Michael Gray and Sasa Ilic were reunited on talkSPORT just days before the repeat of the 1998 First Division play-off final between Charlton and Sunderland takes place.
Ilic saved the decisive penalty from Gray in a shootout victory of Sunderland as the Addicks won promotion to the top-flight.
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Charlton came out on top against Sunderland in their last trip to Wembley
The match was tied at 4-4 after extra-time in what is remembered as one of the greatest play-off games of all time.
Now, for a place in the Championship, Charlton and Sunderland go head-to-head in the League One play-off final on Sunday, in a game which is LIVE on talkSPORT.
Gray and Ilic, who will both be at Wembley cheering on their former clubs, joined Ally McCoist on Friday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“You are cruel, you lot, terrible,” Gray said. “I’ve had quite a busy week, my phone’s not stopped so I’ve had to get out of the country!”
After 13 perfect penalties from Charlton and Sunderland players, Gray had to score to put the pressure back on the Addicks.
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Michael Gray was consoled by his team-mates at full-time
But Sasa dived to his right and saved a tame spot-kick from the former England defender.
“First of all, I didn’t want to take a penalty, being a local lad, I thought they’d be finished after five,” Gray added.
“I looked around and there were a couple of younger lads, Jody Craddock, Darren Williams, and Danny Dichio, a centre-forward, he had his boots off!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Charlton and Sunderland stars who played in legendary play-off clash
“So that walk, I have to say, until you’re in that situation, everything is silent, it’s the longest walk of your life.
“When you put the ball down on the penalty spot… and I made my mind up on where I was going to put it when I was walking up to take it.
“When I picked my spot, I didn’t make good contact with the ball and I saw Sasa jumping across to his left-hand side and I just thought ‘oh no, he’s saved this’”.
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Sasa Ilic was Charlton’s hero in their last visit to Wembley
The pair were team-mates for a brief time at Leeds in 2005.
And Gray had better luck against Sasa from the penalty spot in training.
“Sasa has actually stayed at my house,” he said. “I was on loan at Leeds with him, on the first day of training, he gave me the ball and said ‘right, come on then Micky’ and he made me take a penalty against him and he nearly saved that one as well!”
“He went in a different corner, I did get a hand to it, but I thought ‘I can’t do this to the same person twice!’” Sasa added.
In an attempt to get over his play-off heartache, Gray, accompanied by some of his Sunderland team-mates, went to Aiya Napa on holiday.
And the 44-year-old bumped into Clive Mendonca, the Charlton hero who scored a hat-trick against Sunderland at Wembley.
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“I went to Aiya Napa with a few of the younger Sunderland lads,” Gray said.
“The first pub I went to, I walked straight to the back and who was there? Clive Mendonca. Did he buy me a drink? I wanted to throw one over him!
“I can’t wait to see you on Sunday, Sasa. I’m working with Sky on the day, but I’m sure they’ll be cameras on us, let’s hope the result is the opposite this time.”
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