Tributes have been paid to the man who denied Manchester United the first of three chances to become World Champions.
In 1999 Manchester United defeated Palmeiras to win the Intercontinental Cup for the first time in the club’s history. And in 2008 Manchester United’s trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez defeated LDU Quito in the renamed Club World Cup.
But back in 1968, Manchester United were not successful, defeated over two legs in a brutal battle with South American champions Estudiantes.
Unlike FIFA’s soon-to-be unveiled new version of the competition, at the time the contest was a simple two-legged tie between the European Cup winners and Copa Libertadores champions.
And despite Manchester United boasting the Holy Trinity of George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, the Red Devils came unstuck.
Photo by Staff/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Photo by Staff/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Juan Ramon Veron passes away
The man who scored Estudiantes’ critical goal at Old Trafford in the Intercontinental Cup has passed away.
After winning the first leg 1-0 in Argentina, Juan Ramon Veron scored in the sixth minute for the visitors in front of 63,000 fans in Manchester.
While United scored a 90th minute equaliser on the night, it was a mere consolation with Estudiantes grinding out a 2-1 victory.
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Now at the age of 81, Juan Ramon Veron has died, and there are tributes being paid across his homeland.
His former club Estudiantes posted a lengthy tribute to Veron, noting his famous goal back in October 1968, 57 years ago.
The tribute read: “Author of the unforgettable goal at Old Trafford that sealed the obtaining of the Intercontinental Cup on October 16, 1968, his figure remains among the most momentous of Argentinian Football.”
Juan Ramon Veron was Juan Sebastian Veron’s father
There is another special Old Trafford connection that Juan Ramon Veron held. His son Juan Sebastian Veron played for Manchester United, and he is now the president of Estudiantes.
Estudiantes’ tribute added: “The club accompanies our president Juan Sebastián Verón and his loved ones in this difficult moment that affects all members of the Albirroja family.”
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Veron Jr signed for Manchester United from Lazio in 2001 for £28.1 million, a club record fee at the time, where he spent two seasons, winning the Premier League in 2002/03.
Veron later returned to Argentina to sign with Estudiantes, where he followed in his father’s footsteps by winning the Copa Libertadores in 2009.
Remarkably, Manchester United were one win away from setting up a historic reunion with Juan Veron, and a repeat of 1968 against Estudiantes.
United lost the 2009 Champions League Final, so it was Barcelona who went to the Club World Cup, defeating Veron’s Estudiantes 2-1 in the final.