European Cup 1968

Lore & Background

Manchester United had never previously reached a European Cup final. They had been losing semi-finalists in both the 1956–57 and 1957–58 competitions. In February 1958, eight of their players were killed and two more suffered career-ending injuries in the Munich air disaster. Despite not qualifying, they were invited by UEFA to play in the following season's European Cup, but were forced to withdraw by the English Football Association. They returned to the competition in 1965–66, when they faced Benfica for the first time in the quarter-finals, winning 8–3 on aggregate, but were eliminated in the semi-final.

Reader's Guide

Manchester United qualified for the competition as champions of England, having won the 1966–67 Football League First Division. They faced Maltese side Hibernians in the first round and won 4–0 in the home first leg; the second leg finished 0–0. In the second round, they drew 0–0 away to Sarajevo and won 2–1 at home. In the quarter-finals, they beat Górnik Zabrze 2–0 at home and lost 1–0 away, progressing 2–1 on aggregate. In the semi-finals, they beat Real Madrid 1–0 at home and drew 3–3 away, winning 4–3 on aggregate. In the final, Bobby Charlton scored twice, George Best scored a solo goal, and Brian Kidd scored a header on his 19th birthday, as Manchester United triumphed 4–1.

Did You Know?

• The match was played in front of a crowd of 92,225.
• It was Benfica's fifth European Cup final, two of which they had won, and Manchester United's first.