World Soccer Presents – July 2022

And it’s no good blaming the referee, a remarkable artisan’s performance at Wunder, and Wunder was lucky that Injured…Bjorn
Michel Kitabdjian, either; that won’t in midfield and defence. It was his chip he jumped high enough to escape a Andersson
make the hooligans go away; that forward to Conny Torstensson which led double broken leg.
won’t lead us back to the times to Franz Roth’s 72nd-minute opener. 1975
when attacking football was the Leeds boss Jimmy Armfield admitted
only weapon which paid. I gather that English television was afterwards that the “Olde English” tactic European Cup Winners
scathing about goalkeeper Sepp Maier of aiming perpetually for Jordan’s head
No, let’s put the digressions and the before the game, and grudgingly admiring was planned, and he thought that the BAYERN MUNICH
hysterics behind us, and try to bring afterwards. But Ivan Curkovic of Saint- run of play justified it. Leeds certainly
some order to our memories of the Etienne rates him the best in the world had most of the game, but so did Real
Paris cataclysm. And there are five and we saw why at the Parc des Princes. Madrid against Internazionale in 1964,
points I want to emphasise: and various other teams since. It makes
Substitute Klaus Wunder was an no difference. The team which wins is
(1) And most important: When will absolute revelation up front too and, the team which scores more goals
so many people who ought to know if Torstensson was anonymous and and aesthetics matter nothing to
learn that possession is not nine Roth took an hour to get into the game, the teams involved at this level.
points of the law in soccer? Rainer Zobel was a surprise in his purely
defensive role sitting on Allan Clarke. I don’t hold the view that you must
(2) If you’d been manager of Bayern, expect top professional footballers to
losing two key men inside the first 17 And with Joe Jordan winning play without regard to the rewards of
minutes (Uli Hoeness was a passenger everything in the air, Zobel’s success victory. How could you? It’s a vicious
until the 40th), would you have tried was of particular importance. circle. And Cramer betrayed the merest
to come out and play pretty-pretty fraction of annoyance when asked if
football? Really? Did Franz Beckenbauer bring he would equate Bayern with Inter. He
down Allan Clarke? English opinion replied that Inter played cautiously as a
(3) Whether Billy Bremner was was emphatic; German opinion was policy: Bayern had played defensively
interfering with play or not when Peter that Clarke took a dive. I felt that Clarke because just on this one night
Lorimer struck in the 66th minute, anticipated the challenge a little, and circumstances had forced that kind of
the Leeds skipper was in the Bayern that was just enough to allow referee approach on them. “Leeds played just
goalmouth and, whether you like the Kitabdjian to give the defence the as we expected,” he said. Would the
law or not, Kitabdjian was justified in benefit of the doubt. inclusion of Eddie Gray from the start
ruling out the “goal”. have made the difference, I wonder?
Leeds claimed handball by
(4) I gather television fought shy of Beckenbauer as well, after Lorimer Lorimer was Leeds’ best player for
switching from the play to the disgusting jinked through. Kitabdjian thought me, getting through plenty of work and
scenes in the crowd. Take it from me, it unintentional, or was unsighted. raising the fans’ hopes with some typical
they were horrific, a virtual non-stop You could argue both ways. shooting. But Bremner was below par
assault from the moment Lorimer’s – and that was where Leeds lost out.
shot was ruled out. Then there were the bookings: Paul Bayern sat hard on Bremner, the same
Reaney for fouling the robust Sepp tactics Leeds had tried to adopt to
(5) Last, but by no means least, as Weiss; Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck stifle Beckenbauer.
they say, take a bow Dettmar Cramer. for hacking down Jordan; and Norman
He looks more like you’d imagine a Hunter on Kapellman. Schwarzenbeck
Gnome of Zurich than a world-class also had some luck – apart from the
soccer manager, but if any one man
won the game for Bayern, it was The disgusting scenes in the crowd,
this 50-year-old academic.
take it from me, were horrific
On past standards, of course, the
match was diabolical – no comparison fact that he won the ball in the air only Kaiser Franz was the man of the
with the Reims-Real Madrid clash which once. In the 58th minute he brought match – showing us once again, if
got the competition off the ground in down Jordan for the umpteenth time we ever doubted it, that he is not just
the old Parc des Princes 19 years ago. and as Kitabdjian ran over to the trouble an attacking player, but a man who
But it will be remembered for two spot he reached his hand into his back knows how to defend and organise
things, it will even earn a place in pocket for the yellow card. Realising his co-defenders to perfection.
soccer’s folklore. suddenly that “Katsche” was the culprit,
and the card would have to be red, he And it was Beckenbauer who saved
First, for the behaviour – or lack of it contented himself with a ticking-off. Bayern in the dying moments of the first
– of the Leeds “fans” and secondly for half with a beautifully-timed tackle on
the much-underplayed demonstration Left-back Frank Gray was lucky to Clarke when Lorimer seemed to have
of sheer character from the West escape a late booking for a wild kick played him clear for a run-in on goal.
Germans.

To lose Bjorn Andersson after four
minutes, the man set to mark Bremner.
To lose Hoeness after 40, a key man
in any counter-attack situation, was
nothing short of catastrophic.

Yet the cool rapport Cramer has
built up in a mere four months since
he replaced Udo Lattek, made itself
felt on the pitch immediately.

Jupp Kapellmann was brilliantly
tireless in his defensive work. And he
still had the pace in the 82nd minute to
make Gerd Muller’s goal. Muller himself
showed us a new facet of his ability with

EUROPEAN CUP 51

1975 Bayern Munich

Paris folly

The violence at the 1975 European Cup final saw Leeds United banned from
Europe for four years, although this was later reduced to two years on appeal.
Ken Goldman reports from the Leeds crowd at the Parc des Princes Stadium

Trouble…riot police As one who was present at and reached lunatic proportions after broke and these were hurled, sometimes
attempt to contain the Leeds-Bayern match, Bayern broke away to score their first with parts of their moorings, together
survived the bottle and other goal moments later. From the merely with bottles at anyone over the other
Leeds supporters missile throwing, lived and docile apple cores and pieces of fruit side of the fence and deep moat. Indeed
returned in one piece, I feel I can tell which had been hurled at the tracksuited how it was possible for a couple of men
the tale. If you saw it on television in guards who stood facing the Leeds fans actually to get onto the pitch at all in
inglorious colour with upturned sound right from their entry into the stadium, view of these formidable barriers I do
let me tell you that it is impossible to a steady progress was made to larger or not know, but once having achieved
imagine the horror unless one is more dangerous missiles being launched their objective they were summarily
used to crowd violence. at these men and foolish cameramen dealt with by the police who threw
who approached the barriers and tried them back over the same fences
The Leeds “fanimals” (truly a cross to take pictures in the same way as onto not very friendly concrete.
between fan and animal) went berserk they would of animals in a zoo.
from the moment referee Michel Of course, this crass crowd behaviour
Kitabdjian, wrongly in my opinion, Thus incensed lunatic fringes jumped was unpardonable even though the
disallowed Peter Lorimer’s “goal” up and down on the seats until they Leeds followers considered their team

52 EUROPEAN CUP

had had the worst of the refereeing be apportioned and some form of Leeds unfortunately persisted in a Debris…seats were
decisions. Indeed having witnessed the insurance bond could be taken out sterile approach which saw the ball ripped and thrown
scenes at Rotterdam last year when to pay for damage that occurs if this knocked up to Joe Jordan in the air who onto the pitch
Tottenham supporters were involved idea does not eradicate it. To continue was invariably in turn knocked up in the
and knowing what the Manchester to punish clubs for the crimes of others, air by Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck. When
United “fanimals” did in Belgium (not many of whom only pay for the affray is this wasn’t happening the centre-back
forgetting Rangers’ crowd in Barcelona), really exacting revenge on the innocent, was winning 50 per cent of the balls
it is becoming a shameful matter to even though the Leeds players did not anyway so why Leeds did not change
admit one is an English football fan help their cause by saluting the rioting their tactics is hard to understand. It was
abroad, these days. fans after the game. indeed sad to see the skills of Eddie
Gray and Duncan McKenzie on the
This is particularly unfair on the Returning to the match itself, as one subs’ bench when the match began.
unbiased fan and on the vast majority who had an unusual position in relation
of Leeds supporters who behaved to Peter Lorrimer’s shot, I feel I can add Finally I can’t conclude without paying
impeccably on this recent trip even my two pennyworth. I was seated almost tribute to Gerd Muller, who worked hard
to the extent of putting themselves exactly behind Sepp Maier when the ball throughout and took his goal in his own
in physical danger trying to stop their travelled to Lorimer and I am positive inimitable manner, and my man of the
ruthless compatriots from wrecking and that from that moment onwards Maier
fighting. One man on the plane back concentrated wholly on Lorimer, his It is becoming
was so incensed that he stated that foot and the ball and was distracted shameful to
he was ashamed to go back to Leeds by nothing and no one. His arms flailed admit one is an
since the people there would associate upwards as the ball struck the back of English football
all those who took the trip with the the net with rocket force and he could fan abroad
trouble that went on in Paris, whether hardly have seen that, let alone anything
they were innocent or not. else. Maier incidentally, whom one has
always considered suspect, played an
The time has surely come when outstanding game and one save from
only members of supporters clubs Billy Bremner when he was right
and season-ticket holders should be through really proved to be
permitted to obtain tickets and travel a matchwinner in the end.
abroad. In that way responsibility could

match Franz Beckenbauer, who was the 1975
master tactician and is one of the finest European Cup Winners
passers of a ball it has ever been my
privilege to see. BAYERN MUNICH

Apart from the horrors of the
crowd behaviour I have described,
I am left with the lasting memory of
Beckenbauer chipping a ball 40 yards
into a spot which he knew a team-mate
was racing for and making it land at
that player’s feet at just the right time.
If we could produce some of that
in Britain we would soon have the
crowds flocking back – and perhaps
excluding the rowdies and rioters.

EUROPEAN CUP 53

1976 Bayern Munich Rocheteau with kid gloves when he
did appear and anyway, if he’d gone
Bayern’s class is on immediately after Bayern’s goal
that might have been criticised
telling factor as a panic measure.

Keir Radnedge reports on the 1976 European Cup Also, of course, forward Christian
final between reigning champions Bayern Munich Sarramagna, the man who originally
and French outfit Saint-Etienne at Hampden Park stepped in for Rocheteau, had an
outstanding first half and Patrick
Runners-up… If ever the value of sheer class was year’s final was Klaus Wunder. Another Revelli’s dominance of Horsmann
Saint-Etienne perfectly demonstrated, we saw it costly signing, he came from MSV should have presented Maier with
as Bayern Munich’s 7∞/∏ men held expected to solve Bayern’s left-wing many more problems.
at bay the honest endeavours of problem. But he couldn’t adapt. At
Saint-Etienne in the first half at Glasgow’s Duisburg he had been the star. At Saint-Etienne’s first-half approach
Hampden Park. That’s the enigma of Bayern he was expected to take a was certainly more effective than
Bayern. And it’s led to so many people subsidiary role and the adjustment was that of Leeds last year. For one
writing them off time and again. beyond him. Little over a year after thing Leeds played without an
signing, he moved on to Hannover. orthodox winger until too late. So
In Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller they were constrained to pump high
and Sepp Maier they have players So Bayern seem doomed – unable balls down the middle for Joe Jordan.
in a class of their own. Yet alongside to strengthen the team unless one of This tactic the French never used.
these are boys such as Udo Horsmann, their own youngsters turns up trumps. They preferred to stretch Bayern
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Bernd In the meantime the sheer class of sideways with the angled swinging
Durnberger whom you might worry Beckenbauer & Co will be put under centres of Sarramagna and, to vary
sometimes about playing in the reserves. more and more pressure to cover that, were far more skilful and thus
more and more holes. more adept in creating danger, with
Add to this the fact that for most of some neat interpassing deep into
the first half Uli Hoeness was anonymous Even though Saint-Etienne hit the Bayern territory.
and you have my basis for talking about bar twice in the first half they never
the 7∞/∏ men. gave me any undue sense of alarm In short, the French played as well
for Bayern’s title. After all, good sound as they could. It was just that all in all,
It would be facile to say Dettmar team though they are, they had only this wasn’t good enough. In fact, you
Cramer ought to demand some big- one man capable of living in the same could say they were lucky still to be
money reinforcements. Bayern are sphere as Beckenbauer and Muller...and on terms at half-time. That so typical
Beckenbauer, Muller and Maier. They half-fit Dominique Rocheteau was only right-wing break and “goal” of Muller’s
are the personalities, and it’s proved well pushed on in the last eight minutes. in the opening minutes was wrongly
nigh impossible for outsiders to settle in. disallowed, I thought. Just like so
Robert Herbin was asked about many goal-poachers – and his placid
Jupp Kapellmann cost a lot of money that afterwards. Could he have put reaction showed how he’s learned
from Cologne in 1973, yet he only Rocheteau on sooner? to accept this – his very strength,
signalled his “arrival” in Munich with his acceleration, had deceived the
his fine performance against Leeds Certainly the boy they’re guardedly linesman into thinking he was past
United in Paris last year. And very calling the “French Cruyff” gave Bayern
soon he could be away to France. some anxious moments. But, as Herbin
hinted gently, Bayern didn’t exactly treat
Another man who did well in last

54 EUROPEAN CUP

Osvaldo Piazza before Durnberger team’s half-fit captain and midfield what consolation can they have?
played his pass. general. Larque hit some superb balls Well, first, they did superbly to get
in the first half which lost nothing in
That, to my mind was Durnberger’s comparison with Beckenbauer. In this far and once there, with so much
best pass of the night. He’s been at the second half Roth wiped him out. support in the 54,000 crowd, played as
Bayern a long time, mainly on the well as they could. Argentine Piazza was
fringes of the first team, and has lately And the irony of his goal won’t be outstanding in defence and attack, and
proved a useful attacking full-back. But lost on the French. One of their great Gerard Janvion did a good job early on
in midfield, though he can chase and strengths is in the taking of free-kicks on Hoeness.
harry, when it comes to going forward around the penalty box. Yet they fell
and being creative he’s lost. to one of the oldest dodges of all...the It was a shame though that they
ball rolled square by Beckenbauer for couldn’t make better use of Pierre
And that’s another thing about Roth to wallop it in. Repellini, the other full-back, who
Bayern...every top team you can think of played on the right despite wearing
has had a midfield player of outstanding In that second half, as the French No.3. Repellini, sadly for Saint-Etienne,
ability, talent and class (that word again). discipline began to slip, so Bayern is left-footed and Bayern soon realised it.
Bayern have no-one in that category. demonstrated their disguised
So they have had to “make do” with dominance and Hoeness threatened Dominique Bathenay worked tirelessly
Beckenbauer coming forward and to tear Saint-Etienne apart, as he and cleverly, coming through more than
Muller dropping back. But they do did Atletico Madrid in the 1974 replay. usual, while Jacques Santini held the
have two superb lieutenants in defensive midfield role. But once skipper
Kapellmann and Franz Roth. Hoeness has had a traumatic past 12 Larque was extinguished, Bathenay lacked
months because of injury and nearly the touch-off passes of which to take
Roth hit the winner against Rangers didn’t make the final. He’s lost some advantage. With Herve Revelli yet another
in the Cup Winners’ Cup final of 1967; weight since Paris though and looked prisoner for Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck,
he scored the first against Leeds last sharper than he was 18 months ago. it was all left to the wingers.
year, and he smashed in the short But I wonder if he will ever truly fulfil
Beckenbauer free-kick to win this one. the promise he showed back in 1972? Later, Saint-Etienne had other
things to think about and Beckenbauer
Over and above all that he ran like The truth is that Bayern have failed moved free as Bayern maintained their
a man rejuvenated. For the past few to replace Paul Breitner and some of remarkable record of being unbeaten
seasons Roth has seemed constantly their younger hopes, for one reason or in European Cup finals.
on the verge of leaving Bayern. On
the field at times he’s looked slow Bayern are Beckenbauer, Muller
and cumbersome. Yet at Hampden
he caught a second wind. His chasing and Maier. They are the personalities
back and tackling was exemplary, his
late sprints forward were astonishing another, have failed to come through. They’ve caught up with Ajax in winning Hat-trick…Bayern’s
and he was generally the first man Sepp Weiss, was superb in outplaying the trophy three years in succession, but players stand facing
around when there was any trouble, Billy Bremner in Paris. But though he I can’t say they are the equals of Ajax their third successive
or whenever Bayern needed to started in Bayern’s first team this in any other way. The Amsterdammers European Cup trophy
form a defensive wall. season he soon disappeared. always seemed to be 110 per cent pure
class and, as I said at the start, Bayern
More, it was Roth who came to grips As for Saint-Etienne, first French still have plenty of gaps...
with Jean-Michel Larque, the French team in the final since Reims in 1959,

1976

European Cup Winners

BAYERN MUNICH

EUROPEAN CUP 55

1977 Liverpool

Liverpool, Liverpool played as well as they
could: they were determined, keen
champions of Europe and methodical. But it must be said
again that Borussia were well below
Keir Radnedge reports on the 1977 European Cup final par, went into the game with Jupp
between Liverpool and Borussia Monchengladbach, Heynckes (knee) and Simonsen
where the Reds put England’s name back on the trophy (back) not fully fit and then lost the
perceptive Herbert Wimmer with
Ican’t remember seeing a instead within minutes it was Liverpool a thigh strain after 25 minutes.
team enjoy winning as much as who were back in command.
Liverpool’s heroes as they galloped They must have felt that everything
a double lap of honour round And all that thanks to one save from a was conspiring against them. Even the
Rome’s Stadio Olympico. It said so man whose alertness made one wonder stadium stewards were wearing red
much about defeats in the past as how he could have left that near-post jackets and the Liverpool supporters,
well as about the grand triumph on gap for Stuart Pearson to shoot through a brash sea of red round one end of
the night. And were the celebrations the previous Saturday and help deny the stadium, made all the noise. Of
so marked because they had nearly Liverpool what would have been the German fans, little in evidence
repeated the sins of the previous a wonderful treble of league, during the day in Rome itself, there
Saturday and thrown it all away? FA Cup and Champions Cup. was barely a murmur. With the stadium
at least 20,000 short of capacity it
So, 12 years after Liverpool’s first But Liverpool were a different seems the Italians stayed away.
venture into Europe ended bitterly in side in Rome to the team beaten
defeat at the San Siro, they returned by Manchester United at Wembley. Both teams went into the game with
to Italy to claim a crown which proved their participation in the competition
their reward for persistence. It was a They went into the game against next year assured, but with problems
victory too which came just ten years Borussia keyed up to make amends nevertheless. Liverpool had to pick
after Celtic made the first British for the cup final and were fortunate in themselves up from the Wembley
breakthrough in the most prestigious finding a Borussia who for 80 of the upset and Borussia had their injuries.
club tournament in Europe. 90 minutes showed none of the form
which had taken them into their first Still, virtually everyone must have
Thus it was appropriate that it should Champions Cup final. been in agreement with Keegan
be back in Italy that Liverpool finally and Hughes afterwards when
made it – and a doubly significant Borussia coach Udo Lattek openly they admitted that “we never
venue too for skipper Emlyn Hughes admitted afterwards that Liverpool fully expected it would be so easy.”
and Kevin Keegan, who were in the deserved to win and also that much
England team beaten in the same of the damage accrued from the way I had expected Liverpool to make
stadium last autumn when English in which back-to-form Kevin Keegan most of the running and there were
football seemed on its knees. made it a miserable night for new West
Germany national captain, Berti Vogts.
Most unlike a British
team, Liverpool actually Keegan too seemed to have been
playing his last competitive game for
slowed the tempo Liverpool, since he repeated after the
game that he was still determined to
What a night too for veteran Tommy move abroad - perhaps to Cup Winners’
Smith, marking his 600th and last Cup holders Hamburg, which would
competitive match for Liverpool with mean one of the first tasks he might
the second goal, a goal which Reds have would be to face Liverpool in
manager Bob Paisley described the European Super Cup.
later as the turning point.
Keegan said afterwards that he and
In one sense it was the vital act Vogts had met four times: the score
which put Liverpool back on top. was now 2-2. Lattek, from Borussia’s
But more important for me was the side, defended the choice of Vogts for
save a few minutes before which Ray the Keegan job on the grounds that
Clemence made at the feet of Uli “Berti was the only man I had who
Stielike, after Allan Simonsen whipped could play against him.”
a beautiful long pass round behind the
Liverpool defence. It could have been He might have wondered afterwards
2-1 to the West German champions, whether Rainer Bonhof would have been
better used; certainly Bonhof flickered
unsteadily early in the game, and though
he came nearest to the first goal with a
25-yarder which struck Clemence’s right-
hand post, he disappeared from the
game after Liverpool went 2-1 up.

