UEL Final | 41 years on - legends talk UEFA Cup '84 and Bilbao 2025

By the time we step out at Bilbao's San Mamés Stadium for the UEFA Europa League Final against Manchester United on Wednesday night (8pm UK), it will be almost 41 years to the day that we celebrated one of the great glory, glory nights in N17.

23 May, 1984 - our dramatic UEFA Cup win over Anderlecht as a packed White Hart Lane, and a live terrestrial TV audience, watched enthralled as we were seven minutes from losing the trophy before Graham Roberts equalised to level the scores on the night and on aggregate and set up Tony Parks' heroics in the penalty shoot out.

It was quite a journey, as we beat Feyenoord and Bayern Munich on our way to the two-legged final - and the Belgians were recognised as one of Europe's top sides at the time, unbeaten at home in 10 years of European football and having put three goals past Nottingham Forest in the home leg of their own semi-final.

Robbo's goal and Parksy's save have gone down in Spurs folkore as we lifted a European trophy for the third time - this time, on home soil.

Now the class of 2025 have the chance to do it again.

In this special feature in the build-up to Bilbao, we spoke to six players who started the second leg - Graham Roberts, who captained the team in Steve Perryman's absence, Gary Mabbutt, Chris Hughton, Micky Hazard, Paul 'Maxi' Miller and Gary Stevens, who wore Glenn Hoddle's '10' shirt on the night - Hoddle and Perryman two of a number of absentees.

Speaking to us over the course of the last week, here's what they had to say...

'84 | The build-up...

The build up to Bilbao is well underway - what do you remember about the first leg of your final against Anderlecht and the build up to the second leg?

Robbo: “We still had plenty of league games to play. We played Norwich on the Saturday before the first leg, then had Southampton on the Monday. Keith put out a younger team, I remember Paul Miller played, and we got beat 5-0, then we flew out to Belgium. We should have won the first leg, had a lot of chances, but it ended up 1-1. The second leg - the traffic on the way to the game was unreal. It felt like there were 100,000 people on the High Road - at 4pm! In the end, a steward came out and parked my car up, and I walked up with the fans from the traffic lights on White Hart Lane to the stadium. That was amazing.”

Mabbsy: “It was all about our injuries, and how we were going to cope. I had a double hernia and could only play about 75 minutes. The day after the final, I went to hospital for an operation. Ossie had a knee injury, Clem was out. Anderlecht were a good side, both games were even and there was nothing to choose between the teams. I fully believe our fans swung it our way in the home leg. Danny Thomas had a penalty to win it, missed, and as he had his head in his heads on the penalty spot, our fans started singing, ‘there’s only one Danny Thomas’ as he walked all the way back to the halfway line. Parksy then made his great save and the trophy was ours."

Micky: “It’s always crazy, and we were well aware of the excitement of it all. There was sadness, as well, because Keith was leaving, and he was the only manager I knew. First up, we were brilliant in Anderlecht, 1-0 up, should have been two or three, we were so dominant. Ironically, Tony Parks made a mistake, and they equalised. Back at the Lane, in my mind, I didn’t have one thought that we weren’t going to win it - it was our destiny.”

Chris: “I played in every game, every round, we’d also got used to long seasons, 60-plus games - but this was different. We’d won two FA Cups, got to the League Cup Final, albeit we lost to Liverpool, and this was almost the cherry on the cake, to be recognised in Europe. The excitement going into it was very much because it was Europe.”

Gary: “It was crazy. As I remember, we played on the Saturday against Norwich, then we had to play on Monday down at Southampton before the first leg in Belgium on the Wednesday! After that we played United on the Saturday, then it was 11 days until the second leg! That was quite relaxed, we had plenty of time to prepare the second leg.”

Maxi: “We won the semi-final over two legs against Hajduk Split, flew home, game on the Saturday (QPR), Norwich and then we had Southampton on Bank Holiday Monday – two days before the first leg of the final! By the way, Southampton were decent, they finished second that season. One of the young lads got injured at the weekend, so Keith’s called me in. I’d had a spell out with a knee injury, so I’d played fewest games. Remember, we were without Ossie, Glenn, Clem, three superstars, all out. Anyway, I played, no worries, captained the team, got beat 5-0 at the old Dell. Tuesday, we fly to Belgium for the first leg, after training! We pulverised them that night, missed chances, I scored my goal, then Parksy made a mistake and it’s 1-1. It should have been all over...”

The moments that made history...

What do you remember about key moments - Robbo’s equaliser, and Parksy’s save in the shoot-out to win the trophy?

