1- Luis
Fernandez and Racing Club Paris (Matra) 1986/89
French midfielder Luis Fernandez’s transfer from Paris St. Germain
to newly promoted cross-town rivals Racing Club Paris made headlines. Much was
expected of Fernandez who became one of the most highly paid players as a
result.
Unfortunately, Fernandez like the rest of his teammates failed to
settle and was badly injured in his third season.
After three disappointing seasons, he was released to join Cannes.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 149, May 1988
(Luis Fernandez at Racing/Matra Paris)
2- Alain
Sutter and Bayern Munich 1994/95
Swiss midfielder Alain Sutter had impressed with his displays with
the National Team as well Nuremberg in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich signed him in 1994 with high expectations. However,
he failed to settle and joined Freiburg, few months into his second season.
Photo
From: The Game, Issue 6, september 1995
(Alain
Sutter at Bayern Munich, 1994/95)
3- Johnny
Bosman and PSV Eindhoven 1990/91
Former Ajax forward joined rivals PSV Eindhoven in 1990 from
Belgian side Mechelen along with compatriot Erwin Koeman.
However, his solitary season there was disappointing despite winning the League
title, and he jumped at the chance to join his former Ajax and Mechelen Manager
Aad De Mos at Anderlecht in 1991.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 43, August 1992
(Johnny
Bosman at PSV Eindhoven, 1990/91)
4- Robert
Prosinecki and Real Madrid 1991/94 and Barcelona 1995/97
Yugoslavian (and future Croatian) midfielder Robert Prosinecki was
one of the most sought after players in Europe in 1991.
He was signed by Real Madrid, however, his stay there was disappointing
as he struggled with injuries and failed to impress in three seasons. After a
season at Real Oviedo, he joined Barcelona in 1995. His time there was equally
disappointing and he joined Sevilla midway through the 1996/97 season.
Photo
From: World Soccer, February 1992
(Robert
Prosinecki at Real Madrid, 1991/92)
Photo
From: Don Balon, Edicion Chile, September 3-9, 1996
(Robert
Prosinecki at Barcelona)
Photo
From: Don Balon-Appendice Extra Liga 9697
(Robert Prosinecki at Barcelona)
5- Alessandro
Melli and Sampdoria and AC Milan 1994/95
Italian forward
Alessandro Melli was once seen as the bright hope of Italy, while at Parma in
the early 90s. However, the arrivals of Gianfranco Zola and Faustino Asprilla
limited his opportunities.
To make a fresh
start he joined Sampdoria in 1994. However, he failed to find his form there.
Midway through the season (1994/95), he was exchanged with Ruud Gullit (who was
keen to return to Sampdoria) and joined AC Milan.
Once there, he
failed to make the first team and rejoined Parma at the end of the season.
Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, October 31-November 6, 1990
Paris
St. Germain and Watesrchei were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1982/83 Cup
Winners Cup.
The
French Club Paris St. Germain, managed by the Georges Peyroche , were playing
their first season ever of European Football after having won their first ever
trophy the previous season, the French Cup.
They
had acquired foreign stars like Safet Susic and Kees Kist in a squad containing
former Saint Etienne greats Dominique Bathenay and Dominique Rcoheteau as well
as the rising star of French Football Luis Fernandez
They
had qualified from their opening Rounds by defeating Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv Sofia
(0-1, 5-1) and Wales’ Swanseas (1-0 away, 2-0 home).
Belgium’s
Watesrchei were a resilient side managed by West German Ernst Kunnecke and led
by the Janssen brothers and included Internationals such as Leo Clijsters, Eddy
Voordeckers (nicknamed Tintin) and former PSV Eindhoven star Adri van Kraay.
They
had qualified from their opening Rounds by defeating Luxembourg’s Red Boys
Differdange (7-1, 1-0) and Denmark’s BK 1903 Copenhagen (2-0 away, 4-1 Home)
The
first leg, on March 2nd, was played at Paris’ Parc des Princes Stadium This was PSG’s first ever match in Europe
where they played the first leg at home.
PSG started in a 4-4-2 formation with
Pilorget given the task of marking Voordeckers.
Waterschei
manager Kunnecke wanted strict marking on all of PSG’s attacking players
(Rocheteau, Kist, Susic and Dahleb), with sometimes up to 7 players guarding
them. This allowed PSG’s defensive
midfielders Lemoult and Fernandez with more room to operate.
