World Soccer Presents – July 2022

Presents

EUROPEAN CUP
YEARS

SPECIAL COLLECTORS EDITION 1955-1992

The European Cup has evolved enormously since its inception. In fact, it From the editor
continues to do so; it was only in May 2022 when UEFA approved a new
format from 2024-25 onwards, increasing the number of group-stage
games from six to eight and the number of teams involved from 32 to 36.
That’s certainly a far cry from what it used to be; a straight knockout tournament
open only to the champions of Europe’s domestic leagues.

It was L’Equipe journalists Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran who first proposed
the concept of a European club championship (its original name in French was
Coupe des Clubs Champions Europeens) to UEFA; themselves inspired by the South
American Championship of Champions (regarded as the precursor to the Copa
Libertadores).

It was poetic, therefore, that the star of the first five finals was an Argentinian –
Real Madrid’s Alfredo Di Stefano. He scored in all of those showpieces, tallying seven
final goals in total, as Real Madrid secured five straight titles. It remains a record to
this day and laid the foundations for the Spanish side’s special connection with the
competition.

But there have been many great players and teams to have participated in
the tournament, as well as moments and goals; far too many to relay in one single
bookazine. For that reason, Part One will focus on the European Cup era, from the
1955-56 campaign to the 1991-92 edition, just before the tournament’s rebranding
as the UEFA Champions League.

World Soccer’s coverage of the competition has varied over the years, so this
bookazine’s primary goal is to celebrate the winners of each edition; be it via a match
report from the final or an article about a key figure within the victors. We also cover
some of the tournament’s darker days, including fan violence at the 1975 final and
the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985.

In the time it takes you to read Part One, we will have wrapped up Part Two for you
to continue your journey through the competition’s history. Be sure not to miss it.
Jared Tinslay, Assistant Editor

2 EUROPEAN CUP

Contents

4 64 68

14 92

1950s Paris Folly 52
4 Bayern Munich 1976 54
The Beginnings 1955-60 6 Liverpool 1977 56
Real Madrid 1955-60 58
Kop Rule In Rome 62
1960s Liverpool 1978 64
10 Nottingham Forest 1979
Benfica 1961 66
Benfica 1962 12 68
When Eusebio Ruled Europe 70
Milan 1963 14 1980s 72
Men & Marksmanship 74
Internazionale 1964 18 Nottingham Forest 1980 76
Internazionale 1965 20 Liverpool 1981 78
Helenio Herrera 24 Aston Villa 1982 80
Real Madrid 1966 26 Hamburg 1983 82
Celtic 1967 28 Liverpool 1984 84
Manchester United 1968 30 The Goal Rush 86
Milan 1969 32 Juventus 1985 88
34 Steaua Bucharest 1986
1970s 38 Porto 1987 90
92
Feyenoord 1970 PSV 1988 94
Ajax 1971 The Berlusconi Revolution 96
Ajax 1972 39 Milan 1989
Ajax 1973
Bayern Munich 1974 40
Franz Beckenbauer
Bayern Munich 1975 42 1990s

44 Milan 1990
46 Red Star Belgrade 1991
48 Barcelona 1992
50 The Dream Team

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EUROPEAN CUP 3

1955-60 The beginnings

The first
five years…

Ahead of the 1961 European Cup final, the first not
to feature Real Madrid, Gordon Jeffery looks back
on the first five years of the tournament’s history

By the time this issue of World 76 clubs entered the first five Save…Rangers take If we consider the national
Soccer appears in print, we competitions (75 actually took on French side Saint- representative clubs and their respective
shall all know whether the part – KuPS, Finland’s 1959-60 Etienne in1957 progress, Spain has a clear lead both in
name Benfica of Portugal or representatives, withdrew before playing the number of matches played and in
Barcelona of Spain has been added their first round legs against Germans the percentage of points gained from
to that of Real Madrid in the still very Eintracht Frankfurt. those matches. Nor is this leadership
select list of European Cup holders. only a consequence of Real Madrid’s
It is indeed both a part of the successes. After the first competition,
The time seems appropriate to look fascination of the competition and one Real had the holders’ right to a place in
back at the previous competitions. The of its weaknesses that each competition the following competition and Spain had
competition as a whole has not been introduces new clubs. Thus, of the 16 a second representative. In these four
entirely a success, if success is judged sides who played in the first competition, seasons their “second strings” have
purely on the benefit to the game – only Real Madrid (Spain), Anderlecht successively reached the quarter-finals
the material success, the richness (Belgium), Aarhus (Denmark) and (in 1956-57 and 1957-58) and the
of the main prizes to both clubs and Rapid Vienna (Austria) re-appeared in semi-finals (in 1958-59 and 1959-60),
players have too often encouraged a 1956-57. All, save Anderlecht, of these and all but one of those exits came
“win-at-all-costs” approach that has made third appearances in 1957-58, at the hands of compatriots Real.
led to incidents that have besmirched while Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia),
the name of football – but this survey Rangers (Scotland), Norrkoping This is a knockout not a league
will content itself with facts and figures (Sweden), Borussia Dortmund (West competition and, although the playing
and leave wider considerations for Germany), Manchester United (England) of home-and-away legs to each tie
another time. and CDNA Sofia (Bulgaria) made their prolongs the life, it is only slightly
second successive appearances, but removed from the sudden death
Certainly, in terms of international 15 were making their debuts. possibility of traditional knockout
support, the competition has been competitions.
a huge success from its inception in Even in the 1960-61 competition,
1955. Sixteen clubs from 15 different nine clubs appeared for the first time: Inevitably, with many clubs only
countries took part in the inaugural Limerick (Republic of Ireland), Burnley having played two or four matches
competition; six more countries sent (England), Lierse (Belgium), Fredrikstad
their champion clubs into the next (Norway), Hamburg (West Germany),
competition; three more appeared in Malmo (Sweden), IFK Helsingfors
1957-58; then two more in 1958-59. (Finland), Spartak Hradec Kralove
Indeed, with Norway in the shape (Czechoslovakia) and Ujpest (Hungary)
of Fredrikstad, making their first – while others, Juventus (Italy), Reims
appearance in the present 1960-61 (France) and CCA Bucharest (Romania)
competition, only Albania and the for example, reappeared after missing
Soviet Union of the European nations a competition or two.
remains unrepresented. (Presumably
room would also be found for Iceland The weakness of this is, of course,
if they wanted it.) that clubs inevitably appear in the
European Cup the season after they
Whether every schoolboy’s have been national champions and,
knowledge matched up to Macaulay’s such is the high level of competition
expectations is very doubtful, but I in most national leagues, rarely when
suppose every reader of World Soccer they are the present champions. Two
knows that Real Madrid won the first successive seasons as champions and
competition of the European Cup therefore two successive European
in 1955-56 and retained it in the Cup appearances seems the most
following four seasons – the the leading clubs can expect. The
entire period reviewed here. exceptions, notably CDNA Sofia’s
Bulgarian monopoly, come from the
What is probably less generally smaller leagues of smaller countries
realised – accustomed as we all are to whose overall record in the competition
noticing the “big boys” and to ignoring is one of hopeful participation.
the smaller fry – is that no less than

4 EUROPEAN CUP

their debut – against Swiss side LEFT: Campeones…
Servette in Geneva. Real won 2-0. Real Madrid with
the European Cup
Anderlecht have been amongst trophy in1957
the most frequent competitors (three
a fair number share the same win competition are; the first European Cup times in the first five seasons) but have
percentages of 50 and 25 per cent, game was played in Lisbon, Portugal on yet to win a game. Real Madrid with five
and there is no great significance to the September 4, 1955, when the Sporting appearances are the only ever-presents.
order of merit amongst clubs with the Club drew 3-3 with their Yugoslav CDNA Sofia have four appearances
same percentages of points gained - visitors, Partizan Belgrade. (Bulgaria were not represented in the
generally, however, the club that has first competition); Milan (Italy), Young
played the most matches has been Three days later in Budapest, Voros Boys (Switzerland), Red Star Belgrade,
given precedence. Lobogo (or, as they are now known, Rangers and Rapid Vienna, have all
MTK Budapest) thrashed Anderlecht made three appearances.
Some interesting points about the 6-3. One day later Real Madrid made
The biggest win in the competition
was Manchester United’s 10-0 thrashing
of Anderlecht, played in Manchester on
September 26, 1956. Tragedy touched
the competition in February 1958,
when the Manchester United party,
returning from a 3-3 draw with Red
Star Belgrade, were involved in the
Munich air-crash that robbed United
– and England – of several of their
greatest young players. How great
these very young players would
have become we can never know.

EUROPEAN CUP 5

1955-60 Real Madrid

Irresistible Real

Brian Glanville recalls Real Madrid’s incredible run of five straight European Cup wins

6 EUROPEAN CUP

L ’etat, c’est moi,” said the dominant influence in the astonishing could at least have shared the services
Sun King, Louis XIV, when Real Madrid side that won five European of Di Stefano.
he ruled France. The state, Cups in a row – the first five – a record
it’s me. By the same token, that will hardly be equalled let alone He had arrived in Spain in 1953, in
albeit centuries later, in football, Alfredo surpassed. his mid-20s, not from his native Buenos
Di Stefano was surely entitled to say: Aires, where he claimed to have built his
“Real Madrid, it’s me.” The blond, Yet to the eternal embarrassment exceptional stamina by running through
tireless, deep-chested Argentinian of Barcelona, eternal rivals of Real, the streets, but from Bogota, Colombia,
was the inspiration and implacably standard bearers for Catalonia against where he had decamped to play with
the ruling hierarchy of Castile, they other Argentinians for the Millonarios
club. This was only possible because
Colombia had withdrawn from FIFA
and could therefore sign whomever
they liked without having to pay
transfer fees.

Di Stefano, destined for all his
dazzling prowess never to play in a
World Cup, followed a hero of his own,
centre-forward Adolfo Pedernera, to
Bogota, having played his last game for
Argentina. Raimundo Saporta, Real’s
treasurer and chief aide to all-powerful
president Santiago Bernabeu, had flown
to the Colombian capital in pursuit of Di
Stefano, while Barcelona’s emissaries
made for Buenos Aires, where Di
Stefano’s original club, River Plate, still
held his registration. Both River and
Millonarios agreed with their respective
visitors that they could sign Di Stefano.
The Spanish federation then emitted
what was hardly a judgement of

Solomon, somewhat fatuously Inspiration…
decreeing that each club could have Alfredo Di Stefano
the player in alternate seasons, with was the dominant
Real to have first go. influence on Madrid

So Di Stefano began in Madrid, 1956
but in the initial six weeks, whether by 57/58
accident or design, he hardly excelled. 59/60
Barcelona, having watched him, decided
fatally to sell out their share. Whereupon, European Cup Winners
in his very next game, against Barca,
Di Stefano scored four goals in a 5-0 REAL MADRID
victory. He and Real were up, up and
away, winning the championship that
season and again the next, 1954-55,
to qualify for the first European Cup.
Di Stefano was the indefatigable spirit
of the side, playing “Total Football”
well before it was ever conceived,
ubiquitous and dynamic.

EUROPEAN CUP 7

1955-60 Real Madrid

“As a centre-forward,” he once said, amicably enough with the coach was another Argentinian, the tall, skilful Racking them up…
“I am always on the move, up, back he found in charge, Jose Villalonga, inside-left Hector Rial, who himself was Di Stefano’s scores
and across, trying not to be fixed in a former army officer who would be a naturalised Spaniard and therefore his first goal in
one position and so not allowing the succeeded by the somewhat more available for the national team. Herrera the 7-3 defeat of
defender to see too much of me. Or I assertive Luis Carniglia, an Argentinian, wrote appreciatively of Rial, saying: “He Eintracht Frankfurt
may be trying to avoid ‘bunching’ with for the 1957-58 season. has the technical assurance of the South in the1960 final
other forwards. Or I may be reading Americans, but also a sense of realism.”
what is to come, and moving quickly But Di Stefano was still the main man. Moreover, Rial was a generously helpful
to help the next man on the ball. For “My greatest pleasure,” he declared, mentor to flying outside-left Francisco
forwards should accept it as part of “is in hitting goals.” And he got them “Paco” Gento. Rial, said Gento, taught
their job that they should help their in abundance, though never selfishly. him how to exploit his pace and helped
defence. When the opposing attack He could never, he said, “understand him to learn about the game. Gento
is in possession, you obviously are out non-triers. Many a time, even once or always had warm words for both
of the game. What do you do? Just twice when I was running a temperature, Di Stefano – who could find him
accept that position, while the defence I have still persuaded the manager to blindfolded – and Ferenc Puskas,
tries to come through a difficult time? let me play. Football is a great game, and who would succeed Rial.
If the defence fails, the forward’s job when one is with a great club it should
becomes that much harder: he has be a privilege to play and give of one’s Longevity was Gento’s hallmark; in
to score more goals. So the obvious
thing is to get back quickly and help Real thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3.
the defence. It eases your own job Puskas scored four, Di Stefano three,
over the whole game. and each was in irresistible form

“I think nothing of popping up at best, a privilege hard to sacrifice.” 1966 he became the only member of
centre-half or full-back, to cover a But in the World Cup in Chile in 1962, the team that won the first five European
colleague who has had to leave his titles to win another, Real’s sixth. Yet he
position. We are all footballers, and that other big egotist, Helenio Herrera, was not an early starter; Gento was 19
as such, should be able to perform in charge of Spain’s national team, before his local club, Racing Santander,
competently in all positions.” couldn’t persuade the naturalised signed him on a five-year contract.
Di Stefano to play. But in 1953 he like Di Stefano came
ON-FIELD FORCE to Real Madrid, and flourished.
Di Stefano’s essential foil in the
With a force such as Di Stefano on first four European Cup triumphs
the field Real hardly had need of a
manager, though Di Stefano worked

8 EUROPEAN CUP

Miguel Munoz, the tall, powerfully In the semi-finals, Matt Busby’s young Cucchiaroni, hit Real’s bar, and the other, Lap of honour…
built right-half who would in time Manchester United side lost 3-1 to Real Gento, got the winner. the players tour
become the team’s manager, was in Madrid but gallantly forced a 2-2 Hampden Park with
somewhat surprisingly praised by draw in the return. The 1959 final, in Stuttgart, was the trophy in1960
Herrera as “the veritable motor of once again against French side Reims.
his team. A magnificent attacker, he is So to the final, at Real’s stadium – Di Stefano scored the second goal in 1956
always going forward and shoots at goal as had been decreed from the start a somewhat tepid 2-0 victory. 57/58
with much power.” But “El Mago” added – where Italians Fiorentina proved 59/60
that Munoz could have difficulty against obstinate opponents. Real’s first goal In the semi-finals, Real had been
quick, counter-attacking opponents. was controversial. Dutch referee Leo drawn against city rivals Atletico and European Cup Winners
Horn blew for a penalty when inside- were held to a 2-2 aggregate draw.
The field in the initial European Cup right Mateos went down in the box But they made it through with a 2-1 REAL MADRID
was small and Real had to beat only and proceeded to ignore Fiorentina win in a play-off staged in Zaragoza.
three opponents to reach the final in claims that the linesman had flagged
Paris against Reims. They actually lost for offside before the incident. Di That season, Real were able to
3-0 in the quarter-final second leg Stefano converted the kick, and deploy the formidable left foot and
against Partizan in Belgrade, where Gento made it 2-0 six minutes later. commanding presence of Puskas, who,
they were pelted with snowballs reportedly, diplomatically set up a goal
and tormented by a brilliant Milos The following season, a still more for Di Stefano whey they were neck and
Milutinovic; but they’d won the first rugged centre-half, Jose Santamaria, neck at the top of the league scorers’
leg 4-0. In the semi-finals, Milan arrived from Uruguay to replace chart. “I was charged with being slow
were beaten 4-2 in Madrid, but at Marquitos, while Munoz gave way after my early matches in Spain,” Puskas
the San Siro Real went down 2-1. to Juan Santisteban. Santamaria, wrote. “Modestly, I beg to point out that
nicknamed “The Wall”, once said: this was, and is, an illusion…the ball
So to the final, in which Di Stefano “A centre-half should be anything should run faster than the man.”
would be ranged against another but that. In my opinion, football
supreme, deep-lying, creative centre- begins out of defence.” The Hungarian got the winner against
forward, the diminutive Raymond Kopa. Atletico in the play-off, but it was Rial
GOALS GALORE who started inside-left for the final.
Reims gave Real a tremendous run
for their money, actually going 2-0 up En route to the 1958 final in Brussels, So to 1960 and the ultimate
in 12 minutes. Then Di Stefano took a where Milan were so narrowly beaten crescendo in the Glaswegian final,
forceful hand, starting in his own half 3-2 after extra-time, Real scored six at when 130,000 Scottish fans stayed
a move he finished with a fearsome home to Royal Antwerp and eight in on to applaud a Real team that had
shot. On the half-hour Rial headed an thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 after
equaliser, but on 62 minutes Michel Madrid against fellow Spaniards Sevilla, going 1-0 behind. Puskas scored four,
Hidalgo’s header from Kopa’s precise four of them from Di Stefano. But Vasas
free-kick restored Reims’ lead. Real’s of Hungary surprisingly beat them 2-0 Di Stefano three, and each was in
equaliser was fortuitous. Marquitos, when they met in Budapest, though irresistible form.
the big, tough centre-half, untypically Real had won the first leg 4-0.
surged upfield and shot. The ball hit a Even in the 1962 final, in Amsterdam’s
defender and rebounded into the net In a final that came vigorously alive in Olympic Stadium, when both players were
off Marquitos. The winner, scored by Rial the second half, Uruguayan forward Juan veterans, Puskas scored a hat-trick in
11 minutes from full-time, came after a Schiaffino put Milan ahead. Di Stefano the 5-3 defeat by Benfica. For one of
typical burst by Gento, who called this equalised, Ernesto Grillo made it 2-1 for the goals, he simply trotted half the
the hardest of Real’s first five finals. Milan, but, a minute later, Rial scored for length of the field from Di Stefano’s
2-2. In extra-time one left-winger, Tito superbly timed pass.
Kopa then joined Real, and Di
Stefano predictably had him “banished” If 1960 was the triumphant swansong,
to his original role on the right wing. 1962 was a memorable farewell.
Not till the 1958 World Cup finals in
Sweden would the Frenchman be
able to retake, and triumphantly, his
preferred position as playmaker.

