The Official Manchester United Podcast's illustrious list of guests includes players who helped the Reds to become the first English team to win the European Cup back in 1968.
With a side featuring two survivors of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, Matt Busby's men defeated Benfica 4-1 at Wembley 10 years later.
From that team, Alex Stepney, Paddy Crerand and John Aston Jr, have all appeared on the UTD Podcast and their tales provide superb listening, as they tell us about a team that defied all the odds to reach the pinnacle of European football.
You can find quotes from the trio of legends below, as well as links to their episodes - simply click their names to listen.
JOHN ASTON JNR
Named Man of the Match for his outstanding contribution throughout the 1968 final, winger John Aston Jnr followed in his father's footsteps as he represented his boyhood club and shared the star-studded dressing room with talents including Nobby Stiles, George Best and Bobby Charlton. In his UTD Podcast episode released last Monday, Aston candidly shared his thoughts as to why he didn't celebrate United's third goal against Benfica.
“The [other players] ran to the corner flag and they’re all jumping, and I’m walking back by myself, looking over," he reminisced. “I can remember what I was thinking. I thought ‘you silly buggers, it’s not over yet!’ That was my thought at the time. I thought ‘we’ve got to defend now’ and that’s how I was."
ALEX STEPNEY
Having played a whopping 539 games as goalkeeper for the Reds, Alex Stepney stands tall as the club's current leading appearance maker between the sticks. Famously denying superstar Benfica forward Eusebio during the final, the now 79-year-old spoke in depth about how he was unsure which club he was leaving Chelsea for in 1966.
“After training I got a call from the Chelsea trainer, Jimmy Andrews, saying, ‘You’ve got to go back to Stamford Bridge, the boss wants you there.’ I went back and he says, ‘Right, get in the car.’ I said, ‘Where are we going?’ He said, ‘You’ll find out’. We drove into London and we pulled up at the White House Hotel, near Euston Station, and we sat in reception. I said, ‘What are we doing here?’ ‘You’ll find out,’ he kept saying. ‘You’ll find out.’ As I was sat there, the revolving doors started moving and in walked Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy.”
A two-time First Division winner with United, former midfielder Paddy Crerand signed from Celtic back in February 1963 and went on to make over 300 appearances during an eight-year stint in M16. The now 83-year-old was another player who admitted to being overwhelmed upon first meeting Sir Matt, as the Glaswegian told the UTD Podcast during his conversation last year.
“I was in awe of Matt Busby. He came to the station to meet me. I never opened my mouth, I was too in awe of the man. He spoke about where he wanted me to play and I was in total awe. It went in one ear and came out of the other because he was such a public figure in those days. Not just to United fans, but to the whole of Britain.”