As
the home PSG was expected to dominate and they did.
Photo From: Le Livre D’Or Du Football,
1983
(Martos, Susic and Lemoult)
Photo From:
L’Annee du Football 1983
(A scene from the first leg)
Safet
Susic had a goal disallowed in the 24th minute, after Rocheteau was
judged to have pushed a defender.
Photo From: Le Livre D’Or Du Football,
1983
(Team captains Pierre Janssen and Bathenay)
Just
before halftime, Fernandez scored after a move started by himself near the
right side of the field. He passed it to Susic who passed to Dahleb near the
edge of the box, Dahleb immediately backheeled to the onrushing Fernandez who
scored.
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(The
First goal by Fernandez)
For
the second goal in the 58th minute, Susic passed to Fernandez at edge
of the box, who with his back to the goal turned and took a hard shot.
Watesrchei’s
goalkeeper Pudelko could only parry and Pilorget knocked in the rebound.
Despite
the two goal cushion there was a feeling that Paris should have done more to
increase their advantage.
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(The second goal by Pilorget)
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(Martos, Susic and Pierre Jansssen)
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(Fernandez and Pierre Janssen)
Peyroche
even said that most teams would have cracked under the constant pressure and
let in a third but Watesrchei held on to their credit.
Many
were surprised that given the space provided, PSG’s outside backs Guillochon
and Bacconier rarely ventured up to give numerical advantage to Paris’s
attacks.
The
tie still seemd up for grabs at this point.
Photo From: Le Livre D’Or Du Football,
1983
(Pilorget and Voordeckers)
Photo From: France Football, Issue 1926,
March 8, 1983
(Martos, Bathenay and Susic)
Photo From: Le Livre D’Or Du Football,
1983
(Pudelko and Rocheteau)
March 2, 1983
Paris
Saint-Germain Football Club (France) 2-Koninklijke Waterschei
Sportvereniging Thor Genk (Belgium) 0
Cup
Winners Cup- Quarterfinals, First Leg
Venue: Paris-Parc Des Princes
Attendance: 49,407
Referee: Bogdan Dochev (Bulgaria)
Goalscorers: (Paris St. Germain): Luis
Fernandez 43rd,
Uniform
Colors: White Shirts with a vertical Red and Blue line on the left side, White Shorts, White Socks
Waterschei:
1-Klaus
Pudelko (West Germany), 2-Gyozo Martos (Hungary), Pierre Plessers, 8-Leo
Clijsters, 4-Danny David, 5-Adri van Kraay (Holland), 6-Aime Coenen
(13-Jean-Paul Massignani 66th), 7-Pierre Janssen, 11-Roland
Jansssen, 9-Eddy Voordeckers, 10-Karl Berger
Coach:
Ernst Kunnecke (West Germany)
Booked:
Roland Janssen 76th
Team
Captain: Pierre Jansssen
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt
Sponsor: Hermans
Uniform
Colors: Yellow Shirts, Black Shorts, Yellow Socks
The
second leg, on March 16th , was played at Genk’s Andre
Dumontstadion.
For
PSG, Boubacar and Toko were fielded instead of Guillochon and Rocheteau.
Boubacar was fielded as a midfielder as Peyroche sacrificed a defender for a
3-4-3 formation.
For
Waterschei, Icelandic striker Gudmundsson and Yvo Plessers came in for Coenen
and Berger.
PSG
expected Watesrchei to press from the start and they did. They completely
dominated the match and took the game to PSG.
As
early as the 5th minute, they had an appeal for a penalty kick after
a foul on Voordeckers, which was denied.
During
the match Waterschei struck the post twice and on one occasion forced Paris’
captain Bathenay to clear off his line.
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(Voordeckers lobbing the ball over Baratelli
with Pilorget helpless, Bathenay saved this attempt on the goalline)
Waterschei
scored in the 30th minute, after a free kick from the right taken
into the goalmouth led to Gudmundsson scoring from close range.
