| Season | 1980–81 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Celtic 3rd Premier Division title 32ndScottish title |
| Relegated | Kilmarnock Heart of Midlothian |
| European Cup | Celtic |
| UEFA Cup | Aberdeen Dundee United |
| Cup Winners' Cup | Rangers |
| Matches | 180 |
| Goals | 481 (2.67 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Frank McGarvey (23) |
| Biggest home win | Dundee United 7–0Kilmarnock |
| Biggest away win | Kilmarnock 1–8Rangers |
1981–82 → | |
The1980–81 Scottish Premier Division was the sixth season of the Premier Division, and the 75th edition overall of the top national league competition.
Ten teams contested the league. Eight teams from the 1979–80 season (Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Morton, Partick Thistle, Rangers, and St Mirren) plus two clubs promoted from the1979–80 Scottish First Division (Heart of Midlothian and Airdrieonians).
Aberdeen were the defending champions, having won their first title in 25 years in the previous season.
The title was won byCeltic on 22 April 1981, after defeatingDundee United 3–2 atTannadice Park, with two matches still to play. They finished seven points ahead of closest challengersAberdeen. At the end of the season,Kilmarnock andHeart of Midlothian were relegated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtic(C) | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 84 | 37 | +47 | 56 | Qualification for theEuropean Cup first round |
| 2 | Aberdeen | 36 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 61 | 26 | +35 | 49 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Rangers | 36 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 60 | 32 | +28 | 44 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round |
| 4 | St Mirren | 36 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 44 | |
| 5 | Dundee United | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 66 | 42 | +24 | 43 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Partick Thistle | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 30 | |
| 7 | Airdrieonians | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 36 | 55 | −19 | 29 | |
| 8 | Morton | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 58 | −22 | 28 | |
| 9 | Kilmarnock(R) | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 23 | 65 | −42 | 19 | Relegation to the1981–82 Scottish First Division |
| 10 | Heart of Midlothian(R) | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 27 | 71 | −44 | 18 |
During matches 1–18 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).
| Home \ Away | ABE | AIR | CEL | DNU | HEA | KIL | MOR | PAR | RAN | STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| Airdrieonians | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
| Celtic | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | |
| Dundee United | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | |
| Heart of Midlothian | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | |
| Kilmarnock | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–8 | 1–6 | |
| Morton | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | |
| Partick Thistle | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Rangers | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | |
| St Mirren | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
During matches 19–36 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).
| Home \ Away | ABE | AIR | CEL | DNU | HEA | KIL | MOR | PAR | RAN | STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | |
| Airdrieonians | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–5 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | |
| Celtic | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 7–0 | |
| Dundee United | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 7–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Heart of Midlothian | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Kilmarnock | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | |
| Morton | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | |
| Partick Thistle | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | |
| Rangers | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| St Mirren | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 |