 7 on the right-wing.
He was left out of United's 2-0 loss to Ipswich Town, then rested for the home FA Cup tie against Walsall, but returned for the next Division One encounter, a 2-0 victory over Coventry City. That day, Lou Macari scored twice, marking the start of Coppell's 207 straight league appearances.
The feat is remarkable, given it spans over half a decade. Maguire made an attempt but did not come close. With clubs featuring in different cups, achieving that feat remains almost impossible. You can bet on all club competitions on Betway, with markets including player contributions.
Written by Ketan Patel
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