I have been to nou camp, moscow and stockholm - and have seen united win the lot

EDDIE THOMAS WAS VOTED MAN UTD'S NO.1 FAN BY THE MEN IN 2004 AND HE HAS TRAVELLED TO BILBAO FOR THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL. 04:00, 21 May 2025 Manchester United's biggest fan is

hoping to watch his side win another European trophy. Eddie Thomas has lived and breathed United throughout his entire life and he beat tough competition to be voted as United's biggest

fan by the _Manchester Evening News_ in 2006. The MEN's former sport editor, Peter Spencer, visited Thomas to present him with his prize and 19 years later, Steven Railston was invited

to his home to look at the revamped 'Red Room'. Thomas' house is like United heaven and he travelled to Bilbao on Monday afternoon to attend the Europa League final against

Tottenham Hotspur, along with his son and grandson. The dedicated Red had been to every cup final, including Europeans, until recently when a friend who was responsible for sorting their

tickets made an error, but Thomas will be present at the Estadio de San Mames on Wednesday night and he can't wait to take his seat in the stadium. "My other grandson is going with

his mates and they're flying via Tenerife," Thomas laughed. "He's been to the quarter-finals and semi-finals away in Lyon and Bilbao, and he booked his flights for the

final early. "The Lyon match at Old Trafford was crazy. We had to make a dash to the toilet and the equaliser was scored, so we darted back in at the bottom and we were right where

Maguire scored. "It was amazing, something like '99 [Champions League final at Camp Nou] because they scored three goals in just a few minutes. It has to go down as one of my

favourite games anyway." Thomas continued: "They're the only unbeaten team in Europe, so I fancy them with how we've been. It's been a ride when you compare it to

the Premier League, which has been terrible. "Because they can't get relegated, I don't think they've been bothered, so that's not a good thing. But I'll be

phoning you up if they win the trophy! We've beaten Tottenham lots down the years." Thomas admitted he wasn't sure how he would celebrate in Bilbao if United beat Tottenham,

but his wife, Christine, interrupted to say: "A couple of drinks? You'll be having lots of them!" Thomas' first season at Old Trafford was in 1957 and he's seen

dozens of United legends in the flesh, but he believes Bruno Fernandes should be remembered as one of the greats. Fernandes scored a brace in the Europa League semi-final first leg and has

continued to be a driving force in a struggling team. "He's everything, he pushes, he assists and scores goals," said Thomas. "He's my hero in this team and I hope

he doesn't leave in the summer. We need to keep him for next season, see who we buy in the summer, because you can't replace a player like him. "He's the one who sticks

out. We've always had good midfield players who are leaders. He just falls short of Bryan Robson for me, who was Captain Fantastic, but he probably comes close." Thomas will be

cheering on Fernandes to write another chapter of history in Bilbao. --- _Here at the Manchester Evening News, we're dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and

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