56 EUROPEAN CUP

early signs of how exciting the Vogts- 30-yard drive from Smith who only owed the Borussia penalty box and was felled Star…Kevin Keegan
Keegan tussle would prove. The Germans his place to the knee injury which had by Vogts. Penalty expert Phil Neal did
sprung other surprises in their defence claimed England man Phil Thompson. the rest. BELOW: Glorious…
by using the raw Hans Klinkhammer on Jimmy Case and
Steve Heighway, and that was another Liverpool had dominated the first half, Liverpool had reached the end of their Terry McDermott
decision which ultimately proved but at the start of the second Borussia European rainbow. And there was an odd hold the trophy
disastrous. at last started to show how they could feeling of finality about it all – as if it
play. Throwing Stielike and Wimmer’s didn’t matter when or how next season
The first threat came from a long- substitute, Christian Kulik, further would pan out, victory now was enough.
range shot after 12 minutes from Ray forward, they tore at Liverpool.
Kennedy which Wolfgang Kneib turned
over and, as Borussia went on wasting Yet it needed a defensive blunder
even the possession they obtained, of the most inopportune kind by Jimmy
the game took its first turns away Case – Liverpool’s Wembley goalscorer
from them in a six-minute spell. – to let Simonsen rip past Phil Neal and
Smith and hit a fine left-foot shot past
In the 22nd minute a Stielike- Clemence. That was in the 51st minute;
Heynckes break ended with Bonhof’s a minute later Simonsen was narrowly
shot coming back off the post, then wide with a header from Kulik’s cross.
Wimmer went off, then Bonhof carelessly
gave the ball away in midfield and Suddenly Liverpool looked tired.
Heighway gave Terry McDermott the Borussia seemed to have learned their
chance to lose Horst Wohlers and lesson. Simonsen hit that great ball in
make it 1-0. behind the defence and Clemence
went down at Stielike’s feet, and
As nerves gripped the Germans, so Borussia, though they didn’t know
they tried to speed the game up, and it, had missed their last chance.
found Liverpool – most unlike a British
team – actually slowing the tempo. Two minutes later, in the 65th, Smith
headed in Heighway’s corner and as
Borussia let them, too. There was Liverpool picked up the thread of their
none of the harassing of Smith and game again, so Heighway tormented
Hughes which Manchester United had Klinkhammer, and Kneib was fortunate
shown could so rattle the Anfield to be able to push an acute-angled
defence. shot away for a corner.

Indeed, just before half-time Kneib With eight minutes left it was all over.
had to dive low to his right to hold a Keegan made a determined dash into

1977

European Cup Winners

LIVERPOOL

1977 Liverpool

Kop rule in Rome

A month after Liverpool’s European Cup victory, Keir Radnedge
recalls the Liverpool supporters’ impact on the club’s success story

L iverpool may have narrowly humanity there is nothing to touch the competition, couldn’t resist the Kop
missed out on the treble, losing mighty band of fans in the Kop End at when Saint-Etienne went to Liverpool
the FA Cup final, but that didn’t Liverpool. And it’s not only the home in the second leg of the Champions
stop their jubilant supporters players who say so. Cup quarter-finals.
almost literally painting the town red
when the Anfield army battered down One of Gordon Banks’ first league And it wasn’t as if the electric
the defences of Germans Borussia games in the season which followed atmosphere should have surprised
Monchengladbach to commandeer England’s 1966 World Cup win was him. Saint-Etienne’s general manager,
the cherished Champions Cup. at Liverpool. As he ran to his goal at Pierre Garonnaire, had spied out Anfield
the start, so the Koppites gave him a several times and though he told his
You would hardly have known any storming ovation. “I’ll never forget that players they had nothing to fear from
German supporters turned up, so did as long as I live,” said the greatest of Liverpool’s team, he emphasised: “The
the red scarves, hats, banners and England’s latter-day goalkeepers only thing I fear for you is the Kop.”
flags dominate the eternal city. afterwards.
Garonnaire, the man who discovered
It all went to prove one thing that Another keeper who won’t forget many of Saint-Etienne’s stars in junior
though the Beatles and their imitators the Kop, but for a different reason, is soccer, explained: “The passion and the
may be a far-off part of pop music Ivan Curkovic, the 33-year-old Yugoslav volume of sound can freeze a player’s
history, the Liverpool sound survives with Saint-Etienne. Curkovic is a vastly mind. We are experienced in Europe,
...in the Kop End at Anfield, the experienced international. He was playing but that could happen even to us.
most fanatical collection of all. for his country ten years ago and was The Kop is so impressive.”
called on a couple of seasons back to
You might hear more gentlemanly, help coach France’s own up-and- Thus warned and forearmed
fair-minded applause at a number of coming goalkeepers. Saint-Etienne took a mere one-goal
other British grounds. But for fervour, lead with them, determined to hold on.
wit and (generally) good behaviour Yet even Curkovic, his nerves But the road to hell is paved with such
all rolled into one seething mass of tempered in the cauldrons of European good intentions, and this was to prove

58 EUROPEAN CUP

the more skilful, but...the Kop had Jones. As it was raised at the end of the
brought Liverpool a goal and, given European final everyone could read the
a goal start by their fans, the Reds words: “First he ate the frogs’ legs, then
just can’t be denied. he made the Swiss role, now he’s
munching Gladbachs”.
It’s a built-in advantage which
has lifted them to a record ten league Liverpool’s fans aren’t just from
championships, and with the the recent the north-west. Saving and spending
0-0 draw with West Ham United in to follow them to Rome were young
front of a capacity crowd, they had people from the south coast resorts,
completed the first leg of the treble. from London, from the West Country.
Liverpool were the lure for all of them.
Behind all that, like background Partly it was because they enjoyed
music, was the sound of the Kop. It may the vicarious link with success,
have a withering effect on opponents, consistent success.
but on Liverpool’s own players it provides
a tonic, lifting them on wings of sound But one 19-year-old told me: “I went
to one triumph after another. to Liverpool once and stood on the Kop.
And, after that, you’re never the same
And the Kop can travel too. again. It just gets under your skin, it’s
Within a day or two of the semi- like a drug. It becomes part of you.
final victory over Zurich, travel agents You just go on following the team
reported that fans had already spent from there. Standing on the Kop
£1 million in booking trains to Rome for is like no experience on Earth.”
the final. Some package holidays had
been booked out months in advance A little young, perhaps, to be so
that’s how much faith the fans have definitive about life, but the estimate is
in their team. that 25,000 of Liverpool’s hordes spent
It’s a faith which extends to worship. £2.5 million going to Rome and, on top
In the mid-60s, when Ian St John of that, another £500,000 going to
was centre-forward, a religious poster
a hellish night for Curkovic. appeared in Anfield Road, demanding:
After only two minutes Kevin Keegan “What will be your answer when the
Lord comes?”
swung in a cross from out near the corner Someone had scrawled underneath:
flag. The noise, the atmosphere, the fury “Move St John to inside-left.”
of the sound over and roundabout him English humour, perhaps, typical
put Curkovic in a panic. Wildly he Liverpool humour too. Why the Kop
jumped and flapped at the ball... has become so renowned is not just
and it curled into the net. because of shattering sound and the
semi-religious fervour they can put into
Curkovic was destroyed. For the rest a pop hymn such as “You’ll Never Walk
of the match he was a bundle of nerves. Alone,” but the spontaneous wit which
burgeons match after match.
Perhaps it wasn’t so sharp early
in the defeat of Zurich, when the fans
could merely chant: “Everton, Everton
you are next,” in anticipation of the FA

The Kop End at Anfield, the most

fanatical collection of all

And it didn’t help that every time the Cup semi-final against their neighbours London four days before to watch the Rome…Liverpool
ball came remotely near his penalty area and deadly rivals. But later in that Zurich undeserved 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by fans take over the
the crowd bayed even more ominously game, as the certain victory – Liverpool Manchester United, which ruined the Italian capital
in eager anticipation of more mistakes. had, after all, had won 3-1 in Switzerland treble chance.
Under all that pressure Curkovic fidgeted already – induced boredom, the fans 1977
unhappily. He ran out when he should started setting their own words to Liverpool secretary Peter Robinson
have stayed on his line, he waited for Italian tunes. said: “I don’t think the fans of any other European Cup Winners
Liverpool’s forwards to engulf him when English club would have paid so much
he should have been out to the crosses. For those with long memories it in such a short time. It’s phenomenal.” LIVERPOOL
evoked memories of the stirring night
The effect on the rest of the 12 years ago when Liverpool beat One fan told me in Rome: “We’ve
French defence, already shellshocked European champions Internazionale of been on strike where I work, for several
themselves, can be easily imagined. Milan 3-1 at Anfield in the semi-finals weeks. I’ve got hardly any money, but I’d
They had to spend more time than with the fans adding the words “Go back already booked to come and see the
they wished shoring up their defence to Italy” to the tune of Santa Lucia. lads in the final. As long as I’ve got
when they needed to go for goals.
The humour was repeated in Rome,
There is no other conclusion at the most strikingly in the large red banner
end of Saint-Etienne’s 3-1 defeat. Even adorned with praise for the latest of
Liverpool fans admitted the French were the Kop’s heroes, Wales left-back Joey

EUROPEAN CUP 59

1977 Liverpool

enough to get home from the airport As the players admitted: “The coaches the seasons original heroes of the
I couldn’t care less.” or the managers or the press can criticise Beatles era, such as centre-half and
whenever they like...but when the Kop skipper Ron Yeats, winger Peter
The Kop is remarkable, too, in that goes quiet we know we’ve got to do Thompson and striker Roger
where so many English crowds have something about it.” Hunt have been superceded.
earned a reputation of infamy through
hooliganism, its members are generally There haven’t been any such problems They were the stars in 1964 when
well-behaved, if boisterous. Still, that this past season. Liverpool went from Liverpool, only recently returned to the
isn’t stopping the club putting steel strength to strength and the shock 5-1 First Division, won the championship for
fencing around the pitch next season. defeat away to Aston Villa early on – the first time since 1947. English football
their heaviest for ten years is just a didn’t know what had hit it. The name
Chairman John Smith said: “It will fading memory now. of Liverpool represented more than a
soon be obligatory for all clubs to put team, it stood for a teenage revolution,
fencing up if they want to enter European They are European champions, English the envy of every other club in the
competitions. We want to be part of champions and FA Cup runners-up. You land and not a few beyond.
Europe, so we’re just anticipating events.” couldn’t ask for much more.
“When the Kop goes
Railings, however, won’t quell the Yet even familiarity with success quiet we’ve got to do
excitement when Liverpool are at breeds a little contempt. After making something about it”
home and going for goals. sure of the championship against West
Ham, Liverpool’s players ran to the Kop I remember driving towards Brussels Title…Liverpool also
Phil Boersma, whose first trips to with the league trophy, pursued by late one night from France, en route from clinched the league
Anfield were as a kid to stand on the manager Bob Paisley — still in his grey one European tie to another. On a little championship
Kop, then later to play in front of it suit, grey tie and flecked white shirt back road in a forest I came to a clearing
before going to Middlesbrough for as if he’d just come from a wedding. and a customs post. The duty officer
£72,000, said: “Unless you’re going But there was, said Kevin Keegan, stepped out, took one look at the
forward, the Kop aren’t happy.” a feeling of anti-climax. international registration plate on
the car, and beamed: “Ah...GB...
So, though the fans give so much But Keegan, after all, faced the English...Liverpool...Beatles!”
to Liverpool’s players, it’s a two-way imminent prospect of a transfer to
relationship. In return the players are Spain or West Germany – a move he Just as the Liverpool sound made
expected to keep pressing, keep had determined on a year ago to make a killing in the pop world, the football
attacking and maintain the non-stop the most (cash) from his talents. Perhaps team followed in its wake into Europe
pressure throughout a full 90 minutes his thoughts were elsewhere. – but without ever reaching No1. until
which has brought so many important 1973, when they won the UEFA Cup,
goals in the late stages of a game The Kop won’t miss him for long. that competition manager Bill Shankly
when the opposition have been For some time past they ceased claimed never to have heard of...“after
worn into submission. chanting his name. They’ve seen all, we’ll never be playing for it.”
heroes come and go over the years
In late 1975 the team faltered since Liverpool became famous Shankly has been one of the great
for a while on their way to the league with the Beatles and the footballers.
title. The tempo slowed and the Kop
too quietened. The fans even grew a The Beatles made the bigger splash
little sulky; there were the occasional at the time, but it’s the football team
jeers. That made everyone sit up whose persistence has brought a longer
and take notice! continuity of success as gradually over

60 EUROPEAN CUP

characters of post-war British soccer. Instead the two paraded the cup in these conditions, was the much- Manager of the
He had won five Scotland caps as a round the pitch before the start to work despised “English game” – a tall man Year…Bob Paisley
wing-half in the 1930s with Preston, the crowd up into a frenzy, and even the up front to aim for with long crosses.
but it’s for his single-minded devotion tough, experienced Italians were shaken 1977
to the Liverpool cause that he’ll be by the roar from the Anfield European So Shankly recalled John Toshack,
remembered. record attendance of 54,082. the big Welshman who feared his days European Cup Winners
at Liverpool were numbered, and the
His immersion in soccer and Liverpool Hunt scored one goal; Ian Callaghan next night the Germans were caught on LIVERPOOL
soccer in particular, which he maintained – who was still there in Rome – got the hop. Liverpool won 3-0, contained
from 1959 until an abrupt retirement another; St. John another. But in Borussia to 0-2 in the second leg,
three years ago, has become legendary. between, a silly defensive muddle and, at last, had their hands on a
allowed Sandro Mazzola to snatch European trophy.
Someone once told him: “Soccer is one back and amid a storm over
like a life-and-death issue to you, isn’t controversial refereeing, Liverpool were Now there was no stopping them.
it?” His reply: “No...it’s much more beaten 3-0 in the return tie and went Liverpool went on, with the addition of
serious than that.” out. Their first Champions Cup bid had £30,000 bargain buy Keegan, to win
ended in bitterness in Milan’s San Siro; the UEFA Cup again in 1976, beating
Shankly would never accept there was how appropriate that it should be back Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate in the
a better team anywhere than Liverpool. in Italy that Liverpool should triumph, final, and to come within an ace of the
In Amsterdam in 1966 Liverpool crashed a long 12 years later. treble this year.
5-1 away to Ajax in the fog. The match
should never have been played, they But Rome was far from being There are more new players, such as
claimed, though the murky evening air Liverpool’s first European final, of course. Jimmy Case – who scored a brilliant goal
didn’t worry Johan Cruyff, Henk Groot or In 1966 at Hampden Park, having beaten against Manchester United at Wembley,
Bennie Muller. Yet that didn’t prevent rivals of the calibre of Juventus, Standard David Fairclough, the flame-haired
Shankly forecasting vengeance in the Liege, Honved and Celtic, they went 20-year-old nicknamed “Super-sub”,
return. down surprisingly in inevitable extra Terry McDermott, a big-money buy
time to the Germans of Borussia from Newcastle United who scored
It wasn’t forthcoming. Liverpool were Dortmund in the Cup Winners’ Cup. the first goal in Rome, and full-back
held 2-2 at Anfield - but that supreme Phil Neal, who scored the killing third
confidence in the ability of his team In the Fairs Cup, Ferencvaros, of with one of his penalty specials.
to achieve anything, even miracles, Hungary, would puncture Liverpool’s
portrayed the spirit of the man and the unbeaten Anfield record, another year, Already Liverpool are rebuilding. They
sides he had built, even though that the toss of a coin favoured Athletic Bilbao, have to. Tommy Smith, the 34-year-old
second tilt at the Champions Cup and later still, the new away goals rule who marked his 600th Liverpool game
had ended in the second round. suited Portugal’s Vitoria Setubal. by scoring the second goal in Rome,
was threatening retirement last season
In Rome, at the press conference By now this was a different Liverpool. and clearly can’t go on much longer if
after the game, I saw Shankly tucked in Ray Clemence was now in goal, on his he does relent. Callaghan, another
alongside some of the English journalists way to establishing himself as England’s survivor of Liverpool’s first Champions
listening intently to the questions and No.1; £60,000 Emlyn Hughes, son of a Cup run, cannot keep running forever
answers...answers from Bob Paisley, the Welsh rugby league player, but himself either. He’s now 35.
57-year-old sitting up in the glare of later to be England soccer captain, had
the television lights where Shankly arrived in midfield; Steve Heighway, a But, as Paisley said, when asked in
could so easily have been himself. university graduate, emphasised the way Rome whether Keegan would be hard
the abolition of the old maximum wage to replace: “Life will go on”.
Shankly had pushed Liverpool on limit had raised horizons all round; and
towards the present pinnacle despite a £100,000 purchase, Cardiff City’s And then he went off to join the
the inevitable defeats which lay John Toshack, had taken over the celebrations which continued in the
along his own European path. goalscoring mantle from Hunt. city of Liverpool the next day as half a
million turned out to line the streets and
There were nail-biting victories, too, of Leeds, then Bayern Munich, ended welcome their heroes home with the
course – such as that night in Rotterdam more European dreams, but finally the latest chant: “Liverpool are magic”.
when Liverpool met Cologne in the dam burst. Eintracht Frankfurt, AEK
Champions Cup quarter-finals play-off Athens, Dynamo East Berlin, Dynamo
after the two legs had finished goalless. Dresden and Tottenham Hotspur all
fell aside as Liverpool marched into
Those were the days before penalty the 1973 UEFA Cup final to face...
deciders, away goals and substitutes. Borussia Monchengladbach.
So, amid fixture chaos, the tears battled
through 120 minutes with Cologne No one had breached Liverpool’s
fighting level with ten men after going defence at Anfield that season and
2-0 down early on. The toss of a coin the weather hardly promised to help
sent Liverpool through into the tie the West Germans. It poured with rain
everyone remembers. most of the day and after a quarter of
an hour, the first leg of the final was
The opposition was provided by abandoned. For the Germans, it proved
Internazionale, and the first leg of the a costly dummy run. Shankly realised
1965 semi-final took place just a couple from those opening 15 minutes that
of days after Liverpool had slogged their Borussia, with midfield star Gunter
way through extra time again to overcome Netzer a surprise and mistaken choice
Leeds United in the FA Cup final. as sweeper, would be the masters
if the ball stayed on the ground.
Liverpool paid dearly for that. Besides
the ravages of fatigue, a broken collar- What was needed, especially
bone ruled out left-back Gerry Byrne;
Gordon Milne, a key figure in midfield
wasn’t fit either.

