In 1975, Alex Stepney, a former Manchester United goalkeeper, dislocated his jaw while shouting to his defense to guard the Red Devils’ backline.
This unimaginable experience, which left the shot-stopper in agony, occurred as the Red Devils battled against Birmingham City on August 19, 1975.
“I just shouted for the ball when my jaw clicked and left me in agony. It was ridiculous,” Alex said a few minutes after the tragedy.
According to Alex Stepney, the damage might have happened when Bob Hatton flattened him very early during the game.
This was another time Hatton and Stepney met because they had collided earlier in the battle during Birmingham’s first attack of the game. However, it’s wowing that shot-stopper Alex soldiered on until the second half of the beautiful game.
The Englishman’s clicked jaw held in place until the commencement of the second half. He only lost appetite for the game when he barked orders at his backline.
A damaged goalkeeper was later forced out of the field before 33,177 football supporters shunted at St Andrews Stadium.
However, Alex’s step out left a bitter taste on the side of the Red Devils because, in 1975, most clubs didn’t have substitute keepers, and an outfield player had to take his place between the sticks.
And Brian Greenhoff, who was capable of playing in midfield and defense, was forced to adopt a new position for the remaining 43 minutes of the match.
Surprisingly, United went on to find the net twice before the full-time whistle to secure a magical 2-0 win, with Greenhoff keeping a clean sheet.
“It was a magnificent victory in the circumstances.” The then-Manchester United head coach said
This day and experience continue to linger in the minds of Manchester United’s supporters, as they currently promote the slogan “We win when we want’.
