Manchester United's record in European finals as Red Devils take on Tottenham Hotspur for UEFA Europa League glory

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Manchester United are chasing a ninth trophy outside of England as they prepare to take on fellow Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The Red Devils are no strangers to European and intercontinental finals. We have had a look back at each and every one ahead of Wednesday's clash.

Road to Bilbao: Relive Manchester United’s dramatic route to 2025 Europa League final

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Manchester United are set to contest their 16th European or intercontinental final when they take on Tottenham Hotspur for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League in Bilbao, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The Red Devils are littered with medals beyond their own borders, including three European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles, as well as the Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup.

Ruben Amorim will have the chance to write his name in the history books with victory over Premier League rivals Spurs, in an attempt to salvage what has been an underwhelming season elsewhere.

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But what is United's record in European and intercontinental finals?

1967/68: Maiden European Cup title

Man Utd 4-1 Benfica

In the club's first ever European final, they clinched the crown jewel when they won the European Cup for the first time.

United and England legend Bobby Charlton struck twice at Wembley Stadium, while George Best and Brian Kidd added goals in a 4-1 victory.

Despite the scoreline, they did need extra time to get over the line, with Jaime Graca cancelling out Charlton's opener. But goals in the 92nd, 94th and 99th minutes wrapped up a historic victory for the club.

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1968: Intercontinental Cup defeat

Man Utd 1-2 Estudiantes (on aggregate)

Played between 1960 and 2004, the Intercontinental Cup was contested by the European champions and the winners of South America's Copa Libertadores. It has since been replaced by the Club World Cup.

Played over two legs, United played Argentinian side Estudiantes and lost 1-0 in the opener at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, with a 1-1 draw in the return leg three weeks later seeing them fall to defeat.

1990/91: Cup Winners' Cup glory

Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona

It took more than a decade for United to taste another European Cup final, and they did so in style as they added the Cup Winners' Cup to their haul.

After overcoming Pecsi Munkas, Wrexham, Montpellier and Legia Warsaw, Mark Hughes' double was enough for United to claim victory over Barcelona in Rotterdam despite a late Ronald Koeman effort.

Man Utd win 1991 Cup Winners Cup

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1991: A first Super Cup title

Man Utd 1-0 Crvena Zvezda

That victory qualified them for their first Super Cup, where they came up against UEFA Cup winners Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade).

Brian McClair scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford as The Red Devils continued to build their European legacy by adding a third accolade to their trophy cabinet.

1998/99: Iconic Champions League win

Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich

One of - if not the - most memorable Champions League final to date. Liverpool fans may have something to say about that after their magical night in Istanbul in 2005, but there is no denying that United's dramatic victory is up there with European football's greatest ever stories.

After falling behind to Mario Basler's sixth-minute opener, Sir Alex Ferguson's side had a mountain to climb against Bayern Munich in Barcelona.

However, Teddy Sheringham grabbed an equaliser in the 91st minute, before substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer astonishingly grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat two minutes later.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores in the Champions League final for Manchester United

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1999: Contrasting cup finals

Super Cup: Man Utd 0-1 Lazio
Intercontinental Cup: Man Utd 1-0 Palmeiras

A second Champions League title meant United were up for two more trophies, which had different outcomes.

First, they were beaten by UEFA Cup winners Lazio in Monaco, before Roy Keane's effort got United over the line in the Intercontinental Cup after defeat in the same competition 31 years earlier.

2007/08: Victory from the spot against Chelsea

Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea (6-5 on penalties)

For the first time, two Premier League sides met in the Champions League final as Ferguson's English champions took on Avram Grant's Blues.

Wayne Rooney got Chelsea off the mark in Moscow before England team-mate Frank Lampard pulled Chelsea level.

The two teams could barely be separated in this era, and it went down to the wire again as penalties were required.

On a rainy night in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo failed with his spot kick, but misses from John Terry and Nicolas Anelka meant United clinched the trophy for the third time in dramatic fashion.

Man United celebrating winning 2008 Champions League final

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2008: Adding a Club World Cup to the cabinet

Super Cup: Man Utd 1-2 Zenit St. Petersburg
Club World Cup: Man Utd 1-0 LDU Quito

Almost a decade on from their last European domination, United lost again in the Super Cup to Europa League winners Zenit St. Petersburg, with Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny on target for the Russian club.

But just like in 1999, United had a chance to redeem themselves, which they did, after beating Japanese side Gamba Osaka 5-3 in the Club World Cup semi-final, before overcoming LDU Quito 1-0 in the final, courtesy of a Rooney strike.

2008/09 and 2010/11: Back-to-back Barca defeats

2009: Man Utd 0-2 Barcelona
2011: Man Utd 1-3 Barcelona

United lost out twice to Pep Guardiola's iconic Barcelona side to miss out on doubles after Premier Leaue glory.

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi were on target during the 2009 final in Rome, and while United scored in the second meeting two years later at Wembley, goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa made it two titles in three seasons for the electric Catalan outfit.

Messi celebrates after scoring against Manchester United in Rome

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2016/17: Europa League success

Man Utd 2-0 Ajax

It was a while before United were back fighting for European silverware, but they did so under Jose Mourinho, who, without Champions League football at Old Trafford, guided the club to their first Europa League final in 2017.

Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck for The Red Devils in Sweden, as United added their eighth and most recent non-domestic title to their collection.

Jose Mourinho wins the Europa League with Man Utd

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2017: Super Cup loss to Madrid

Man Utd 1-2 Real Madrid

Mourinho came up against his old club and European champions Real Madrid in the Super Cup, but this time he was outdone, as Isco and future Red Devil Casemiro scored for Madrid, before Romelu Lukaku pulled back a consolation after an hour.

2022/21: Agonising penalty defeat

Man Utd 1-1 Villarreal (10-11 on penalties)

United were once again contesting the Europa League final as their wait to compete at the top table went on. This time, they came up against Spanish side Villarreal, after moving past the likes of AC Milan and Roma in the knockout rounds.

Gerard Moreno put Villarreal ahead in Gdansk, before Edinson Cavani struck an equaliser to force extra-time.

Penalties were required in the end and after 21 successful spot-kicks, it was time for David De Gea to step up. The goalkeeper missed, handing Villarreal their first Europa League title as United lost out in the cruellest of circumstances.

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