Newcastle United: Top five European matches in club history

1968-69 Inter-Cities Fair Cup final second leg (Ujpest Dozsa 2 – Newcastle United 3)

Depending on who you ask, there are usually a few answers provided when the subject of Newcastle United’s greatest manager is discussed. Age makes a major difference in the response, and Kevin Keegan is certainly a worthy choice. But Joe Harvey led the Magpies to European glory, and did so on the first attempt.

The 1968-69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a run to a trophy that enjoyed spectacular performances and a great team spirit, as Newcastle defeated several talented sides to reach the final against Ujpest Dozsa.

Feyenoord, Sporting CP and Rangers were all eliminated by United and confidence was high heading into the first leg. And it showed, as the Magpies earned a 3-0 victory.

But it was not so easy in Budapest, as Dosza scored two goals in the first half. With the home side close to seeing their aggregate advantage disappear, Harvey’s team re-gained their focus and would eventually win 3-2.

Goals from Bobby Moncur, Preben Arentoft and Alan Foggon helped to capture United’s first European trophy.

The club would make another strong run the following season, but were unable to reach the semi-finals.

Newcastle have seen extraordinary events take place since that triumph, as well as experience extreme lows. Relegation, new ownership and the various changes of English football since make this cup final feel like a long time ago that occurred in an alternate universe.

But Newcastle United were at the top, and it is important to remember that those days can be re-captured.

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Rafa Benitez now leads a squad that fight for their club, and maybe those European nights will return sooner than expected.