Reds’ recruit Michael Jakobsen shared goals Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford but loves FFA Cup

WHY Michael Jakobsen shared Champions League goals with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford but loves the FFA Cup.

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THE “unforgettable” night 10 years ago that Michael Jakobsen shared goals and the global spotlight with superstars Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford still moves the Danish international.

Jakobsen, 32, has had a 15-year professional career though Europe and the A-League with Adelaide United but reminiscing about Aalborg BK’s giant-slaying 2008 Champions League run rouses the senses.

“It was one of my biggest dreams to play at Old Trafford for Manchester United so to play against them and score was amazing,” said Jakobsen of his 31st minute goal in a 2-2 away draw that saw his manager strip in a wild, post-match celebration.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has words with referee Duhamel Laurent during the Champions League tie with Aalborg at Old Trafford in December 2008.

“They still had some amazing players Tevez, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes in front of 75,000 people. It’s great, those memories are never going out of your head.”

Suspended for the first tie which Aalborg lost 3-0 at home, Jakobsen returned to play the game of his life, scoring and attracting a crude Rooney tackle as the Red Devils sweated. Stopper Jakobsen had cancelled out Tevez’s opener for the Danes who led 2-1 at the break before Rooney’s 53rd minute equaliser.

“That was special, the whole hype around the Champions League, you can't describe it,” Jakobsen said.

Aalborg also drew with Spanish La Liga outfit Villarreal and defeated Celtic 2-1 to finish third in the group

“That is fun stuff to look back at, Champions League was the high for me. Our first game, a scoreless draw at Celtic Park, was one of the biggest stages you can walk on with goosebumps all over your body. It was amazing,” said Jakobsen who has joined Adelaide from Melbourne City.

Jakobsen’s 90th minute penalty against Manchester City in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup just failed to propel Aalborg through the round of 16, losing 4-3 on aggregate.

“In the UEFA Cup that followed Champions we beat Deportivo in the first knock-out stage before eliminated by Manchester City. For a small Danish team that was over expectations. That year in Aalborg was amazing,” said Jordan Elsey’s new central defensive off-sider Jakobsen.

Jakobsen embraces an extreme contrast in setting, history and cache between Champions League action and Adelaide United’s August 29, FFA Cup round of 16 clash against Brisbane amateur outfit Lions FC at Perry Park.

All trophies are precious for Jakobsen, saying: “We won FFA Cup a couple of years ago with City, it is always nice to win silverware.”

Knocked out by unheralded Redlands United in 2016, Adelaide won’t be ambushed by another Queensland side.

“That is not going to happen again. We will go 100 per cent, show the difference between A-League and NPL,” he said. “We have to go through to the next round.”