In 1994, Manchester United players surprised the United Kingdom and the world by reaching the top of the music charts with an anthem that still resonates with fans: "Come On You Reds."

This track, featuring the 1993/94 squad, transformed the footballers into pop stars and cemented an unrepeatable milestone: Manchester United became the only football club to have reached No. 1 on the British charts with a single recorded by its own players. The story behind this phenomenon combines a passion for music, locker room camaraderie, and the magnetism of a golden era for the Red Devils.

The idea arose on the eve of the 1994 FA Cup final, when the club decided to revive a British tradition that now sounds exotic: football teams releasing songs to celebrate big occasions. In this case, Manchester United partnered with legendary rock band Status Quo, who adapted their 1988 hit "Burning Bridges" to create an anthem dedicated to the idols of Old Trafford.

The result was a festive, catchy track in which not only were the players' names mentioned, but they also actively participated in the recording.

"Schmeichel, Parker, Pallister; Irwin, Bruce, Sharpe and Ince; Hughes, McClair, Keane and Cantona ... Robson, Kanchelskis and Giggs!" recalled Lee Sharpe, former club player and one of the lead vocalists on the single, in an interview with FourFourTwo.

"It still pops into my head at random moments. It was brilliant, and Status Quo were legends," Sharpe highlighted, who starred in the music video playing guitar and emulating Liam Gallagher's attitude in front of the microphone.

The recording session was a mix of nerves, fun, and camaraderie. "All the other lads were hanging back, so I stepped up to take the pressure off them," Sharpe confessed with a laugh. And he added, "I remember Gary Pallister had an excellent voice, but Paul Parker, Roy Keane, and Denis Irwin didn't like the experience at all. It was a great day and a lot of fun. There were beers in the studio, and afterwards we went out to celebrate around town."

The impact of "Come On You Reds" was immediate. The single, released shortly before the final against Chelsea, became a sales phenomenon and achieved a feat that no other club has repeated: reaching No. 1 on the U.K. charts with an original song performed by the footballers themselves.

The success was such that Manchester United players can boast of having more No. 1 singles in the U.K. than music legends like Led Zeppelin, Dolly Parton, Amy Winehouse, and Bruce Springsteen combined. "Not bad, considering I'm probably the worst singer in history," Sharpe joked, who acknowledged feeling proud to have been part of such a unique moment.

And he reflected: "Many kids dream of being footballers or pop stars. Thanks to that song, I got to enjoy a little bit of both." The song transcended the sporting realm and became a symbol of 1990s British popular culture. The video, featuring the players alongside Status Quo and chanting the chorus, became a cult piece among fans and music lovers.

However, the phenomenon not only cemented Manchester United's image as an innovative club but also left its mark on the music industry and in the collective memory of football fans.

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