It was after that tournament that
Real signed Didi, the inspiration of
Brazil’s winning attack, and Swedish
centre-forward Agne Simonsson.
But Di Stefano saw to it that they
both stayed frustrated on the bench.
Kopa for his part belatedly wondered
why Real needed him at all.

In the 1956-57 European Cup, Real
were hard-pressed in the first round by
Rapid Vienna, for whom the imposing
blond centre-back Ernst Happel scored
a hat-trick in the 3-1 second leg victory
in Vienna. Real had won 4-2 in Madrid
and in these days before the away goals
rule, a play-off was needed. Real, who
offered Rapid £25,000 to stage the
game in Madrid, duly won it 2-0.

EUROPEAN CUP 9

1961 Benfica

Cup leaves

Spain at last
Stuart Shaw’s post-mortem of the 1961 European Cup
final between victors Benfica and runners-up Barcelona

Chest…Benfica’s So, at the end of its sixth commendable efforts to retain the course, produced some of the most
Angelo stops the season, the European Cup European Cup for their country, but constructive, entertaining and intelligent
has left Spain for the first time. when the final whistle blew, Benfica football ever played. This time, in Berne,
ball on the line Significantly, perhaps, the one of Portugal emerged as the “Team of the two sides were more evenly matched.
with his chest occasion that Real Madrid were knocked Europe” for 1961, luckily or otherwise. After all, in basic terms, a game is a
out of the competition, the trophy contest between two teams and if one
also went abroad. Barcelona could Probably the finest way to reflect an is obviously vastly superior in technique
not have made more strenuous or impression of the game, is to compare it and ability to the other, the game suffers
as a whole with the 1960 final which, of

10 EUROPEAN CUP

as a spectacle in consequence. In If Suarez was Barcelona’s man of the
the 1960 final it was not so much a first period, then the Benfica goalkeeper
question of Eintracht being inferior, Costa Pereira was his side’s hero. His
rather Real Madrid were so outstanding. gigantic frame and long arms rescued
his charge on more than one occasion
In many ways a year ago represented and, for a man of his size, he showed
a pure exhibition of the game; the a surprising agility. But his most
winning of the European Cup almost outstanding quality was his ice
came as the secondary factor. Not cool temperament.
so the Swiss affair. Both sides were
suffering from nerves and the first As later events were to show, it was
half was certainly not the feast of this single factor in the make-up of one
football expected. player that contributed largely to the
final outcome in favour of Benfica.
Barcelona led without suggesting
they were completely happy about From the coolest character on
the fact. Their outstanding player the field, to the most jittery and
in this period was clearly inside-left Costa Pereira’s opposite number, the
Luis Suarez playing in his last game experienced Antoni Ramallets. Even
for Barcelona and obviously anxious to the best of players run into days like this
add a winners’ medal to his collection and for Ramallets it was a nightmare.
before departing for Italian shores.
He presented Benfica with the first
Time and again he engineered two goals before half-time through
openings for his colleagues who were astonishing errors of judgment, and
either too slow to anticipate his moves these in turn were virtually responsible
or held on to the ball and were beaten for his jaded nerves and shattered
in the tackle by the tenacious, quick- confidence which allowed him to go
tackling Benfica defenders. down seconds too late for Coluna’s
smash shot that put the Portuguese
into a 3-1 lead. they managed to penetrate it again and Trophy…Benfica
again. Only goalkeeper Costa Pereira celebrate their 3-2
It was from this seemingly hopeless prevented them from equalising. True, final victory over
position that Barcelona played their he had some fortunate escapes when Barcelona in Berne
best football of the evening. True, he lost the ball once or twice and a
it began in desperate fashion as the defender’s boot came to the rescue
Spanish team gave the impression that more than once, but through all the
here was a once gifted group of players hectic dying minutes, he remained
who had been out of touch for more as cool as ever.
matches than they would perhaps care
to remember, trying vainly to find form It was his attitude that helped Benfica
which could pull them through even get over the line. He refused to be put
from this situation. Slowly but surely off by even his own few odd mistakes.
the many openings they made for each Corner after corner brought fever pitch
other, often brilliantly schemed, ended excitement but no goals. The cup went
with hurried shooting or delayed to Portugal and the Spanish interest
initiative. Laszlo Kubala gradually ended for the first time in the history
assumed the chief strategic role with of the trophy.
Zoltan Czibor suddenly shaking off his
former indecision and appearing as the Individual honours went to most
main threat to the Portuguese goal. of the men expected to shine in this
type of match. Benfica’s heroes were
In the 75th minute the Hungarian naturally the sensationally calm Costa
reduced the arrears with the goal of the Pereira, the rock-like centre-back
match, and from then on it was simply Germano and tricky right-winger Jose
a question of how long could Benfica Augusto. In brief raids the Benfica attack
hold out. Their raids became scattered often apeared dangerous, but really they
and lonely. Barcelona threw everything were flattered to have scored three goals.
into attack, hit the post three times

Out of Barca’s desperation came

inspiration and a quality of football

(once when it seemed easier to score) For Barcelona the outstanding 1961
and had a strong appeal for a goal players were Kubala, Czibor and European Cup Winners
disallowed. Suarez. This was one of Czibor’s best-
ever games. A memorable match in BENFICA
Out of Barca’s desperation came many ways, particularly for the manner
inspiration and a quality of football it underlined just how good this Barca
that had much in it to be admired. side once was and how gloriously
They interchanged with each other in they attempted to come back
bewildering style and tightly packed and all but succeeded.
though the Portuguese defence was,

EUROPEAN CUP 11

1962 Benfica

Benfica
keep European Cup

The Portuguese side, and defending champions, were well
worth their second successive victory, as Eric Batty reports

With the Coppa Europa the World Cup has been settled and and then find himself in the losing team
once more installed in only this season’s registered staff are must be heart-breaking, but perhaps
the place of honour it eligible. Even so the deals will have for Puskas the blow was softened by his
has occupied for the been quietly made, awaiting only the personal performance. After all, scoring
past 12 months at the Estadio da Luz, appropriate moment for completion. goals is his role in the Madrid system.
Benfica’s only problem is to find a new That they need to prune their staff He kept his end up, and the reasons
trainer to replace exiting coach Bela cannot now be denied, yet strangely for the flop lie further back.
Guttmann. For the losers, Real Madrid, enough the man that most people
the future looks bleak, and perhaps by thought would be on the move was In fact, the wall that Real usually
the time this appears in print the Ferenc Puskas, who could certainly not erect around their penalty area looked
exodus will have already begun. be blamed for the failure in Amsterdam. distinctly shaky and behind them the
normally confident Jose Araquistain was
This really is unlikely though, for Real For any man to score a superb frequently left flat-footed. He must take
have Spanish Cup semi-final dates after hat-trick in the space of 20 minutes the major share of the blame for the

12 EUROPEAN CUP

goal that began Benfica’s comeback inability to hold what should have been ABOVE: Opener
early on. For he spent almost a full a match-winning two-goal lead, but at …Real Madrid’s
minute crouching by the far post the psychological moment when they Ferenc Puskas
apparently unable to make up his needed to produce a little extra effort, scores the game’s
mind whether the line of defenders they lost their right-back who limped opening goal
were in fact covering the near post. out of a tackle and never ran again.
When the kick was taken Araquistain LEFT: Eusebio…the
was scrambling across to the far side This may have been the turning Portuguese star
of goal, and when the ball rebounded point in the match for, from then on, relaxes before
from the post he knew nothing about Real were chasing an equaliser with the big game
it. Jose Aguas had an easy job to push only ten fit men and a reshuffled team,
home the rebound, and though he he had the luck that usually falls to while Benfica prodded by their coach
missed an equally simple chance players in form. from the sidelines wasted every second
against England at Wembley he they could and whenever possible
made no mistake this time. The most spectacular goal of the pushed the ball around between
night was the second, which flew from themselves.
Araquistain may also have to accept the outside of that fabulous left foot of
a large share of the responsibility for It was a good match, though not
the goals scored by former outside-left as good as many observers seemed
Domiciano Cavem, and final equaliser to think. Exciting, always interesting,
lashed home by Mario Coluna. Both and surrounded by the atmosphere
shots were really flying, but from the that such an important occasion should
25-yard mark a keeper of Araquistain’s have, it lacked the finesse, the superb
class should have reached them. There skill demonstrated by Real Madrid in
is only one possible excuse – the light the Eintracht epic at Hampden Park.
was not as good as it might have been
– but in fairness it was the same for From then on, Real were chasing
Costa Pereira and he lived up to his
reputation. Pereira didn’t know much an equaliser with only ten fit men
about one shot from Alfredo Di Stefano
that hit his leg but he had come out well, Puskas. Not only did the ball “come Benfica were worthy winners on the 1962
and while he could not have prevented back” at least a yard, it bounced just day, fully deserving to retain the trophy European Cup Winners
Justo Tejada’s header from going in had short of Pereira. Until early in the second for another 12 months – but never
it dropped another three inches lower, half Real supporters must have been at any time did they ever rise to the BENFICA
only slightly perturbed at their team’s peaks of Real Madrid, vintage 1960!

EUROPEAN CUP 13

1960s Benfica

When

Eusebio

ruled Europe

Brian Glanville recalls the Champions
Cup success of Bela Guttmann’s side

14 EUROPEAN CUP

Training…Eusebio Benfica’s record in the early
performs some years of the European Cup
kick-ups for was extraordinary, surpassed
the cameras only by Real Madrid, who
had half a dozen victories. The Lisbon
club appeared in three finals in a row 1961/
between 1961 and 1963 – winning 1962
the first two – and were finalists
again in 1965 and 1968. European Cup Winners

The key figure in their two successes BENFICA
was surely veteran Hungarian coach
Bela Guttmann. How well I remember
meeting him for the first time in a
trattoria in central Rome one lunchtime
in 1955. He had just, bizarrely, been
dismissed as manager of Milan, even
though they were still leading the
championship. He said bitterly that
in all future contracts he would insist
on a clause: “Not to be dismissed
when the club is top of the league.”

He also recounted a rather wry
anecdote. Some years ago, he said,
when Lucchese, the Tuscan club, were
in Serie A, they took the train to Turin
to play formidable Juventus. On the
journey their coach, poor fellow, died.
Instant panic. How could any Italian
team take the field without a coach?
So the directors phoned frantically all
over Italy till at last they found one,
who arrived just in time to take charge.
Lucchese forced a draw, and the players
carried the coach off the field on their
shoulders.

Guttmann had been a star centre-
half for Hungary and for the then
all-Jewish Viennese club, Hakoah,
where he had reportedly insisted
on being given silk shirts. Somehow
he survived the war – “God helped
me!” he once told me – to become
a successful coach, both in Europe
and South America.

After Milan, he took charge of Sao
Paulo in Brazil, then Porto, whom he
steered to a last-gasp championship win
in 1959 ahead of Benfica, who promptly
enlisted him. As a coach, his watchword
was adventure, using 4-2-4 as a base
but always ready to throw extra players
upfield. The core of his Benfica team
was formed by gifted players from
Portugal’s African colonies, though the
incomparable Eusebio was yet to come.

AFRICAN CONNECTION

The driving, hard-shooting left-half
Mario Coluna was there already, from
Mozambique. Jose Aguas, the clever
centre-forward who was adept when
he had his back to goal, was Angolan,
as was the skilled inside-right, Joaquim
Santana, who would, however, lose his
place in time to Eusebio. The long-
legged centre-half Germano was
picked up for a mere £2,000 in
his mid-20s from second division

EUROPEAN CUP 15

1960s Benfica

Lisbon club, Atletico. “He bounces with mark anybody; he has to run up and Benfica had beaten Hearts home Captains…Spurs’
energy,” said the admiring England team down the whole field.” He was, though, and away in the first round. “We were Danny Blanchflower
manager Walter Winterbottom. He even an inspirational captain. outclassed,” admitted veteran right- with Jose Aguas in
went in goal in the 1965 European Cup winger Gordon Smith. The Lisbon side the1962 semi-final
final defeat to Internazionale in Milan, Benfica’s passage to the 1961 final then thrashed Budapest outfit Ujpest,
replacing the injured Costa Pereira, but in Berne was imposing and sometimes whom Guttmann had once coached,
injuries, alas, would be his nemesis. dramatic. Above all in the semi-final 6-2 in the first leg, losing 2-1 in the
second leg away to Rapid in Vienna, return, then Denmark’s Aarhus 7-2
When Coluna arrived in 1954, Otto Guttmann’s favourite city. The match on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Gloria, the Brazilian then coaching the ended in a riot when Rapid players,
club and later to return, used him at who had managed only a 1-1 draw Barcelona, who started the final
centre-forward, shifting Aguas to the left having been thrashed 3-0 in Lisbon, as strong favourites, were a team
flank. But later he dropped Coluna into attacked their opponents, with fans of polyglot stars with three famed
midfield and restored Aguas as striker. joining in. The upshot was that Rapid Hungarians in Sandor Kocsis, Zoltan
Guttmann made Coluna his left-half were banned from the Prater Stadion Czibor and Laszlo Kubala, plus the
but expressed his doubts: “He cannot for European games for three seasons. incisive forward Brazilian Evaristo.

