Editing Alex Stepney (section)

==Later Manchester United career ==
[[File:AjaxManchesterUnited1976b.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Stepney in goal for Manchester United in 1976 against Ajax]]
Stepney was occasionally recalled by Ramsey but would ultimately not add to his solitary England cap, with Shilton emerging as the new deputy and ultimate long-term replacement. He continued to play in goal for Manchester United in a period of significant underachievement for the club, which culminated in their relegation to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in 1974, a season which saw Stepney, unusually for a goalkeeper, score two goals from penalties thus making him the (joint) leading scorer at Christmas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/stepney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210040814/http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/stepney.html |url-status=live |archive-date=10 December 2006 |title=Alex Stepney Season by Season United Career Record |access-date=29 January 2009 |publisher=stretfordend.co.uk }}</ref> For half a season he was replaced by [[Jimmy Rimmer]]. By now, with Stepney's former Chelsea manager [[Tommy Docherty]] in charge, they bounced back as Division Two champions the following season (1974–75). During this time, Stepney suffered a freak injury when he dislocated his jaw while barking instructions at his disorganised defence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gallery/7245423|title=Bizarre football injuries|date=10 June 2014}}</ref>

The next two seasons saw Stepney as the wise head behind a new, youthful team collated by Docherty courtesy of some astute purchases and a prolific youth set-up. During this period, Stepney had to compete with [[Paddy Roche]] for a regular starting position. Stepney was the only player with any Wembley experience at club level at all when United reached the [[1976 FA Cup final]] and the nerves of the youngsters got the better of them as [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], a division below United but containing some experienced heads of Stepney's generation, won 1–0. Stepney had no chance with the goal from [[Bobby Stokes]], a late, low, crossfield shot which United claimed fruitlessly was from an [[Offside (association football)|offside]] position.

United reached the cup final again in [[1977 FA Cup final|1977]], against Liverpool, and this time were successful. Stepney got a hand to a bullet shot on the turn from [[Jimmy Case]] but could not stop it entering the net and levelling the match after [[Stuart Pearson]] had scored for United. [[Jimmy Greenhoff]] quickly restored United's lead and Stepney made some good saves in the closing stages as Liverpool, chasing an unprecedented '[[Treble (association football)|treble]]' of trophies (having already won the [[1976–77 Football League#First Division 2|league]] title, and just days later going on to win the [[1977 European Cup final|European Cup]]), piled on the pressure.

Stepney was the only player in the 1977 FA Cup-winning team remaining from the European Cup-winning side of nine years earlier. Stepney was also the last remaining player to play for the club under manager Matt Busby.