Micky: “Ossie should have scored before Robbo's equaliser, hit the bar from about four yards!. I got onto the clearance, curled in a cross, Mark Falco knocked the defender out of the way and that allowed Robbo to control it and score. The celebrations were wild. I remember the noise in the stadium, but that didn’t even come close to Parksy’s save. It was incredible, a moment in time you don’t want to forget. I was supposed to take Danny’s penalty. You have to put the five names in at the start, I had cramp, by the time the fifth penalty came around, I was okay! So, I was taking the sixth penalty. Then Parksy makes his save. If you watch the replays, I’m first to him! It’s a moment that will live we me forever.”

Mabbsy: “I'd been substituted by then, and It was horrible watching it. I’d managed to keep Enzo Scifo quiet for 75 minutes, but I’d gone off and couldn’t do anything. That's the worst feeling. Robbo stepped up, captain, scored the equaliser. I hate penalties, but I loved them that night!”

Robbo: “I always felt we were in it, even at 1-0 down. Ossie came on, Scifo started following him around the park and suddenly, Micky Hazard had all the space in the world. We put the pressure on, then Ossie hit the crossbar from about four yards, Micky picked up the ball, played it back in, Mark Falco gave the defender a nudge, I chested the ball down and slotted it in the corner. That was a relief. I’d always said to Keith, if it went to penalties, I’d take the first one. I knew I’d score, and that would put them under pressure. I scored, they missed, and we were on the front foot. Of course, Danny missed, but then Parksy delivered and it was mayhem from there!”

Chris: “It was an even game, they scored a good goal, not too many chances. Ossie had our big chance, hit the bar and you’re thinking, ‘that’s the opportunity gone’, but then Graham scored, and I don’t think it’s appreciated as much as it deserves to be, a quality finish from a centre-half, cushioning the cross down, crowded box, and he had that awareness. If his first control was too heavy, they would have cleared, and we’re not winning the game. Parksy saved the first penalty, but they then scored the next three. We took four good penalties, but it’s a lottery, and when you miss one, you think, ‘that’s it, we’re finished’. So, when Danny missed, you’re thinking, ‘that’s it now’ - that's how the psychological momentum swings in a shoot-out. Parksy then makes his save. I think I was up next, but I can’t 100% confirm it. I was certainly due to take one, but it didn't matter!"

Gary: “The first thing to mention is we went 1-0 down, so we’re 2-1 down on aggregate and need a goal to get back into it. We had a number of players out, Ossie was on the bench, Steve Perryman was suspended, Glenn Hoddle was out, Ray Clemence was out. Ossie came on and had a great chance, volleyed against the crossbar. That’s still quite vivid in my mind! Robbo then equalised and it’s ironic, both centre-halves scored - Paul Miller in the first leg, Robbo in the second. Halfway through extra time, it crossed my mind briefly that we could be going to penalties, and if it did, I was due to take one. We scored four out of four, Parksy put us in a strong position with an early save, and it was all destined for Danny Thomas to win it for us, but he was such a nice lad, he teed it up for Parksy to be the hero!”

Maxi: “Anderlecht were much better in this second leg, the game was even, but they took the lead. Ossie did his best not to score! Injuries were catching up with us, going into extra time, we couldn’t do too much. Don’t forget, Ossie and Mabbsy had fitness tests beforehand. You couldn’t make it up! Parksy was brilliant on the penalties. I remember the crowd singing Danny’s name after he missed, and I’m sure that put Gudjohnsen off. Parksy saves it, bedlam!”

Emotions...

Can you remember your emotions, not just on Parksy's save, but in the hours afterwards when it had all sunk in a bit?

Mabbsy: “If you watch when Parksy makes the save, he runs to the West Stand, I think I’m the third player to get to him! It was amazing. The support in the stadium... the European nights create a special atmosphere. Just imagine the team walking out against Brighton for the final game of this season carrying that trophy.”

Micky: “I got a phone call from Eric Robson, my local butcher, in the dressing room. I’ve no idea how he got through, but he did, just to say, ‘Micky, brilliant, what a performance!’. I played in the 1982 FA Cup Final and the moment kind of passed me by a bit, so I vowed when I got to my next final, I’d take it all in, 10 minutes by myself. I did that, and let it all sink in. I was travelling to Scotland with the full England squad the next day! I left home at 4am, but I gave myself time to reflect on it all, to lap up every second.”

Robbo: “Everyone’s hugging each other, then, all of a sudden, I’m looking at the trophy and thinking, ‘I’m going up to get that!’. This is 1984 - in 1980, I was playing non-league football. Now, I’ve got the privilege of lifting that trophy. Amazing. It was the best day of my life. I just hope that Sonny does the same in Bilbao.”

Chris: “For me, there is no better way to win it than the way we won it - second leg at home, the drama of a shoot-out, stadium on tenterhooks. When we won the FA Cup in 1981, for most of us, it was our first trophy. The feeling was - and, I know it’s not the European Cup – we’re European champions. We’d got to the semi-final in 81/82, lost to Barcelona, so this meant even more. Also, knowing Keith was leaving, that was a huge incentive for us. The feeling was incredible pride and that we were all now European champions.”