16 EUROPEAN CUP

Guttmann would later admit he was against Germans Nuremberg, 3-1. But ever more desperate attacks through Journalists…Benfica
“afraid of their forward line”. But he they won the return 6-0 to set up a tie the second half, but fine goalkeeping by coach Gutmann at
had imbued his team with fighting with Tottenham Hotspur, who had just Costa Pereira and supreme defending by White Hart Lane
spirit and would be helped by an become the first club to do the league Germano kept them at bay. A glorious
untypically dreadful day for Barca and cup double in England that century. final would take place in Amsterdam 1961/
goalkeeper Antoni Ramallets. In Lisbon in the first leg, Spurs manager between Benfica and Real Madrid, 1962
Bill Nicholson was overcautious, packing winners of the first five European Cups
Barca went ahead in the 20th minute, his defence, which still couldn’t prevent and for whom the insidious combination European Cup Winners
when Kocsis, such a hero of the 1954 Aguas and incisive right-winger Jose of Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas
World Cup (top scoring with 11 goals Augusto scoring in the first half. Spurs were still so dangerous, though both BENFICA
in Switzerland), headed in a cross from looked better after the break, with big well into their 30s.
accomplished Spanish playmaker Luis centre-forward Bobby Smith heading
Suarez. Twice Barca threatened to double a goal, but Augusto headed a third The game could be seen as a
the lead, but then Benfica scored twice superb anachronism, with both sides
in a minute around the half-hour mark. so adventurous. Puskas shot a first-half
First, when Coluna’s defence-splitting hat-trick, once trotting half the length
pass released left-winger Domiciano of the field in pursuit of Di Stefano’s
Cavem, Ramallets dashed impulsively exquisite through pass, once coiling that
off his line, enabling his opponent to famed left foot to strike a fulminating
square the ball for Aguas to score easily. drive. But Aguas and Cavem replied.
Next, when Jose Neto lobbed into Barca’s
box, centre-half Enric Gensana back- At half-time, Guttmann told Cavem
headed the ball, causing Ramallets to mark Di Stefano, and the tide turned.
to push it desperately against a post, When Puskas lost the ball, Coluna hit
whence it dropped tantalisingly over a 30-yarder to equalise. Eusebio ran
the goal-line. riot. Felled by Pachin, he banged home
the subsequent spot-kick. Receiving
Coluna made it 3-1 on 55 minutes, Coluna’s free-kick, he hit a right-footed
hitting a fine right-footed volley after thunderbolt that struck a defender and
a Cavem cross had been headed out. was diverted home for 5-3.
Kocsis headed against a post, a Kubala
shot hit both posts but came out, then At the end of the game, Puskas
a Czibor drive made it 3-2. But the sought out Eusebio and handed him
trio were destined to lose against his shirt. It was a hugely symbolic
Guttmann, their compatriot. gesture; Puskas had scored a hat-trick
for Madrid but he had been eclipsed
PRECOCIOUS SPLENDOUR by the 20-year-old, who came to
symbolise the side that won eight
Eusebio made a scoring debut for Portuguese titles in the 1960s.
Benfica a week after the European
triumph, erupting upon the scene
in all his precocious splendour. Luck
had played a part in his acquisition.
Guttmann had had a chance meeting
with his former Sao Paulo player Carlos
Bauer in a Lisbon barber’s. Bauer,
Brazil’s right-half at the 1950 World
Cup, had been eulogising Eusebio,

It was a glorious final against

Real Madrid, who still had Ferenc

Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano...

for Benfica, Eusebio ran riot

whom he had watched while on a for Benfica. So all was set for a torrid
tour of Africa with a Brazilian team. return at White Hart Lane, where Spurs
Guttmann acted promptly, acquiring had previously, in a boiling atmosphere,
the 19-year-old for a mere £10,000. thrashed Poland’s Gornik Zabrze 8-1,
after losing the first leg 4-2.
Eusebio played for Benfica at that
summer’s Paris tournament, scoring Shrewd as ever, Guttmann did his best
three times against Pele’s Santos, who to diffuse things and perhaps influence
won 6-3. It was soon clear that, with the referee by stating that he “expected
his glorious pace and his dynamic right a bloodbath”. There wasn’t one. Spurs
foot, he was the new revelation. His had a goal by Jimmy Greaves somewhat
importance was clear the next season controversially disallowed for offside,
when Benfica, without him, lost the first and on the quarter-hour Aguas scored
leg of their European Cup quarter-final on the counter-attack. Spurs mounted

EUROPEAN CUP 17

1963 Milan

Coluna mishap was the end

of Iberian hopes

Eric Batty provides his report on the 1963 European Cup
final between Italians Milan and two-time winners Benfica

Forza Milan… The European Cup remains in a 4-2-4 formation were the more that Giorgio Ghezzi might not have
the post-match in “Latin” hands, though fluid side, but still obviously unwilling seen. Certainly the goalkeeper made
celebrations inside a new name follows that to give anything away, but Milan as no move to keep it out!
Wembley Stadium of Real Madrid and Benfica expected were being extra cautious.
– Milan. That the Italians should win it They withdrew Cesare Maldini to lie From this moment on the game
was, I thought, a little unjust for until “free” behind the row of three defenders took a turn for the better. Trainer Nereo
the brains of the Portuguese side, and played to a strict 1-3-3-3 system. Rocco left his seat to pass the word that
left-half Mario Coluna, was badly Milan should “open” the game a little
hurt in the 50th minute, Benfica In the early stages, Benfica were more, and then followed 15 minutes of
were never really in trouble and, more prepared to attack, and naturally complete Italian domination. At this stage
I felt, likely to retain their trophy. the initiative fell to them. Making all Benfica could have been swamped, but
the running, they scored first through they packed their goal and survived,
Before the match, it had seemed Eusebio after 18 minutes when, running with Mario Coluna at this stage well
likely that we would see a hard, tight 20 yards through the Milan defence, back and playing magnificently.
defensive struggle. Benfica playing he finished with a terrific cross-shot
Jose Altafini, eager to get the goal

18 EUROPEAN CUP

that would put his season’s tally up to game. Milan had blood in their nostrils, The result was now beyond doubt, but Flying…Eusebio
13 and enable him to take the scorer’s and lacking Coluna who means as much the game was not quite over. Santana in a scored a thumping
record for the European Cup, which to Benfica as Alfredo Di Stefano did to rare Benfica raid hit a tremendous volley opener in London
Ferenc Puskas set up with Real Madrid Real Madrid, the Portuguese knew that Ghezzi just managed to touch over
in 1959-60, went close to scoring they faced defeat. the bar, and at the other end we saw a
several times. Twice keeper Costa “mad moment” from Maldini when the
Pereira leapt cat-like to hold the The leveller, that almost seemed Italian stopper carried the ball 50 yards
Italo-Brazilian’s headers from close in, inevitable, came on the hour-mark upfield. Had Benfica scored because he
and both Dino Sani and Gianni Rivera through Altafini standing just outside was away from home he would have
had shots that were only just wide. the Benfica penalty area. Taking a pass received the biggest fine ever handed
from Rivera, he pulled the ball round out in Italy, but his pass went to Altafini
Mario Trebbi’s shot was perhaps the on the wrong side of Raul Machado, who was offside. He scored, but, of
best Milan effort in the first half hour. and, hitting his shot on the turn, placed course, this one was disallowed.
Bruno Mora took a corner out on the it well out of Costa Pereira’s reach.
left and, with 16 players packed in the It wasn’t a great match. Perhaps the
Portuguese penalty area, pulled his kick Now Milan had to win. Costa Pereira tension was too great – neither team was
back along the ground for Trebbi who made his one mistake of the match, ever prepared to attack with everything
smashed it first time, and brought a when, running out to kick the ball clear they had – but the 45,000 crowd, which
wonderful save from Costa Pereira. as Altafini closed in, hit it straight to made Wembley less than half full, had
Pivatelli. Back it came first time, the plenty of opportunity to see why British
It was all Milan now, and Altafini inevitable lob that no one could have teams have never been successful in the
scored what I thought to be a “good” reached in time, but it bounced just European Cup. The difference in approach
goal when the Benfica keeper handled wide. Four minutes later it was all over could be plainly seen in the small things.
the ball just outside the area. With – and I shall forever be convinced that Caught with the ball in a bad situation
Pereira walking back to goal, and the Altafini’s winning goal was offside! every man afield could play his way out
other players standing about, Altafini put of trouble. Confident with the ball they
the ball down and rolled it into goal, but Rivera started the move five yards rarely hammered it out of sight, as
the referee insisted the kick be re-taken. inside his own half, making a forward British players will do.
pass to Altafini who was standing several
As long as the ball is “dead” quickly- yards offside – with Costa Pereira the
taken free kicks pass, out in midfield,
and I couldn’t see any valid reason for As Mario Coluna went past, Pivatelli
disallowing the goal. There’s nothing in
the laws about granting time for the “chopped” him down from behind
offending team to organise a wall.
only other player in the Benfica half! The game had its high spots, 1963
Before half-time, Benfica came back On its way to number nine Altafini but generally, one was left with the European Cup Winners
into the game to relieve the pressure on conviction that Real Madrid of 1960
their goal and though Jose Augusto was the ball touched a Portuguese defender, would have beaten either team with MILAN
kept very quiet on the right wing, the but at the moment the ball was played consummate ease.
rest of the attack was far from blunted. (the vital moment) the centre-forward
Joquim Santana, often dropping back was offside. Chased by two defenders, Italians will claim, “Milan won because
in midfield to play alongside Coluna, Altafini raced towards goal and shot they deserved to,” but my honest opinion
was doing well, and the tall, ungainly from 15 yards out. Pereira, judging his is that Benfica lost because their captain
Jose Torres was, I thought, a great moment well, came out exactly right and Mario Coluna was injured. The best
improvement on Jose Aguas, who for though he knew little about it the ball player on view, he was the inspiration
all his reputation as a goal-getter, had hit him. Luck, however, was again with of the Portuguese side and when he
never impressed me. Torres in fact is a Altafini, for the ball dropped right at his went their hopes of a three-year
much better player than many give him feet, and his second shot was on target. reign at the top went with him.
credit for. He looks awkward and slow,
yet twice he outran Maldini, and went
close to scoring with several good shots
and headers. Aguas, I think, will now
fade out, and we shall hear much
more from this man Torres.

Milan, still trailing at half-time,
obviously received a boost from Rocco
during the break, and after only a few
minutes the game turned in their favour.
Gino Pivatelli, who had been brought
in unexpectedly on the right wing and
was withdrawn into midfield to shadow
Coluna, was beaten by him and as the
Mozambique-born star went past, he
“chopped” him down from behind.
Coluna limped around painfully for a
few minutes; went off, and came back
but was clearly in pain. Again he went
off, this time to the dressing room,
and then ten minutes from the end
returned, better now but still limping.

This was the turning point of the

EUROPEAN CUP 19

1955-63 The goalscorers

Men and
Marksmanship

in the European Cup

Roger Macdonald researches some of the greatest goalscorers of
the European Cup during the first eight years of the competition

ABOVE: Marksman… The remarkable feat of Milan Madrid without Alfredo Di Stefano and publicity saw any real significance in
Jose Altafini scores centre-forward, Jose Altafini, Ferenc Puskas, who have amassed the his scoring efforts against Servette in
his second goal in in reaching the top ten places incredible total of 66 goals in eight October 1955, or his goal which gave
the1963 final of European Cup goalscorers in seasons? Who, indeed, could have Real a formidable 4-0 lead in the first
only his first season in the competition replaced Di Stefano alone, scorer leg of their tie with Partizan Belgrade.
throws the spotlight on the men whose of 44 goals in 48 games?
marksmanship has meant so much to Instead, their attention was drawn
the leading clubs in Europe. The supremacy of Di Stefano’s to the remarkable effort of a Yugoslav
marksmanship is unquestionable, and international, Milos Milutinovic, now
Where would Manchester United yet it began quietly enough, with five playing in France, to keep his club in
have been without Dennis Viollet and goals in the seven games played by the competition. Scorer of six goals in
Tommy Taylor; Red Star Belgrade Real Madrid in the first competition of the previous round, at the expense of
without Bora Kostic; and Real all. Not even L’Equipe’s all-embracing Sporting of Lisbon, Milos did not put

20 EUROPEAN CUP

Perhaps so. Slush on a Munich runway
during the 1957-58 campaign made sure
that the answer to this question would
remain in the realms of hypothesis.
Manchester United’s main strikeforce
sadly vanished overnight. Taylor was
tragically killed in the Munich air disaster
(along with seven other United players),
Viollet injured. Although the latter would
recover quickly enough to play in the FA
Cup final defeat to Bolton Wanderers,
the mental scar healed slowly and he
moved on to Stoke City in 1962.

The Manchester United pair scored Red Devil…
three times a piece in the three rounds Dennis Viollet
before Munich. Di Stefano informed
a foot right in Madrid, and he regarded It was a fitting duet. Although Viollet, his critics that – if he was over the hill,
the return leg as a personal vendetta. with nine goals in six games, scored he was going to walk down very slowly
It was “devilish” cold in Belgrade on one more than Taylor, he would be the – and scored four tremendous goals
January 29, 1956, and the young devil first to admit that the England centre- in one match, against Seville, to prove
with blond hair ran the Real defence forward was the deadlier marksman. it. A hat-trick against Hungarians Vasas
ragged to score two goals, hit a post The two worked well in unison, creating followed, just for emphasis. Real won
twice, and see a shot which had beaten chances for one another, Viollet’s acute these games 8-0 and 4-0. They went
Juan Alonso stick fast in the soft snow sense of positioning blending remarkably on to beat another ageing XI, Italians
only inches from the goal-line. well with Taylor’s finishing power. Di Milan, 3-2 in the final. Only Di Stefano’s
superhuman efforts kept them in the
Partizan did not qualify for the game for the first hour. One Italian
1956-57 competition, and the main reporter wrote: “He played Milan on
challenge to Real came from the pre- his own and drew. Is this man a god?”
Munich Manchester United. In truth, it
was the so-called “Busby Babes” – their Viollet’s positioning blended well
maturity deserved a better compliment
– who stole the show. They scored the with Taylor’s finishing power
most goals, 24, four more than Real;
achieved the biggest single-leg win of Stefano only scored seven times that Ten goals came from Di Stefano that
the competition, 10-0 over Anderlecht; season and, although it was his goal at season, scored in seven games. Another
and took the top two spots in the scoring Chamartin that gave Real a two-goal player ran him close by scoring nine
charts through Viollet and Taylor. cushion over Manchester United in in six. He was Bora Kostic, of Red Star
the semi-final, one was left with the Belgrade, famous opponents of several
nagging suspicion that Real were British teams. A lot is heard these days
slowly climbing over the hill. about the Brazilian banana swerve, but

EUROPEAN CUP 21

1955-63 The goalscorers

Kostic’s free-kicks make Pepe’s only managed 16, of which Di Stefano and tore the Eintracht Frankfurt defence
thunderbolts look like penny fireworks scored six. His penultimate strike came to shreds. Puskas scored four goals, Di
– much noise to little effect. Perhaps in Zaragoza in a play-off with Atletico, Stefano three. The British public had
he could not kick the ball harder; but and it proved decisive. Upon reflection never seen goalscoring like this before.
it always did strange things en route. it was probably one of the most vital Neither, for that matter, had Eintracht.
When he took one against Manchester goals of Di Stefano’s career – it put Real
United in Belgrade, I swear the ball into the final, their fourth successive win The Real superstars contributed 20
swerved both ways before beating (where he would score again), and back goals in 1959-60 – in 1960-61 they
goalkeeper Harry Gregg. into the competition for a fifth attempt contributed precisely...nil. Barcelona,
at the title. This time, though, they found beaten by Real in the semi-finals the
At the end of the 1957-58 season Di a new goal machine to supplement Di season before, secured their long-
Stefano had scored 22 goals, Kostic 14. Stefano – a tubby fellow called Puskas. awaited revenge in the second round,
A year later the Madrid ace possessed and Benfica sneaked home to win the
twice the Yugoslav’s total – but he had Ferenc – or Francisco, as the final in a desperately close finish. Jose
nevertheless lost the seasonal skirmish Spaniards prefer it – Puskas will always Aguas, the calm, consistent Portuguese
to Just Fontaine of Reims. One must be known as the man who came back centre-forward, did more than anyone
admit that, like Altafini, Fontaine scored
most of his goals at the expense of small The supremacy of Di Stefano’s
fry – including four on the trot in Belfast
against Ards. But it would take a bold marksmanship is unquestionable
man to quibble about the reputation of a
footballer who had staggered everyone to the top. Stanley Matthews has done else to get them there. He scored Keepy-ups…Ferenc
in scoring 13 goals in the World Cup incredibly well to keep going at Stoke, at regular intervals throughout the Puskas shows off
just a few months previously. but Puskas, to my mind, did even better competition - home and away against his technique
to return to a new world altogether, Hearts, Aarhus and Rapid Vienna; at
Fontaine scored ten goals in seven among great players, and to shine as home against Ujpest, and the vital first
European Cup matches. Only Di Stefano brightly as any of them. Emil Osterreicher goal in the final in Berne. His greatest
could split a trio from the other Madrid took a huge gamble in giving Puskas a game and his most vital goal were to
team, Atletico, who took second, third contract, but it paid off to the tune of 12 come almost a year later - in front of
and fifth places in the charts. Vava, the goals in the 1959-60 campaign – at the a Tottenham crowd whose roar would
great Vava, on a two-year contract worth time an outright record for a season in have frightened away the Mongul
£15,000, scored eight goals; his team- the European Cup. Di Stefano followed hordes under Ghenghis Khan. Benfica,
mates, Joaquin Peiro and Enrique Collar, him home with another eight strikes. for all Spurs could do, reached the
added another six and five respectively. Together they put on a fabulous display second of three successive finals. Their
Small wonder Atletico produced the of football in the final at Hampden Park opponents were the old gang from
best attack, scoring 25 times. Real

