The night Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen rocked Real Madrid: 40 years on

Players from Ferguson’s extraordinary Aberdeen side recall a ‘miracle’ as Madrid fell to defeat in a major European cup final

40 YEARS AGO: Doug Rougvie takes off as he celebrates Aberdeen’s stunning victory in Gothenburg. Photograph: Colorsport/Shutterstock

"Nothing short of a miracle” is how Sir Alex Ferguson has described the most astonishing victory of his managerial career. It came against Real Madrid but not during his 26-year spell at Manchester United. Thursday marks 40 years since Real last encountered defeat in a major European competition final: against Aberdeen in the Cup Winners’ Cup.

Ferguson achieved that 2-1 extra-time win with a group of young players who were a precursor for his “Class of 92” at United featuring Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers. These were Fergie’s first fledglings, and had injury and ill-fortune not hurt their careers, they could have soared to even greater heights.