3/11/2008 9:15 AM
Aberdeen Announce Man Utd Game
Aberdeen have confirmed that they will play Manchester United in July in a match that will bring Sir Alex Ferguson back to his old club for a special anniversary encounter...
SPL outfit Aberdeen have today announced that they will host Manchester United in a summer friendly match at Pittodrie Stadium.
The pair of Reds will clash on Saturday 12 July, with kick-off at 15:00 BST in the 22,199 capacity former stomping ground of Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The match will mark the 25th anniversary of the Dons winning the European Cup Winners' Cup under Ferguson.
The Aberdeen fans were treated to some timely nostalgia this season as Jimmy Calderwood’s current crop of Dons made it to the last-32 of the Uefa Cup, beating Copenhagen 4-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich at Pittodrie.
Sir Alex’s trophy-filled reign at the club, though, is unlikely to ever be emulated. He joined the club after a brief spell at minnows East Stirlingshire and immediately set about releasing Scottish football from the stranglehold of the Old Firm.
He won his first of three league title in season 1979/80, before bringing home the Scottish Cup in 1982. Then, he wrote his name into the Scottish hall of fame, beating Real Madrid and Bayern en route to lifting the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Announcing the anniversary visit of United was Tom Smith, chairman of the Gothenburg Greats Testimonial Committee.
"The Testimonial Committee are extremely grateful to the directors of Manchester United and to Aberdeen Football Club for their kind support and for their co-operation.
"It is a tremendous gesture from Manchester United which will benefit both the Gothenburg Greats and Aberdeen.
"Manchester United were always our first choice for obvious reasons. To have the biggest name in world football coming to Pittodrie in July is a tremendous coup.
"Manchester United have been extremely helpful since our initial contact and I would particularly like to thank both Sir Alex Ferguson and Ken Ramsden, company secretary at Manchester United."
Duncan Robertson, Goal.com