22 EUROPEAN CUP

Madrid, a little shaky on the legs, but Baumler (Eintracht Frankfurt) and (Gothenburg) handed out a similar dose ABOVE: Supreme…
not to be dismissed lightly. The one blot Giorgio Dal Monte (Milan). Dal Monte to Linfield, and now Ray Crawford has Alfredo di Stefano
on their progress to the final had been a smashed two past Alonso in the Real achieved the same for Ipswich Town at
shock 1-0 defeat to Juventus – their first Madrid goal in the 1955-56 competition the expense of Floriana from Malta. ABOVE LEFT:
home loss on record in the competition. with almost sadistical delight. Mihaly Lethal goal king
Lantos of Voros Lobogo (now MTK) Ipswich’s 14-1 aggregate victory …Just Fontaine
Benfica kept up the one delusion converted three kicks in the quarter-final equalled that of Red Star Belgrade
that had to end sooner or later – that tie with Reims during the same season, (14-1 v Stade Dudelange, Luxembourg),
the holders always win the final – despite but his club still lost 8-6 on aggregate. with Milan (14-0 v Union Luxembourg)
a fantastic performance by Puskas. To now holding the outright record. The
the naturalised Spaniard went the glory Lantos’ spot-kicks were not all taken English club’s home victory, 10-0, was
of scoring a second hat-trick in a final in the same match, but no less than 49 an identical result to that slaughter of
tie, to Benfica went the cup. This pattern genuine hat-tricks have been recorded. Anderlecht by Manchester United (Viollet
continued in the goalscoring list. Seven Notable efforts include those of Cliff four, Taylor three) back in 1956. Curiously,
goals apiece for Real’s Puskas, Di Stefano Jones (Tottenham v Gornik Zabrze), the Ipswich victory was hailed with great
and Justo Tejada: six and four to Benfica’s Omar Sivori (Juventus v Wiener), and enthusiasm, while Manchester United’s
Aguas and Jose Augusto respectively Lajos Csordas (Vasas v CDNA Sofia). opponents, Anderlecht, were dismissed
that looked better with a medal. Two players made personal history in as third rate at the time. In fact the
scoring three times in a match against Belgians would not have disgraced
Real Madrid’s total of 30 goals in Real Madrid – Nurenberg for Nice (3-2, the English First Division, then or now,
1961-62 has, of course, been bettered 1959-60) and Ernst Happel for Rapid and Manchester United’s victory was
by Milan this year, and the general trend Vienna in a great 5-2 win in 1956-57, a superb display of attacking football.
is an upward one. Milan shared the lead which forced Madrid to a play-off.
in the first season with Real (19 goals); When Di Stefano headed home his
took it from Manchester United two Di Stefano, Puskas and Tommy Taylor 44th goal in European Cup football, it
years later during the Juan Schiaffino- have each scored three or more goals was sufficient to save the first leg (3-3)
Nils Liedholm-Ernesto Grillo era; and on two or more occasions – Taylor twice, against Anderlecht last September. But
lost it to Real Madrid (31 goals) after Puskas three times and Di Stefano four it was not sufficient to keep Real in the
yet another two competitions. Real’s times. Only the “Blond Arrow” can boast competition (losing the second leg 1-0),
1959-60 total, one more than that of of four goals in a match on two occasions and one wonders whether the old firm
1961-62, remained the best until Milan – against Seville and Wiener. Real Madrid can stay in business for another year. Paco
equalled it with a 5-1 win over Dundee hammered Wiener 7-1 in the 1958-59 Gento is still a formidable opponent on the
in the first leg of the semi-final. competition; in the preliminary round left wing – his goal against Anderlecht
Wiener had sensationally defeated gave him the unique record of having
Own goals have had no significant Juventus – Sivori, John Charles and scored in each of the eight competitions
effect on the totals of the top-scoring all – 7-0 and Josef Hamerl had also – but old faithfuls such as Hector Rial
sides. Nevertheless there is a great scored four goals. Strange but true. and Mateos are no longer in first-class
difference of opinion over the crediting football. Alas, all the Altafinis, the Aguas
of scores, and the number of such goals Altafini becomes the only player and the Eusebios in the world cannot
recorded varies between 23 and 28. in the top ten to score five goals in replace Puskas and Di Stefano. Di Stefano
A case in point is the Drumcondra- a single match – he did it against poor is supreme, and supremely irreplaceable.
Nuremburg preliminary match in Union Luxembourg last year. Another From the spectators’ point of view, the
1961-62, in which one has a choice Luxembourg team, Spora, were on the question is not what would Real Madrid
between crediting Heinz Strehl with a receiving end of a handful from Bent have done without Alfredo Di Stefano,
hat-trick or Messrs Prole and Smyth Lofqvist (Boldklubben) during 1961-62. but what shall we do without him?
with an own goal apiece. There have In the 1959-60 season, Owe Ohlsson
been a few additions this season, but
exact figures were not available at
the time of writing.

Neither Di Stefano nor Puskas have
figured, needless to say, in this aspect of
European Cup goalscoring – although
Puskas once put through his own goal
in an international match from centre-
forward! However, both appear in the
list of successful penalty-kick takers.
Di Stefano scored one in 1956-57 and
1957-58, while Puskas – whose method
of sending the goalkeeper the wrong
way proved more successful – did the
necessary in 1959-60. Enrique Mateos
is the only Real Madrid player to miss a
penalty – Dominque Colonna of Reims
made a great save from his kick in the
1959 final – but Mateos salvaged his
reputation with an “ordinary” goal earlier
in the game, and Real won 2-0 anyway.

Several players have scored two
penalty-kicks in a single competition
– Peter Palotas (MTK), Vic Nurenberg
(Nice), Laszlo Kubala (Barcelona), Erich

EUROPEAN CUP 23

1964 Internazionale

Herrera

the only
guide left

Eric Batty reports from the 1964
European Cup final, which saw Helenio

Herrera’s Internazionale beat Real
Madrid in Vienna, Austria

W

At the other end, Ferenc Puskas long ball hit by Suarez and with Mazzola
was certainly unlucky to see his right behind, he attempted to clear the
shot, early in the second half, ball upfield over his head but only hit it
rebound from the upright with against the Inter inside-right. The ball
Giuliano Sarti well beaten, but rebounded well for Mazzola, and he was
the Inter defence was so tight, through, racing on to draw Vicente, shoot
so well drilled and impeccably with the outside of his right foot and see
marshalled by Armando Picchi, his curling shot go in off the far post.
that the few chances which fell
to the Spaniards had to be taken Santamaria’s mistake would never
instantly. Four years ago it could have been committed had the game
have been so different, but in 1964 not been moving steadily beyond Real’s
the reflexes of the 37-year-old grasp, for the sturdy Uruguayan is one
maestros Alfredo Di Stefano and of the most reliable and ultra-cautious
Puskas are slow and Paco Gento’s defenders in the game. Facing that same
pace has gone. situation during the opening five minutes
of the match, Santamaria would never
Real’s only goal, by Felo from a have attempted to clear over his head.
Puskas corner, wasn’t planned but Firmly and decisively the ball would
scrambled – the only way I could have gone into touch, 2-1 down with
see them scoring. There are ways of
breaking down the six-man defence
with a “flying back” lying deep, but Real
weren’t able to do it, and at the end
those who regarded Real as “once-
great” were proved right. Inter’s third
goal, the real clincher, came from an
error by Jose Santamaria, perhaps his
only mistake of the night. Chasing a

time running out, Santamaria took a of Inter, as the Tifosi call H.H. but, having Had Chapman lived, say those who LEFT: Line-ups…
chance and lost. proved himself a new Chapman, Herrera knew him best, he would have produced Internazionale
now bears the future of the world game something new once everyone had (top) and Real
On balance the Inter attack had more on his shoulders. If he goes on in the copied his tight Arsenal defence and an Madrid (bottom)
chances – strange perhaps when one same vein he seems likely to retain the attack built on the talents of Alex James.
considers their defensive tactics – and Herbert Chapman died, leaving England LEFT: Captains…
with Jair full of menace, Mazzola always copying his stopper centre-half and Paco Gento (left)
a danger, and Corso as a half-forward defensive strength but unable to make and Armando Picchi
trying his hand at everything, they always it either attractive or efficient because (right) shake hands
seemed more likely to score than Real. they failed to understand his methods prior to kick-off
The key man, however, was Suarez, a and lacked the necessary players.
new, more determined Suarez than 1964
we’ve seen before, adding to his brilliant Now the world will follow Inter European Cup Winners
technical qualities a willingness to tackle. as once they followed Arsenal. The
In midfield he worked like a trojan, and clock has been turned back almost 30 INTERNAZIONALE
once midway through the second half
he showed his real genius. Spotting an years, and we are
intended square pass by Real, he burst standing once
forward before the pass was made, more at the same
intercepted the ball and, side-stepping crossroads. All
a third opponent, swept on. I think he around is desert,
would have scored then and so did Real and beneath our
for they brought him down some ten feet is quicksand.
yards outside the box. Only Helenio
Herrera (and
During the interval, Real changed Internazionale)
their tactics for, like Inter, they had can show us the
intended to play cautiously. A goal down way out, and he
at the break, they moved Di Stefano up, must accept this
partly because he is no longer able to responsibility, for
race up and down for 90 minutes, but if he fails it could
largely because they realised that they be the end.
had to regain the initiative, if they were
to win, and this meant scoring. Now
it was left to the wing-halves, Lucien
Muller and Ignacio Zoco, to make the
running but though they tried manfully
they failed and their failure was due to
the defensive plans laid by Herrera.

Every Real forward was tightly marked
– Carlo Tagnin on Di Stefano, Tarcisio
Burgnich on Gento, Aristide Guarneri
on Puskas and Giacinto Facchetti on
Amancio, and, while Picchi stood back
to cover any breakthrough, Suarez and

Herrera claimed his place alongside

the greatest managers of all time

Corso watched closely Felo as well as European Cup, and at a time when the
challenge anyone who tried to bring the entire world is veering towards defence,
ball on for Real. everyone could ape him, as the English
once blindly followed Chapman.
Just how tight the Inter defence
was can be illustrated with two facets
of Facchetti’s play. Marking Amancio
who was perhaps the man Herrera
feared most, Facchetti lined up at the
start and re-starts like an outside-left,
a mere two yards from the Real right-
winger. This surely is real tight marking!
The second example was an incident,
which took place in the second half when
Amancio moved over to inside-left and
Facchetti followed. Gento in possession
ran through the three-yard gap between
Amancio and his shadow, but Facchetti
let him go and stayed with Amancio.

These soul-destroying tactics were
conceived by “il Salvatore”, the Saviour

EUROPEAN CUP 25

1965 Internazionale

Worst final

since it all began

Despite Italians Internazionale becoming the third club to win back-
to-back European Cups, Eric Batty was unimpressed with UEFA’s
decision to stage the 1965 final against Benfica at the San Siro

Header…Benfica Internazionale are once more was ruined by a combination of events the game itself. One of the better
forward Jose Torres European champions, in my view – some of which were unfortunate, but factors about the European Cup
justly so, but the final tie, the game one or two could have been avoided. is the justice of the earlier rounds,
competes for the of the year for me and millions more for where in the FA Cup and other
ball in the air was a travesty. It could have been a great For Benfica, the odds were stacked equally important competitions a club
game, with Luis Suarez, Mario Corso and high against them, from the moment can suffer cruel luck, or play badly just
Sandro Mazzola on one side; Eusebio, UEFA decreed that the final should once and find themselves eliminated.
Mario Coluna and Jose Torres on the be staged at the San Siro. A totally In the European Cup with two legs,
other, but as a spectacle the final unjustified decision, unless one agrees justice has a better chance.
that finance is more important than

26 EUROPEAN CUP

Inter experienced this when they met defence, and losing 1-0 with half an hour talents, then Inter could still repeat
Liverpool at Anfield, and had the series left, they no longer needed a sweeper. If Real Madrid’s feat of winning five finals
been staged on a one-game, knockout they were to stand a chance even to win in a row, yet unless something drastic
basis Inter would have gone out 3-1 a replay Germano was the right man to occurs to change their outlook on the
in the semi-finals. However, they got go between the sticks. game they will never be acknowledged
a second chance, and took it to beat to be the masters as freely as the Real
Liverpool 3-0, with the English By this time it hardly mattered, for Madrid Club de Futbol were.
champions looking as poor at the Inter looked as if they knew the cup was
San Siro as Inter had at Anfield. theirs. They did attack spasmodically, To be truthful there is not so much
and on one occasion Suarez took a difference basically between the attitude
For the final, however, justice is square pass from Joaquin Peiro to of Inter and the old Madrid, for though
still done by staging the match on a strike the ball against a Benfica post many people believe Real were an ultra-
neutral ground, and in a neutral country, but generally Inter were content to attacking team, this was never quite so.
but this time the extra magic was lost, defend. This despite all the vague While Inter play to a flexible 1-4-2-3
sporting instincts were affronted by
UEFA’s mercenary decision. They named statements attributed to Helenio system, Real were satisfied with a Stage…the San
the San Siro as the host stadium purely Herrera before the game. Confident 4-3-3 and were just as relentless Siro at night
and simply because the organisers and mature now, conscious of their in their attitude towards winning. The
needed a really fat cheque. prestige he is alleged to have said difference, however, was that while Inter
we hope to win a good match. seek to guard their goal throughout and
When the series was first organised by win on breakaways, Real were frequently
the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, it In fact, he only wanted to win, and prepared to attack. Inter can break
had been agreed that the winners would building his customary defensive screen away and score, and then cry: “Enough.
stage the final tie the following year, but he planned to shut the Benfica attack We’ve won the game, let’s keep it won.”
at that time no one realised Real Madrid out of the game, and after Inter had
would win the trophy five years in a row. gone ahead this became particularly Real were rather different, for while
After the second final, when Real had obvious. There were some bright they were content to play it carefully
beaten Fiorentina 2-0 at Chamartin, moments, when Inter broke out to at first their breakaways brought goals,
in 1957 it was firmly revoked. attack they endorsed the general and once they had that cushion, they

With the decision for the San Siro, One misfortune followed another...
all manner of rumours circulated from Costa Pereira’s injury reduced
Lisbon. It was said Benfica will refuse to the big occasion to a shambles
play, or that they would send their youth
team to meet Inter, but though they view that they could be a great side, were prepared to relax and play 1965
protested strongly to UEFA the club but generally one had to be content football, confident that once they European Cup Winners
never had any intention but to play. with some delicate footwork from were two or three goals ahead, they
Before the final, coach Elek Schwarz Suarez and Corso. could score just as often as their INTERNAZIONALE
estimated Benfica’s chances at only opponents. Their creed seemed
30% – I would have put it lower – but Internazionale remain the best team to me – “Keep it tight, until the
on aggregate at home and away, or on in Europe, of this there is no doubt in game is won, and then come out
a neutral ground I would have thought my mind, but they could hardly have and entertain the customers”.
they had a good chance. chosen a poorer game in which to
demonstrate their superiority. If H.H. For Inter, one goal was enough –
Then came the final misfortunes, remains, if Suarez, Corso and Mazzola and a soft one at that, but they got
with six hours of steady rain turning continue to display their world-class it, they were content. And they won.
the pitch into a swamp, and though the
highly skilled players managed to some
degree to combat the conditions, there
is little doubt they even had difficulty
keeping on their feet. One misfortune
followed another – a poor referee
allowing himself to be influenced by
the crowd; a simple goal, muffed by
the usually so reliable Costa Pereira;
and finally his injury which reduced
the big occasion to a shambles.