EUROPEAN CUP 61

1978 Liverpool

Liverpool do not

compare with Real

Thanks to Kenny Dalglish’s winner against Club Brugge, Liverpool become only the
sixth side to win back-to-back European Cups, but Eric Batty still had his doubts

Repeat…Liverpool W ith Liverpool taking the he was almost a one man team. performance by Di Stefano I would have
beat1977 runners-up European Cup two years This was never underlined more no hesitation in saying they deserved to
in a row, Liverpool fans, win. Certainly, the 1958 Milan team was
Monchengladbach and perhaps a majority of noticeably than in the 1958 final against the best ever to lose a European Cup final.
in the semi-final Englishmen, now regard the Anfield side Milan when the Italians had two great
as the equals of other teams that have players in Nils Liedholm and Juan Only in 1959-60 when Ferenc Puskas
achieved this distinction. Schiaffino, and taking the lead twice joined Di Stefano did Real become truly
with goals from Schiaffino and the great, and their 7-3 final victory over
I will not argue that Liverpool are not Argentinian Ernesto Grillo, they Eintracht Frankfurt stands out in the
probably the strongest team in Europe, were only beaten by Di Stefano. memory as the best performance
but this is an indictment of the European I ever saw from the Meringues.
game in general, and I only fall foul of That day at the Heysel Stadium in
those Liverpool supporters who now Brussels, Di Stefano was at once the Until Jose Santamaria came from
regard their team as great. As regular best Madrid defender, the best midfield Uruguay to re-inforce their defence, Real
readers of World Soccer will know I player and their best forward, scoring Madrid always had some poor players at
insist on keeping a sense of perspective, their equaliser after Schiaffino had the back and the fact is that whenever
using the term “great” only sparingly. deservedly put Milan ahead. they were forced to play without Di
Stefano they looked very ordinary.
To underline this, it may come as a In truth, the Italians took the Madrid
surprise to some that I did not rate Real defence apart with some very fine Never did one man contribute so
Madrid a truly great side between 1956 attacking play, and Raymond Kopa much to one team as Di Stefano did
and 1959 when they won four finals. At (in fact a great player) had one of to Real Madrid, but a truly great side
that time they had only one great player, his off days and contributed very little. has to have three or preferably four great
Alfredo Di Stefano, but he was so good players. Madrid were successful for so
On the overall play Milan were quite long, largely because Di Stefano covered
the better side and but for the heroic so much ground, frequently playing like
two men (equal to two great players)
and never was this more obvious than
in 1958 when, during extra time, Di
Stefano was clearly shattered by his
physical exertions, and at last Kopa
and Paco Gento got into the game.

By the same token, I did not rate
Benfica a great side when they first won
the European Cup in 1961 for Barcelona
were very poor indeed in the final in
spite of their illustrious line up.

Only in 1962, when Germano at the
back, Mario Coluna in midfield and
Eusebio up front were really great and
shattered Real Madrid 5-3 in Amsterdam,
did Benfica rise to greatness. And they
did not stay there long because Germano
soon quit the game with a knee injury.

Although I know I am inviting a bumper
post from people having a go at me, I
resigned myself long ago to the tag that
I am a well known idiot, because I refuse
to applaud the ordinary as great – as I
did with England in the 1966 World Cup.

So for the record, I was bored by the
Liverpool-Club Brugge European Cup
final. Utterly bored.

It would be unfair to lay all the blame
for this at the door of Liverpool, for the
game was destined to be a low scoring,

defensive scrap from the moment that displays in earlier rounds. Once they on a home and away basis. This would The originals…
Raoul Lambert was ruled unfit. reach the final it seems that too many ensure that the home team would play Liverpool emulate
bosses are afraid of defeat and send attacking football, trying to build up a Real Madrid in
Lambert means so much to Brugge, their men out to win and to hell with good lead in the first leg, and trying to winning consecutive
for it was him who spearheaded them the game and entertainment. overcome the deficit in the second leg. European Cups
when they took a 2-0 lead against
Liverpool at Anfield in the final of Amongst the worst examples I say this because looking around 1978
the 1976 UEFA Cup (even though were Ajax in 1971 when they should Europe I cannot see a great side European Cup Winners
they were finally beaten 3-2). have slaughtered a very ordinary anywhere. Borussia Monchengladbach
Panathinaikos. But, as Dutch journalists remain the best “football” team in sight, LIVERPOOL
Having been coach of a senior told me at Wembley, with Feyenoord but they are heavily dependent on key
amateur side that had an exceptionally having already won the European Cup, players. With Jupp Heynckes clearly
good centre-forward, I am very well they dared not lose as they had in 1969 unfit in the 1977 final, and Allan
aware how much one man can mean to when they had all the play in the final Simonsen unable to play against
the morale of a team. No matter what but lost 1-4 to a counter-attacking Milan. Liverpool in the 1978 semi finals,
the score, it was always possible to “lift” they did not show themselves
my team at half-time, even from a 0-5 Again in 1973, Ajax provided a real at their best as I have seen them.
deficit, to come back to 4-5 and hit festival in their home quarter-final against
a post in the last minute. But only Bayern which they won 4-0, but when it It is clear that the Germans, like
when this particular centre-forward was came to the final they took a very early everyone else on the continent, are
playing. With him, the players believed in lead through Johnny Rep, and after that afraid of the strongest English teams,
themselves, but he was irreplacable. Cruyff was content to have one of the fearful of their physical commitment,
quiet games that have punctuated his tough tackling and their superior ability
So it is with all the great teams. career. Had the defensive Juventus in the air.
Without Di Stefano, Real Madrid were equalised it might have brought the
very ordinary. Without Allan Simonsen, final to life, but the Italians were unable Though many continental players have
Borussia Monchengladbach did not to do this and the game simply died. improved their heading ability in recent
believe they could do well enough at years, PSV Eindhoven in particular, many
Anfield. Belief is vital in football and Bayern also provided two flops - in foreign goalkeepers have kittens simply
without Lambert I am sure that the 1975 and 1976. Against Leeds United at the thought of playing against English
Brugge players did not believe they in 1975 Dettmar Cramer was clearly teams that will keep a constant flow of
could win. But Liverpool showed by worried by the power of Leeds in the air crosses coming across the face of their
the number of misplaced passes they and did not play to his own strengths, goal.
made that they still cannot play to thus providing a very dull final.
marked men - and that is the Though I was never convinced
secret of top quality football. Again in 1976, Bayern played so by any of the Ajax goalkeepers, for
cautiously, with Gerd Muller in midfield example, their back players were more
With very rare exceptions, British most of the time, that most people than averagely good in the air and like
clubs do not coach their players in thought their opponents Saint-Etienne all the good sides they could close down
how to play to tightly marked forwards, should have won. Indeed, if the French on players with the ball in wide positions
and thus, though Liverpool tried to play side had had a really good centre- to limit the number of crosses.
their “patient game”, specially designed forward they probably would have won,
for European competition, they failed for they had the chances to do so. Most of the experts whose opinions
to take the Brugge defence apart. I value are of the view that the West
And on the rare occasions that they
did threaten, Danish international By my standards, Liverpool
goalkeeper Birger Jensen intervened.
have not got one great player
The plain fact is that by my standards,
Liverpool have not got one great player, But the fact remains that Bayern Germans provide the best football
though they do have a lot of good ones. played so cautiously that we were in Europe. Certainly their coaching
If Liverpool had a Di Stefano it would denied the festival that I believe is the best, but look at the ease with
have made all the difference, but alas, the European Cup final should be. which Liverpool took Hamburg to the
we in Britain have never been so blessed. cleaners in the European Super Cup.
Although UEFA might not agree
As a game, the 1978 European Cup because they always have one eye on With great players becoming
final was a poor one, but again to place it the gate receipts and their share of the increasingly hard to find I fear the game
in perspective it is not without precedent. take, I believe the time has come when is in for a period of mediocrity and this
Internazionale were twice responsible for the European Cup final should be played will be reflected in the European Cup.
spoiling finals, with the 1965 final, played
on their home ground at San Siro being
the worst. On that occasion they beat
Benfica 1-0 with a goal by the Brazilian
right-winger Jair (a very ordinary player)
that passed between the legs of the
Benfica goalkeeper. Content to win 1-0
and with a cast-iron defence, we were
denied a look at the creative talents of
Luis Suarez, Sandro Mazzola and Mario
Corso because Helenio Hererra was
only interested in the result.

Even the super Ajax and Bayern
Munich were guilty of “spoiling” finals
though both sides put up some fine

EUROPEAN CUP 63

1979 Nottingham Forest

Is the European
Cup finished?

Keir Radnedge questions the future of the Champions Cup on the night
of Nottingham Forest’s famous victory over Swedish outfit Malmo

Trevor Francis…scorer Put aside the glamour of And that must mean only one thing standards in European club football.
of the winning goal the occasion, the glory of – it is time UEFA started to inquire That being the case the club crown
Nottingham Forest’s remarkable seriously into the practicalities of should be settled on a home-and-away
victory, the bravery of a Swedish a European club championship. league basis and we should be spared
team decimated by injury and you are the huge annual anti-climax the
left with one question. A month or two ago in these columns European final has become.
I questioned UEFA’s attitude over the
Is the Champions Cup finished? tournament planned by Real Madrid in In the meantime, having stated the
Writing this as I do, with the clamour memory of their late president, Santiago most immediate and important case of
of the Forest celebrations outside Bernabeu. I suggested that instead of the future of the money-spinning club
on the pitch still audible, it would putting the block on Madrid’s idea of competition, there must still be room
be simple to take the easy way out. a mini-league-of-champions, UEFA in which to praise Forest.
should provide encouragement and
Easy to say that on the night Forest even help in setting up what could Not for their victory over Malmo. I’ve
weren’t at their best because their be a pilot European championship. seen Second Division sides in a lot of
opponents were so poor – certainly countries who could have done that.
by far the worst team ever to walk The dismal Champions Cup final
up on European soccer’s big night. staged in Munich’s Olympiastadion – Rather, simply take a look at Forest’s
West Germany’s first for 20 years meteoric record. Just over two years ago
But I think World Soccer readers – only underlines what I was saying. they were scraping their way out of the
have come to expect more than instant Second Division. A year later they had
hysteria. I’m afraid Forest fans won’t like More than that, I believe the manner become surprise champions of England
my viewpoint, but I am sadly left with the of nervy Forest’s meagre win over a and now they are champions of Europe.
impression that the days of the great team they should have slaughtered, No team, in the 23-year history of
Champions Cup finals are long gone. emphasises an evening down of European club football, has made

64 EUROPEAN CUP

that sort of triumphant progression. weakened by misfortune, the Swedes But that excuse is becoming boring. Walking on water
This was the first time Forest had kept going remarkably. They chased We used it last year when Liverpool beat …Forest manager
and harried hard for the 90 minutes, a Club Brugge setting in defence because Brian Clough
appeared in the European Cup, let alone but that determination was no match they had no Raoul Lambert up front and
in the final. And only Internazionale (apart for Forest’s pace and skill. no Paul Courant at the back to launch 1979
from inaugural winners Real Madrid) him. Both men were, of course, injured.
can claim success at first attempt. As for Forest’s individuals, one man European Cup Winners
of course stole the show, Trevor Francis. Teams with pretensions to the
Forest’s win also provides English Playing without nerves, without tension, grandeur which we used to expect of NOTT’M FOREST
football with a record of which to be as calmly as if he’d been appearing in the Champions Cup winners, should be
proud. For England can now claim three European competition for years, it was able to dictate the course of a game
clubs who have reached the European hard to believe that the ex-Birmingham whatever the nature of the opposition
pinnacle: Manchester United, Liverpool City man was in fact making his debut – good or bad.
and Forest. No other country can touch on this stage.
that. Italy two with Milan and Inter, the That may be an ideal but teams
Netherlands with Ajax and Feyenoord. Clough used Francis as a deep-lying have reached that standard before,
Spain with Real Madrid, Scotland with outside right and though this was clearly why not again? Indeed, why should
Celtic, West Germany with Bayern a successful ploy in the first half, as Forest not progress to that point? After
Munich, Portugal with Benfica. Francis with his speed and ball control all, with Liverpool to chase them in
kept the Malmo back four stretched, the Champions Cup next season, they
Forest’s victory is another feather he faded during the second half. can’t afford to rest on their laurels.
in the already top-heavy cap of Brian
Clough and Peter Taylor. Not only does It was a shame he remained shackled In the short term will come the
the man truly appear to walk on water, to his right-wing outpost. Perhaps if he’d discussion over whether Forest should
as the fans’ banners proclaim, his feet been allowed to wander across the field compete in the World Club Cup, whether
now hardly appear to touch the surface. he might have brought a much-needed they can overcome Milan, Real Madrid,
lightness to Forest’s second-half gloom. Liverpool and the rest next season,
But however we praise Forest’s whether they will indeed strengthen
achievements, Clough’s miracle and the Whether you think a player still their squad with midfielders Asa
extra piece of one-upmanship this has comparatively inexperienced at Hartford of Manchester City or
brought English football, cannot hide international level should be worth Andy King of Everton.
the fact that this was an awful game. £1 million, there is no denying that
I thought last year’s Champions Cup Francis was in a class of his own here. But while those subjects are argued
final the worst. Compared with Munich, out, let’s not lose sight of the further
it now appears quite tolerable. What His goal was taken as cleanly as
went so badly wrong in the great anyone could wish. For once, John
glass cobweb of a stadium? Robertson not only got to the byline but
also produced the ideal cross and there
The timing of the goal was one factor. was Francis, diving in at the far post with
Ideal as it was for Forest to take the lead, keeper Jan Moller helplessly misplaced.
put one hand on the cup, in the seconds
just before half-time, it killed the game In fact the same pair, working in
stone dead. Before that there had always reverse, brought about Forest’s best
been the outside chance that Malmo chance of a second before the second
might somehow have got a goal of their half was a quarter of an hour old.
own to make the game interesting.
Having condemned the final as
But it was clear that once they went an anti-climax, perhaps the biggest
behind they faced intense difficulties. Not let-down will be felt by the Swedes.
only because their attack was virtually Seeing them in Munich it was impossible
non-existent – I hardly realised Tommy to understand how they had beaten
Hansson was on the field until he was Monaco, Dynamo Kyiv, Wisla Krakow
substituted – but because they never and Austria Vienna on their way to
once hinted at having the recuperative the final. Obviously because they had
intelligence to claw a way back. The first their better players fit and in form.
Swedish club ever to reach a European
final did have ready-made excuses. No But they brought nothing to the
club has ever gone into the big night European final. And though Houghton,
so viciously crippled by injuries. in his own way, and his players, in theirs,
had struck a blow for the development
It wasn’t enough for their unfortunate of Swedish football, they clearly had
English manager Bob Houghton that Bo nothing to offer the rest of Europe.
Larsson and Roy Andersson’s experience,
steadying influence and passing accuracy, As for Forest’s individuals, one man
was always going to be missing. He knew
that he would have to gamble on a half- stole the show, Trevor Francis
fit Tore Cervin up front. But he could
never have guessed, even in his wildest As with Forest, the applause must conclusion from Munich: that European
nightmares, that on the evening before be domestic. Both teams have made competition is such big money, such
the final, during light training, skipper remarkable strides. But the sum total big-time, that the clubs have rejected
Staffan Tapper would break a bone in a of the two in opposition was not pretty. by their very performances the notion
toe. Tapper stuck it out for 34 minutes, that a knockout competition is the
but once he had gone Malmo were The argument will be made rather way to earn their living.
left with boys to play against men. forcibly, I’ve no doubt, that Forest were
disappointing and so too the general The Champions Cup certainly isn’t
Out of their depth, savagely standard of play, because of the poor dead, but it’s time for UEFA to look
nature of the opposition. to its successor.

EUROPEAN CUP 65

1980 Nottingham Forest

Can we please

go forward?

Keir Radnedge reports on Nottingham Forest retaining the European
Cup at the Santiago Bernabeu against Kevin Keegan’s Hamburg

ABOVE: Safe hands… Hamburg played the more Perhaps the setting was wrong. I found recalled by the occasion.
Forest’s Peter Shilton entertaining football and Perhaps the game should have been Instead it was the 1964 final, in which
Nottingham Forest played played in a stadium other than the one Madrid had most of the play yet lost
the more effective chess. in which we were bound to see the 3-1 to Internazionale in Vienna.
The outcome was victory for the chess memory replays of Di Stefano,
men. But neutrals in Madrid’s Santiago Puskas, Gento and Co. Now, as then, we had a team
Bernabeu, asked which team they would grabbing an early goal and defending
rather see if they had the chance next They brought inspiration to the with aplomb, application, superb
weekend, all opted for Hamburg. Champions Cup more than 20 years dedication and teamwork – a rare
ago, established its reputation. In fact co-ordination between the different
For though Nottingham Forest they did too good a job. Now the prize units and a blind unity of purpose.
successfully defended their European has become so important that what
crown – defended being the operative matters is the cup itself, no longer One can easily understand the
word – and though the game maintained the means but the end. Forest players’ bitterness at some of
excitement to the very last minute, the criticism which followed. They did
something was missing. Yet it wasn’t one of Madrid’s their job. They won the cup. What
successful European finals which more could anyone ask?

