Remember what I said about football (soccer) being romantic? It doesn’t get more romantic than this.
In 1958, the Manchester United team was leaving Munich after a match. The team known as the “Busby Babes,” incredibly talented, all young, one of the best teams in years, were set fair to conquer Europe. The team had helped to lift the spirits of the country after political and economic depression, and the world was watching.
The plane crashed on takeoff and a number of passengers and crew were killed, including eight Manchester United players. It was incredibly traumatic to see those young lives snuffed out like that. The manager, Matt Busby, lay in a coma and nearly died, but was rallied by the thought of the survivors, and how he could help them put their lives together.
The 1998-99 season therefore meant a lot to Manchester United. At the end of the season, Manchester United were at the brink of becoming the first team to win the Treble – the FA Cup, the Premiership Champions and the European Cup. They beat Liverpool to win the FA Cup, achieved the Premiership title by coming top of the league and it all came down to one match. This was an anniversary year, forty years since the Munich Air Disaster and part of the impetus for the 1999 team was to honour the memory of the 1959 team. Ever since the disaster, one of the clocks at the ground, known as the Munich Clock, was stopped at the time of the crash. The team had never forgotten.
Their opponents in the 1999 final? Bayern Munich. But in the final, Munich took no prisoners, never deferred to Man U for a moment. And it all came down to the last three minutes of the game. The commentary was impeccable, and added to the sense of occasion, and if you’re up for it, I’ve tried to source the best version for you.
That, for me, is the perfect romantic moment. I cried. And I cried again when the team had the victory parade through Manchester city centre. It went far beyond sport, and for many it was a seminal moment. And one of the reasons I decided to go for my personal dream, to see a book of mine published.
My 33rd book came out last month, so it worked out well (that, btw, is irony – or maybe lytotes).
That was the most amazing end of a game ever. I always used to take the afternoon off work to watch the final (CL games are on at 3.30 Uruguay time), and it was never more worth it than this!
love the real football pigskin
but ronaldo is hot
I was living in the UK when this happened and it was absolutely huge!
Love the romance involved in the FA Cup when some of those smaller teams take on and beat the Premier League teams.
I am not so keen to be up in the middle of the night as I used to be, but I do still enjoy watching the soccer when I can. This week we were up at 4.30am to watch the Aussies not do very well, and I guess we will be doing the same this weekend!
Football can break your heart, or make it burst with joy.
This particular game – you couldn’t have made it up, even in a romance novel. It meant so much to the club, to Sir Alex, to all the players, to the fans, the big party the day after was amazing.
usa got robbed
Kh, as the British commentator Gary Lineker said, “For our American friends, that’s what makes football so special.” Dreadful refereeing, but the whistle went a split second before the goal. He should have let it ride.
Mind you, the England team is breaking my heart this week.