The Magpies are about to embark on a new European journey, which brings back memories of some particularly memorable nights.
We are right at the door of Europe, and after we get Brentford’s visit out of the way, our knock will be answered the following week. After a two-decade wait for admission to an exclusive club, European aristocrats AC Milan, seven-time champions of the European Cup, will serve as the host when Georgians return to a top table feast.
Oh, how The Boot brings up so many memories. I have enjoyed many trips to Italy, which has Sicily as its toe end on the football of importance and success. The San Siro, where Newcastle will be traveling next Tuesday night to face AC at the beginning of a tremendous group experience, will always have a special place in my heart.
A few seasons after winning the European Fairs Cup, I went to see Inter play United rather than United play AC. Ground sharing is common in Italy, and 33 years later, United returned to the San Siro for a Champions League match.
I’ll be pleased if United achieves what they accomplished in 1970 and 2003 on Tuesday evening. We drew 1-1 the first time, with famous centre-forward Wyn Davies scoring, and 2-2 the second time, with Alan Shearer scoring twice. Are you paying attention, Callum Wilson? And what about Alexander Isak?
Both times, the hosts had to come from behind to earn a San Siro draw, but it didn’t help them in the Fairs Cup, which we won 2-0 at SJP in the second leg when Inter keeper Lido Vieri was sent out for right hooking the referee.
What triggered such nonsense? The Italians had already conceded a goal to a Bob Moncur header, and Big Wyn had provoked Vieri into elbowing him. When the referee gave an indirect free-kick inside the box, their fiery goalkeeper pulled a Tyson Fury and dropped his ‘opponent.’ Vieri was off the field, while two burly Geordie cops guarded the injured ref.
Silvio Berlusconi bought AC Milan in 1986, appointing the legendary Arrigo Sacchi as manager, and signing three Dutch superstars Ruud Gullit (remember him? ), Marco van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard to play alongside Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, and Roberto Donadoni. They eventually won everything.
What’s significant – and hopefully draining – is that this Saturday, while United host Brentford, AC play Inter in the Milan derby at the San Siro, despite the fact that Newcastle’s opponents a few days later are officially the visitors. With three wins apiece, both teams are equal leaders of Serie A. Allow Inter to exhaust their cohabiting opponents.
By the way, I find it incredible that SuperMac’s grandson, who is just nine years old, is on Inter’s books after originally signing for AC Milan. Yes, Malcolm’s daughter Giorgia, whom I’ve met several times during her father’s visits to SJP, has a son Samuele, who is a brilliant footballer like his grandfather.
In our one and only Anglo-Italian competition, United beat Roma 2-0 in the capital when the locals rioted against their own team, defeated Bologna 1-0 here, defeated Como 2-0 on the lake, and slaughtered Torino 5-1 at SJP before going to Fiorentina and winning the trophy without Malcolm Macdonald, who was on England duty.
A final memory, which turns out to be quite tragic. Jimmy Greaves traveled to Italy in 1961, as did all of the world’s finest players at the time, but his relocation rapidly turned into a personal nightmare despite scoring nine goals in 14 games, and he was desperate to get out.
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