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Kevin Moran signed for Manchester United in February 1978 having been
spotted playing for Irish College team Pegasus. First team opportunties
were initially hard to come by and it was over a year until Kevin made
his debut for the Red Devils, in a 1-1 draw against Southampton at The
Dell. The following season also provided little opportunity, although
the Irishman did feature for a six-week spell in November/December '79
during which time he scored his first United goal, the opener in a 5-0
drubbing of Norwich City at Old Trafford. He returned to first team
action for three games at the end of April, deputising for Gordon
McQueen, and helped United to three victories to secure runners-up spot
behind Liverpool in the league. The 1980/81 season saw Moran finally
establish himself as a regular in the starting line-up, playing in 32 of
the 42 League games. Despite United winning their final seven games,
the manager who had signed Moran, Dave Sexton, was sacked.
Ron Atkinson
took over in the summer of 1981 and though Kevin didn't feature
initially, he soon became a fixture within the starting eleven. He
scored the winner in a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield and a brace as
United beat Aston Villa 4-1 to finish the season with 7 goals. The
following year Kevin helped United to Wembley for both League and FA Cup
Finals. They lost 2-1 in extra time to Liverpool in the League Cup
Final leaving the FA Cup as their only hope of silverware for the
season. In a 2-1 semi-final victory against Arsenal Moran had been
carried off, however, he returned to the side only two weeks later.
United met Brighton & Hove Albion in the final and drew 2-2 in the
first meeting. The replay was more conclusive as Moran helped United to a
4-0 win, picking up his first winner's medal along the way. (Steve
Drabble)
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The shot of Kevin Moran playing for Manchester United was taken on Saturday, 8th. September 1984.
Photography George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 2) 1983 - 1988.
Victory in the 1983 FA Cup Final qualified Moran and United for the
European Cup Winners' Cup the following season and it proved to be to be
the highlight of the '83/84 campaign. In the quarter-final first leg
United lost 2-0 to Barcelona only to beat the Spanish giants 3-0 in the
return leg at Old Trafford. Though it ended with semi-final defeat
against Juventus, Moran had helped United to their first European
semi-final for fifteen years. Again Kevin's goal return was seven for
the season, including both goals in a 2-1 win against Sunderland at Old
Trafford. The following season Moran was absent for nearly five months
in total as injuries took their toll, although he did return in time to
play in the final four league games, scoring in three of them as United
finished fourth. Whilst he was out the team had progressed to the FA Cup
Final, where they were due to meet treble-chasing Everton.
An exemplary
display from the Irishman at the heart of defence helped to keep the
Merseysiders out but disaster struck when a mistimed tackle late in the
game saw Moran become the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup
Final. Fortunately, for Kevin, the game ended in a 1-0 victory after a
stunning strike by youngster Norman Whiteside. Injuries again kept Kevin
out of the side for long spells during the 1985/86 season as the side's
early season promise, which saw them win 13 and draw 2 of the opening
15 games, faded. Sir Alex Ferguson took over from Ron Atkinson in
November 1986 and though Kevin appeared for much of his first year in
charge he was allowed to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 1988
to join Sporting Gijon. He made his final appearance in a 1-0 defeat at
Norwich City on 5th March 1988 and will be fondly remembered as an
incredibly brave, strong tackling central defender. (Steve Drabble) |