Almost unable to move, Costa
Pereira would have been unable to
stop the softest shot had he remained,
yet his colleagues appeared both
surprised and disgusted that he should
want to go off. Antonio Simoes and
Germano spoke to their keeper very
harshly, I could imagine them shouting
“chicken” or some such taunt. Of course,
one could understand their feelings, yet
this to me was the final blow. Germano’s
decision was a wise one, though not all
the Benfica players seemed to agree.
Limping himself from an old injury, he
had played the “libero” role behind the

EUROPEAN CUP 27

1960s Internazionale

Il Mago’s

magic circle

Brian Glanville remembers the career of legendary Internazionale
coach, and two-time European Cup winner, Helenio Herrera

In the 1960s Helenio He era’s Two ima es dwell in the mind. Of after Inter had lost to Celtic in Lisbon
Inter won the European Cup twice, in the 1967 final, of two of the Celtic
lost in the inal once, and were Tommy Smith, the rugged Liverpool training staff standing over Herrera and
defeated once in a semi-final. abusing him. “Who told them to?” once
It was a hi hly-eff ctive eam, ut defender, literally kicking Spanish referee

Jose Maria Ortiz de Mendibil off the field

First leg…Liverpool S ro ie h
beat Inter 3-1 at

Anfield before the
controversial return
leg in Milan in1965

brought up in the slums of Casablanca demanding set of exercises, at the end In the semi-final second leg against Helenio Herrera...il
and went on to carve a solid career of which Herrera threw a ball at each Borussia Dortmund, following a 2-2 ?M?a?g?o??(the Magician)
as a defender in the French League. one in turn, expecting them to swoop draw in the first leg in Germany, Yugoslav
He also began his coaching career in on it with head or foot. “A sort of fury referee Branko Tesanic did not send off
France, but it was as the manager of seemed to possess them,” wrote Suarez for kicking a Dortmund player
Barcelona in the late 1950s that he French critic Jacques Ferran. so badly that he could not continue.
truly established himself as a major There were no substitutes in those days,
figure, winning two league titles, Next, the players showered and went and Inter won 2-0. In the final they
the Spanish Cup and a Fairs Cup. back to form a circle around Herrera. He deservedly beat Real Madrid 3-1,
threw the ball to each of them, yelling: Mazzola scoring two of the goals.
At that time Barcelona had a galaxy “What do you think of the match? Why
of polyglot talent – South Americans are we going to win? How are we going In 1964-65, Herrera’s Inter won their
such as Evaristo and Eulogio Martinez, to play?” To which Brazilian forward second Serie A crown, pipping city rivals
and members of the great Hungarian Evaristo replied: “We’ll win because Milan. And in the European Cup they
side of the 1950s in Sandor Kocsis and we want to win!”, while keeper Antoni scandalously got the better of Liverpool
Zoltan Czibor. This was a team capable Ramallets answered: “We’re one of the after losing 3-1 at Anfield in the first leg
of dazzling football, and they shattered best teams in the world, that’s why!” of the semi-final. In the return, referee
the long-ball myth of Wolverhampton De Mendibil gifted Inter two goals – one
Wanderers under manager Stan Cullis, After a few more sprints, the players scored direct from a free-kick that was
thrashing them home and away in the then threw themselves into one another’s meant to be indirect, the other after
1959-60 European Cup quarter-finals. arms, shouting: “We’re going to play for Spanish attacker Joaquin Peiro had
one another! You can count on me! kicked the ball out of the hands of
However, he sought in vain to win the We have to win together!”
European Cup despite the passionate
rituals to which he subjected his men Then Herrera would produce a football,
before each European match. to which each player held out a hand,
chanting: “It’s the European Cup! We
First, in a large, bare room with a must have it! We shall have it! Ah, ah, ah!”
great wood-clad pillar in the centre,
the players were put through a Alas, for Barca and Herrera, eternal
foes Real Madrid would knock them out
in the semi-finals of the 1960 European
Cup. So Herrera decamped to Inter.

There, his approach to the game
radically changed: caution became the
watchword, catenaccio the reality. Inter,
it is true, had been playing a form of
catenaccio since the early 1950s but
never as rigorously as this. Bafflingly,
Herrera justified his volte-face by
insisting that he needed such tactics
to combat less gifted teams in the
Italian league, though he did not in fact
win his first Serie A title until 1963.

He had taken Luis Suarez, one
of his Barcelona stars, to orchestrate
Inter’s midfield, and replaced Engand’s
Gerry Hitchens with fleet Brazilian right-
winger Jair. Armando Picchi was sweeper
and skipper, rigidly defensive, endlessly
combative. Towering left-back Giacinto

His approach to the game radically
changed: caution became the
watchword, catenaccio the reality

Facchetti prided himself on his attacking goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence. 1964/
incursions and his ability to score goals There can be no denying that 1965
with his strong right foot; Mario Corso
was a clever, deep-lying outside-left; Herrera, the flamboyant, greedy, European Cup Winners
Sandro Mazzola the elegant, versatile, ruthless, authoritarian coach, built an
accomplished centre-forward. excellent team that could surely have INTERNAZIONALE
done well without such assistance.
Everton put up strong resistance in English centre-forward Hitchens hated
the preliminary round of the 1963-64 Herrera’s weekend training camps held
European Cup, drawing 0-0 at Goodison before each game. “Like coming out of
Park and losing only 1-0 at the San Siro. the effing Army!” he commented after
But Inter’s next opponents, Monaco and he left to join Torino. But with those
Partizan Belgrade, were dispatched with methods, Inter did win Italian titles
scant trouble. and those European Cups.

EUROPEAN CUP 29

1966 Real Madrid

Ghosts of Real smile at this

sixth title

Roger Macdonald reports on Real Madrid’s route
to an unexpected sixth European Cup final success

Campeones…Real The ghosts of Real must be Milan Galic recalled from the army, a chunky captain wandering far from
Madrid line up smiling now. One could see moved sweetly and dangerously into his left wing, seemed utterly without
before the final them, in the mind’s eye, flitting attack. The Spaniards looked in dire nerves. He stopped and started play,
across the field...Di Stefano, distress within five minutes, when Pedro changed direction and pace, deprived
against Partizan Dominguez, Marquitos, Zarraga and de Felipe turned a free-kick wide of his the Yugoslavs of their early authority
Vidal...as the youths who once idolised own post with Jose Araquistain nowhere. in midfield.
those heroes brought back the cup.
The Real goalkeeper, beaten five Real had begun with frantic endeavour,
But for those present, it was tough times by Benfica in the 1962 final, was enmeshed as much in their own anxiety
on the nerves. Miguel Munoz, captain only an agitated spectator to Partizan’s as in Partizan’s metallic curtain. Milutin
turned coach, sat biting his nails on the pressure. He stood helpless as Mustafa Soskic’s goal had seemed at the end
Brussels touchline. Jose Santamaria and Hasanagic shot wide; he was unsighted of a rainbow, glittering beyond reach,
Ferenc Puskas sprawled in the stands when Velibor Vasovic, striding through and almost out of sight.
with seething impotence as Real the game like a colossus, hit the ball
tottered on the brink. with great force a fraction past a post. But before half-time Madrid had
regained something of their composure.
They could have lost the cup in the Their last survivor of the great era Gaps began to appear in the Slav
first quarter. Partizan Belgrade, with steadied the new Real. Paco Gento, defence, as Amancio and Fernando

30 EUROPEAN CUP

every Partizan player back to defend with Pachin, Ignacio Zoco and the Trophy…Paco Gento
Soskic’s castle. This was the pattern rising star Manuel Sanchis forming an
Serena juggled through to the by-line. that had baffled Manchester United impregnable rearguard. Only the midfield
Ramon Grosso disgraced himself with in the semi-finals, and Madrid became link of Pirri and Manuel Velasquez
dangerously extended as they probed looked brittle and uncertain.
a miss that will stick in the memory. He for an equaliser.
received the ball six yards out, with time Coach Munoz’s new strategy was
to pick his spot beyond Soskic, and A breakaway left Galic clear and simple: contain away, crush at home.
shot wide of a gaping goal. close to goal. But in a desperate flurry of He achieved it against Feyenoord,
action his shot was too high, Araquistain Kilmarnock and Anderlecht, whose
Partizan remained unperturbed. dived needlessly, and Galic went down goal machine shuddered to a halt.
Their speed out of defence continued with a posse of pursuers. He was carried
to worry the inexperienced Spaniards, off clutching an injured foot, to return Paul Van Himst scored after only two
and suddenly the Slavs were ahead. five minutes later limping on the wing. minutes in Brussels, but 175 more went
Josip Pirmajer took a corner in the by before Anderlecht scored again, far
56th minute; Real’s defenders were Real, with little to lose, strengthened too late to disturb Real’s 4-1 lead. The
leaden footed, and Vasovic rose their attack. In the 71st minute Grosso, new-style Real, less attractive, but more
magnificently to head past Araquistain. who had been sadly subdued after his effective, caught Inter far below their
earlier misses, timed a pass perfectly to peak. The Italians played at Chamartin
Real reacted angrily, attacking with reach Amancio in full stride. He evaded as if a 1-0 defeat would assure ultimate
a cold-blooded ferocity that brought a tackle and slid the ball past Soskic. victory, and conceded a careless goal
through Pirri after 13 minutes.
Now Partizan were in real trouble.
Madrid’s ball control was irresistible, Real might have gone further ahead
with Amancio and Serena twisting had they been steadier in front of goal
through a forest of legs. and if the referee had allowed play at
Chamartin to continue for 90 minutes
Six minutes of intense pressure, but instead of for 85.
no real chance for Madrid. With Vasovic
everywhere, the Slavs held on. But At the San Siro, Inter lost first the war
Serena, surely a great star of the of nerves, then the match itself. Amancio’s
future, scored the killer goal.

He was facing the wrong way, too far
out but he spun suddenly to strike for
the top corner from 25 yards. Soskic
soared, touched the ball with the tips
of his fingers, then dropped in despair
as it still swirled home.

It was left to German referee Rudolf
Kreitlein to add a touch of comedy to a
match of trembling suspense. He blew
a shrill blast on his whistle one minute
from time, the crowd swarmed over
the barriers, and the band struck
up a Spanish march.

But Kreitlein had not signalled time,
and with Teutonic determination had
the pitch cleared of jubilant spectators.
It took five minutes to find space for 57
seconds’ play, and Partizan had already
conceded the cup.

So the favourites vanished. Helenio
Herrera was arrogant but accurate
when he said that Internazionale and
Manchester United were beaten by
inferior teams, and should meet to
decide the “real” final.

Their last survivor of the great era,

Paco Gento, steadied the new Real

Real, for once, benefited from their early goal, struck with great accuracy 1966
role of outsiders. They started badly from Gento’s beautiful pass, put Inter
against Feyenoord in Rotterdam, losing 2-0 down. Luis Suarez and Mario Corso European Cup Winners
a violent game through two late and might have recovered this at their peak,
disputed goals. but on this night they held the ball too REAL MADRID
long and passed with glaring inaccuracy.
But in return, Puskas showed a
shooting power that belied his years, Though Giacinto Facchetti, chosen
scoring four goals from long range, surprisingly as an orthodox winger, scored
which were almost unstoppable. near the end, Real went serenely on to
a totally unexpected triumph.
Real’s team was settling down,

EUROPEAN CUP 31

1967 Celtic

Strength in teamwork

The “Lisbon Lions” became not only the first British winners of the European Cup
but the first non-Latin winners, with all 11 members of the team born within 30
miles of Glasgow. Roger Macdonald reports on the final victory over Internazionale

BELOW RIGHT: Sandro Mazzola was granted his Jimmy Johnstone, attached to Tarcisio full with Celtic’s elusive forwards. His shot
Captain…Billy wish, to score on the ground Burgnich by invisible handcuffs, slipped from the edge of the penalty area, high to
McNeil with the where his father played his last his jailer like a second Houdini. Sarti’s right-hand corner, cut through the
new-look trophy match, 18 years and 21 days waves of Italians like a deadly torpedo.
ago, before Torino’s aircraft crashed into Inter survived for an hour, because
BELOW: Jump… the impassive basilica at Superga. But his Celtic could create only half a second; Caught not far short of the post, Inter
Celtic keeper Ronnie meticulous penalty, sent to one corner there was no hair trigger whenever had no final spurt to offer. Their attack
with Ronnie Simpson groping vainly at Stevie Chalmers and Willie Wallace saw possessed feet of clay, slow to see the
Simpson catches a the other, cut Internazionale’s lifeline Giuliano Sarti in their sights. Armando open space. Renato Cappellini, whose
floated cross as if he had put through his own goal. Picchi, the skipper, worked tirelessly as a early flamboyant collapse in the penalty
perpetual reinforcement, though even he area had exaggerated the illegality of John
For Inter, deprived of their master must have felt he had a foot in one hole Clark’s late tackle, reached the limits of
midfield tactician, Luis Suarez, pinned while water poured in a dozen others. his patience, and kicked out shamefully
everything on the strength of their at Simpson. And so the end came, when
defence – an inflexible barrier, lacking Sarti, often in the front line with Celtic Bobby Murdoch shot and Chalmers
even the suspicion of a springboard. Just raking the trenches, was a reflex action, carefully deflected the ball past Sarti.
as a wall defying the pressures of the sea alternating courage and acrobatics. His
needs constant repair if it is not to leak, saves prevented a complete annihilation; Lisbon’s little moat did not deter
so Inter’s strength ebbed to nothing, until one earlier goal would have done it, as Celtic’s thousands of supporters, who
the erosion engendered by Celtic’s skill a trickling stone starts an avalanche. engulfed their heroes, until the pitch was
brought their stagnant obstacle to ruin. a sea of scarves and kilts and banners.
Inter lived oh, so dangerously, for Billy McNeill, scarcely protected by the
Inter, for many the Mecca of modern more than half the match. Bertie Auld, heavily outnumbered Lisbon police, at
football, were outplayed, outmanoeuvred through one tiny gap, struck a rising length ran the gauntlet to receive the
and outwitted by a team with equal skill, shot that left Sarti’s bar vibrating like European Cup: won at last by a non-Latin
superior stamina and, above all, limitless telephone wires in a gale. Later Tommy side, a British club, by surely the finest
determination. As frustration breeds Gemmell’s speculative cross caught the team in the history of Scottish football.
impatience and error, so some of Europe’s wind and swirled high against the far
finest attacking teams have fallen to the post. Sarti, at fault here, was almost There are explanations, not excuses, for
champions of catenaccio, stabbed in the caught unsighted by a drive through Inter’s emphatic defeat. The absence of
back, as it were, while pausing to reload. the dense jungle of defenders, which Suarez, a key player in midfield, because
But after nine nervy minutes Celtic he stopped, leaping backwards, on of a strained thigh, clearly upset the
steeled themselves against a formidable, the very chalk of the line. balance of the team. Jair, too, might have
uphill task largely of their own making, played, after showing signs of regaining
rarely exposed their own defence, and Celtic flagged a little as the last grains his old form; but he twisted a knee the
won the long war of attrition. of sand trickled from the hour glass, previous Sunday against Fiorentina in the
aware that some incisive force was league. Mazzola would not have been
If the Scots did not quite discover needed if all their delicate approach chosen for a less important match: he
the master key that could undo every play was to bear fruition. Gemmell was suffering from a sore throat, which
infamous Italian padlock, they tugged provided it, taking here in Lisbon the gave him evident discomfort. Mauro
away at its chain, testing every link. mantle of offensive full-back play from Bicicli, brought in as a link forward, lacked
Giacinto Facchetti, who had his hands match practice; though with Inter for ten
years, he has not had a regular place
in the first team since 1962-63.

