United's Portuguese Connections

Manchester United are set to face Benfica in the third Champions League tie of the season on Wednesday night, which also marks the club's first trip to Portugal in five years.

The Reds' last Portuguese away day was a successful one as Sir Alex Ferguson led his team to a 3-1 victory over Braga at Estadio AXA in his final season in charge.

The upcoming clash with the Eagles will take place at Estadio da Luz, in Lisbon. Ahead of the game, ManUtd.com outlines some of United's most famous Portuguese connections...

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS

There’s no better place to start than with United’s famous European Cup win in 1968, in which Matt Busby’s Reds beat Benfica 4-1 at Wembley. Despite being held to a 1-1 draw over the course of 90 minutes, a three-goal blitz from George Best, Brian Kidd and Bobby Charlton early in extra time ensured United claimed our first European title.

Of course, the match also pitted two of football’s all-time greats against each other, as Charlton and Eusebio faced off. It took a superb save from Alex Stepney in the United goal to prevent the Portugal star winning it for his side late on. However, in the end, it was Charlton who came out on top, as it was his second goal of the final which sealed the victory.

UNITED’S RECORD V PORTUGUESE SIDES

The Reds have faced five different Portuguese sides, on a total of 21 occasions in Europe’s premier competition, winning 14, drawing five and losing just two. Notable victories include: the 5-1 thrashing of Benfica in 1966, the 4-0 beating of Porto in 1997, and, of course, 1968 European Cup final win. Meanwhile, United’s first loss to a Portuguese outfit came in 2004, against a Jose Mourinho-led Porto, while our second defeat was inflicted by Benfica a year later.

GOALS V PORTUGUESE OUTFITS

Quinton Fortune became the first and so far, only South African to score for United in Europe when he netted in the 2-1 defeat to Porto in 2004.

Ryan Giggs scored in the 1-1 draw with Benfica in 2011 to become the Champions League’s oldest scorer, at the age of 37 years and 289 days. However, Francesco Totti later broke Giggs’ record, by chipping in against Manchester City in 2014 aged 38 and three days old.

United have faced Sporting twice, both in the 2007/08 group stages, and Cristiano Ronaldo netted on both occasions to put his boyhood club to the sword. First away in Portugal, as he headed home the winner for United on his first return to the Lisbon side, and then again at Old Trafford as his 90th minute free-kick handed the Reds a 2-1 victory.

PORTUGUESE REDS

When an 18-year-old Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2003, he became the club’s first Portuguese import but, by the time he departed for Real Madrid in 2009, he was an adopted Mancunian, and a world-renowned star.

The attacker won three Premier League titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a Champions League title and the Club World Cup while at United, amassing 292 appearances, 118 goals, and numerous personal honours along the way.

The second Portuguese player to grace Old Trafford was Nani, the tricky winger made 230 outings in red between 2007 and 2015, scoring 41 goals. Bebe was the third, while in United’s current squad, Portugal’s sole representative is talented keeper Joel Pereira.

MEN IN CHARGE

Of course, current Reds boss Mourinho also hails from Portugal and, earlier in his career, he spent time managing Benfica, Uniao de Leiria and Porto in his homeland. His greatest successes on home soil came with Porto, whom he guided to two league titles, and three further major honours, including one Champions League title.

As we know, the 54-year-old went on to manage Chelsea, Internazionale and Real Madrid, before returning to Stamford Bridge in 2013. Across those spells, Mourinho confirmed himself as one of the game’s leading tactical minds, guiding each side to a league title, and numerous other honours. And he brought his success with him to Old Trafford. After joining the Reds last summer, he has clamimed the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League in his first season.

Meanwhile, Carlos Queiroz was twice appointed Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant, either side of a spell as Real Madrid boss, highlighting his coaching pedigree. The Portuguese tactician played a pivotal role in securing three Premier League trophies, the Champions League title and one League Cup.

He also helped galvanise the club off the field, with pioneering training methods and scouting links which helped the Reds steal a march on youngsters Nani and Anderson. Sir Alex paid tribute to Queiroz when he left to manage the Portugal national team in 2008, saying “Carlos improved a lot of things around United. I recognised progress needed to be made in different areas to those in which I’m expert. Carlos increased it in all sorts of ways.”

CANTONA CONNECTION

Following a vastly successful footballing career, and a move into acting, United all-time great Eric Cantona moved to the Portuguese city of Lisbon, where he now resides. The Frenchman also made his unofficial Reds debut against Benfica, in an exhibition match to mark Eusebio's 50th birthday.