Manchester United unveil special programme featuring George Best and Eusebio for Champions League clash with Benfica at Old Trafford

  • Benfica make the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Tuesday 
  • United have paid tribute to two former greats of the game in their programme 
  • The cover image features ex-United man George Best and Portugal's Eusebio 

Two iconic figures from football's past are honoured on the front cover of Manchester United's programme for the visit of Benfica.

A picture of George Best and Eusebio - two of the most celebrated players of their era - takes pride of place on the United Review for the Champions League clash. 

The setting for the picture was a friendly in Los Angeles in 1967 but the two did battle in much more competitive environments during the Sixties. 

Manchester United have unveiled a special programme dedicated to George Best and Eusebio

Manchester United have unveiled a special programme dedicated to George Best and Eusebio


In fact Best, who passed away in 2005, enjoyed perhaps his most notable night in United colours against Benfica little more than half a century ago.

In March 1966, the fleet-footed forward - described by Pele as 'the greatest player in the world' - produced a display so memorable that he was dubbed 'El Beatle' in its aftermath.

Benfica had never been beaten at home in Europe prior to United's arrival for a European Cup quarter-final second leg.

They trailed 3-2 from the first meeting between the teams at Old Trafford and would have expected to bounce back at the Stadium of Light.

But Best had other ideas. 

Best and Eusebio came face to face again in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley

Best and Eusebio came face to face again in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley

UNITED 3 BENFICA 2: 1966 QUARTER-FINAL

Manchester United: Gregg, Cantwell, Dunne, Foulkes, Stiles, Charlton, Crerand, Best, Connelly, Herd, Law

Goals: Herd, Law, Foulkes

Coach: Sir Matt Busby 

Benfica: C Pereira, Cruz, Machado, Coluna, Ferreira Pinto, Germano, Augusto, Eusebio, J Pereira, Simoes, Torres

Goals: Augusto, Torres 

Coach: Bela Guttmann 

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He scored twice as United romped to a 5-1 victory on the night, and an 8-3 success on aggregate. 

It was seen as something of a shift of power from the existing King of Europe, Eusebio, to young pretender Best.

Prior to that match in Lisbon, Eusebio - a dazzling forward with a powerful shot who scored 41 times for Portugal - had been handed the European Footballer of the Year award but it was Best who stole the show. 

'On nights like that, good players become great players and great players become gods,' he would later recall. 

'It was surreal stuff. I've seen other great teams play like that but to be a part of such an experience was unreal.' 

Best played 470 times for United over a long and distinguished career with the club, scoring 179 goals before leaving Old Trafford in 1974.  

Best is handed an award by Eusebio in 2000, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law

Best is handed an award by Eusebio in 2000, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law

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