There has been no opportunity to
relax for players who have been involved
in competitive football for 21 months
without a break. The pressure on Inter
was intense from the start. No club
in Europe has ever dealt with three
opponents of the calibre of Torpedo
Moscow, Vasas of Budapest and Real
Madrid in such devastating fashion, while
opening a huge gap simultaneously in
their national league.

Something eventually had to give,
and the first signs of strain came in the
Italian championship. Before they met
Celtic, Inter played five games without

32 EUROPEAN CUP

a win – and scarcely a forward scored a seems strange to say this, so completely humiliating his immediate opponents Line-up…the Celtic
goal. Juventus, hopelessly outdistanced were the Italians outplayed. Had Celtic and drawing others out of position. team before the
in mid-season, had reduced Inter’s lead beaten the teams Inter beat, rather European Cup final
at the top to a single point with one than the weak Zurich and Nantes, and But it is the success of two players
match left to play. the scarcely inspired Vojvodina in a last who had been written off that gives one 1967
desperate attack, their victory would the greatest pleasure. Auld, a failure in
I was right when I suggested in April have been more impressive. When English football, has been rehabilitated European Cup Winners
1967’s edition of World Soccer that they come to defend their title next in Scotland, linking superbly in midfield
Inter’s machine was cracking up, that season we may see their true mettle. for Celtic with the indefatigable lynchpin CELTIC
Helenio Herrera had his eye on a new Murdoch. Simpson has proved the
challenge and a change of scenery. Celtic’s remarkable clean sweep in coolest of goalkeepers, his career
Scotland, perhaps, underlines that only spanning 22 years from the time he
More, I grossly underestimated occasionally were they under pressure. first appeared for Queen’s Park at the
Celtic’s ability – and Jock Stein’s, Rangers, hit by injuries and loss of form, venerable age of 14. He could never
in harnessing the Scots’ natural talent did not make a challenge for the league have dreamed, when Newcastle United
and energy – by predicting that nothing title until it was far too late; their defeat sold him to Hibernian for £1,000 and
could prevent Inter winning their third at Berwick Rangers, of all places, in Hibs let him go to Celtic, of the new
European Cup. With Suarez, they might the Scottish Cup, ensured Celtic of vistas that would overshadow his
have won, but their very dependence an undisturbed passage to the final. earlier triumphs with Newcastle.
upon him was an indication of their
weakness. Celtic, after all, lost Joe If one may make an invidious Last season, aged 36, Simpson
McBride before Christmas: So prolific
a marksman that he scored more in Inter, for many the Mecca of
half a season than any other player
in its whole. modern football, were outplayed,

Celtic’s great strength is their outmanoeuvred and outwitted
teamwork; no single player can be put
out of the game without leaving gaps comparison between Celtic’s players, finally made his debut for Scotland at
the others may exploit. Inter devoted Gemmell and Johnstone transformed Wembley, in the team that beat England
considerable energy and attention – a good team into probably the best in 3-2, the world champions. He was voted
the whole of Burgnich’s and much Europe. Gemmell, because his attacking Scottish Footballer of the Year; gained
of Picchi’s – to stopping Johnstone, flair was the unforeseen element that winners’ medals in the Glasgow Cup,
giving Chalmers and Wallace, by Italian cracked Inter’s shell, his shooting the Scottish League Cup, the Scottish
standards, a large space in which to something that any orthodox striker FA Cup, the Scottish league and the
work and few opponents to beat. would be proud to possess. Johnstone, European Cup. And, ironically, the
because his impish dribbles took confrontation with Internazionale
It is too early to assess Celtic in terms him through the thickest barriers, was his easiest game of all.
of teams like Real Madrid, Benfica or
even Inter at their best – though it

EUROPEAN CUP 33

1968 Manchester United

A dream

come true

Ten years on from the tragedy of the Munich air disaster, Matt Busby’s
Manchester United became the first English club to win the European
Cup. Philip Rising reports on their 1968 final victory over Benfica

ABOVE: Team… T here can be few more totally Scottish face after Manchester United ambition – almost an obsession – for 11
Manchester United’s satisfying and exhilarating had ultimately crushed Benfica and won years. Ever since his club became the first
squad pose with the experiences in this world than the European Cup was more revealing from England to enter the European Cup.
to witness a personal dream of how he felt than any words.
famous trophy and ambition acquire fulfilment. Matt Since United had set out on the
Busby agrees. The smile on his warm Busby, the legendary father figure Champions Cup trail his dream has
of Manchester United, had nursed this thrice been shattered when near to

34 EUROPEAN CUP

realisation; only to be resurrected with The final was an occasion that punctuated by the whistle of referee Dream realised
renewed hope and inspiration. captured the hearts of the British Concetto Lo Bello. …Matt Busby
public; as Stanley Matthews had done
Busby wanted, more than anything in 1953 and England with their World This Italian puzzled both players and 1968
else, to bring the cup to Old Trafford, Cup triumph. The atmosphere at spectators alike with some rather niggling
where (as Donald Saunders pointed out Wembley was one of emotion; typified decisions. He might have been trying European Cup Winners
in the Daily Telegraph) he can see and by the applause that followed Matt to further the appeal of basketball with
touch it any time he likes for the next 12 Busby as he walked to his seat before his attitude towards Benfica goalkeeper MAN UNITED
months. His desire was infectious to such the match commenced. One could Jose Henrique, a sort of budding Harlem
an extent that it became the goal of all almost translate it as: “We’re praying Globetrotter. And when Eusebio crudely
at the home of this magnificent club. and cheering for YOU, Matt.” crunched Pat Crerand, resulting in a
melee of fist-waving players, Lo Bello
The players, from those who were In terms of pure football the match calmly walked AWAY from the fracas.
there at the outset to the newcomers, itself was a little disappointing, but the
have been spurred by heart and a drama and excitement of the later David Sadler missed one easy
burning ambition to give Busby stages compensated for a first half chance in the first half after 27 minutes
what he wanted so much. (coincidentally his second-half miss was
also after 27 minutes) and two hard
opportunities that might have put
an early seal on the outcome.

For Benfica, only Eusebio had any
sting. His first effort at goal, from a
free-kick, would have won Wakefield
the Rugby League Cup but perhaps it
was a confidence trick. A few seconds
later Alex Stepney was utterly bemused
by a stunning shot that came close to
splintering the bar.

United’s defence, so often their
weakness, was made to look decidedly
solid against an ageing and slow Benfica
forward line. Any guile and craft they
might have had was lost in a slow-
motion, pathetic crawl. Only Eusebio’s
rapid speed off the mark reminded
us that the players were alive.

EUROPEAN CUP 35

1968 Manchester United

Jose Torres, the gangling giant who An innocuous looking move between the match, began to move with rhythm
was expected to dominate anything in Sadler and Dunne on the left flank and purpose.
the air, seemed to forget all he knows suddenly produced danger for Benfica
about aerobatics and Bill Foulkes, with as Sadler’s well flighted cross found Panic often swept through United’s
superb timing of all his jumps, was his Charlton running diagonally and now harassed rearguard. How Busby
master. heading perfectly into the far corner. must have wished then that at least
one of those earlier misses had
Without his main source of supply Charlton was probably as amazed as sweetly struck the back of the net.
Eusebio was a reduced threat and any that he should score in this manner.
Nobby Stiles, ably assisted by splendid “I haven’t headed a goal for about ten Why had Best been so greedy,
covering from Shay Brennan and Tony years” (an exaggeration), he said I remember asking myself. Full of
Dunne, further restricted the menace threatening mischief, his obstinate
of this Mozambique-born athlete.
Best’s display of footwork and ball
Bobby Charlton and George Best, the control in beating four defenders inside the
two ace-cards in the Manchester pack, penalty box bordered on the miraculous
made little impression in the first half.
Best was usually hacked to the ground afterwards. Did he know where the holding of the ball was probably the Goal…Brian Kidd
before he could get into any sort of goalkeeper was positioned? “When result of over-determination to produce celebrates after
stride and Charlton had managed I head ’em, I just head ’em!” was a spark of match-winning genius. scoring United’s
only one worthwhile shot at goal. his subtle reply. third goal
Best had been built up as the man
I had the impression that for all One could sense the increase in most likely to cause Benfica panic; as he
United’s dominance and pressure tension. The anxiety among the United did during that famous match in Lisbon
a sudden breakaway might provide players noticeably grew with 38 minutes when the Northern Irish maestro
a travesty of justice. But a flash of still to go. Benfica, for the first time in inspired a 5-1 whipping.
Charlton genius in the most unexpected
fashion brought United a goal and a
different complexion to the match.

36 EUROPEAN CUP

TACTICS ff

Under Matt Busby, Manchester United’s formation was far from
revolutionary, but they did establish a global reputation for playing very
fast-paced, entertaining football. The acclaimed attacking triumvirate
of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, or “The Holy Trinity” as
they were affectionately known, was crucial to that reputation – although
Scotsman Law missed the 1968 European Cup semi-final and final because
of a knee injury. In midfield, Nobby Stiles was the midfield battler whose
hard-working endeavours provided a base to allow Charlton to attack,
while Pat Crerand played a key role as both destroyer and creator.

STAR MAN GEORGE BEST

Once dubbed by Brazil legend Pele as “the greatest player in the world”,
few could doubt the Northern Irish winger’s natural ability. After almost
single-handedly destroying Benfica in the 1966 European Cup quarter-
final, Best was dubbed “El Beatle” across Europe. His brilliant goal in the
1968 European Cup final against the same opponents was one of many
that season, and went some way to him being named European Footballer
of the Year. He was Manchester United’s top scorer over the next four
campaigns after their initial success in Europe, but struggled with personal
demons that would trouble him until his death in November 2005.

MANAGER MATT BUSBY

The Scotsman built several outstanding teams during three decades at
Old Trafford. In 1965, he told World Soccer that following the Munich air
disaster in 1958 he “was lost and sorrowing and, for a short period, utterly
defeated.” He said: “A man’s help at such a time is not his experience, but
his faith and the love and encouragement of his friends.” He announced
his intention to step down as Manchester United manager eight months
after the Wembley triumph, later becoming a club director. He died
in 1994 at the age of 84, but his statue stands on the exterior of
the Old Trafford stadium, overlooking Sir Matt Busby Way.

But Best lost rather than earned was due largely to Alex Stepney, whose The crowd roared the name of Superstar…
admiration. One can easily sympathise handling throughout was flawless. Twice Busby but Matt refused the offer of George Best
with him for the treatment he received Eusebio unleashed those thunderbolt his players to lead them to the cup.
from Fernando Cruz in particular but shots; the second being answered by Instead he watched with pride as Bobby 1968
his petulant behaviour and bad temper a superlative save. “I started to come Charlton received the huge trophy and
came over especially strong to the forward, then went back. He shot then walked slowly from the arena that European Cup Winners
television viewers. Perhaps because straight at me,” blushed Stepney. had seen a dream come true.
they missed the kicks he received MAN UNITED
while not in possession. During the short respite United drew “The most wonderful thing that has EUROPEAN CUP 37
fresh inspiration, recharged further still happened to me in my life,” said Busby.
Nevertheless, shaggy George still when Best, taking Brian Kidd’s backward
contributed some wonderful moments header from Adolfo, rounded Henrique Had he thought of retiring now
– his display of footwork and ball control (as he should have done in the second that his personal Everest had been
in beating four defenders inside the half of normal time under similar conquered? “I’ll stay where I am
penalty box bordered on the miraculous. circumstances) and slotted home till people get fed up with me.”
But it was the man on the other flank a deliberate, precise shot.
who caught the eye, and yet... Otto Gloria, coach of Benfica, said:
“Now hold this one,” we shouted. “Manchester United are a very good
Why hadn’t they exploited John Better still, they added to it. Kidd, who club indeed, but playing at home
Aston’s wonderful speed, that left had fought a lone battle much of the was a big advantage.”
Adolfo helpless? The Benfica right-back time, powerfully headed Charlton’s
had about as much chance as a lame corner for goal. Henrique scooped And so it was all over. Charlton,
turtle would have against a greyhound. the ball off the line only for Kidd to completely spent both physically and
Aston was United’s most penetrative celebrate his 19th birthday with another mentally, went back to the hotel and
weapon and a fully-fit Denis Law header – this time unstoppable. straight to bed. It had been a long,
might have created a scoring record. hard and, at times, cruel world. But
Soon afterwards Kidd broke down for Munich they would, I feel sure,
But it was futile to think of such “ifs” the right, squared the ball and watched have got there earlier.
as Benfica thrust forward, reaping their admiringly as Charlton collected the
reward when Torres at last got airborne fourth, with an as-casual-as-you-like Now United will face Estudiantes of
and headed down for Jaime Graca to shot that swung high past the now Argentina for the world title. “You set
shoot powerfully across Stepney. rather demoralised Benfica custodian. out to win something as the supreme
achievement and when you have done
The full-time whistle came as a The contest was over. Eusebio made so you find there is a new target,” said
welcome relief to United. “We were a last token gesture with a shot of the remarkable Charlton.
shattered,” said Stiles. “Another ten staggering speed that Stepney took
minutes and they would have won.” neatly but Benfica had long since He was right, of course. But I fancy
ceased to be active participants. Manchester will be content to re-live
That United survived to extra-time those dramatic 120 minutes during
the weeks ahead. I know I will.

1969 Milan

Cricket no longer

In the 1969 European Cup
final, Ajax made history
by becoming the first
Dutch side to reach the
final, but they were put
to the sword by Milan.
To this date, Pierino Prati
remains the most recent
player to score a hat-trick
in a European Cup final

M ilan, renowned for their organised and their strikers are Red-and-Blacks) Hamrin has become Champions
defensive strategy, switched extremely dangerous. Our defenders one of the most feared goal poachers …Milan
tactics and crushed Ajax certainly made mistakes but, although in Europe, and is, of course, a regular
4-1 in a thrilling display of Milan deserved to win, I do not think the international for Sweden. July1969 cover...
attacking football to win the European final score is a just reflection of our play.” Manchester United’s
Cup. Inspired by left-winger Pierino Prati, In Rocco’s first full season with the Bobby Charlton and
who scored three goals, the Italians Milan, who were founded in 1899 club in both spells, Milan won the league Milan’s Gianni Rivera
ripped the Amsterdammers’ defence as the Milan Football & Cricket Club championship (1962-63 and 1967-68). exchange pennants
to shreds with their darting bursts. Prati by Alfred “Papa” Edwards and Herbert In addition, he won the European Cup in the semi-final
scored both the goals which gave Milan Kiplin, are fortunate to have as manager previously (1962-63) and the European
a 2-0 half-time lead and completed the yet another “Papa” of Italian football – Cup Winners’ Cup (1967-68). In the 1969
scoring with a cheeky header late in the the redoubtable Nereo Rocco. Rocco, 1962-63 campaign, having scored 14 European Cup Winners
game. Centre-forward Angelo Sormani a 5ft 7in heavyweight, with a protruding goals against Union Luxembourg, Milan
netted Milan’s other goal soon after Ajax Punch-like nose and chin that epitomise annihilated every team in sight including MILAN
hopes had briefly risen when centre- his aggressiveness, is – if you care to our own champions Ipswich Town, and
back Velibor Vasovic netted a penalty. imagine such an animal – a sort of the Scottish champions Dundee.
Italian Sergeant-Major George Smith
Milan’s victory brought them Europe’s - a Busby/Docherty/Stein mixture
most coveted trophy for the second time, (with rather more Smith-Docherty
adding to their 1963 Wembley triumph. than Busby-Stein in his make-up).
They had the morale-booster of an early
goal when a header by Prati left Ajax Born in 1912 in Trieste, Rocco
keeper Gert Bals stranded in the seventh trained Padova and the 1960 Italian
minute. Five minutes before half-time Olympic team before coming to Milan
after Gianni Rivera had tricked the Ajax for the 1961-62 season. Despised and
defence he added number two. The libelled by many journalists and fellow
youthful Dutchmen were comprehensively countrymen as a crude, wine-swigging
outplayed in the first half and very little illiterate, Rocco has all those qualities of
had been seen of their famed strikers, gentleness which mark him as a great. At
Johan Cruyff and Inge Danielsson. Padova, Rocco took under his muscular
wings a frail, pallid, young Swedish hopeful
A 60th-minute penalty by Vasovic who was having difficulty in settling down
briefly raised Ajax’s hopes of turning the at Juventus: a dose of Rocco, and Kurt
tide but six minutes later Sormani netted Hamrin’s feet grew wings. Since joining
Milan’s third goal to snuff out any chance Milan in 1967 (along with Rocco, who
of a revival. Prati completed his hat-trick returned for his second spell with the
in the 74th minute to underline Milan’s
superiority. When the match ended,
hundreds of Milan supporters among
the 50,000 crowd ran on to the pitch
and submerged their idols in a forest
of black and red banners.