66 EUROPEAN CUP

Inspiration, flair, genius? to move into the £50,000-a-year And if Gary Mills, the 18-year-old new
But there was inspiration here. What bracket, and his club can afford the boy, wasn’t the most notable of Forest’s
other word could you find to describe three new men he clearly needs to workers, then the other Garry Birtles,
the three breathtaking saves of Peter cover for the absconding Stan Bowles responded honestly and tirelessly to
Shilton – from Felix Magath, Jurgen and the possible departure of Trevor Clough’s heavy demands as a lone
Milewski and Peter Nogly? Francis whose contract expires at the front-runner.
Was this really the goalkeeper whose season’s end.
blunder cost Forest the League Cup? England now boast the European
Surely not. For here was the difference For Hamburg, matters are not so rosy. champions for four years in a row.
between the teams. Shilton wouldn’t They have a UEFA Cup place as Forest will go for the hat-trick next
have gone flapping to the ground, in consolation prize. But Keegan is going to season, leaving Hamburg to regret
surprise, as the match-winning shot Southampton; Nogly is off to the NASL; what might have been as they pick up
from John Robertson squeezed in off and Franz Beckenbauer’s arrival later the pieces at the end of the Keegan era.
the post. But Rudi Kargus did, and his this year will pose general manager
lapse of concentration cost Hamburg Gunter Netzer with a lot of interesting All that effort, so many attacks, yet so
the game. little to show for it.
If not the only factor for their defeat,
certainly a major one. Keegan’s farewell showed us
Others? The ankle injury Horst
Hrubesch suffered the previous a man who looked very tired
weekend as Hamburg lost their grip
on the West German championship; complications (will Kaiser Franz play Alfredo Di Stefano, among the crowd,
the way his colleagues apparently sweeper or midfield – and if sweeper, might well have been thinking back to
forgot that he wasn’t there in the first what will happen to Ivan Buljan, the 1964 when he said afterwards: “Just
half as they slung over their centres; bearded Yugoslav with those because you have most of the ball
also, unfortunately, the disappointing telescopic legs?). doesn’t mean you have to win.”
display of Kevin Keegan.
The Hrubesch affair demonstrated Keegan’s big-match farewell showed In 1964 it was Ferenc Puskas who
that Hamburg coach Branko Zebec was us a man who looked very tired. hit the post and saw the ball come out;
not immune to the tactics of fear. this time it was Manfred Kaltz, midway
Two-and-a-half hours before the game “If he plays centre-half as he did through the second-half. Really, Jacques
Zebec called a brief press conference at when I saw Hamburg before, I’ll be George could have presented the cup
which he announced that he would not happy enough,” said Clough before the there and then. Obviously it was not
risk Hrubesch from the start because game. And indeed, as the second-half Hamburg’s night.
of the danger of losing him early on. wore on, so Keegan’s anxiety led him
He would be a substitute instead. into the fatal trap of dropping so far Yet in the wake of this silver jubilee
Zebec had clearly forgotten a back in search of the ball that his final we are left with the contradiction
lesson once painfully taught in similar precious skills were badly missed of Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough
circumstances – ironically by league on the edge of the penalty box. unresolved.
title rivals, Bayern Munich. In 1976,
when they faced Saint-Etienne for the It was churlish and stupid of the Here is a man who has about him
Champions crown, Bayern were lucky Forest supporters to jeer him at every the cavalier charisma; a man who
that the French risked their half-fit touch of the ball – and it let them down repeats that Forest are a team whose
Dominique Rocheteau only in the last on an occasion which was otherwise style is to go forward. Yet in Madrid
10 minutes. By then it was too late. characterised (remarkably for English they went backwards, with five men
Hrubesch also appeared too late. fans abroad) by excellent relations strung across midfield.
Had he started the game, even to help between both sets of supporters
Hamburg find the early lead they so around Madrid. Force of circumstance because of
desperately desired, he could have the injury to Francis? Surely not. Clough
bowed out with some modicum of The fans had their money’s worth. revealed his true colours by planning
glory. Instead he limped and lumbered Not so much in quality as in the huge the game. The realist with a small “r”.
at a time when Hamburg’s anxiety was contrast in styles and the edge-of-your-
adding to their play a pace which he seat drama as Hamburg went on rolling One of the Spanish papers the next
simply couldn’t match. forward, only for each successive wave day compared Forest with Internazionale
Having played as if Hrubesch was to break on the defensive rocks of of the 1960s.
there when he wasn’t, and then playing Larry Lloyd and Kenny Burns.
as if without him when he did appear, Next season I hope Forest may prove
Hamburg compromised their chances. him wrong. Then we can all go forward.
No wonder the Forest players insisted
on their confidence in the ability to Marshalled…Kevin
weather the German storm. Keegan followed
“It always looks much worse from by Forest’s John
the stands,” skipper John McGovern McGovern
reminded me later. “When you’re on
the pitch you know that if something 1980
is going wrong, you can act to stop it.” European Cup Winners
For Forest the future looks bright.
Brian Clough signed a new contract NOTT’M FOREST

EUROPEAN CUP 67

1981 Liverpool

Fear factor now prevails

Keir Radnedge reports on Liverpool’s third European Cup and a fifth consecutive
victory by an English team, but he questions the method behind the successes

Scots…Graeme It’s ironic that the English, who were the fact that the cup has stayed in on the side of caution than fantasy.
Souness, Kenny among the first to complain about England now for five years. That was where Madrid coach Vujadin
boring, stereotyped defensive
Dalglish and football when Internazionale of But the facts speak for themselves: Boskov lost the Paris battle. Not in his
Alan Hansen Milan dominated the Champions Cup in of the five successive finals involving comments beforehand that Liverpool
the mid-1960s, should now have laid English clubs, Liverpool and Nottingham were too old to run a full 90 minutes;
such a dead hand on the competition. Forest, four – the last four – have it wasn’t Liverpool’s response to those
produced 1-0 victories. jibes which provided the horse-power
I’m not taking away anything from for victory.
the fact that Liverpool have joined Real The fear factor is now greater than
Madrid, Ajax and Bayern Munich as at any time in the competition’s history. Rather it was Boskov’s decisions on
three times winners; I’m not decrying And the truth is that if you are going to how to cover his problem positions of
take a gamble then you had better err right-back and outside-left.

The regular right-back in the with the team’s current rhythm and style
closing stages of the season had and who proved an enigma, his first-half
been the raw, young Rafael Garcia terrorising of Alan Kennedy producing
Cortes. But Boskov had, fit at last nothing of lasting effect or value.
after 14 months out, experienced
international, Isidoro San Jose. Match fit he may have been;
Who should play? “Big Match” fit, he was not.

Boskov kept faith with the Boskov later excoriated Liverpool’s
youngster, and saw that inexperience football as machine-like, but there
exposed in the one momentary lapse were few people later prepared to say
of concentration which allowed Alan that Liverpool didn’t deserve to win.
Kennedy through for the winner. Their consistency, their covering, their
teamwork, their prose rather than their
The regular outside-left in the poise, kept them going, even through
closing stages of the season had been that lively period in the first half when
either true winger Francisco Pineda, Juanito turned on his magic.
or the more pedestrian workhorse,
Isidro. But Boskov had, fit at last after Later Boskov criticised Juanito, saying
six months out, England’s Laurie he wanted him to play further forward.
Cunningham. Who should play? But with Uli Stielike harried and chased
into a position of defensive anonymity
Boskov gambled on Cunningham by Sammy Lee, Juanito had no option
– but on a Cunningham out of tune but to come back looking for the ball.

Madrid preferred to use the languid, ABOVE: Captain
graceful Vicente del Bosque hanging …Phil Thompson
wide on the right in midfield instead of
in the middle and for all the purposeful LEFT: Goalkeeper
brilliance of Jose Antonio Camacho, they …Ray Clemence
were always short of the extra man.
Football makes progress and, like it
But if that happened to be the bones or not, that progress means that athletic
of the game, it also underlines what the strength will tilt the balance when teams
match wasn’t. of equal quality are opposed.

It was not a final in the glorious Liverpool’s consistency has to be
European tradition. It was a final for saluted. Manager Bob Paisley who has,
artisans not artists, for the committed. since succeeding Bill Shankly, won more
Liverpool’s massive following celebrated
wildly, but the rest of the game sat back
in resignation.

The Cup Winners’ Cup final between
Dinamo Tbilisi and Carl Zeiss Jena two
weeks earlier, though played in front
of a scattering of fans, had been a
far better game.

I felt that the wrong team lost in Paris.
Not because I particularly enjoyed the
match or because I have no appreciation
of Liverpool’s professional perfection.
Just that the moments in the game
I thrilled to the most were the brilliant
individual escapades of Juanito and the
rare moments of style and technical
skill which Madrid hinted at.

If football is to survive it must attract
not only the partisans, but the general

Manager Bob Paisley is the only
man to have managed a team
to three Champions Cup wins

public. And while the fear factor trophies than any other English manager, 1981
continues to dominate the skill now claims a very special award: he’s the European Cup Winners
factor, that cannot happen. only man to have managed a team to
three Champions Cup wins. LIVERPOOL
For Madrid there was to be no turning
back the clock, no repeat of the style The fascinating question to be born
or success which they brought to the of this Liverpool team who go on and
competition’s first final at the old on, building over and over on their
Parc des Princes in Paris in 1956. legend, is: Where will it all end?

EUROPEAN CUP 69

1982 Aston Villa

English
sequence goes on

Keir Radnedge reports as Aston Villa win the European Cup for the first time,
and continue the streak of English teams winning the competition to six years

ABOVE: Aston Even the fans behaved after only nine minutes, the vastly either Villa representatives or the British
Villa captain... themselves on the night experienced Jimmy Rimmer walked off media and such off-field arrogance was
Dennis Mortimer Aston Villa and Bayern Munich leaving his place to the 23-year-old who duly repaid in the most shattering fashion.
restored a little of the tarnished had previously played only one senior
glory of the European Cup final. game. And that one on Boxing Day, Bayern remain an enigma. They put
1979, against Nottingham Forest. together some glorious football, moving
This wasn’t the greatest game in the cleverly and fluidly forward with Klaus
26-year sequence, but it was the best Some of Forest’s European gold Augenthaler a revelation as sweeper
since Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat of Borussia dust had obviously rubbed off on Spink. once he had been given the all-clear
Monchengladbach in Rome began the Bayern coach Pal Csernai said afterwards to forge forward. But once Villa had
six-season English domination of that he thought the switch would work snapped back with Peter Withe’s goal,
Europe’s premier club competition. well for Bayern. But a mixture of his own Bayern’s imagination and skill faded.
forwards’ lethargy and Villa’s defensive Eventually they were reduced to slinging
As for Bayern, they are left to kick efficiency meant that the novice Spink hopeful angled crosses into a penalty
themselves all the way back to West remained untroubled, able to adjust to area where forward Hoeness never once
Germany after failing to take the string of the atmosphere and the angles, for succeeded in getting the better of Ken
chances which fell their way, particularly 20 minutes before he was called McNaught or Allan Evans in the air.
during a brilliant 20-minute blitz on the on to save from Durnberger.
Villa goal at the start of the second half. If there were common denominators
In fact Spink had been slightly out binding the teams, the commonest was
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Wolfgang of position. But that was about the only at centre-forward where two clumsy
Kraus, Bernd Durnberger, Paul Breitner, mistake of a night on which his hands players – Withe and Hoeness – did
Dieter Hoeness and Udo Horsmann all held everything and everything fired at their best to become suddenly nimble.
had efforts blocked, or saved by the him by Germans, whose disappointment Withe emerged as the hero, of course,
superb work of substitute goalkeeper in defeat left them so angry that their with his goal. And a goal inspired Withe
Nigel Spink – who thus wrote another players refused to turn up at the with understandable delight thinking
remarkable page of football history. press conference. back a few years to the days when Brian
Clough sold him from Nottingham Forest
No goalkeeper had ever been Angry...and probably ashamed too. because he didn’t think Withe had what
replaced in the Champions Cup final Several of the Bayern players had not it took to lead their European Cup
– save Benfica’s Costa Pereira in 1965, been noted in the weeks leading up to attempts.
in the era before substitutions – and the final for their politeness towards
it was a massive shock to Villa when,

70 EUROPEAN CUP

If Withe’s resurrection was one So for Villa to come back and make There will continue to be, of course,
remarkable feature of the game, what
can one say of Tony Barton? Having amends in footballing terms – there were arguments over whether Villa deserved
taken over in mid-season from Ron
Saunders, Barton has emerged from more reasons than football alone for to win. Certainly the most explosive
the shadows of the English game to
stand up alongside Jock Stein, Sir Matt most Dutch fans wanting to see Bayern football in the game was supplied by
Busby, Bob Paisley and Brian Clough
as the British managers who have lose – was timely and appropriate. Bayern. But in two bursts one before
triumphed in the Champions Cup.
Bayern’s defeat broke an historic the interval, the other after the break.
He’s not the shortest-serving manager
to land the trophy. That honour still sequence. The Bavarian club had won A game lasts 90 minutes and over that
belongs to Miguel Munoz, Real Madrid’s
manager of a few weeks when the all the 13 major finals in their history time Villa were the more persistent.
Spaniards scored their 7-3 triumph over
Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960. But Munoz in the old German championship, the They may have played better – Withe
had a European pedigree already, thanks
to his role as right-half and captain in German Cup, the Champions Cup and Gary Shaw certainly have done –
1956 and 1957. Barton, instead, was a
complete unknown – except to those Substitute goalkeeper Nigel
Fulham and Portsmouth supporters
who remembered him as a lively Spink wrote another remarkable
right-winger a long time ago.
page of football history
Whatever Saunders thought, back
in England, will remain a mystery. Being and the Cup Winners’ Cup. But this time but as a team they functioned efficiently Acrobatics…Karl-
the man he is, he would no doubt insist they let themselves down. They arrived and sensibly. Good British professionals, Heinz Rummenigge
that he had no option but to leave Villa in Rotterdam having won the German all of them. performs an
when he did, trapped in the club’s latest Cup, but having slipped out of the overhead-kick
wrangles over a manager’s contract. Bundesliga title race. Also, their team That may not mean the technical
But the result has meant the world for line-up was uncertain until the last excitement which characterises the best 1982
Barton – and maybe it will mean that minute, demonstrating unfavourably of the continental or South American European Cup Winners
for Villa’s players, too, if they now go on their own unease for a game they teams, but football is a mixture of
to take part in the world club cup final. were expected to win. qualities. ASTON VILLA

The past two years this has involved The inclusion on the right side of Barton said afterwards he hoped this
the long pilgrimage to Tokyo to face the midfield of Reinhold Mathy was the would provide England with a lift for the
champions of South America – though unlooked-for surprise, with World Cup World Cup. But in a funny sort of a way,
whether the behind-the-scenes World midfielder Wolfgang Dremmler moved Villa achieved only what had been
Cup promotions changes affect the to right-back because Csernai thought expected. It would have been a let-down
world club cup, remains to be seen. he would be better able to cope with the if, after so many years of English success,
unpredictable Tony Morley. With Bertram they had failed to win the cup. As for
Villa are the fourth English club Beierlorzer out injured, Csernai had few Bayern’s World Cup players, they lost out
to win the Champions Cup, a national options. But the loss of Dremmler from on a chance to provide themselves with
success rate which far outstrips anybody midfield might just have proved decisive a happy omen for the trip to Spain.
else, and to earn their victory they when Bayern
proved over the 90 minutes to be the needed all their In 1974 West Germany’s World Cup win
more consistent. They started faster experience and
and settled quicker than Bayern, sure-footedness was prefaced by Bayern’s first European
enthusiastically roared on by 10,000 in the closing Cup success. However now the Germans
travelling fans who were remarkably stages. travel down to the finals with their clubs
well-behaved given the excuse for beaten not only in the Champions Cup
riotous celebration which their Morley it was final, but in the UEFA Cup final as well
heroes provided. who created the (IFK Gothenburg 4-0 Hamburg).
decisive break for
It’s still hard to realise that Villa are the goal in the Are the West Germans losing their
champions of Europe. It doesn’t seem 67th minute. He grip? Is the nation, which has dominated
so long ago that they were down in the turned Dremmler European football over the past decade,
Third Division. But Villa have tradition, inside out as he about to enter a period of uncertainty and
tons of it, and on that basis alone few sliced a path into further defeats? These are two of the big
people could begrudge their adding the the penalty box questions to emerge from Rotterdam.
European Cup to a string of achievements on the left before Questions which will be answered,
which still includes the record number stabbing the ball perhaps, in a few weeks’ time.
of seven successes in the FA Cup. across goal for
Withe to tuck into the net. French
The Feyenoord stadium in Rotterdam referee Georges Konrath was left with
was staging the Champions Cup final for nothing to do but point to the centre
the second time (last time in 1972), while spot and Villa’s jubilation was as great as
also, back in 1974, this was the scene of Bayern’s depression. Konrath had a fine
one of the first riots by English supporters game, giving one of the best top-level
abroad, when Tottenham fans let loose refereeing displays seen for a long, long
a torrent of violence during the second time. He never hesitated and he was
leg of the UEFA Cup final. firm and decisive. Again, there was no
hesitation in the 88th minute when
Hoeness joined in on the end of an
Augenthaler-Gunther Guttler raid to
shoot beyond Spink. Most definitely
offside. No argument.

EUROPEAN CUP 71

1983 Hamburg

Hamburg

grab glory in Greece

The 1983 European Cup final saw Hamburg claim their first title at the
expense of Italian side Juventus. Keir Radnedge reports from Athens

Match-winner… T hird time lucky for Hamburg, how much Juventus paid a year ago to needn’t have bothered turning out in
West Germany the West Germans are the sign Michel Platini from Saint-Etienne the graceful new Olympic Stadium
new club champions of and Zbigniew Boniek from Widzew Lodz. on the outskirts of Athens.
international Europe after a six-year This double deal was completed with the
Felix Magath domination by the English. sole intention of winning for Juve the But while money is important at this
one prize which had always eluded rarefied level of the game – Hamburg
But my apologies to Ernst Happel’s them: the European club crown. pay coach Happel £4,000 a week, after
team. As well as they played, as brilliant all – it isn’t everything. Big-name players,
and methodically as they followed the That was, and thus remains, the their skills and their whims, have to be
Austrian’s tactical orders, the story of greatest dream of Gianni Agnelli, integrated into the team.
the 28th Champions Cup final will be honorary president of Juventus, and
the story of a £2 million nightmare. king of the Fiat motor empire. If money Juventus proved in the latter half
could buy success, then Hamburg of the season that they had achieved
That – slightly more, in fact – was integration enough for the league
bread-and-butter. But they allowed
themselves to be lulled, fatally, into
believing that this was enough.

It wasn’t. Before the game Happel
said: “People tell me that Juventus
are a fine team. So they are. But a
fine team with a few weaknesses.”

And Happel played on them,
mercilessly, thanks to the ability of Felix
Magath and Jurgen Milewski and Juve’s
astonishingly inept tactical thinking.

I have never seen an Italian team
taken – tactically – to the cleaners in so
comprehensive a manner. I have never
see an Italian team, caught out in the
first half, fail to put the tactics right
after half-time.

At least, not until I saw Juventus versus
Hamburg; not until I saw Massimo Bonini
and a superb player such as Marco Tardelli
reduced to virtual rabbits. Man of the
match Magath and Milewski ran the
match. Juventus allowed them to, by
presenting them with so much space.

If Magath had the ball and Tardelli
closed down, then Hamburg switched
play to Milewski, totally ignored by the
Italians. And vice versa. If Milewski had
Tardelli breathing down his neck, then
the Germans were freely able to move
forward through Magath.

When Magath scored the game’s only
goal with a decisive early strike which
further dictated the path to tactical ruin
for Juve, who was it who made a half-
hearted attempt to challenge? Was it
Tardelli or Bonini, or sweeper Gaetano
Scirea? Not at all. It was Roberto Bettega,
playing a hugely disappointing last game
before moving on to Toronto Blizzard.

