Sir Alex Ferguson has been gifted a lifetime membership of Eintracht Frankfurt – with his links to Rangers intrinsic in his experience of the German club.
The legendary former Aberdeen, Scotland, and Manchester United manager grew up a Rangers fan and played for the club in the 1960s.
After the Germans visited Aberdeen in the Europa Conference League group stages, they were inspired by the unveiling of a new statue for Sir Alex Ferguson at Pittodrie.
This sparked up something of a conversation between the two parties with the membership coming amid “plenty of points of contact” between the 82-year-old and Frankfurt.
But it all began in 1960 when a 17-year-old Sir Alex watched his Rangers heroes get dismantled by one of the most famous teams in German football history.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s introduction to Eintracht Frankfurt
Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance at Ibrox as Rangers fell to a 6-3 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the European Cup semi-finals.
This result came after the Germans had dismantled Rangers 6-1 on home soil and Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled his time in the stands watching the famous clash.
The legendary former manager also discussed the famous Final at Hampden, when the legendary Real Madrid team of the era crowned their five-in-a-row European Cup exploits over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Hammering the Germans 7-3, it’s game which is still as vivid today as it always was for Sir Alex.
“It was unbelievable,” said Sir Alex Ferguson, when talking about Rangers v Eintracht Frankfurt. “In the away game, Frankfurt beat the Rangers six to one.
“I was at the home game, when they came to Ibrox, with 70,000 people in attendance. Rangers scored first and of course you then get hopeful, saying that Rangers could come back.
“They ended up losing by six again. I was a Rangers fan, living only some 200 meters away from Ibrox. I went to the final in 1960 as well, hoping that Frankfurt would win, since they knocked out Rangers.
“I was 17 years old at the time, playing for FC Queens Park. It was an amazing game. Kreß scored the first goal. We said: ‘Wow! A great German team.’ But then there was Puskás, Di Stefano, Gento.
“I don’t think there will ever be another team as charismatic as that Real Madrid team at the time. Puskás scored four goals and Stefano scored three. They were fantastic players. And the 7:3 was an amazing game.
“It was no disgrace to lose that game. They proved themselves in the semi-final against Rangers. It was unfortunate because it was the fifth final in a row that Real Madrid won.”
Rangers debut hattrick against the Germans
This was not the only encounter Sir Alex Ferguson had with Eintracht Frankfurt via Rangers in his legendary footballing journey either.
In the former striker’s first match with Rangers in 1967, the boyhood bluenose netted a hattrick against Eintracht Frankfurt in a pre-season friendly.
With Rangers winning 5-3, Sir Alex rejected any suggestion of revenge and singled out famous Frankfurt stars like goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski and Jürgen Grabowski.
“It was my first game for the Rangers,” said Sir Alex. “We won 5:3, but I wouldn’t call it a revenge for 1960.
“I remember scoring a hattrick with Tilkowski in goal for Frankfurt. Grabowksi played as well. He was only 22 at the time and went on to play until ´79, amazing.
“He also played in the 1974 world cup, and I still remember his cross for the Müller goal against Italy in 1970.”
Sir Alex praises Europa League Final fans
Having also encountered Eintracht Frankfurt with his famous Aberdeen team of the 1980s, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side drew with the Germans before they went on to lift the UEFA Cup.
It’s in that tournament’s Final that Sir Alex Ferguson’s former side Rangers were of course beaten in Seville and the ex-Manchester United boss has paid tribute to both sets of fans in the match.
“I watched the game,” said Ferguson. “It was quite even.
“I found it interesting to see that both teams brought so many fans to Sevilla, that they had to open another stadium in the city for extra fans to go in. That was fantastic to have a final like that.”
Sir Alex Ferguson broke the Scottish transfer record when he signed for Rangers in 1967 but it is in management where his legend is most revered.
Having guided his famous Aberdeen team to 11 major trophies, including the Cup Winners’ Cup and the European Super Cup, Sir Alex changed football with his legendary dynasty at Manchester United.
Winning a remarkable 38 major trophies across 27 years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex’s haul includes 13 English top flight titles and two Champions Leagues.