Dejected Ajax trainer, Rinus Michels,
said: “It was a hard-fought match but
they were better than us. That first quick
goal weighed heavily on our players.
Milan are a great team. Their backs
are tough, their midfield play is well

38 EUROPEAN CUP

1970 Feyenoord

Celtic lose final

A year after their
compatriots Ajax’s
defeat against Milan,
Feyenoord claimed some
sort of Dutch revenge by
lifting the trophy at the
San Siro. For losing
finalists, Celtic, this
marked the second – and
most recent – European
Cup final appearance
in the club’s history

F eyenoord of the Netherlands of the match in the first minute of extra skipper Billy McNeill out of position in Champions...
won the 1970 European Cup time, but he delayed his shot, and after the Celtic penalty area. He handled in Feyenoord’s
final in Milan, beating Celtic a scramble on the goal-line Graafland a desperate bid to prevent the ball from Rinus Israel
2-1 after extra time. Celtic, gained possession. reaching Kindvall but, with the referee
very much the pre-match favourites,
failed to find their true rhythm and Celtic, very much the pre-match 1970
never reproduced the form that made favourites, failed to find their European Cup Winners
them such emphatic winners over true rhythm in the final
Leeds United in the semi-finals. FEYENOORD
From then on it was Feyenoord all applying the advantage rule, the Sweden
In contrast, Feyenoord played the way, but a replay looked probable international went on to flick the ball
superbly, dictating the pace of the until a long free-kick caught Hoops over the advancing Evan Williams.
game throughout and always looking
the more likely victors.

Yet it was Celtic who took the lead in
the first half when Bobby Murdoch flicked
the ball back to Tommy Gemmell from
a free-kick on the edge of the penalty
area. Gemmell’s thunderous shot sped
through Feyenoord’s defensive wall,
although goalkeeper Eddy Pieters
Graafland was badly unsighted by
referee Concetto Lo Bello of Italy.

Two minutes later slackness in the
Celtic defence presented Feyenoord
skipper Rinus Israel with a chance, and
he coolly headed home. It was almost
the only time in the match that Israel
deserted his defensive duties to move
into an attacking position.

Feyenoord increased the pace of the
match after the interval, and Swedish
centre-forward Ove Kindvall might have
scored on at least two occasions. But
Celtic rarely appeared as an attacking
force; Jimmy Johnstone frequently ran
into trouble, John Hughes created few
problems, Bobby Lennox and Willie
Wallace were rarely seen.

With time running out George
Connelly came on for Bertie Auld, but
neither he nor Murdoch could establish
any sort of command in midfield.

Hughes had the best Celtic chance

EUROPEAN CUP 39

1971 Ajax

Final was anti-climax

Brian Glanville expresses his disappointment at the 1971 European Cup
final between Ajax of Amsterdam and Greeks Panathinaikos at Wembley

Saviour… How sad that a European distinction, was wont to say: “There’s While Dick van Dijk was still playing
Johan Cruyff at Cup final which gave no substitute for skill. Ball players well upfield, instead of cautiously deep,
Wembley Stadium Netherlands its second, create unorthodox situations.” while Piet Keizer and Sjaak Swart were
consecutive winner and still busy on the wings, it seemed merely
Greece its first, astonishing finalist, Indeed they do, and poor a question of how many Ajax would score.
should peter out in anti-climax. For Panathinaikos never quite knew Their own poor finishing and the steady
this, there were two reasons, which what Cruyff was going to create. With improvement of Takis Economopoulos,
might bluntly be summed up by that marvellous, flowing, serpentine who began so shakily but finished a hero
saying that Panathinaikos couldn’t run, those sinuous evasions, those of his team, combined to frustrate them.
while Ajax ultimately wouldn’t. cobra swayings above the ball, those
electric changes of pace, that brave Their second-half performance, so
If the final was saved, it was saved by readiness always to go forward alone, dull and circumspect, may be viewed,
Johan Cruyff, who affirmed once more no matter the odds. Cruyff was a host perhaps, from two points of view. You
both his own transcendent talents, and in himself. He provoked the second may say, as Arie Haan, the scorer of
the prevailing importance of the great goal, he could have had two or three the second goal – with the assistance
individualist. As George Raynor, the in the first half, when his finishing of a Greek leg – did to me, that there
little Yorkshireman who managed did not quite match the sublime were three injuries, necessitating the
Sweden for so long, and with such quality of his approach play. substitutions of Swart and the thrustful

Squad…the Ajax team pose in May1971

Nico Rijnders. Or you may feel that any number of clever flicks and
Ajax, having failed to add to their lead backheels, creating new, dangerous,
when they were so comprehensively varying patterns of attack. In the
on top, decided that what they had, second half, when he found himself
they would hold. again and again in possession with
room and time to spare, he could
Against a better, more gifted and mostly do nothing more original than
versatile team than Panathinaikos, this boot the ball into the goalmouth.
might have been fatal. Ajax’s defence
is not especially strong. Velibor Vasovic, Aristidis Kamaras looked a versatile,
though he played well in the second half composed, intelligent player, and he
when, with more men around him, he should really have equalised, just before
tended to come forward, was somewhat half-time, when Giorgos Vlachos gave
vulnerable in the first, the backs were him an excellent chance. His own

If the final was saved, it was by
Cruyff, who affirmed once more
his own transcendent talents

rather better in attack than in destruction disgust and dismay indicated that 1970 World Cup in Mexico, that a fine Manager…
mode, while goalkeeper Heinz Stuy was he thought so, himself. But generally attack can compensate for the failings of Panathinaikos’
another to begin poorly. (Though by the Greeks remain among the more a mediocre defence. But it is important Ferenc Puskas
the end of the game, he was eating unsophisticated European clubs, and to remember, as the Brazilians always
the plethora of long, naive high lobs their triumphant passage to the final did, that one must not deliberately fall 1971
and crosses which the Greeks flung clearly represented the victory of mind back on that defence. This, after all, is European Cup Winners
desperately into the box.) over matter; or perhaps of spirit over wilfully to sacrifice your chief weapon,
technical and tactical ingenuousness. and expose your basic weakness. Ajax AJAX
But though they had their men From such criticisms, Domazos, Kamaras risked it, and got away with it. Against
and their moments, Panathinaikos and perhaps Kostas Eleftherakis must a stronger, more experienced, more
were clearly embarrassed rather than be exempted; nor can one take away incisive team than Panathinaikos,
favoured by the amount of space from coach Ferenc Puskas and his team it might have been expensive.
conceded to them, after half-time. the credit due for an extraordinary
One saw this especially in the image overall achievement.
of the clever Mimis Domazos, their
midfield orchestrator. As for Ajax, despite their tedious
second half at Wembley, their victory
In the first half, when he had to suggests, as did that of Brazil in the
work under pressure, he produced

EUROPEAN CUP 41

1972 Ajax

Ajax were so

clearly superior

Regarded as one of Total Football’s greatest moments, Eric Batty reports
on Ajax’s domination over Internazionale’s catenaccio strategy at
Rotterdam’s De Kuip stadium in the 1972 European Cup final

ABOVE: Winners Superior in all departments of pushing forward with seven and eight by the same token it requires two teams
…Ajax pose after the game, Ajax retained the men, which showed not only their to make a great game. Watching Inter’s
winning the trophy European Cup they won last determination to play an attacking clearly defined catenaccio in Rotterdam,
year with a confidence and game but also their confidence in one could not fail to recall the last
maturity that suggest they will be very themselves and their ability. Time after occasion that the European Cup final
difficult for anyone to beat next season. time they strung together moves of was staged in the Netherlands, and to
But without wishing to detract anything real quality in approach only to find make a comparison. This was of course
from the superb performance of the that when they reached the Italian the Benfica-Real Madrid affair in which
Dutchmen, this was not the great game penalty area there were always one Real led 3-1 at half-time only to lose
many critics claimed it was. How could too many defenders on hand to turn 3-5 but then, of course, the conditions
it be with Internazionale so clearly bent their positive approach into goals. were right. Both teams wanted to win
on defence and destruction? and believed they could, whereas in
It takes two players to make a good Rotterdam only Ajax wanted to win;
Right from the start Ajax were pass – the giver and the recipient – and

42 EUROPEAN CUP

The first, after only two minutes Mazzola, in particular, would shine in
in the second half, was the result of a the Ajax attack but almost alone and
misunderstanding between keeper Ivano unaided they had little chance.
Bordon and Tarcisio Burgnich. A harmless
looking cross from the right flank curled Ajax on the other hand were strong
high across the Inter penalty area; in every department with the midfield
Bordon came out and either failed to trio – Arie Haan, Johan Neeskens and
call or Burgnich ignored it. The result Gerrie Muhren particularly in evidence.
was a mid-air collision that left the two From start to finish they were in control,
Italians spread out at full length on the winning the ball, supporting each other
ground and the ball at the feet of Johan and never afraid to go forward to show
Cruyff. For once the Italian defence was themselves for Sjaak Swart, Cruyff and
taken apart for, with no other defender Keizer. This is what real football is about:
within ten yards of him, Cruyff had more win the ball and use it to launch an
than enough time to control the ball attack and if the move breaks down
and stroke it casually home. go back and do it again.

It is true, of course, that constant Even further back Ajax were still
pressure such as Inter soaked up can prepared to be adventurous. Wim
eventually lead to errors of this kind but Suurbier at right-back, with no one to
mark, was always probing up the right

In Rotterdam only Ajax
wanted to win; Internazionale
simply wanted to avoid defeat

this was a goal that should never have flank, sending in a stream of crosses
been scored. The same could be said and passes from the right. Early in the
of Ajax’s second goal when four Inter game the other full-back, Rudi Krol, had
defenders stood waiting for the ball to advanced to hit a shot from 25 yards
come to them while Piet Keizer’s curling that rebounded off Bordon’s right-hand
free-kick from near the left-wing corner post (and had him easily beaten).
flag floated in. Cruyff, alert as usual, was
Inter on the other hand took 70
Stop…Ajax captain Piet Kaizer’s effort is saved in the final by Inter goalkeeper Ivano Bordon minutes to gain their first corner and
had been on the receiving end of a
Inter simply wanted to avoid defeat. on his way, threading a path through the great deal of intelligent attacking play 1972
The following morning the Dutch defenders to score with his head which when after an hour they at least began European Cup Winners
is an unusual event for him. to push men forward in support of
newspapers screamed headlines that Boninsegna. By that time, of course, AJAX
read...“Defensive football is dead” From the Ajax point of view they they had already put in a great deal of
...but that I am sure is stretching the were rarely in any difficulty – underlining stamina-sapping runs to plug holes in
imagination much too far. Ajax won the poverty of Inter’s ideas. Their hopes their defence, and when they did try to
and deservedly so. Superior in all seemed to rest on keeping the score gain some semblance of control over
departments and almost constantly sheet blank and whenever possible the proceedings they discovered they
in possession of the ball they must throwing long passes up to Roberto had neither the wit, the stamina nor the
have won many neutral friends with Boninsegna and Sandro Mazzola, in combined skills that were necessary.
their exhibition, but paradoxically it the hope that they could conjure up
was two grave defensive errors something on their own. Both these Ajax won because they deserved
that led to the Ajax goals. players are no mean performers and to but comparisons with the great Real
Madrid are premature. Give Cruyff time
to reach the 30 mark; let Ajax add
to their four years of international
competition that have done so much
to make them what they are then
perhaps it could become reality.

True it would be interesting to see
how the Luis del Sol, Alfredo Di Stefano,
Ferenc Puskas team would cope with
a full-blooded catenaccio but if it is
pure conjecture, I believe they would
contrive to make clear-cut chances
...which Ajax never did.

From the Inter standpoint it is
now clear that several of their most
experienced players, headed by Giacinto
Facchetti, are over the hill while their
youngsters are not up to the standards
demanded at the highest level.

EUROPEAN CUP 43

1973 Ajax

LEFT: Jump…
Arnold Muhren
BELOW: Goal…Ajax
beat Bayern Munich
in the1972-73
quarter-finals

Ajax make it

four in a row

for Netherlands

Eric Batty reports on
Ajax becoming the first team
since Real Madrid to win a
hat-trick of European Cups

T he European Cup final I fancied Juventus to give Ajax their have had one for two years and proved
has come and gone once stiffest final yet and perhaps even beat that they can still produce attractive,
more and it is now clearer them. In coming to this conclusion I was attacking football. The malaise goes
than ever that the great judging the Italians on what I had seen far deeper and is much more difficult
showpiece is no longer an event for of them in earlier rounds. Unfortunately to overcome than the simple physical
the purists. Last year in Rotterdam we for everyone they flopped – and badly problem of playing round or drawing
had Inter producing a drab, lifeless at that. out, an extra defender at the back.
display in the final and this year,
when they promised so much more, Perhaps it was the stiffest final for In any walk of life we must have a
Juventus went the same way. Ajax, Ajax, but Juventus failed even to put fundamental belief in our assessment of
it must be conceded, were worthy together half a dozen counter-attacks situations, in our ability to make decisions.
winners on both occasions – though worthy of the description. Indeed they In football management this goes further,
they too display their own particular rarely moved at all, except back towards for it involves belief in one’s own players.
brand of “careful football” – but the their own goal. Tragically this quality appears to have all
responsibility for allowing the final to but disappeared and was certainly notable
flop once more rests on the Italians. Though the talents of Ajax are clear in Belgrade by its absence. Nobody, not
for all to see, they, just as much as the even the much vaunted Ajax trainer
Writing before the event in last Italians, were playing for a result. This Stefan Kovacs, appeared to have much
month’s World Soccer, I said that is the malady that has afflicted the faith or relief in anything or anybody.
modern game to such an extent that
much of what passes for football today The Italians, and more particularly ??????
is not really worthy of the name. those sitting on the bench, were far more
responsible for the collapse of the game Prize…Ajax
Let there be no mistake about it; but no little share of the responsibility kept the trophy
this match, from which one expects so must lay squarely with the Dutchmen. after winning
much, is fast becoming an annual flop True, the Italians began to urge their three in a row
and Ajax were just as much responsible players forward late in the game, but by
as the Italians. then it was much too late. Football will
continue to suffer until more people in
However, with Ajax getting an early
goal through Johnny Rep (and deciding the game begin to believe in the game
to hang on to it) it was up to Juventus to itself, in themselves and their ability. And
carry the game to their opponents, to while handing out criticism I would like to
bring the match back to life by equalising record my disappointment with Johan
(at least) and they never seriously
attempted to do that until it was far too
late. Little was seen of Jose Altafini and
Pietro Anastasi who had combined to
oust Ujpest and did so much to
eliminate Derby County.

Anastasi was very closely watched
to be sure, while Altafini looked like
a player well past his best, suddenly,
almost overnight grown old. But when
one has said this, it has to be recognised
that even a gifted player like Anastasi
needs support and the crude fact is
that he never got it.

There is a danger that critics may
blame the Italian conception of the
game but it is clear to me that the same
fear of defeat has long since crept into
English football too and now controls
the game everywhere. Fear of defeat is
the root cause and hand in hand with

Let there be no mistake; this match,
from which one expects so much,
is fast becoming an annual flop

that fear – a general lack of confidence. Cruyff who can and could (but didn’t) 1973
This must be one of the reasons why produce his skills in Belgrade. European Cup Winners
attendances are declining everywhere,
for even the successful teams give He bemoans to all and sundry that AJAX
nothing away, and the result is at he pays too much taxes. I would suggest
the very least, midfield deadlock. that he starts earning the money he does
get. Had Juventus equalised I have little
It is more than just fielding a free doubt that Cruyff would have begun to
back or libero. The West Germany play but he too was content to coast
national team and Bayern Munich while the result was secure.