I’d blame Dino Zoff for making no
real attempt at Magath’s curling shot,

72 EUROPEAN CUP

delivered with great cunning inside the must reconstruct their strikeforce with It was seven years since the final had
far post. But Zoff was to be faulted more
on the mental than the technical side. I the signings of Dieter Schatzschneider taken place without British involvement.
believe he simply didn’t expect Magath
to be allowed into the danger zone. and Wolfram Wuttke virtually concluded. But any fears that this would produce

This was a very different Magath from But the various problems associated with a continental cat-and-mouse exhibition
the static, faceless Magath we’ve seen
playing for West Germany. Under Jupp rebuilding your attack can last a long time. quickly vanished. Hamburg played with
Derwall, Magath has been forever a
stand-in, a stopgap, if Bernd Schuster, Juventus prove the point. One year pace and skill. They had been expected
perhaps, were injured – a subsidory
piece in an international chess game. It’s ago their midfield was the best organised to make the running but not with quite
a wonder why he has never dominated
or taken internationals by the scruff of in Calcio. But by Liam Brady. Preferring so much panache. Ditmar Jakobs headed
the neck, as he did on this occassion.
the Platini-Boniek razamataz, Juventus over the bar, Juventus responded with
I thought I’d never seen him look as fit.
But maybe that was an unfair impression threw Brady overboard to Sampdoria. a Bettega header well kept out by Uli
brought about merely because of the
direction and purpose he assumes when To rebuild their attack to the highest Stein...and then Hamburg scored.
it’s the Hamburg shirt on his back.
standards was the aim; obviously one I’ve already commented on the
At any rate, Magath’s display recalled
the words of skipper Horst Hrubesch year hasn’t been enough. freedom Magath was allowed to run at
beforehand: Hamburg wanted to win,
partly as a gesture of revenge after Italy’s Magath’s early goal meant that for the Juve defence, feint left, go right past
World Cup final defeat of West Germany
last year. But also, partly as a gesture of Juventus the age-old Italian tactic of Bettega and curl the ball beyond Zoff,
defiance to Derwall, and of reassurance
to the West German nation. As if to say: defend and strike on the counter-attack, within another four minutes Hamburg
if it had been Hamburg playing Italy last
July, with Happel as manager, that 3-1 was useless. They had to come forward, could have had the game sewn up.
defeat would never have happened.
and they didn’t seem to know how. First Milewseki lost his feet attempting
While Claudio Gentile marked Danish
striker Lars Hastrup (and later substitute Boniek has said that if Juventus try to to collect and convert a cross from Rolff,
Thomas von Heesen) and Sergio Brio took
Hrubesch, so Antonio Cabrini marked... sell him, after only a year, he’ll go back to then Juve came within inches of giving
nobody. He didn’t follow Milewski away
out on the opposite flank, as Giacinto Poland – i.e. they won’t get a transfer fee away two penalties down on the left.
Facchetti would certainly have done
under Helenio Herrera at Internazionale out of him. But it’s more likely that he’ll Free-kicks on the edge of the penalty
20 years ago. He didn’t even follow on
up his own wing to close down on the stay in Italy, maybe even on loan. As for box were indecisively cleared and when
underrated Jurgen Groh.
Juventus, they’ll need a top-class import Manfred Kaltz fired in a fierce cross-shot,
Milewski on the one side, Groh on
the other, made hay. Their confidence in his place, not just to fill a gap, but to it was Boniek of all people who turned up
inspired even left back Bernd Wehmeyer
to pile forward down the Hamburg left, reanimate fans stung by defeat in Athens. behind Zoff on the goal-line to kick clear.
and a fine player he looked as well with
such freedom. Hamburg spread their The trouble is, if it takes an import a The pattern had been established.
midfield net far and wide on the right
and the left. And they could afford to year to settle in, it must take at least that Hamburg directed the game, imposing
do so because not only was Magath
the prime force in the match, but in long before an all-round championship their tactical law. Juventus had to come
young Wolfgang Rolff they have a
player of immense potential. challenge can be mounted. out to attack them and, like so many

He has skill and stamina. Above all, One year, two, three. That’s how long Italian teams forced into an uneasy
he covers a lot of ground. When Juventus
hesitated, then Rolff was there with the it will be before Juventus are back. Then attacking game, didn’t know how to cope.
killer tackle or interception. His example
was one of the reasons why Hamburg, their team will be much-changed. Zoff Platini, top scorer in the Italian league,
in the first half especially, looked man
for man a yard faster than their rivals. will have gone by then. In fact, he may had only two chances to demonstrate his

In fact, the confidence and skill with be gone by the start of next season. It prized ability at free-kicks. Towards the
which Hamburg played made it even more
astonishing that, with a similar team, they emerged before the Champions Cup end of the first half he made a terrible
lost home and away to IFK Gothenburg
in last season’s UEFA Cup final. final that Juve were negotiating to buy mess of an effort in the inside left

Now they are champions of Europe. Ivano Bordon, the Inter goalkeeper and position. Then, in the second, refusing
Possibly only for a year. After all, they
Zoff’s long-time national team reserve. this time to risk his reputation further,

Juve’s only condition on the sale was he touched a kick sideways to Cabrini

that the news should not leak out until to shoot. The ball struck the defensive

after the game against Hamburg. That wall and danger was again averted.

it did may put the move in jeopardy Hamburg, in their third appearance in

and affect more than a few people, the Champions Cup, had at last taken the

and in particular Zoff and whether the ultimate victory. In 1961 they were beaten

41-year-old plays on for another year. in a semi-final play-off by Barcelona and

There have been few more outstanding in 1980 they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest

goalkeeper/captains in the game’s history in the final in Madrid. Now they had not

and indeed it had seemed that fortune only outplayed Juventus, but they had

was with him once more when he won taken some measure of revenge on

the toss in a stadium so jam-packed behalf of West Germany for defeat

with Juventus fans it might have been in the World Cup final.

I have never seen an Italian team

taken – tactically – to the cleaners

in so comprehensive a manner

the Stadio Comunale in Turin. It was a reasonable final, full of 1983
After all the fuss about Gentile’s action and interest and movement. European Cup Winners
Whether it signals the start of another
rugged interpretation of the laws of the era of German domination as with HAMBURG
game it was ironic that the first foul was Bayern Munich in the mid-1970s
actually committed on him by Magath. – remains to be seen. Perhaps we
In fact, that was symptomatic of the are in the intermediate stage again.
way the game would go: Hamburg
taking the initiative, Juventus A dream come true for Hamburg:
responding... awkwardly. a nightmare for Juventus.

EUROPEAN CUP 73

1984 Liverpool

Roma pay the penalty

on Europe’s big night out

Roma went into the 1984 European Cup final at their Stadio Olimpico as
slight favourites, despite Liverpool’s previous record in the competition.
Keir Radnedge reports on a famous night in the Italian capital

Spaghetti legs… The Champions Cup final is Roma fell apart. Fellow Brazilian football match. It is an occasion. At the
Bruce Grobbelaar’s like a drug. In the minutes, Toninho Cerezo was thus forced to annual crossroads of European football,
famous tactics see hours, and maybe even days play much too far forward, chasing providing the opportunity not only for
Roma’s Graziani blaze immediately after the action and harrying like a young tyro when he an exchange of opinions and ideas,
his penalty kick over you think it’s better than it was. Then, should have been holding back, using but an exchange of players and
with time and perspective, come the his skill and timing to play the ball managers as well.
withdrawal symptoms. forward for somebody else to pursue.
Rome’s football establishment talked
Trying to fix a perspective right on top But who? Francesco Graziani looked beforehand not only of the game, but of
of the game is hard. It is doubly tough suddenly old and Roberto Pruzzo had the many sideshows. Of direct interest
when the winners have been an English stomach trouble. Bruno Conti did his was the future of the Roma team and
team and criticism is taken as a sign of best and was the liveliest forward to be their coach, Nils Liedholm. Everyone
betrayal of some misunderstood cause. seen. But he couldn’t carry the entire appeared resigned to his departure.
Roma attacking effort on his own. But who would take over?
The 1984 Champions Cup final was
a poor game, not a patch on 1977, even It was Conti who deserved all the A frenzy gripped suspicious Italian
though the rival teams were potentially credit for the way Roma stumbled back sports reporters when Benfica’s Sven-
the best-matched pair since Liverpool’s into the game late in the first half with Goran Eriksson flew in. Have you come
first victory in the Stadio Olimpico. his enthusiasm, his inspiration and his for the Roma job? Will you be meeting
willingness to ride some punishing President Viola? Where are you staying?
One expected too much, perhaps, but tackling. But he couldn’t carry on
was it too much to expect Kenny Dalglish like that for 120 minutes. Eriksson kept a diplomatic cool:
on the one side, and Falcao on the other, “I have a new two-year contract with
to turn on some of the skills which have So the final went to penalties for Benfica. That isn’t easily broken, you
made them world famous? Surely not. the first time in its 28-year history. A know. In fact, I haven’t even got a ticket
Yet these men played their poorest squalid, empty ending to a match which for the game. Benfica applied for me
games for their clubs in years. began with so much promise and ended but we haven’t received a reply.”
up with the vast banks of Roma fans
One doesn’t wish to take away reducing to a mournful silence as Was it true, that Liverpool officials
anything from the later comments of they lit their pyres of newspapers would meet their counterparts from
Liverpool manager Joe Fagan that his on the terraces and beat retreat. Barcelona to discuss the sale of
men had deliberately gone out to close young goal machine Ian Rush?
Falcao down. But the Brazilian didn’t Given such an anti-climax, it is
try to find an escape route. fortunate for those who are in the habit Now here we digress. Barcelona’s
of attending that the European Cup administrative boss Anton Parera and
He wandered around in midfield final is about much more than one the club’s top lawyer were in Rome
looking only vaguely interested. And to meet officials from Napoli. Having

acquired a surprising choice as new and I don’t want to leave. But I have interval. But instead of spurring the teams Title…Liverpool
manager in ex-Queens Park Rangers heard the talk. I know that if Liverpool into the second half, that goal paralysed also won England’s
boss Terry Venables, Barca now had were offered £2 million for me they them. Both froze. Liverpool captain First Division trophy
to rebuild their team to suit him. And to could hardly say ‘No’. Then where Graeme Souness faded and without
suit themselves. The chances of a young would that put me?” his leadership in evidence the English 1984
Argentine millionaire-cum-superstar champions began to look rocky. Roma European Cup Winners
being happy working to the orders of Roma, by contrast, prepared in tranquil could have taken them. But the fear of
an Englishman (after the Falklands/ surroundings. Out on the training pitch leaving a gap snapped their will to go LIVERPOOL
Malvinas affair) were obviously slight. Graziani, in his enthusiasm for extra forward. Two frightened teams stared
shooting practice, ripped the net each other out across a sterile second-
Publicly Venables said that whether apart with one of his thunderbolts. half abyss. It was as if, for the last half-
Diego Maradona stayed was his decision. hour, they had eyes only for extra time.
And one he could hardly take immediately The atmosphere was building up in
since the little Argentine and the Barca town. Liverpool fans wandered in, singing The extra half hour brought nothing,
reserves were away in New York playing cheerfully: “There’s only one Paolo Rossi” except bitter memories for Roma coach
in the Transatlantic Cup. In fact, it seemed – which probably irked the Roma fans Liedholm, who lost this same cup in
Barca had already decided that Maradona even more than the traditional Anfield extra time as a Milan player against
had brought enough bad publicity even ditties. Those Merseyside fans who Real Madrid in 1958.
for them. The punch-up after the Copa staggered out into the warm morning
del Rey final defeat to Athletic Bilbao sun for a glimpse of the sights even Fate was to tease him again. When
had been the last straw, followed as it collected a blessing from the Pope. substitute Steve Nicol missed the first
was by an effective five-month ban penalty Roma laid a hand on the cup.
from domestic football. There he was, sitting out in St Peter’s But failures – and no one would surely
Square under what appeared to be blame them – by World Cup heroes
Maradona appeared to know more an improvising bus shelter, addressing Conti and Graziani turned everything
about it – or at least, be prepared to say several thousand of the faithful in the around. Liverpool were confirmed
publicly more about it – than Venables. various languages at his command. champions of Europe.
One of them, English.
Life away in New Jersey was pretty Later Liedholm would regret the
unhappy. Barcelona’s semi-final against “A special welcome, to our guests lack of provision for a replay. Certainly
Cosmos for a start. Barca had led 2-0 but from England,” said His Holiness. He the penalty-shootout trend, evidenced at
eventually lost 5-3 because – according didn’t mention Liverpool by name, his both Tottenham Hotspur (their UEFA Cup
to the Italian reports – of awful refereeing. English-language blessing taking in final penalty win over Anderlecht a week
various more appropriate parties from earlier) and Liverpool, is a bad advert for
At 4-2 down Maradona missed a Britain, Canada, the United States, the game of football. Particularly when,
penalty. He also had a verbal skirmish Japan, Sweden and South Korea. like this game, the match is being seen
on the pitch and in the corridors at half- in more than 70 countries.
time with Roberto Cabanas, the Cosmos’ But the Anfield faithful who were
South American striker. Cabanas was there took it as read, and a Papal What’s to be done? Share the trophies?
saved by Cosmos coach Eddie Firmani. aide assured journalists that Pope Why not? Even, play on until someone
In the nick of time, too. Maradona’s John Paul II would (“Of course!”) be scores a decisive goal? Again, why not?
“minder”, Migueli, was about to join in! watching the match on television.

After the game Maradona was bitter. Two frightened teams stared each
He said: “If the organisers had told us
they needed Cosmos in the final we other out across a sterile abyss
needn’t have bothered coming here.
With a referee like that a team in space In the first half Roma were caught out But as for penalties, we’ve had enough
suits would have beaten us. If we had because they failed repeatedly to cover of them. The game has had enough of
scored six Cosmos would have got ten. Craig Johnston’s breaks down the right. them. Let football’s competitions be
One such raid led to Phil Neal shooting decided by football itself.
“I spoke to my manager, Jorge Liverpool ahead after goalkeeper Franco
Cyterszpiler on the phone today in Tancredi – like Dracula, he can’t live with And, while on the subject, why not
Barcelona. You know it took a month crosses – dropped a centre under guarantee both finalists admission to
or more to sort things out when Boca controversial pressure from Rush. the following season’s competition? The
Juniors sold me to Barcelona? I don’t fear etched deep into the latter stages
want that hanging around this time. Pruzzo equalised just before the of Rome ‘84 demands action now.
I told Jorge if it would speed things
up with Napoli I would fly back to
Barcelona today.

“He tells me to stay calm, take it
easy, it’ll be all right. But it’s not easy.”

What has this to do with Rome,
with the setting for the Champions
Cup final? Simply that Barcelona and
Napoli officials had agreed here was a
convenient setting for further transfer
talks. Venables would be there, too. And
that, of course, fuelled speculation about
the potential as a replacement of 47-goal
Ian Rush as the Welshman himself
appreciated, when Fagan’s guard
was temporarily down.

Rush said: “I’m happy at Liverpool

EUROPEAN CUP 75

1984 Liverpool

The goal Rush

Prolific Liverpool striker Ian Rush ended the 1983-84 European Cup campaign as
his side’s top scorer with five goals, one off Dinamo Minsk’s Viktor Sokol, and
with a penalty in the final shootout. Derick Allsop profiles the 22-year-old

W eeks before the offering – had its appeal. But he was Paisley told him that when he started
trophies were due to content at Anfield and reluctant to trade scoring goals he would be a regular
be handed out Liverpool that for a journey into the unknown. member of the team and maintained
were claiming the prize that his first goal would open the
all Europe craved – the signature of Liverpool doubtless made the most floodgates. It came in a European
young striker lan Rush. of those fears during their lengthy Cup tie early in the 1981-82 season.
negotiations with the player and, in
The 22-year-old Welsh international the middle of February, revealed that That autumn he established himself
is a rare phenomenon in modern football, he had decided to commit himself to in the senior side and ended the season
a prolific goalscorer with apparently no the club until the summer of 1988. with 30 goals. Last season he collected
limit to his capabilities. another 30, despite missing the final
Peter Robinson, Liverpool’s chief weeks with a pelvic injury.
For the third successive season in executive, announced with enormous
top-class competition he has reached relief: “Everything has been agreed for This season the machine has
the 30-goal landmark, and this time Ian to sign a four-year contract, to take pounded onwards, ever gathering
he’s achieved it with months to spare. effect from the end of this season.” apace. When injury robbed him of
Kenny Dalglish’s considerable support
His strike rate is a throwback to eras The formalities took place on there were suspicions that he might
of the rampant past. It ranks, in fact, February 22 and Rush said: “Now flounder. Far from it.
alongside that of Roger Hunt, one of that’s off my mind I can concentrate
England’s 1966 World Cup winners and on the business of scoring goals If anything he responded to the
a member of the Liverpool team that and playing well for the team.” increased responsibility, revealing
took the club out of the Second Division a wider range to his game. But he
and on to the international soccer map. Manager Joe Fagan said: “I am remained essentially a goalscorer,
delighted for the club and for Ian and displayed that lethal talent
But as Hunt himself concedes, that this contract has been settled. with even greater excellence.
the odds are stacked far more heavily It’s bound to have affected him.’’
against Rush. The contest is fiercer, the An icy Villa Park pitch was the stage
marking tighter and the chances fewer. Liverpool first signed Rush at the for one of his finest performances, a
end of the 1979-80 season, but at that performance which encapsulated his
Today Rush’s scoring consistency time other clubs weren’t so sure. The outstanding qualities. Liverpool trailed
is unrivalled in the English Football tall, skinny kid from Flint was knocking to an early Aston Villa goal but Rush
League, hence Liverpool’s anxiety to in the goals for Chester City and scouts demolished the Midlanders with a
retain him on a long-term contract. dutifully followed his progress. second-half hat-trick.