Gary: “If you watch the video, when Parksy makes the save and runs off, you see number 10 gets to him first - that was me! Glenn Hoddle wasn’t fit, so someone had to wear the 10 shirt. At the end of the previous season, I’d played for Brighton against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final, we had a great chance to win that, so one of my feelings was that I’d won something – the only trophy I won at club level.”

Maxi: “I just felt winning it put us back to where we should be. That UEFA Cup was so hard to win, teams finishing second, third and fourth in their leagues. We’d come close before - this proved we were just fine. I remember not going mad at the end, there was a touch of sadness, as well, with Keith leaving and that things might be changing. I was elated though - and the celebrations went on until the early hours.”

2025 | Thoughts on the final...

Mabbsy: “We beat them at Old Trafford, beat them twice at home... I just feel it’s ours for the taking. It’s a massive opportunity. We can do it, now we have to go out there and beat them.”

Micky: “I’m not keen looking at the past, in this case, our three matches this season, because they have no bearing on the future. I just hope each and every one of our players steps up to the plate and shows he’s got what it takes to become a legend at this football club. It’s a chance to write their names in Spurs folklore. I’ve done it, I’d pay good money to do it again. I’m thinking of Sonny, his loyalty, his quality over the years, and he’s got an opportunity to cement all that. Imagine how he’ll feel if we do it.”

Robbo: “For me, man for man, I think we’re better. Vicario, defensively, Bissouma and Bentancur are looking good in midfield, although, okay, Maddison’s a miss. Up front, plenty of options, Solanke, Richarlison is getting back to himself, Johnson’s our top scorer. I think we’ll be ready for it. I’m confident.”

Chris: “I think our best 11 is better than United’s. The injuries to Maddison, Kulusevski, they’re big blows. Both teams have had difficult seasons but managed to raise their game when it’s mattered in Europe. United-Lyon, when they came back (quarter-finals), that was as exciting as it gets. Anything is possible, but I think it’s a Spurs win.”

Gary: “There are parallels now to 84. We didn’t have the best of seasons in the league. It just puts such a different perspective on the season. We’ve beaten them three times already this season, and you use anything you can to your psychological advantage. I see a Spurs win, absolutely.”

Maxi: “I fancy us. Our goalkeeper, back four, is stronger and we’ll give away less chances, midfield is even and, for me, we’ve better forwards. It looks fairly even, I just think we’ll score more goals. I’m quietly confident.”

Legacy...

We're talking about 1984 in 2025, 41 years later, so, what does it mean to lift a trophy for Tottenham Hotspur?

Mabbsy: “For a player as an individual, no-one can take it away from you, whether it’s last year or 100 years ago. The stadium has photos of the club’s history, including one of me and Graham Roberts holding the UEFA Cup in 1984. The legacy is that we’re still there, in front of all the players, with the European trophy we won 41 years ago. That’s our legacy. For this group of players, I just feel they're more than capable of winning this competition and creating their own legacies for the future.”

Micky: “At the start of every final day, everyone is looking for a hero, someone to step up to the plate, someone to go into the folklore of Tottenham Hotspur. We need that hero. By the end of the night, each and every one of you is a legend of the club for evermore. I get quite emotional thinking about it. If you do that at Spurs, win a trophy in the name of Tottenham Hotspur, you’re a legend. That’s the legacy. Throughout history, people know who you are, because you won a trophy. That makes me feel so proud.”

Robbo: “For me, I won quite a lot of trophies, even when I left the club, the legacy is that the supporters will never, ever forget you. They will appreciate what you’ve done for the football club. All I would say to the lads is ‘don’t leave anything out there’. If they win it, everyone will remember it for the rest of their lives.”

Chris: “I made my debut in 1979, and when I first walked into the club, Bill Nicholson was still there. He was revered. Right up to the final times I saw Bill, whenever I was in his company, and I used to see him on a Saturday morning watching the youth team, I was still in awe of him. That was because of his teams. So, roll that clock forward, then it’s the 1981 FA Cup team, then it’s the 1984 UEFA Cup. To this day, I still bump into so many Spurs fans who speak about the 1984 UEFA Cup Final – 81 and 84. And they speak about it because it was at their home stadium. To still be speaking about 84, now 41 years on… that’s the legacy. If I was a player now, I would want fans to be speaking about 2025, bringing home that trophy, in 2066. For me, that’s how big it is.”

Gary: “You’re in the history books. Think of how many players have played for Spurs and won a trophy, then how many have won a European trophy. It’s something that’s never forgotten.”

Maxi: “Just look at the club’s history - we were the first British club to win a European trophy in 1963, UEFA Cup in 1972. It’s special to win a European trophy. Not many teams achieve that.”

1984 - watch the second leg all over again!