Spurs v United | Ange recalls previous meetings with the Red Devils
Fri 18 August 2023, 16:45|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou has met Manchester United twice before - the first against one of the most famous United teams at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums.
Turn the clock back to January, 2000 and Ange’s South Melbourne side faced Sir Alex Ferguson’s United in the inaugural FIFA World Club Championships in Brazil.
South Melbourne qualified by virtue of winning the Oceania Club Championship - beating Fiji hosts Nadi 5-1 in the final - while United famously won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
They were drawn alongside Brazilian side Vasco da Gama and Mexicans Club Necaxa and neither made it through the group, as both were beaten by Vasco da Gama. United beat South Melbourne 2-0 in the final group match. Another Brazil side, Corinthians, beat Vasco da Gama on penalties in the final.
Fast forward 13 years, and Ange was in charge of the Aussie A-League All Stars team that were beaten 5-1 by United in a pre-season match at Stadium Australia, Sydney.
Speaking to SPURSPLAY ahead of meeting United again, this time in the Premier League, Ange recalled the tournament in Brazil in 2000. “It was a great experience, fairly unique, it was the first World Club Championship in that format, we were drawn against Manchester United,” he said.
“There was a bit of controversy at the time because United had to pull out of the FA Cup. It was a great experience, being in Brazil, playing at the Maracana and against one of the world’s most famous football clubs. It was something special not just for us playing, but for our club and our country at the time, it was a significant event.
“I had a brief interaction with Sir Alex. I just listened to what he had to say, really. It’s one of those things that has happened throughout my career, I’ve come across different icons of the game. I played United again later on and it was David Moyes first game in charge, again, a significant moment in United’s recent history.”