Ron Atkinson, manager of a Manchester City were urged by Alan His first goal demonstrated his pace.
Manchester United side constantly Oakes, their former player who went Despite the difficult surface he was able
straining to unseat Liverpool, once to Chester in search of a managerial to race clear of a defender, keep the
said: “If we had Rush we would career, to go for Rush. Yet City, like one ball under control and slip in the
win the Championship by a mile.” or two more clubs, wondered whether equaliser.
the youngster would be able to produce
Atkinson, at the time of writing such finishing in the highest grade. Next came a confident, fiercely struck
still searching for a striker, recognised volley, which he steered just inside the
he had no hope of prising Rush from Liverpool, ever on the alert for far post. For the third he calmly took
the ball on his knee before lobbing
“Whatever it is that makes a great the goalkeeper.
goalscorer Ian undoubtedly has it”
A few days later he scored two
Liverpool manager Joe Fagan more against Sheffield Wednesday
as Liverpool continued their relentless
Anfield but from further afield came potential, finally made the plunge march towards their fourth successive
more optimistic noises. and, with others still pondering, paid Milk Cup appearance. That took his total
Chester £300,000 for the teenager. with the club to 89 goals in his last 136
Inevitably, there were reports of appearances.
Italian interest as the leading clubs in Not that he was an instant success.
Calcio attempted to stock up before He played nine games in his first season At that point he had a season’s tally
the impending freeze on imports. at Anfield and failed to score. At one of 29, with 19 of them in the league,
stage he even asked the then-manager and an overall league total of 74 in
Rush admitted the prospect of playing Bob Paisley whether he had any future 131 games, giving him a strike rate
in Italy – and, more to the point, being at the club. of a goal every 1.77 matches.
paid far more than Liverpool were
That put him way beyond any
challenger in the present English

76 EUROPEAN CUP

game and marginally ahead of Hunt, have been outstanding any time. He has right time and then the ability to finish.” New king of the
who had an average of one in 1.78. the knack, he’s so clinical and quick. He Rush himself can offer no better Kop...Ian Rush
is sharp not only over a few yards but
But Hunt, who holds the individual over a distance. That’s a great asset. explanation, but at least gives an 1984
Liverpool scoring record of 41 league indication of his thirst for goals.
goals in the 1961-62 season, insists “When I scored my 41 goals we were He says: “I just love scoring goals. European Cup Winners
his achievement doesn’t compare in the Second Division and it was much
with Rush’s. easier to score. My best in the First “Some strikers are happy with LIVERPOOL
Divison was 31, and he must be in one in a match. I can’t understand EUROPEAN CUP 77
Hunt says: “By any standard Ian with a hell of a chance of beating that.” that. Scoring goals in my job. It annoys
Rush’s record is tremendous. What me every time I miss a chance.”
makes it even more amazing is the Fagan makes no attempt whatsoever
fact that he is doing this now. to analyse this exceptional force: “You Rush is well aware that his impact
can’t say what it is, but whatever it is on the international scene – for club
“It is far more difficult to score goals that makes a great goalscorer Ian or Wales – hasn’t been so dramatic.
in modern football. You don’t get as undoubtedly has it. “That’s the only place I’ve let myself
many chances, but this lad converts down,” he says.
a very high percentage of them. “The only other player I can think of
in this mould was Jimmy Greaves. There But then that merely represents a
“He stands comparison with the best were differences in style, but they had fresh challenge and who would bet
in any era. He’s that good. He has all the the same instinct to be around at the against Ian Rush putting that right
attributes of a goalscorer, so he would before too long?

1985 Juventus

English clubs banned

In 1985, Juventus achieved their first European Cup win, but the football was overshadowed by the
disaster that occurred before kick-off. Keir Radnedge reports from the Heysel Stadium in Brussels

There is an emptiness, too, in the lives
of hundreds of people, in Italy, Belgium,
France and maybe the United Kingdom.
Fathers, husbands, brothers, sons,
who went to the match and will
never come home.

So who takes the blame?
It would be easy to point the finger
of such massive guilt at the European
football federation (UEFA), at the Belgian
federation and police, and the Heysel
Stadium authorities.
Liverpool officials had warned
in advance that they were fuelling
trouble by allowing general ticket sales
in Brussels. This guaranteed a breakdown
in segregation and meant that English
and Italian supporters would finish on
the same terracing.
But the buck does not stop there.

Trouble…Juventus supporters flee the carnage death agonies; the Italian boy sitting
beside the body of his dead father;
The European ban imposed the frantic, helpless faces of grieving
on England’s top clubs after relatives and friends later in the
the Heysel Stadium disaster night, trapped in their grief inside
was unprecedented but a protective ring of riot police.
totally appropriate.
Then there was the young policeman
Certainly the Belgian authorities were who told of how he pulled two youngsters
at fault in allowing indiscriminate ticket safe from the crush of bodies and went
sales; certainly UEFA were themselves back for their friend...who died in his
at fault for permitting this; certainly arms.
the riot police were at fault for the
under-manning of the Liverpool Almost 40 dead, 600 hurt, 80
section which allowed trouble of them seriously and another dozen
to flare between rival fans. critical. The majority killed were Italians,
others Belgian – some of them, it was
But the name of this particular, feared, members of the Under-15
horrific game, is no longer punishment. football team from the Anderlecht
As we said in World Soccer after the club who had staged a curtain-raiser
Celtic-Rapid Vienna affair last year, game for the 50,000 crowd.
what matters most is protection.
At the end of the night, as the
And it is clear that the only secure bodies were removed and the last
way to protect European cities, stadia, of the injured taken in a siren-shrieking
supporters and private citizens and ambulance convoy to hospital, there
their property in general, is to keep was a vast emptiness.
the English hooligans well away.
A physical emptiness on the terraces
Those of us who were in the Heysel where, in the early evening sunshine,
Stadium never wish to see again the thousands of fans had arrived to watch
nightmare images of May 29. nothing more threatening than a game
of football. Now all that remained were
Of bodies being laid down and the scattered remnants of shoes, coats,
covered up in the stadium car park; shirts, bags, broken flags, bottles, tin
blood transfusions being carried out cans...and bloodstains.
on the pavements; the pretty Liverpool
nurse who ran to help and cradled the
head of a Juventus supporter in his

78 EUROPEAN CUP

It stops only with the mindless minority across the open, unpoliced ten or 15 only for several hundred trouble-seeking
of English hooligans who chased men yards dividing the Liverpool and Juventus Italians to spill out of the terracing at the
and boys to their deaths – crushed contingents. The police were too small opposite end, looking only for a fight.
and asphyxiated and finally trampled in numbers at that stage to go in and
underfoot by the surging mass which so, with no one to keep the peace, Liverpool manager Joe Fagan
broke down the wall at the front of several hundred Liverpool fans came out to appeal for calm; so did
the terracing and cascaded onto charged. And charged again. the Juventus players. Now word began
the running track and pitch. to filter through the crowd about the

Impossible to believe, but some As the bodies were removed and
of those unspeakable hooligans who
have forever tarnished English football, the injured taken in ambulances,
sneaked back to kick the dead and
injured and continued to pelt them there was a vast emptiness
with missiles.
The Italian fans pressed back and casualties. Repeated loudspeaker Riots…police
Words don’t seem enough to down the terracing, crushing those on appeals for calm were made...along enter the pitch
express the emotions aroused. If the front against the wall with such with an ominous stream of appeals for
this were a major riot in Northern tragic, obvious consequences. friends and relatives of named Italians
Ireland or a flashback to the Falklands to come to the main stadium office.
War then such violence and carnage To see death unleashed so suddenly
would at least appear in context. in such dramatic fashion almost caused Behind Sector Z, the fatal section,
But it was piteously incongruous the police to “freeze” – as one senior hasty tents were created to shield and
at a football match. officer admitted later. It may only have care for the injured and the dying.
been seconds before medical aid Police reinforcements encircled the
Trouble began an hour before the began to arrive and minutes for an pitch and one hour 28 minutes after
scheduled kick-off time. Both in the emergency drill to go into action. the scheduled kick-off time, the
centre of Brussels and around the But it seemed like forever. football began.
stadium the atmosphere had been
good and the riot police kept a In the meantime several of the riot For what it was worth, which, by
reasonably low profile. police had drawn their batons and begun comparison with the scenes behind
to flail at advancing Liverpool followers the Heysel Stadium, was very, very little.
But then someone threw a bottle.
Quickly a regular salvo began to sail

1985
European Cup Winners

JUVENTUS

EUROPEAN CUP 79

1986 Steaua Bucharest

Barcelona

are left on the spot

The 1986 European Cup final was the first to finish goalless and the first to
see a country from Eastern Europe triumph. Keir Radnedge reports from Seville

Imagine Wembley Stadium. Packed I was lucky enough to go back for the Spaniards and a Romanian and it took
to the roof for a European Cup final. first time for a Champions Cup copy. a lecture to the captains before the brain
Imagine that an unknown team from was allowed to erase some of the brawn.
Eastern Europe has just beaten Fans who watched at home on
Manchester United (or Liverpool or television, even those committed to Barcelona, of course, had most of
Everton or Tottenham Hotspur) on no one but who felt they should watch the play and the Steaua defence looked
penalties at the end of extra time. to purge the memory of Heysel, may a fragile object indeed despite the class
question the word “lucky”. play of the sweeper, Miodrag Belodedici,
Now imagine a majority of those who looked as if he had been playing
disappointed English fans waiting in I can understand, too, that the European Cup finals for ages.
the stadium to cheer and applaud 1986 Champions Cup final may not
the victors as they run their lap have appeared the stuff of which The mark of Venables which was most
of honour, parading the trophy. legends are made. obvious and which the casual English fan
would have recognised was in Barcelona’s
You can’t believe it? Neither can I. Goalmouth incidents were limited left-wing corners. Bernd Schuster chipped
But, to the eternal credit of Barcelona and neither Steaua Bucharest nor Barca them to the near post where Barcelona
and Spanish football and football itself, produced any rippling sequences of fast, looked for one of their strikers to knock
that is what happened in Seville. attacking football to stick in the memory. the ball back for an incoming full-back to
have a pot. The beauty lay in the simplicity
Save for five plane loads of Romanians Yet it was, to my mind, the best of the knowledge that even if neither
– a total of several hundred – the entire Champions Cup final since Liverpool and Steve Archibald, nor Marcos, nor Lobo
crowd in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Borussia Monchengladbach entertained Carrasco got on to the end of the corner
Pizjuan were willing Barcelona to victory. us in Rome in 1977. And it was a much then a harassed goalkeeper or defender
Including, for obvious reasons, a large more engrossing face-to-face than the might provide the knock-back instead.
English press contingent. That meant Roma-Liverpool showdown of two years
almost 70,000 people expecting to ago which ended in exactly the same As time went on, however, and the
be able to go home and say they way: extra time and penalties, with Romanians slowly gained in confidence,
were there, the day Barcelona finally victory going to the unsung and there were fewer corners to exploit. Victor
brought home the Champions Cup. (on the night) outsung visitors. and Angel Pedraza were not getting to
grips with the game in midfield where the
Only Yugoslavia’s Partizan Belgrade In all the circumstances, with all the neat touches of Mihail Majearu, the skill
had ever emerged from the eastern attendant pressures on Barcelona, a of Gabi Balint and the sheer hard work of
bloc into the spotlight of the Champions classic football match was too much to Lucian Balan must have given Venables
Cup final before. And that was back in hope for. The two teams reacted very cause for concern – even if Steaua rarely
1966 when they lost to Real Madrid, differently to the pressures. Barcelona got close enough to Urruti to put him
Spanish opposition again this time, went as conquerors expected to do little under pressure with a “real” shot.
of course. Only this time it was more than walk on the pitch to collect
Spain on the receiving end. the trophy (though Terry Venables, to On the left Julio Alberto was seeing
be fair, had counselled long against a lot of the ball. But the Romanians had
clearly done their homework and for all
Steaua’s last hero, goalkeeper Helmuth his possession the amount of danger was
minimal. Even at the start of the second
Ducadam, suddenly grew ten feet tall half, when Julio Alberto tried to stay wider
and stretch the Romanian defence, there
Seville is a city with a character and a complacency); Steaua arrived, expected was no joy. And even though Pedraza was
style all its own. But history lessons and to be little more than sacrificial lambs now sticking much tighter to the skilful
travel guides are one thing. Modern sport on a night of Catalan rejoicing. Balint, Steaua suddenly found themselves
is rewriting the world. Los Angeles means running the game. The only reason they
Olympics; Mexico means World Cup; and As Steaua coach Emerich Jenei said did not make life really tough for Urruti
Seville, to millions of people around the later: “Barcelona had everything to was a lack of that first-touch technique
world, now means two dramatic football lose, we had everything to win.” which the Yugoslavs possess.
matches. Both of which ended the
same way: in a penalty shootout. No wonder, then, that it was all noise, Also, their discipline in always holding
passion and fury at the start – much four men at the back meant they found
I was lucky enough to be in the Estadio of the fury generated by both teams’ themselves short of attacking support
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan the night West eagerness to “let them know we’re there,” when they did get around the Barca
Germany outshot France in the World as the saying goes. Referee Michel penalty box.
Cup semi-final of four years ago. And Vautrot was soon fishing out his yellow
card in quick succession for three

80 EUROPEAN CUP

Disappointment…
Barcelona manager
Terry Venables

1986

European Cup Winners

STEAUA BUCHAREST

1987 Porto Porto…No.1

Skill…European Porto won their first European trophy in 1987 after fighting back
Cup final scorer
Rabah Madjer from 1–0 down against Bayern Munich to win the European

Cup. Keir Radnedge profiles the Portuguese giants

Porto have always been the
“Third Club” in the Portuguese
football hierarchy. Yet now they
stand proud as No1. in Europe
after the thrilling Champions Cup win
over Bayern Munich in Vienna.

The Futebol Clube do Porto (NOT
Oporto), revived on August 2, 1906
after being first founded on September
28, 1893, has spent most of the 81
years since then envying the reputations
of Lisbon rivals, Benfica and Sporting.

But not any more. True, a host of
uncertainties have been thrown up since
that great night in the Prater Stadion:
Algerian World Cup star (and scorer of
that cheeky backheel in the final) Rabah
Madjer reportedly wants a transfer back
to France and Brazilian World Cup man
Walter Casagrande has an option to
move to Italy; also, of course, Europe’s
biggest clubs have suddenly discovered
the potential genius of young Paolo Futre.

But for a few weeks Porto can bask
in the glory of continental supremacy
and an achievement which has done
much to repair the damage caused to
Portugal’s international reputation by
the wrangles on and off the pitch at the
World Cup finals in Mexico a year ago.

Porto do not stand as a major contrast
to the Portuguese national team. They
faithfully mirror the tactical stand, which
proved so successful at the 1984 Euros,
when Portugal reached the semi-finals.

That is, they defend with a line of four
at the back with a midfield shield of four
men in home games and five men away.

That leaves one or two raiders up
front – depending on the match, the
opposition and the circumstances.

In home games the raiders are
usually former European Golden Boot
winner Fernando Gomes and the highly-
promising Futre, or the powerful Madjer.
In away games it’s usually just Gomes.

And in Vienna, because Gomes was
ruled out after breaking a leg in training
the previous week, Futre was on his own
at the start.

But with Bayern a goal up at half-
time, Porto’s polite, polyglot coach Artur
Jorge had no option but to break ranks.
Off came Quim, the fifth midfielder,
and on went the Brazilian substitute
Juary to play up front next to Futre.

Juary has developed a reputation 1978 (where they lost 4-0 in Paris’ winter break, then edged out holders ABOVE: Dejected
in Portuguese football as a supersub, Parc des Princes to Anderlecht). Aberdeen 1-0 both home and away to …Bayern Munich’s
changing the complexion of many vital reach the Basel final against Juventus. Andreas Brehme
games with his goals as substitute. None Stessl arrived to find that Porto had ABOVE LEFT: Boss
will ever prove more important than the sold their top scorer, Fernando Gomes, Here their inexperience told. Not only …Porto manager
second Porto goal in Vienna...for that to Sporting Gijon in Spain. The Porto did they lose 2-1 (Antonio Sousa scored Artur Jorge
was the one which beat Bayern and board brought in the Irish international Porto’s consolation goal) but several
brought the European crown back Mickey Walsh to help plug the gap. players lost their heads under pressure 1987
to Portugal; for the first time since and goalkeeper Ze Beto collected European Cup Winners
Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5-3 But player unrest, controversy over a a costly one-year ban from UEFA
in Amsterdam way back in 1962. possible transfer to Sporting of forward competitions for harassing the PORTO
Jose Costa and then a players’ revolt officials after the final whistle.
Juary, Casagrande and Celso from proved too much to handle.
Brazil; Madjer from Algeria; goalkeeper But Porto had learned a valuable
Jozef Mlynarczyk from Poland – all A string of bad results led to Stessl lesson: to keep their heads and keep
imports. being replaced as coach in January 1982 playing their football, under the greatest
and, at the season’s end, Pedroto was pressure. And how it has paid off since.
Appropriate too, because back recalled to fill the breach.
in the early 1930s Porto were one of Domestic champions in 1985 and
Portuguese football’s pioneers in the Up to this point Porto’s reputation 1986, no one could begrudge Porto
business of signing foreign professionals. was merely domestic, though it is their progress to European glory this
worth recalling that they took part in past term. Thrashing Rabat Ajax of
Then they began by bringing in the Champions Cup in only its second Malta (10-0), before dispatching
two Yugoslavs, and that ambition was season of existence in 1956-57 when Vitkovice of Czechoslovakia (3-1)
reflected in Porto’s initial championship they were beaten first time out, 5-3 on and Denmark’s Brondby (2-1)
successes in 1939 and 1940. aggregate, by Spain’s Athletic Bilbao. may have raised few eyebrows.

In those days Porto’s home was Now, in the early 1980s, they began
the old Campo da Constituicao, which making a name in Europe for the wrong
they had developed after moving there reasons.
in 1912 following six years on a piece
of wasteland known as the Campo The Antas stadium, once closed for
da Rainha. three games because of crowd unrest
at a domestic league game, was shut
Now, as befits European champions, by UEFA for one game after a stormy
their home is the impressive, 70,000- Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final against
capacity Estadio das Antas. Porto built Standard Liege in 1982.
it in 1952 and now plans are afoot to
extend the capacity. Some 18 months later, however, and

Porto have won the championship on Europe’s biggest clubs have
nine occasions (Benfica 27, Sporting 16)
since its inception in 1934-35 and the suddenly discovered the potential
cup five times. genius of young Paolo Futre

They were also runners-up to Juventus Porto were back in the Cup Winners’ But to defeat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1
of Italy three years ago in the European Cup, albeit as runners-up to double- home and away and then recover from
Cup Winners’ Cup after a seven-year winning rivals Benfica. No upsets or a goal down against Bayern Munich –
stretch of success built on foundations temperamental failures this time. without injured stars Lima Pereira, Jaime
laid by the late Jose Maria Pedroto, Pacheco, Casagrande and Gomes – in
one of Portugal’s best-ever coaches. Porto played it strictly by the book the final was right out of the top drawer.
– so strictly that their initial victories
In many ways the Champions Cup over Dinamo Zagreb and Rangers were Whatever may happen to this Porto
triumph can be seen as the climax of thanks to the away goals rule. In the team now – and theirs may yet prove
Pedroto’s work, carried on by Artur quarter-finals they caught Shakhtar a one-season wonder – they earned
Jorge, one of his most loyal pupils. Donetsk ring-rusty after the Soviet their medals the hard way.

It all began when Porto won the
Portuguese Cup in 1977 and then
followed up by winning consecutive
championships in 1978 and 1979. Not
that everything has gone smoothly.

In October 1979 Pedroto was
suspended for a month by the federation
for bringing the game into disrepute
with disparaging comments about
the then-Benfica and national
team boss, Mario Wilson.

Benfica acted revenge by defeating
Porto 1-0 in the 1980 cup final – a
triumph they repeated in beating Porto
3-1 again in the 1981 final. By now
Pedroto had left and Hermann
Stessl was coach.

