Manchester United FC - Stretford End: 1968

Did You Know?

Manchester United became the first English team to win the European Cup (1968), as Matt Busby's boys battered the Portuguese champions, on a glorious night at Wembley.

The scorer of United's third goal in the final, Brian Kidd, was celebrating his 19th birthday that day.

Denis Law (The Stretford End King), was unable to play because of a knee injury and had to watch the match on television in hospital.

George Best was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968. It was 40 years until another United player claimed the award, when Cristiano Ronaldo won it in 2008.

Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes

"We have people coming here to admire the scenery and enjoy their crisps."

"When an Italian tells me its pasta on the plate I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen."

"Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in your own field. It's a fact. Right? And it never really works out that way."

"Go and make your mistakes in the first team. You'll learn more in a month in the first team than you will in two years in the reserves."

"You can't applaud a referee."

Sir Matt Busby Quotes

"It was a very simple team talk. All I used to say was 'Whenever possible, give the ball to George'"

"Nobby Stiles a dirty player? No, he's never hurt anyone. Mind you, he's frightened a few!"

"He (George Best) was able to use either foot - sometimes he seemed to have six."

"I never wanted Manchester United to be second to anybody. Only the best would be good enough."

“In all modesty, my summing up of 1955-6 and 1956-7 must be that no club in the country could live with Manchester United.”

"He (Bobby Charlton) was idolized from his twentieth year on."

"If you don't put them in, you can't know what you've got."

"Germany was one thing and facing Old Trafford another. When I approached the ground and moved over the bridge along which our supporters had squeezed fifty abreast in there tens of thousands to shout for us I could scarcely bear to look. I new the ghosts of the babes would still be there, and there they are still, and they will always be there as long as those who saw them still cross the bridge, young, gay, red ghosts on the green grass of Old Trafford."

"Over the years people called several players the new Duncan Edwards. First Dave Mackay, then Bryan Robson. But none of them came close. He was the only player that made me feel inferior."

"I do not worry about conceding goals because I know my forwards will double it at the other end."

"Manchester is my Heaven."

Manchester United 4 Benfica 1 (1968 European Cup)