MANCHESTER UNITED have released a limited-run special edition navy kit to mark their first European Cup win, 50 years ago today.
The kit, designed by Adidas, contains a number of subtle hints about the final, where a Sir Bobby Charlton double helped the Red Devils to a 4-1 extra time win against Portuguese side Benfica.
Available for £99.95 on the Adidas website, the kit’s ‘collegiate navy’ colour is a nod to the blue worn by Sir Matt Busby’s side on that famous night, albeit slightly darker.
Repeated down the side of the kit is ’29-05-1968′, the date of the final, while the modern club crest makes way for that used by the club at the time and the long sleeves also replicate that worn by Charlton and co.
As part of the 50th anniversary commemorations, United changed their entire Twitter and Facebook design, changing their profile image to the 1968 crest on the iconic blue background.
They also released a series of videos telling ‘the story of an impossible dream’.
Against a Benfica side featuring legendary striker Eusebio, Sir Bobby put United in front at Wembley early in the second half before Jaime Graca equalised and sent the game to extra time.
United captain Charlton then re-established the lead in the second minute of the additional period, before George Best and Brian Kidd sealed a first English winner in the European Cup, one year after Celtic’s ‘Lisbon Lions’ brought the trophy to British shores for the first time.
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United’s conquering of Europe was all the more remarkable just ten years removed from the Munich air disaster, when eight players lost their lives.
Charlton was one of two players in the 1968 squad who survived the crash that night, alongside centre-half Bill Foulkes.
Manager Busby also remained at the helm, masterminding the club’s return to the summit of English football in 1965, just eight years after Munich, before winning the title again in 1967.
The club have since gone on to win a further two titles in the competition, as part of the 1999 treble-winning side and again as league champions in 2008.
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