EUROPEAN CUP 45

1974 Bayern Munich

Bayern triumph

Bayern Munich become the first German team to win the
European Cup, as Keir Radnedge reports from Brussels

ABOVE: Trophy It was the right result, West all but the most blinkered Briton when Gerd Muller is shackled – as he
parade...Bayern’s Germany’s first Champions Cup, was that both teams play football was first time round – betrayed them
players after beating and a valuable prestige victory on a completely different plane to our for what they are not: a new Ajax.
Atletico Madrid 4-0 on the eve of “their” World homegrown favourites. To an extent
Cup. But we needed a replay. environment, weather, pitch conditions, Not that this will have worried the
etc. have played their part. But the watching Helmut Schon too much.
And yet, paradoxically, the more absorbing nature of the original final Muller has the redoubtable Jupp
significant of the two matches was the brought out many other points. Heynckes sharing the burden in the
remarkable occasion of the original final national team. Schon was perhaps more
at the Heysel Stadium, two days earlier. Chief among these was the fact that concerned to see how the method of
when they so wish, Atletico can play fine Atletico had in the first match deflected
For the re-run both teams were football in a sporting manner, and that Bayern and all their flair from the paths
under pressures of fatigue and the Bayern still have grave weaknesses of arrogance into those of anxiety.
morale-sapping effects of the extra- in attack for a team which aspires
time drama. More important still, to my to be the best in the world. Indeed, immediately before Hans-
mind, Atletico Madrid’s Javier Irureta Georg Schwarzenbeck boomed in his
was controversially put hors de combat In midfield they were always delightful spectacular, and speculative, 30-yard
by UEFA’s disciplinary machinery. throughout the 210 minutes, in defence equaliser in the last minute of extra time,
well organised. But their total impotence Atletico appeared to be heading for a
Either way, what was very clear to

46 EUROPEAN CUP

victory which their patience would angles, the dummies and all the subtle And on to the replay – the crowd Stalemate…the final
narrowly – very, very narrowly – tricks born of confidence. cut by half, to 24,000. Atletico had ended in a1-1 draw
have deserved. already suffered one blow to the chin and needed a replay
And it was all so impressive because with the last-minute equaliser. Now they two days later
I had wondered before the first it was accomplished against opponents were struck to the canvas by the ban
final whether Bayern coach Udo clearly of an exceptional quality on Irureta because of a foolish and 1974
Lattek, desperately hoping for an themselves. harmless handball against Celtic at European Cup Winners
early goal, would repeat the tactics Parkhead in the semi-final first leg.
which had proved startlingly successful But at the start of the second BAYERN MUNICH
against both Dynamo Dresden (away) half two shots by Franz Roth – high, Irureta is no great player, but his
and CSKA Sofia. This involved Uli wide and anything but handsome – selfless hard work is important to
Hoeness leading the attack with demonstrated how thin is Bayern’s Atletico. Ideally in the replay Atletico
Muller dropping into midfield. veneer of savoir faire. They had realised could have entrusted him with the task
that they were getting nowhere. The of sticking to Hoeness and not gamble
But Lattek’s team selection made it more the minutes ticked away the on skipper Adelardo Rodriguez, only
very clear that this was the last action less likely they looked not only to playing at all thanks to a pain killer.
he wanted to take. He opted for Jupp win, but even to score.
Kappelmann, the prosaic £130,000 And this was a vital chink in their
former Cologne midfielder, in the No.11 Atletico were persistent and armour because now Lattek saw the
shirt with Muller destined to be the consistent – and tragically unfortunate light, pushed Hoeness far up, and
apex of the attack – not a decoy for it. to have Irureta booked for provoking brought Muller back as support man
Muller into a dive while Schwarzenbeck, to draw out Eusebio. By the time
How superbly perverse that he should who went uncautioned by the referee, Atletico had cottoned on, switched
have been silenced at this stage because spent all night trying – literally – to Eusebio onto Hoeness and substituted
of the efforts of a man named Eusebio! stamp out the threat from the nimble poor Adelardo, 60 minutes had gone
Jose Eulogio Garate. and Bayern were 2-0 up.
Bayern, quite as Atletico desired,
had most of the first half and delighted Vital Loraux has never been among As Lattek had foreseen, the first goal
all the neutrals with their arrogance, my favourite match officials – though to was all-important. Atletico had to come
style and elan. The passes clipped read the Belgian Press you would think out and Bayern proved merciless. Had
precisely and at such ambitious he is blessed with Divine Right! they used a real outside left rather than
persisted with Kappelmann – even
Up to this moment bad passes had Durnberger as substitute – Atletico
stuck out like sore thumbs because would have been murdered.
of their scarcity. Now they began to
multiply and Bayern were invariably Hoeness had the freedom to run on
the culprits. Conny Torstensson and to Paul Breitner’s pass for the first (29
Rainer Zobel joined Muller in the halls mins); the confusion he caused helped
of anonymity, and Denmark full-back Muller to the second (57); the 69th
Johnny Hansen began to look more minute saw Muller’s cheeky chip for
the raw part-timer he was when number three, and Hoeness symbolically
Bayern signed him.

Atletico had to come out and

Bayern proved merciless

The West Germans’ weaknesses were ran ragged virtually the whole Atletico
further exposed not just by 36-year-old defence single-handed for number
Luis’ Aragones’ brilliant 114th-minute four nine minutes from the end.
free-kick, but by their choice of
substitutes on the bench. Durnberger, For the third time in the three
Jensen, Zimmermann, Hadewicz, Robl Champions Cup finals in the shadow
– all unknowns, save Durnberger, who of the Atomium – 1958, 1966 and
was found wanting some time ago. now 1974 – the team wearing all-
white ran off as worthy winners.

EUROPEAN CUP 47

1974 Bayern Munich

Brilliant, extrovert,

unorthodox and artistic

Arthur Rotmil profiles Franz Beckenbauer, the West Germany
international and Bayern’s 1974 European Cup-winning captain

Der Kaiser... In this era of evolution, in which plans and other forms of regimentation, and versatile footballer in the world.
Beckenbauer science and method threaten to which have bedevilled soccer during Some experts insist that he is wasted
destroy flair and creativity, the rise the past decade, it is refreshing to see
to the top of non-conforming and the artistic, elegant and immaculately on purely defensive duties, but practically
unorthodox footballer is extraordinary. stylish Beckenbauer, who combines the all his past and present coaches have
Such a brilliantly extrovert player is ingenuity of a South American virtuoso now recognised that the position of
Franz Beckenbauer, the captain of with the traditionally European athletic libero is the one which suits him best.
Bayern Munich and West Germany. At qualities. Beckenbauer, who is equally Beckenbauer likes in his own words “to
a time when individual ability is being effective in attack, or as a midfield see the whole playing area before him.”
stifled, or assessed purely in terms of schemer, but prefers the role of libero, His remarkable playing intelligence and
its application to the needs of systems, is today perhaps the most complete range of vision enable him to organise
moves from the rear and to select the
right moment for a thrust forward. The
launching platform in his own half of the
field, often way back in his own penalty
area. With either a long accurate pass to
a colleague already running into space,
through the middle, or by using a cross
field ball to start a movement along the
flanks, Beckenbauer’s constructive build
up is invariably aimed at surprising and
outwitting the opposition.

Quite spectacular are his own upfield
sorties, skilful dribbles alternating with
the double or reverse pass, and which he
often ends with a powerful shot. He has
clearly brought a new dimension to the
role of libero, which was first introduced
in Italy, but where it remained firmly
entrenched as a sweeper, a last figure
in defence in front of the goalkeeper.

Beckenbauer was born on September
11, 1945 in Giesing, a district of the city of
Munich. It was his brother Walter – who
is four years older – who introduced him
as a schoolboy to the modest club of SC
Munich 1906, whose player-coach Walter
still remains today! And it was his brother
who taught Franz his first football tricks.

Franz was ten years old when he
received his greatest present: a pair of
football boots. Beckenbauer’s boyhood
idol was and still remains the great Fritz
Walter, the captain of West Germany’s
World Cup-winning team of 1954.
Although he was a devoted fan of the
other local giants TSV 1860, he joined
his present club Bayern as a 13-year-old.
Franz was lucky to have sympathetic
parents. His father, a postal worker, was
also a footballer and when Franz as a
centre-forward had hit 100 goals in school
games in one season, “papa” Beckenbauer
realised that his boy had genuine potential
and he didn’t want to stand in his way.

At that time, football in Germany
was still largely amateur, and thus

48 EUROPEAN CUP

after leaving school Beckenbauer had England out of where she worked as a receptionist. Captains…Franz
to learn a profession. He first trained the European They married in September 1966 – Beckenbauer with
to become an insurance salesman and Championship in on his 21st birthday! Atletico Madrid’s
later spent 18 months as a supervisor 1972, by winning Adelardo Rodriguez
of a clothing store. In February 1964 3-1 at Wembley Together with Bayern’s technical
he signed a professional contract and drawing director Robert Schwan, who has 1974
with Bayern Munich aged 18. 0-0 in Berlin. become his closest friend and adviser, European Cup Winners
Beckenbauer has founded an insurance
Soon after, he made his first Like all great agency – as a nest egg for the future. BAYERN MUNICH
appearance in the national dress – in players acclaimed For he has no desire to stay in football,
West Germany’s youth team. And scored and worshipped, least of all as a manager. “Not at
both goals in a 2-1 win over Switzerland but also openly any price,” says Franz emphatically.
at Lorrach. Franz celebrated his first- envied, Franz too Throughout his playing career he has
team debut with Bayern in a promotion has his critics who watched the trials and tribulations of
match to the Bundesliga in 1964 – at often mistake his soccer coaches who are forgotten
outside left! But Bayern had to wait casual approach when the team wins, but are first
another year before joining the sphere. for arrogance. But to blame for lack of success.
Beckenbauer is a
Franz owes his soccer education to typical Bavarian. Beckenbauer has always had a great
his first junior coach Rudi Weiss, then His nickname is “Kaiser Franz” (Emperor respect for his coaches, in particular
the Bayern manager Zlatko Cajkovski Franz), conceived in Munich, where for national team manager Helmut
and Branko Zebec (both former Yugoslav they still enjoy royal titles in nostalgic Schon, whom he regards as an
internationals) and currently to Udo reminiscences of the past. But it is also outstanding tactician and psychologist.
Lattek. At international level he was his Olympian calm and unperturbed Perhaps that is why he has been so
discovered by the famous Dettmar manner which make Beckenbauer one patient, having toiled through 26
Cramer, then the chief of the German of the cleanest and fairest players – in internationals in the midfield position,
youth team and later FIFA’s leading fact, he has never been sent off. Once which he dislikes, before being allowed
coach. Just three months after he took when he was mercilessly baited, he to occupy his favourite role of libero.
office, Helmut Schon the manager of made a rude gesture to the crowd at
the full national side called up the not Hannover for which he was fined £125. In ten glorious years he has reached
quite 20-year-old Beckenbauer. the pinnacle of fame, adding the 1974
Franz projects a pleasing personality, Champions Cup to his winners’ medals
He gained his first full cap in a vital co-operative and diplomatic too. Like for the European Championship (1972),
match against Sweden, in Stockholm, during his visit to Britain, for instance, European Cup Winners’ Cup (1967), plus
on September 26, 1965, which clinched when he didn’t want to be pestered German Cup and championship trophies.
Germany’s qualification for the World by a reporter from an English Sunday He was also twice voted as Germany’s
Cup with a 2-1 win. A few months later paper. Rather than being rude to him,
Beckenbauer arrived in England, first for Beckenbauer declined the interview
a friendly international in February and by saying that he was on an exclusive
then for the finals themselves in July. contract to a German paper! It was a
Earlier, in March, he scored his first white lie, but it didn’t hurt anybody’s
goal for the national team, getting feelings.
two in fact, in a 4-2 victory over
the Netherlands in Rotterdam. Franz has been lucky in being spared
serious injury. A fractured toe (1967),
His first really tremendous test came plus a broken bone in his right hand
in the World Cup final at Wembley, in (1969), have cost him two caps. In the
which Beckenbauer as the youngest World Cup semi-final versus Italy, he
member of his side was detailed to mark also dislocated a shoulder which put
one of the most experienced men in the him out of action for eight weeks.
world playing virtually on his own ground
– Bobby Charlton. Franz prevented Naturally enough, Beckenbauer has
Bobby from scoring, but even he was been pursued by foreign clubs ready to
powerless as Germany went down to offer lucrative contracts, together with
that disputed third goal. Of this incident all the trimmings. In 1966 Italian giants
Beckenbauer says: “I was 12 yards away
and the ball never crossed the line. Even Beckenbauer, the most complete
Bobby Charlton patted me on the back,
saying ‘Sorry Franz’. He too must have and versatile footballer in the world
known that it was not a goal.”
Milan had reputedly tempted Bayern Footballer of the Year (1966 and 1968),
In 1968 Beckenbauer gained some with a fee of £250,000, but because and even European Footballer of the
“revenge”, when he scored the only goal of the ban on imports of foreign Year in 1972 by claiming the Ballon d’Or.
in a 1-0 victory in Hannover – Germany’s players the deal fell through. Now he is poised to claim the greatest
first-ever triumph over England! Two years prize of all: as captain of the national
later, in Mexico, the Germans avenged Recently, he has extended his side to receive the World Cup. And
their World Cup defeat. They were trailing contract with Bayern for another five why not?
2-0 but a fine Beckenbauer goal launched years and now he is unlikely to move
a revival; further goals from Uwe Seeler from Munich. There he lives comfortably Franz Anton Beckenbauer has already
and Gerd Muller led to the German 3-2 with his wife Brigitte and their three gained a permanent place amongst the
win and England’s elimination from the sons Thomas, Michael and Stephan. world’s greatest footballers. Few who
World Cup. More recently, Beckenbauer Franz met Brigitte at the sports training are playing today deserve the highest
captained the side which knocked centre of Grunwald, near Munich, honour more than he does.

EUROPEAN CUP 49

1975 Bayern Munich

Football faces its own

Frankenstein monster

Keir Radnedge reports on the 1975 European Cup final between Leeds
United and Bayern Munich, which was marred by violence in the stands

Retaining the The 20th Champions Cup final mere 50,000 capacity - got the game. Leeds had to win: and because they
trophy...Bayern couldn’t have been a greater The way it turned out, Gabriel Hanot didn’t their fans wrecked the place.
disaster if UEFA had sent must have done a double somersault Bayern had to win: and that they did so
in official saboteurs. It was in his grave. can’t gloss over the fact that they’re not
supposed to be THE big occasion – the team of a year ago. If anything, it
not just with all the personalities there, Hanot was the competition’s mentor. merely brought back to life Paul Van
leading politicians, even Ferenc Puskas Yet his old paper, L’Equipe, could hardly Himst’s comment when Leeds beat
and Alfredo Di Stefano – but it was have chosen what emerged as a more Anderlecht in the quarter-finals.
meant to carve with pride the fact that untimely moment to press for a world
the competition had been founded in club championship featuring the “Leeds can win the trophy because
that same city 20 years before. European semi-finalists, the South there is no outstanding team. The rest
American finalists, and the African of Europe has come down to the
Yet originally, ironically, Paris had and Asian champions. second-best level, the level of the
been outsiders for the game. The English champions. Leeds are two
West Germans wanted it as part The final was an advert for nothing players short of greatness, but this
of the DFB’s 75th anniversary – merely a warning of the horrible is a bad year and they may be
celebrations. Problems over television consequences of a Jekyll and Hyde good enough.”
and advertising put paid to that. competition which has arguably
become too big, too important, too Bad year it most certainly was,
The result was that the Parc des valuable, too powerful. Football’s and on the day Leeds weren’t
Princes - with its miserable pitch and own Frankenstein monster. even second class.

50 EUROPEAN CUP