The year 1966 will always be associated with England winning the World Cup, but for Manchester United, it also provided an iconic moment – with a 19-year-old George Best announcing himself to the world with one of the finest individual performances ever seen in Europe, let alone in a United shirt…
United were well on their way from rebuilding after the Munich air disaster and were once again becoming the dominant force in English football. With players like Denis Law and Pat Crerand added to the likes of Nobby Stiles, Bobby Charlton and Best, Sir Matt Busby’s side were challenging for silverware.
After finishing second in 1964, they won the First Division title in 1965, beating Leeds United by virtue of goal average after both teams finished on 61 points, allowing United to gain qualification for the European Cup for the first time in seven years.
And they had a relatively easy draw in the first two rounds, dispatching Finnish side HJK Helsinki (9-2 on aggregate) and East German side Vorwärts Berlin (5-1 on aggregate) with ease. But they would be pitted against the might of Benfica in the quarter-finals. The Portuguese giants were the dominant force in Europe at the time – winners of the European Cup in 1961 and 1962, as well as finishing runner-up in 1963 and 1965.
The Eagles had the likes of Mário Coluna, António Simões, José Augusto Torres and Eusébio (widely regarded as one of the best players in world football at the time) in their ranks, and those players would form the core of the Portugal side that would finish third at the World Cup later in 1966. Under the tutelage of Béla Guttmann (who had returned as manager after leaving in 1962 after disagreements with the Benfica board), they were truly a force to be reckoned with and United would have a tough task on their hands to beat this side.
The first leg of the tie had been a close-run affair, with United coming from behind to triumph 3-2 over Benfica at Old Trafford in February. José Augusto gave Benfica the lead half an hour in, side-footing home from a Eusébio corner but United equalised quickly – Stiles, Best and Law combining to set up David Herd to slot home. With Benfica looking intimidated by the crowd at the Theatre of Dreams, United took the lead three minutes before half-time, after Law thrashed the ball past Costa Pereira in the Eagles goal following a cross from Charlton.
And Bill Foulkes would make it three on sixty minutes, after a rare dash up the pitch saw him connect with a diving header past Pereira. Suddenly Benfica roared into life, with Eusébio at his very best, driving past United defenders with ease and it was the Panther who set up Torres for Benfica’s second.
There were no further goals and as the final whistle blew at Old Trafford, United fans were worried for the second leg in Lisbon on March 9. Benfica were unbeaten in European competition at the Estádio da Luz, and many believed that defeat was inevitable for the Reds, even if Busby insisted that his side would take on the Eagles in their own backyard (this was considered to be unwise – Real Madrid had promised the same thing, yet were taken apart by Eusebio and company, losing 5-1).
And so the stage was set for Best to deliver the performance that would make him a household name across the world. The kick-off was at ten o’clock in the evening – a plan devised by Guttmann to throw off United – and the start would be delayed further by the presentation to Eusébio of the European Footballer of the Year for 1965, an act designed to intimidate United.
But these actions would not affect the Reds one bit – and the man from Belfast was about to tear Benfica apart. It would only take six minutes for Best to make his mark. Tony Dunne flighted a free-kick into the Benfica box, and the Northern Irishman rose above two defenders and headed past Costa Pereira. The Eagles were now two goals down on aggregate, and the locals were well and truly horrified.
Benfica pushed forward, looking to reduce the deficit, but they would be caught out again six minutes later. A long ball by keeper Harry Gregg was flicked into the path of Best by Herd. The number seven accelerated, bamboozling and leaving for dead three Benfica players before firing low past Pereira from a narrow angle. It was a truly wonderful goal – one that left the Eagles dead and buried.
Three minutes later, United had three – Charlton, Law and Herd combining to split the Benfica defence and set up winger John Connelly. Guttmann’s side had been shellshocked – they had come expecting a tactical battle, not the gung-ho attacking that the Reds were displaying. The aura of Benfica’s invincibility at the Luz had well and truly been broken.
Although Shay Brennan’s own goal gave the Eagles hope that they turn the tie around, it was merely a blemish for United – Paddy Crerand scored the fourth, sliding the ball into the back of the next after being put through by Law. Charlton then put the icing on the cake for United, running through the heart of Benfica’s defence before rounding Pereira and slotting home the Reds’ fifth goal of the night.
As the final whistle blew, Best became stuck in the centre-circle amidst scenes of mayhem. He had become the attention of a mob of fans, who just wanted to get a glimpse of the superstar. One fan even surged towards Best with a knife, demanding a lock of his hair. His charming film star look and Beatle-like hair had truly hit the big time.
And on the way back from Lisbon, Best bought a huge sombrero and wore it as the United side got off the plane in Manchester. The cameras were well and truly focused on the Northern Irishman, as he entered the realms of Beatlemania. ‘El Beatle’ was born.
Remembering the game years later in The Independent, Best remarked:
As I walked up the tunnel and heard the noise, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. But I didn’t feel any fear. I wasn’t in awe but I did know that I was ready. That, whatever the outcome of the game, this was the sort of stage I was meant to play on. It was perfect theatre.
On nights like that, good players become great players and great players become gods…It was surreal stuff. I’ve seen other great teams play like that but to be part of such an experience was unreal. Strangely, although I can replay almost the whole 90 minutes of that in my head, I can’t remember a single thing after the final whistle.
United wouldn’t win the European Cup that season, getting knocked out by Partizan Belgrade in the semi-finals, but they wouldn’t have to wait long. On that night in Lisbon, a star was born – ‘El Beatle’ would eventually propel United to European success in 1968.
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