Man United Classic Matches: European Champions Final 1968 vs. Benfica

Here is one of the finest moments in Man United´s history: Matt Busby manager. The team included legendary players like George Best, Bobby Charlton and Alex Stepney (the classy Denis Law was injured in this match). The European Cup Final between Manchester United and Benfica, which at this point included the great Eusébio in the team.

Sir Bobby Charlton scored the first goal of the game, but with Benfica getting an equalizer. The intensity was exceptional and at a crucial time in the game, the Man United´s goalkeeper, Alex Stepney made a spectacular one-on-one save from Eusébio - the game went into extra time. At this point the players fitness clearly was effecting the play. Then George the wizard Best took the lead for Man U, and later on the 19 year old Brian Kidd extended the lead before Bobby Charlton finalized the deal by scoring the fourth.

The Champions Cup was headed to Old Trafford for the first time in history - but not the last :-)

Anniversary! Cantona's Kung Fu Kick.

Today marks the 17 year old anniversary of one of the most (in)famous moments in our clubs recent history, Eric Cantonas Kung Fu kick!!! The scene for this world famous spectacle was Selhurst Park in London on January 25th 1995. Manchester United were playing Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

In the 61st minute of the game the King got the red card and as he was walking off the pitch all hell broke loose!!!


Photographer Steve Lindsell managed to take a photograph of the Kung Fu kick, which appeared on the cover of all of the UK's newspapers on the next day (and around the world as well). He described the episode like this: "I was placed on the other side of the pitch and was just following Cantona on through the lens of my camera when he was sent off," said Lindsell. "Suddenly he just jumped over the fence and kicked a guy! I clicked and clicked on the camera. I thought I had managed to get decent picture, but I could never imagine that it would have so much impact as it did. I went to my car outside Selhurst Park, printed out the pictures and sent them to the newspapers. The next day they were everywhere." After the kick, Cantona was escorted off the pitch by Peter Schmeichel, with his head held high.


King Eric got sentenced two weeks in prison for the assault, which was later converted to 120 hours of community service, which he fulfilled by coaching kids in football. The FA gave him four-month ban that would last until the end of the season, but the ban was extended to eight months.


Most part of the above is based on the book "Cantona: The Rebel Who Would Be King" by Philippe Auclair.

Manchester United Classic Goals#4

Here is one that I will never forget! FA Cup final vs. Liverpool in 1996. There are 85 very intense and hectic minutes played at this point; Cantona first on the ball after a bad punch from David James, and with a touch of brilliance and an excellent composure, Eric the King hammered the ball in the net from the edge of the penalty box. This victory secured United´s second double in three seasons. Hail the King:

The most memorable for me personally about this particular goal, is that my brother, who is a die hard Liverpool fan, stormed out of the house, got into our fathers car and disappeared in haze down the street with a sound of thunder. For the way the match had been played until that moment, it was quite obvious that there only would take a single goal to win it... - as it indeed turned out to be in the end :-)

Manchester United Great Goals #3

This is surely one of my favorites: Ryan Giggs vs. Arsenal in the FA-Cup semi-final at Villa Park in April 1999. With 10 men, United go on to secure the place in the final with this magnificent extra time goal! Brilliant. One to watch over and over again...

...and the rest is history: Man United went on to win the famous treble later this spring of 1999!!!

Manchester United Classic Goals #2

Here is a brilliant one: Wayne Rooney overhead kick that wins the match against the "noisy neighbours" in february 2011:

Manchester United Classic Goals #1

Every week we will present one unforgettable Man United goal on this site. To kick off this new series, here is one that true fans can watch over and over again. And for those of you out there who watched the Champions League Final back in 1999, it surely brings back memories of one of the greatest moments in our beloved clubs history: The completion of the treble!!!

Let me introduce Man United Classic goal #1: Ole Gunnar Solskjær´s overtime winner against Bayern Munich, in 1999:

Top 10 Most games played for Manchester United

#	Name	Carreer	Games
1	Ryan Giggs	1991 – today!	875
2	Bobby Charlton	1956 – 1973	758
3	Bill Foulkes	1952 – 1970	688
4	Paul Scholes	1994 – 2011	674
5	Gary Neville	1992 – 2011	602
6	Alex Stepney	1966 – 1978	539
7	Tony Dunne	1960 – 1973	535
8	Denis Irwin	1990 – 2002	529
9	Joe Spence	1919 – 1933	510
10	Arthur Albiston	1974 – 1988	485