Oaks from Different Shores, Standing Tall Together

The admiration began in April 1957, the second leg of the European Cup Semi Finals. The defending champions were leading comfortably. But then, their young opponents mounted a spirited comeback, with some breathtaking football. They couldn’t win the match, but won the admiration of many, including one Santiago Bernabeu!

The rival manager was soon offered the manager’s job at Real Madrid. Matt Busby refused, as he first wanted to win in Europe with Manchester United. But despite this, a friendship was kindled, a tale of which is often left untold, but is worth celebrating.

Fast forward 10 months, United had just progressed to a successive European Cup Semi Final, and were on their way home from Belgrade, with a stopover at Munich! 6 February 1958, 3:04 PM: darkness stuck the club! Death had brought with it another nemesis, financial ruin!

The following day, Red Star Belgrade proposed that the 1958 European Cup be awarded to United. Santiago Bernabeu and Real Madrid players wholeheartedly supported it and signed a petition to the effect. It did not materialize, but the gesture of the two clubs wasn’t forgotten.

But, Bernabeu wasn’t a man who would stop at mere gestures. He offered his best player, Alfredo Di Stefano, on a season long loan to United, with Real Madrid paying half his wages. English FA blocked the move, in the fear that a British players chances would be reduced.

Madrid then released pendants in memory of the victims of the Munich Air Crash, and sold them. All the proceeds were sent to the victims and their families. Bernabeu offered free treatment to all the injured, and free holidays in Spain for the families of the injured and the victims, for everyone to recuperate.

Real Madrid offered to play a series of friendlies with United, all the proceeds of which were directed towards keeping the club alive! Deprived of European football, these friendlies kept the dream alive for United. United players aspired to achieve the level of their opponents, and friends!

In one of the friendlies, Real were awarded a penalty wrongly. Di Stefano apologized to United fans, and intentionally kicked the penalty over the cross bar! For another friendly, Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas were both not fully fit. Bernabeu offered to postpone the match, to ensure maximum crowd would be present. Busby refused to postpone saying Madrid were like family, and they couldn’t be inconvenienced. Touched, Stefano and Puskas both played the match.

Perhaps it was fitting that in 1968, United had successfully mounted an improbable comeback and stunned the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to reach their first ever European Cup final and going on to achieve the dream!

Without the generosity of Bernabeu, perhaps Matt Busby and his dream would have been forgotten in the annals of football history!