He was an Austrian who had jumped
to fame by taking Austria Vienna to the
European Cup Winners’ Cup final in

EUROPEAN CUP 83

1988 PSV

PSV win on penalties

PSV secured a treble of the Dutch Cup, the Dutch league and the European
Cup in 1988, winning the latter on penalties. But losing finalists Benfica
disappointed Keir Radnedge given their glorious heritage in the competition

ABOVE: Hero... P SV’s win in the Champions Cup What a lot of romantic twaddle we anywhere and a centre-forward in
PSV goalkeeper final was not much of a victory. had about Benfica in the lead up to Mats Magnusson who may be “strong
Hans van Breukelen They battled hard for it and they Stuttgart. The Lisbon side are a great and powerful” by Portuguese league
deserved the luck of the penalty club. Far greater than the outfit from standards, but who looked like a big
shootout. But it’s hard to get too excited Eindhoven will ever be. It’s not merely boy lost out in the big wide world.
about a team carrying off a trophy from achievement. It’s history, tradition and
a competition in which they have not a relationship with the public which Hardly surprising then that they played
won a game since a 2-0 victory over the great Latin clubs manage in a the European Cup final as Wimbledon had
Rapid Vienna in November last year. way beyond the northern Europeans. played the FA Cup final against Liverpool.

Both Bordeaux in the quarter-finals PSV are doing well at the moment Fearful, as underdogs, that their rivals
and Real Madrid in the semis were beaten and no doubt the Philips empire is well would take them to the cleaners on most
on the away goals rule after close draws. pleased. But corporate sympathies have occasions, they constructed a strategy
not always lain too closely with the club. which would put them on at least even
But if the Stuttgart final were all that terms on this one day of the year.
European football is about then England’s Being a great club is different to
clubs should not worry too much about being a great football team. As the game itself unfolded, so did
whether they are a part of it. Benfica’s grand plan to short-circuit
Benfica coach Toni wasn’t joking the Philips electronics.
Of course, European competition is when he said, after defeat in the
about much more than a flat concoction Neckarstadion, that the team still Benfica spies had studied PSV live and
of Dutch over-anxiety and Portuguese had room for improvement. on video. They had understood the danger
pragmatism. posed by the powerful, overlapping
A generous understatement. Even Eric Gerets, down the right.
It is about tradition, romance, legend. allowing for the unlucky injury absence
It is about flashes of greatness and pure of skipper Diamantino in midfield, the They had also understood the danger
drama. It is the great stage for tales of Portuguese side have two of the most of allowing PSV the space for those
yesterday’s heroes – or so we’re told. pedestrian full-backs you will find high-speed intricacies of Gerald
Vanenburg through midfield.

84 EUROPEAN CUP

So Antonio Pacheco was delegated to You might as well not play the final Eusebio, in his role as an assistant
the left wing, to keep Gerets occupied at all. I can think of plenty of teams coach, was on duty in Stuttgart anyway
to such an extent that he would not over the years who would have been (before the match the photographers
have time or inclination to turn up delighted to share the trophy. were more interested in him than in the
as an extra man in attack. current crop of Portuguese star names).
Professional sport is about winners
Further back, Benfica recalled and losers: that’s why people pay Just as 1961 is now immortalised, so
veteran club captain Sheu to deputise their hard-earned cash to go along will 1988 be one day where Benfica
for Diamantino and sit in front of the and watch. Because all the delights are concerned. Unworthily.
back four, clogging up midfield and and disasters of their daily lives are
cutting off Vanenburg’s links with captured, in microcosm, in 90 If I have dwelt at length on Benfica
Wim Kieft and Hans Gillhaus. minutes on a football field. rather than the winners, PSV, then it is
because they held major responsibility
The difference between the reactions
of Liverpool in the FA Cup final, and PSV Benfica tried only not to lose...
in Stuttgart, was that not for one moment they betrayed their own heritage
in the 120 minutes did PSV drop their and got what they deserved
guard or let their concentration slip.
Chelsea manager Bobby Campbell for a rather negative night. Battle...Hans Gillhaus
It wasn’t pretty to watch but the recently chided a senior BBC man, PSV we can hope to see on a better of PSV and Antonio
professional application was awesome Bryon Butler, that “reporters (and by Veloso of Benfica
– even if PSV did let their irritation inference fans as well) are on the day. Benfica, Toni thought, “lost with
show a little too much. fringe of the game and don’t really dignity” at the end of it all, as Dutch 1988
understand all the pressures.” keeper Hans van Breukelen guessed European Cup Winners
Portuguese sides have never been right to stop Antonio Veloso’s
noted for their defensive qualities. The suggestion that professional underpowered penalty. PSV
Porto last year needed a Brazilian, footballers have some existential insight
Celso, at the heart of defence just into the meaning of life which is denied Certainly Benfica lost with a great
as Benfica looked to his compatriot, to the rest of humanity hardly stands up. deal more dignity than anguished
Carlos Mozer, to seal the gaps. Real Madrid in the semi-final.
It’s just more of the pretentious
Ahead of him Rui Aguas divided his nonsense which managers often come But then, Madrid were much more
time between pretending to attack and up with. ambitious. They had tried to win the tie.
standing in the way every time Ronald Benfica, in Stuttgart, tried only not to lose.
Koeman threatened one of those Benfica coach Toni was an example. There is little dignity to be found there.
forward bursts of his. He felt that Benfica had “written a
golden page” with their appearance Benfica would have proved worthy of
Koeman didn’t like it and dispatched in Stuttgart. their place in the final only if they had
fellow centre-back Ivan Nielsen to “deal” come out to try to play. They didn’t,
with him. Perhaps he considered justice “Do you call three goal efforts in they betrayed their own heritage
was done early in the second half when 120 minutes golden?” he was asked. and got what they deserved.
Aguas strained a hamstring blocking a Toni ignored the barb.
free-kick and was lost to the match.
Like Artur Jorge, Porto’s coach
For all of the first half and the early last year, Toni has one of those little
stages of the second, these Benfica ploys Portuguese moustaches. On Artur
– the varied uses of Pacheco, Sheu and Jorge it looked jaunty. But then he
Aguas – meant that Vanenburg had no was a winner.
one to work with in PSV’s attacking third.
Toni’s moustache drooped sadly at
PSV had to find a remedy and coach the corners. He was a loser. But maybe
Guus Hiddink chose to abandon the close there was a grain of truth in what he said.
game in favour of a more robust style.
In years to come, the next time
Soren Lerby and Gerets began to Benfica reach a European final, the
hit long, angled crosses at the Benfica experts will look back, and count up,
penalty box and this, allied to a natural and Stuttgart will become part of
fatigue factor, began to yield results. Benfica’s glorious history.

Three times Vanenburg had chances Just like Berne in 1961. That was when
to open the scoring. Once Silvino saved Benfica won their first Champions Cup.
bravely at his feet, another time a delicate It was the first time most fans outside
chip floated just wide of a post. of Portugal had ever heard of them.

Nielsen blasted another chance high Yet how did Benfica beat Barcelona?
over the bar. With less than 20 minutes Undeservedly. Against the run of play.
remaining PSV at last looked like they With incredible luck, under siege in the
were capable of making a breakthrough. last 20 minutes from the likes of
Laszlo Kubala, Zoltan Czibor
But not enough. And so to penalties. and Sandor Kocsis.
There is little point in repeating all the
arguments. In the highly-complex world But that win is now part of Benfica’s
of top-level football organisation, a glorious heritage – one of the two
penalty shootout has the supreme reasons (Amsterdam ’62 was the other)
virtue of settling an issue on the day. why Benfica brought along to Stuttgart
their old stars such as Jose Aguas
Why not, some people ask, just share (father of Rui) and Mario Coluna.
the trophies? Diplomatic that may be.
But why should two teams strive for
all-out victory when they start a
match with half a cup anyway?

EUROPEAN CUP 85

1989 Milan

The Berlusconi
revolution

Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4–0 in the final of the 1989 European Cup thanks
to doubles by Dutchmen Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit. Keir Radnedge
examines the man behind Milan’s success: owner Silvio Berlusconi

ABOVE: Goal...Ruud In 1986, Milan were scandal- football and led directly to the creation for a match-fixing scandal) and
Gullit scores the first ridden and bankruptcy-bound. of the Champions League. were £20 million in debt.
goal of the1989 final Silvio Berlusconi, a lifelong fan of
the club that had built his initial Berlusconi went out to win friends Berlusconi, setting a pattern that
millionaire’s empire through a media through football. So successfully did his Roman Abramovich would emulate
conglomeration based on regional business expand – and his ego along at Chelsea, paid off the debts and
commercial television channels, with it – that he employed his corporate provided the cash to buy Ajax’s Marco
decided to step in. His father Luigi pre-eminence in Italy as a springboard van Basten, the finest centre-forward of
did not approve, warning: “The only into politics, becoming prime minister. his era, plus his compatriot Ruud Gullit
return on your money will be the With a chillingly effective populism he from PSV for a then-world record £6m.
bad publicity that comes to every even named his political party Forza
president of that club.” Italia, the traditional encouragement After Milan duly carried off the
for the national team. Serie A championship for the first
Berlusconi, however, was not so time in nine years, Berlusconi also
much on an ego trip as a commercial Milan were in a sorry state when financed the acquisition of a third
voyage. He was the personification of Berlusconi swept in. The club, one key Dutchman, Frank Rijkaard.
the aggressive commercialism that of the European Cup’s original giants,
swiftly revolutionised European club had been relegated twice in quick Turning stars into winners takes
succession (once as punishment a top-class coach. Berlusconi found
him in Arrigo Sacchi. The shoe-maker

86 EUROPEAN CUP

from Fusignano had never played in this theatre. As long as we are cost is unknown but Berlusconi Owners...Berlusconi
at professional level, but as he said: always competing to win then we concedes the glory and the profile (right) walks with
“You don’t have to have been a will win more often than not – and have come at a heavy financial price. Marseille president
horse to be a successful jockey.” a winning coach gives me no excuse Bernard Tapie
to replace him.” “Milan is a passion I inherited from
Sacchi’s horse sense produced my father. It’s been one of the greatest 1989
a winning thoroughbred by mixing In the early years, when Berlusconi delights of my life. From the financial European Cup Winners
Dutch fluidity with Italian backbone, was still a businessman and had not yet point of view, yes, of course it’s cost
such players as stopper Alessandro transmogrified onwards and upwards me money. But you must always be MILAN
Costacurta, playmaker Carlo Ancelotti into a political animal, he remained a prepared to make a sacrifice for
(later Milan coach), sweeper and skipper fascinating individual study in power. something you love.”
Franco Baresi, and magnificent young
left-back Paolo Maldini. He would hold court at his villa The first European Cup win, against
at Arcore, outside Milan, talking and Steaua Bucharest in Barcelona in 1989,
Sacchi, Fabio Capello, Alberto acting with an impatience that was demonstrated Berlusconi’s drive not
Zaccheroni and Ancelotti all enjoyed as much physical as it was verbal. only to be successful but also to be
long tenures as coach. Here, perhaps, seen to be successful.
is a key factor in Berlusconi’s success.
First he appoints top-class coaches, On the eve of the final, Spanish TV
then he leaves them alone to get on engineers went on strike. Berlusconi
with the job, though, as he says: “It’s pulled strings. He commandeered an
only right and proper that the man who Italian military plane to fly his own
steers the ship should make his views technicians and extra cameras into
known at the right time and place.” Barcelona on the morning of the game.
Thus 300 million viewers around the
Any coach could disagree with him world saw Milan win the trophy for
but only as long as his results stood up. the third time by a walkover 4-0.
As Berlusconi has said: “Milan would They also saw Berlusconi join his
always like to be the best, of course. players and virtually take over the
But at the highest level winning or presentation ceremony.
losing is often a matter of luck.
He was, indeed, the new face of
“What is important is that we
are always among the main actor The first European Cup win

demonstrated Berlusconi’s drive

Berlusconi would talk in Italian and European football, in which the clubs
then switch into English to finish the are eroding the power of the national
sentence before the translator had got associations. In the early 1990s he
there; he would constantly jump out of forecast: “The concept of the national
his chair to pour some more water or team will become less and less
adjust the window blinds or move a important. It is the clubs with which
chair. He was a man on the move, and fans associate…I can even envisage
his club have imitated his personality. that one day we will let in fans free
to the stadium because we need the
In Berlusconi’s 21 years in power thousands to create the atmosphere
Milan won 24 trophies, including five that television transmits to the millions.”
Champions Leagues. The personal

EUROPEAN CUP 87

1989 Milan

Gullit
and
Milan

top the
honours

Milan’s Ruud Gullit is named
World Soccer’s World Player
of the Year after his heroics
in the 1989 European Cup
final thrashing of Steaua
Bucharest in Barcelona

88 EUROPEAN CUP

R uud Gullit is your World He made his Netherlands debut in most of the rest of the time because of Wall of talent…
Footballer of the Year. In a 2-1 defeat by Switzerland in Zurich in complications arising from aggravation Carlo Ancelotti,
our annual poll the Dutch September, 1981, but was a controversial of the injury that memorable night. Frank Rijkaard,
superstar, despite having figure in the Netherlands’ European Marco van Basten
played only a handful of matches this Championship success of 1988 after In the meantime it has been left to and Ruud Gullit
year, finished narrowly ahead of his sacrificing his individualistic style to Van Basten to carry the Dutch torch,
Milan and Netherlands partner the needs of the tactics laid down which he has done magnificently above Dutch dynamite
Marco van Basten. by coach Rinus Michels. all in this season’s repeat victory over …Gullit poses in
Real Madrid and despite a knee Netherlands kit
Born Rudi Dil, Ruud Gullit was Gullit contributed the Netherlands’ operation of his own at the start
previously acclaimed as 1987 European first goal in the 2-0 defeat of the Soviet of September. 1989
Footballer of the Year (courtesy of Union in the Euros final and, as captain,
France Football) and World Player carried off the cup. But he paid a heavy Manager of the Year is Milan’s Arrigo European Cup Winners
of the Year (courtesy or World Soccer). price, and so did Milan. Reaction from Sacchi due to the way in which Milan’s
He is one of the most distinguished and the leg injury he carried through the Champions Cup triumph vindicated MILAN
distinctive players in the game with European finals dogged him in the his positive approach to soccer in as
his dreadlocks and all-round skills. early part of last season. He then demanding a milieu as Italian football.
injured his right knee in an accident
His father is from Suriname, his in the 5-0 European Cup semi-final
mother from the Netherlands, and Gullit thrashing of Real Madrid.
was born in Amsterdam. He played as a
teenager for Meerboys and DWS before Keyhole surgery brought him back
making a league breakthrough under just in time for the final against Steaua
Barry Hughes at Haarlem. Bucharest in which he scored twice and

Against Steaua Bucharest

Gullit scored twice and was

inspirational in the 4-0 success

He moved on to Feyenoord and was inspirational in the 4-0 success.
then PSV before joining Milan for a Compatriot Van Basten also scored
world-record £6 million in 1987. He twice to make it a Dutch double.
duly inspired the Rossoneri’s thrilling
Italian championship win of 1987-88 But Gullit, Milan and Netherlands
and later their victorious Champions have since paid a heavy price. It has
Cup campaign (1988-89). since become clear that he was really
not fit to play and has been absent

EUROPEAN CUP 89

1990 Milan

Why Van Basten must

keep on running

Milan are the kings of Europe once again after beating Benfica 1-0 in
the 1990 European Cup final, but that’s not enough for flying Dutchman
Marco van Basten. Keir Radnedge reports from Vienna’s Prater Stadion

Deadly Dutchman... M ilan are the finest team Some 27 years ago these two met and Giovanni Trapattoni for Milan.
Marco van Basten in the world. Everyone says in this same final. Wembley was then Eusebio shot Benfica into the lead.
so. Players and coaches. the stage. The star names were Eusebio, Then, midway through the first half,
Fans. World Cup managers Mario Coluna and Jose Torres for Benfica, schemer Coluna was clumsily clogged
such as Brazil’s Sebastiao Lazaroni. Jose Altafini, Gianni Rivera, Dino Sani by Gino Pivatelli – a midfielder

surprisingly brought in at the last minute that this line of questioning should be individual. He was skilful and quick on Runners-up...
by Milan’s tough old coach Nereo Rocco. considered closed. the ball; he was not afraid to run with Benfica beat
Pivatelli had been a lively centre-forward the ball; all in all his display provided Marseille in
in the mid-1950s. But World Cup and Champions Cup conclusive evidence about why several the semi-final
are inextricably linked. Questioners kept Italians clubs are chasing him.
But his nastiest kick also proved the coming back to that theme. It was not 1990
most effective of his career. With Coluna enough that Van Basten’s class had Not even being the subject of some European Cup Winners
at half-pace, Benfica lost grip and Milan helped kill off a Benfica team which rough handling early on by Alessandro
seized the initiative. was a vast improvement on the Costacurta and Carlo Ancelotti could MILAN
depressive side beaten at this dampen his ambition. The queue of
The brilliance of Rivera and the same stage two years ago. would-be purchasers must have grown
two-goal opportunism of Altafini did by the time Austrian referee Helmut
the rest. Milan won 2-1. It was the first Van Basten could not be allowed Kohl blew his final whistle.
Italian triumph in the history of the to celebrate in peace. The next target
Champions Cup. had to be laid in his way. Whom did he Mats Magnusson, up front, was once
consider World Cup favourites? Brazil, again the weak link. His prolific scoring
Benfica have been back several Italy and West Germany. in Portuguese football means nothing at
times since. They were losing finalists the highest level. Magnusson may look
to Internazionale in 1965, to Manchester What about England? They’re very powerful and strong in Portugal but in
United in 1968 and to PSV two years strong, just like Netherlands, Yugoslavia. Vienna he looked clumsy and short of
ago. That 1988 final was decided on What about Gullit? Given two or three ideas. A couple of penalty-box collapses
penalties after the most stultifying of weeks’ hard work he would be ready. were not worthy of him, either. Referee
matches. It was the worst European Kohl refused to be impressed.
Champions Cup final I have ever seen. Oddly enough Ruud Gullit’s return
Benfica were totally negative; PSV had disorientated Milan. Van Basten had Among Milan’s pedigree names Frank
were overawed by the occasion. no qualms about owning up: “It was not Rijkaard (the match winner) was a tower
so easy to start playing alongside Gullit of strength in midfield, Franco Baresi an
This time around Benfica looked again. We have had to change things. all-pervading controller from sweeper,
creatively exciting in the first half of Maybe it wasn’t easy for him too.” and Ancelotti a tireless pair of legs.
their quarter-final against Dnipro and
again at times against Marseille in the Gullit had two chances to mark his And then there was Van Basten.
semis. But it may be significant that, for return to senior competitive action with Being foiled once but setting up the
all that, they scored only a bare handful a goal. The first time, in the first half, winning goal for revenge.
of goals in both ties put together. goalkeeper Silvino spread himself well
to save. The second time, late in the It’s rare for Van Basten not to score
Centre-forward Mats Magnusson game, Gullit blazed high over the top. in a final. Netherlands fans will forgive
has torn through defences in the him, of course, if he scores the winner
Portuguese league. But the constant Those two incidents and the final on July 8 in Rome. Italian fans may not
easy success to be found in Portugal 1-0 scoreline reveal this game for what
presented the greatest problem for
Benfica. Out in the Prater Stadion, For all Benfica’s talent, another
against Milan, they were playing Italian victory was always
for the highest stakes under the the likeliest outcome
greater pressure.
it was: more chess than soccer. But be as happy at such a prospect. But on
Portuguese rivals Porto surprised among the puppets were a handful of the evidence at the Prater Stadion they
us all in this same match, in this same individuals whose quality shone through would respect it.
stadium, three years ago against Bayern the night. On the Benfica side Aldair
Munich. But, for all Benfica’s talent, and was a rock in central defence, although Van Basten, right now, is on top
for all Milan’s battle scars, another Italian he did collect a yellow card; Jonas Thern of the world. But to stay there and
victory was always the likeliest outcome. was a superb snapper-up of loose passes; to remain a force, he must keep on
Valdo, the Brazilian, by far their top running. International football at this
Marco van Basten sat over the level is a very particular treadmill.
microphone in the Champions Cup
final conference room. He seemed
much less at home than he had out in
the warm evening of the Prater Stadion.

In front of 57,500 impeccably
behaved supporters from Milan and
Lisbon, Dutchman Van Basten had just
demonstrated why he is considered a
front-runner to usurp Diego Maradona’s
crown as the world’s No.1...and why the
Netherlands could soon be deposing
Argentina as world champions.

Last year Van Basten scored twice in
the 4-0 thrashing of Romanians Steaua
Bucharest. But Milan almost prefer not
to think about that. For these ultimate
professionals that was almost too easy.
Anyway, for all professionals the only
game which matters is the next one.
Or, in Van Basten’s case, the next cup.

“All our troubles are over,” he said
with a sudden smile which indicated

EUROPEAN CUP 91

1991 Red Star Belgrade

Red Star Belgrade

join the elite

Penalty pain is repeated for Marseille’s Mozer and Waddle, as Yugoslavs Red
Star Belgrade win their first European Cup. Keir Radnedge reports from Bari

History...Red Red Star Belgrade took the they were swept to one side, rather partisan venue. For once, if by
Star triumph most prestigious club trophy than properly beaten. accident, UEFA had come up with
to Yugoslavia for the first time. a perfect neutral venue midway
For that much they deserve Red Star’s sweeper, Miodrag between the competing cities
praise. The ultimate emotion, however, Belodedic, thus created a little piece of Marseille and Belgrade.
from the Stadio San Nicola in Bari was of history as the first man to win the
one of regret that the manner of their Champions Cup with different clubs. Not that this made Bari
crowning glory did not match the And both victories on penalties, Red an ideal stage, in itself.
setting or the atmosphere. Star mimicking the 1986 victory of
his previous team, Steaua Bucharest. The stadium is superb – as
The San Nicola is a futuristic stadium; the world will have seen from those
this was not, one hopes, a triumph for Both clubs will return to the exquisite aerial shots during World
futuristic football. At times the chess Champions Cup next season. One Cup finals last year. Like a giant flying
game plotted by Slav coach Ljupko had hoped this knowledge would saucer, something out of E.T. or Star
Petrovic looked a very old one indeed. help both teams release their attacking Wars, it sits, poised, on the plain to the
prowess. Darko Pancev, Robert Prosinecki south of the town as if waiting to spin
When Marseille stars such as Chris and Dejan Savicevic on the one side: away to a more worthy setting.
Waddle and Carlos Mozer reflect on Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle
repeated penalty heartbreak (Waddle on the other - all were ultimately That’s not to denigrate Bari. But the
was a World Cup loser with England in stifled by the triumphant checkmate hotels could not cope with the demands
1990, Mozer a Champions Cup loser created by Petrovic. of the Champions Cup final nor could its
with Benfica in 1988) they will feel airport cope with UEFA’s ideal scenario:
At least there was no blaming a all the fans flying in on the morning of

the game and all the fans flying out That being the Marseille’s half of the field. ABOVE: Save...
immediately after the final whistle. case, it was hardly Thus, partly by default, all the Marseille’s Pascal
surprising that the Olmeta stops Red
The town itself is an odd mixture, first half produced second-half pressure came from Star’s Dragisa Binic
incorporating samples of Naples, few chances. Marseille. Not that they produced that TOP: Dejected...the
Barcelona and indiscriminate bits and much threatening football. Most of their Marseille players at
pieces of some undefined city of Latin The best fell efforts were off target or were gathered the final whistle
America or North Africa. The courtyards to Papin after 11 by Stojanovic.
and passageways of the old town echoed minutes. Manuel 1991
to the street patois of the men lounging Amoros’ cross Red Star, by contrast, never once European Cup Winners
on the corners and the boys sitting in skimmed over the discomfited Marseille keeper Pascal
shop doorways. The shabby and the Red Star defenders Olmeta – superbly protected as he RED STAR BELGRADE
chic tumbled around each other in and Papin was free was by the two men of the match,
bewildering, raucous proximity. to shoot. In the centre-backs Mozer and Basile Boli.
French league
Very different to Rome and Milan, this season Papin Ultimately, of course, it was back to
the only Italian cities to have played has, many a time, penalties. The first exchange was decisive.
host to this final before. angled a drive just inside the far post. Prosinecki, for Red Star, waited for
This time, trying too hard to ensure the Olmeta to step one way before calmly
Either would have been a shot flew wide of Stevan Stojanovic, he slotting the ball into the opposite corner.
more obvious choice. But using Bari, whipped it beyond the far post as well.
presumably, repaid a political debt Amoros, by contrast, gave himself
from the World Cup last year. The local Real Madrid president Ramon too little time – hurried at the ball,
authority had been reluctant to support Mendoza had arrived in a chartered telegraphed his direction and was
Bari’s candidature for Italia ’90 without private jet to see his multi-million mortified to see Stojanovic save.
some sort of guarantee of more big target, Prosinecki, in action.
events. That, effectively, was that as Red Star
He would have seen much to converted all of their spot-kicks. When
This was it. All that remained was appreciate, if rather more fleetingly Pancev netted, his team-mates leapt
for the two teams to live up to it. The than we had all hoped. One move in
history of the Champions Cup final is particular, should have reached a more
replete with teams who froze on the deserving conclusion. Prosinecki, deep in
big day. Plenty of them in recent years: his own half and wide on the right, hit a
like Steaua, two years ago, with the backpass to Stojanovic which had the
“mysterious” – shall we say? – ineptitude Marseille fans jeering in derision.
of their performance against Milan.
What they ignored was the sight
Then again, some teams and of Prosinecki accelerating away on a
managers had gone for the line of 50-yard angled run which took him
greatest resistance: play for a penalty into space beyond the Marseille cover.
shootout and hope for the best. Sadly for Red Star, Slobodan Marovic
– to whom Stojanovic had, in turn,
The pre-final fear was that Marseille delivered the ball – failed to spot
coach Raymond Goethals, true to all the Prosinecki and the move foundered.
pragmatic precepts of his career, would
instruct defensive tactics and wait for Thus, in creative terms, the match
Red Star to make the single, decisive was blond on blond: Prosinecki matching
mistake to resolve the night. Ironically, skills with Waddle. At half-time Marseille,
he did not. The defensive campaign pressing as an effective unit and with
was a Yugoslav one. Amoros a deft lieutenant to Waddle,
were perhaps shading it on points.
The tactical contrast which did
emerge was almost startlingly old Pancev and Marseille skipper Papin
fashioned. Marseille set out a traditional emerged more and more as soulmates
4-4-2 using Bernard Casoni and Bruno during the second half, albeit at opposite
Germain to sit tight in midfield and ends of the pitch. Red Star had decided
undertake the fetching and carrying that the way to stop Marseille was to cut
or Waddle. The England man, though off Papin’s supply of the ball; as for Pancev,
nominally one of the two strikers, was he was virtually abandoned by his team-
also the Marseille creative fulcrum – mates. He was expected not only to fire
wandering from wing to wing seeking
out possession to try to create a The wondrously-gifted Prosinecki
decisive gap for Papin up front.
matching skills with Waddle
Red Star had clearly done their
homework and expected just that. the bullets, but to manufacture and load into each others’ arms in delight. Red
Only Pancev was stationed permanently them himself. Star had thus become the first Yugoslav
upfield, with Dragisa Binic, Savicevic and team to win the Champions Cup.
Prosinecki spread across the field behind Pancev did, of course, have the last
him – both as support strikers and as a laugh. His penalty during the shootout Just a pity that, on the night, the
first line of midfield defence. – following the goalless stalemate – fireworks were the combustible type
was the final, decisive kick of the night. which exploded into the night sky as Red
Then came a back four shielding Star hoisted aloft the cup...rather than the
Ilija Najdoski, Papin’s marker and the Yet Red Star might surely not have fireworks on the pitch which the meeting
one man on the pitch with a set target. needed penalties had they employed of these two teams had promised.
Even further back was the sweeper, the wondrously-gifted Prosinecki in
Romanian Belodedici.

EUROPEAN CUP 93

1992 Barcelona

The

longest journey

Ronald Koeman’s classic strike at Wembley ends Barcelona’s European Cup
quest, as Keir Radnedge recalls the club’s journey to this triumphant moment

ABOVE: Calm before S. that the value of even these titles was thumped the winner, Barca wanted to
the storm...Barcelona own Ode to Joy. nothing compared with the one which bring on Miguel Angel Nadal as midfield
That was Barcelona’s victory got away again and again. substitute for the tiring Pep Guardiola.
coach Johan Cruyff over Sampdoria in Wembley’s first
takes a shot before Champions Cup final since Liverpool’s In 1961 Benfica beat Barcelona in Johan Cruyff called from the bench to
defeat of Club Brugge 14 years ago. the Champions Cup final in Berne; in delay the switch until after the free-kick.
the final kicks off 1986 Steaua Bucharest beat them
This, for all those readers and in a penalty shootout in Seville. When Koeman’s pile-driver crashed
fans who wondered what all the fuss through Sampdoria’s defence, Cruyff
has been about each year before a The 1961 team contained some of changed his mind. Nadal was pushed
succession of stultifyingly unimpressive the finest individual footballers the back onto the bench and Guardiola was
matches, is what the European Cup world has seen, never mind Europe. replaced, instead, by Jose Ramon
final is all about. Laszlo Kubala, Luis Suarez and Sandor Alexanko...so Alexanko, in probably his
Kocsis are names which echo down last service to his club, could lead the
A compelling contest between two history and not merely for their way up the steps and carry off the cup.
fine teams; a scattering of outstanding achievements in the famous maroon-
individuals; ultimately a magnificent and-blue of the flagship of Catalonia. Barcelona thus became the second
strike for the decision. Spanish club to win the Champions Cup
But the glitter of history had to wait (after Real Madrid) and the third club
All those readers who were with us until Wembley. An historic venue for an (after Juventus and, also this year, Ajax)
in October 1960 will know that this is historic event. And how coolly Barcelona to have collected all three European
where World Soccer came in...poised for took it. trophies at one time or another.
Barcelona to win the most prestigious
trophy in club football. Referee Aron Schmidhuber had ruled Koeman himself was Man of the Match
that both teams had to change kit to and became only the second player in
Together we have watched and avoid a colour clash. Thus Barca played history to win the Champions Cup with
reported the game’s most outrageous in orange. But they had taken the different clubs, after his success in 1988
soap opera: wondered at the vulgarity confident precaution of bringing their with PSV when he also scored, albeit
of so much money wasted over so many maroon-and-blue shirts with them. in the penalty shootout. The previous
years; laughed, incredulous, at the petty As reserves and officials fell into each double-winner was Miodrag Belodedici,
bickering which has split boardroom and other’s arms after the last whistle, so another central defender, who triumphed
dressing room; offered two cheers for each man pulled on the “real” shirt for with Steaua Bucharest against Barcelona
each victory in the Cup Winners’ Cup, the collection of the cup. Beautiful in 1986 and then with Red Star Belgrade
Fairs Cup, Spanish championship and touch. And not the only one. last year against Marseille.
Spanish Cup: knowing, all the while,
When Schmidhuber awarded the The great Johan Cruyff also joined the
free-kick from which Ronald Koeman history makers.

94 EUROPEAN CUP

tired; Gianluca Vialli is thinking seriously The tempo changed after the break.

about pastures new; Vujadin Boskov is It was as if both teams suddenly realised

off to coach Roma: Brazilian veteran this was the European Cup final. It was

Toninho Cerezo is at the end of his now or never. Win or bust. Stoichkov,

career. Sampdoria have even failed to gaining ever more space, hit the post.

secure a UEFA Cup place next term. As serious action increased, so the foul

One match can make so much count dropped and play began to flow

difference. more freely.

Not that there was much between Lombardo’s pace down the Italian

the teams. Barca, predictably, took the right grew more menacing and Vialli,

game to Sampdoria from the start. They on the break, missed two gilt-edged

pressed the outgoing Italian champions chances.

back into their own half – where As time went on, the frustration

Sampdoria were happy to be. They sat quotient increased. A late, late tackle

comfortably in by Bakero on Cerezo provoked a minor

front of their melee which Pagliuca resolved by lifting

penalty box with Bakero bodily out of the fray.

Moreno Mannini In the Barcelona half, Vialli niggled

using his pace, away at Albert Ferrer and Guardiola.

Pietro Vierchowod He looks more and more a Peter Pan

his experience of Calcio, a little boy who will not, or

and Marco Lanna cannot, grow up.

his intelligence, to That may be his tragedy. It was also

protect Gianluca one cause of Sampdoria’s failure.

Pagliuca in goal. So much for the symphony’s second

In midfield Jose movement; extra time was No.3 –

Maria Bakero sat apotheosis.

on Cerezo and Initially, Barcelona appeared to be

vice-versa, tiring. Ferrer, superb in defence, started

cancelling each feeling his legs. Guardiola started to

other out; Ivano stiften up. Laudrup vanished. In the

Bonetti ensured Sampdoria midfield skipper Roberto

that Eusebio, wide Mancini kept on running. Barcelona

on the Barca right, had held the initiative, led the game.

never seriously No wonder they were tiring first.

threatened Italian Sampdoria coach Boskov saw those

security. tell-tale signs and pursued them. Off

Fausto Pari had came Vialli, on went the fresh attacking

a mixed time of it legs of Renato Buso.

marking Michael To no avail. Barcelona were poised to

Laudrup. Pari had fulfil their destiny. Eight minutes remained

the better of the in the second half of extra time when

early exchanges; referee Schmidhuber awarded Barca

Golazo...match-winner Ronald Koeman celebrates after his goal Laudrup gained a free-kick just outside the Sampdoria
the ascendancy penalty box. The award was contentious.

Only one man previously had either side of half-time; then Pari Eusebio, Giovanni Invernizzi and the ball

captained and coached Champions regained command in extra time. had become enmeshed in a defensive

Cup winners: Miguel Munoz, captain The first half was the first movement scrum. A drop ball would have been a

of Real Madrid in 1956 and 1957 and of the symphony. The themes were better decision. But Barcelona did not

their boss in 1960 and 1966. Cruyff, of established but not explored in depth. argue. After all, the position was ideal

course, was a Champions Cup-winning Barcelona used Koeman’s long for a Koeman rocket.

captain with Ajax 19 years ago.
As well as the second captain-cum-

A compelling contest betweencoach he is the third player-cum-coach

to win the Champions Cup: after Munoz

two fine teams and a scatteringand Giovanni Trapattoni (1963 and1969),

a winning player with Milan and victorious

of outstanding individualscoach with Juventus (1985).
In hindsight, you almost wonder why

Sampdoria turned up. At the end their passes and Guardiola’s nimble footwork Stoichkov and Bakero stood either

players threw their shirts into the crowd, as their attacking springboard. But the side of the ball to tee it up. Tip...tap...

more in disgust than tribute. It was as if sharpest chances at both ends arrived thump. And the ball was flying low

they did not want to keep that change within 30 seconds of each other. First to Pagliuca’s right-hand and inside

strip any longer than they needed. The Attilio Lombardo’s close-range, angled the post. Had the net not been fixed 1992
European Cup Winners
Italian fans slipped away similarly, empty- drive was deflected to safety by Andoni securely the ball might still be travelling.
BARCELONA
eyed. That may well prove the end to Zubizarreta’s right-hand; then Hristo Barca brought on Alexanko and played

the Sampdoria decade. Stoichkov, at the other end, had a free keep-ball in the corner. The ghosts of

President Paolo Mantovani is growing header saved by a diving Pagliuca. 1961 and 1986 had been exorcised at last.

EUROPEAN CUP 95

1992 Barcelona

The

Dream Team

As well as winning Barca’s first European Cup, the stylish “Dream Team”
also claimed four consecutive Spanish league titles under Johan Cruyff

Export...Michael
Laudrup was one of a
number of imported

foreign stars

ABOVE: Total B attacking full-backs enabled Barca to and was awarded with the Ballon d’Or
Football...Johan 9 play a possession game as far up the in 1994; the same year he won the
Cruyff gets involved pitch as possible. World Cup Golden Boot with Bulgaria.
in a training session
“Some people have tried but without Early success in Europe was followed
ABOVE RIGHT: success,” said Cruyff. “At first, what we by dominance at home. Barca won the
Deadly...Barca’s do looks simple, our style is based on 1989 Cup Winners’ Cup, while the first
Bulgarian goal king possession and control but you need of four consecutive Spanish league titles
Hristo Stoichkov players with very high technical was claimed in 1991, providing a route
proficiency. Milan and Ajax can back to the top of the European game.
h ar a do it but not many others.” Cruyff went on to become Barcelona’s
most successful coach, amassing 11
The Dutchman combined local trophies, before he was overtaken
talent – epitomised by young midfielder by Guardiola two decades later.
Pep Guardiola – with imported foreign
stars such as Hristo Stoichkov, Michael The 1991-92 season was one of
Laudrup and Koeman, alongside his the most dramatic in La Liga history.
trademark possession-based football. Barcelona had a poor start, losing three
They would later be joined by the likes of their first eight games, but then went
of Romario and Gheorghe Hagi. on an impressive run and lost just three
of their next 30. Going into the final
Bulgarian forward Stoichkov signed gameweek, they trailed Real Madrid by
off the back of scoring 38 goals in a point. Their rivals suffered a surprise
30 league games for CSKA Sofia and loss to Tenerife, while Cruyff’s side won
winning the European Golden Shoe. His their final game, securing a second
committed character and fighting spirit consecutive title for the Catalans.
instantly made him a fans’ favourite.
Perhaps the best footballing moments
He finished as Barcelona’s top of the Dream Team came in the 1993-94
goalscorer in his first three seasons at campaign, however, when Barcelona
the club, often playing off the left wing,

96 EUROPEAN CUP

Michael Laudrup...
one of a number of
Barca’s imported
foreign stars

scored 91 goals – including the historic Cruyff’s
5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid. But a side of the
4-0 humiliation by Milan in the 1994 early 1990s
European Cup final in Athens marked provided the
the beginning of the end. Cruyff quit benchmark
in 1996 and vowed never to coach a for future
club side again. Barcelona

The Netherlands’ most famous son teams
had played at Barcelona from 1973 to
1978 and returned as coach in 1988. 1992
He told World Soccer in November 1992: European Cup Winners
“I love this city. My children go to school
here and as far as the football is BARCELONA
concerned, I have total authority.”
EUROPEAN CUP 97
Cruyff later had a statue unveiled
at the stadium in 2019, while their
new training facility and youth
academy is named after him.

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EUROPEAN CUP
YEARS

LOOKS BACK AT THE HISTORY
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1955-56 TO 1991-92 BEFORE THE
TOURNAMENT’S REBRANDING
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