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(Gudmundsson between Pilorget, Fernandez and
Bathenay)
The
second goal in the 61st minute was very controversial. The Welsh
Referee Clive Thomas invoked Law XII concerning goalkeepers by awarding an
indirect free kick inside the box, after PSG goalkeeper Baratelli was adjudged
for this infraction. He pushed a shot aside with both hands, took it with his
feet, picked it up again and kicked upfield. According to the law after
controlling the ball, after 4 steps the goalkeeper should give the ball to
another before receiving it back and kicking. The Belgians protested and Roland
Janssen scored from the ensuing indirect free kick.
Baratelli
claimed that he had not controlled the ball, just pushed it wide, as a result
should not have been penalized.
France
Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(van Kraay and Rocheteau)
France
Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Pierre Janssen, Bacconier and Bathenay)
The
match went into extra time and with seven minutes left, the third goal was
scored after a cross from left side into the goal area that Voordeckers missed,
but it reached Pierre Janssen who scored.
France
Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(A
scene from the return leg )
France
Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Clijsters
and Kist )
This
demoralized PSG and a minute later the already booked Lemoult was sent off
after striking a fan. A few minutes later Boubacar was sent off after a brutal
foul on Clijsters.
In
the last minute of Overtime, Rocheteau had a chance that went high and all of
PSG’s hopes were dashed.
Naturally
after the match many of the Paris Delegation were unhappy with the referee.
Despite acknowledging Waterschei’s domination, they felt the decision for the
second goal was unfair.
Peyroche
noted the side’s inexperience in Europe and errors in marking (specially for
the third goal) as reason for defeat, specially the fact they were playing in
an away leg as their return leg for the first time ever.
He
also lamnented how his strikers did not score on any of their opportunities
If
he had to do over, he would have aligned Boubacar as a 5th
midfielder instead of outside back since Watesrchei only played with two
strikers.
Photo
From: Foot Magazine, Issue 23, April 1983
(Waterschei
squad, March 16, 1983, Cup Winners Cup, Waterschei 3-Paris St. Germain 0)
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
37, April 1983
(A
dejected Rocheteau leaving the field)
France
Football, Issue 1928, March 22, 1983
(Waterschei players celebrating)
Watesrchei
went to on to the semifinals but were defeated by eventual competition winners
Aberdeen.
Due
to financial difficulties they were dissolved within five years. They merged
with KFC Winterslag and became KRC Genk.
Paris
St. Germain went on to win the French Cup again at the end of that season.
March 16, 1983
Koninklijke Waterschei Sportvereniging
Thor Genk (Belgium) 3-Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) 0
Cup
Winners Cup- Quarterfinals, Second Leg
Venue: Genk- Andre Dumontstadion
(Stade Andre Dumont)
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Clive Thomas (Wales)
Goalscorers: (Watesrchei): Larus
Gudmundsson 30th , Roland Janssen 61st ,
AC
Milan striker Daniele Massaro had earned his last cap back in 1986. By all
accounts his national team career seemed over. However, during the 1993/94 he
went on a scoring spree of scoring decisive goals in league matches culminating
with his two goals in the Champions League Final vs. Barcelona in 1994. His former club Manager Arrigo Sacchi did
take notice and took the veteran with him to the 1994 World Cup in USA and even
played in the Final match.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 12, 1993
(Daniele Massaro with AC Milan, 1992/93)
2- Wilfried
van Moer and Belgium 1980/82
Belgian
midfielder Wilfried van Moer had his heyday in the 60s and the early 70s
notably starring for Standard Liege. He felt after a decade of honorable his
international carrer was over after his last cap vs. Holland in 1975.
However,
in 1979, Belgian Manager Guy Thys saw in him as the dependable veteran to guide
a rising Belgian squad. With
qualification in jeopardy with three matches left he coaxed van Moer (now
playing for Beringen, then Beveren) back into the squad and Belgium qualified
by defeating Portugal (with a goal by van Moer) and Scotland twice.
He
was included in the 1980 qualifiers and surprisingly led Belgium to a runner-up
finish in the 1980 UEFA European Championships at the age of 35. He still had
couple of more years in him and participated in the 1982 World Cup as well ,
aged 37.
Photo
From: Le Dictionnaire des Diables Rouges
(Wilfried
van Moer)
3- Luis
Fernandez and Cannes/France 1989/92
After
suffering a long injury layoff and transfer to small team Cannes due to Matra
Racing Paris’ financial collapse in the summer of 1989, many felt Luis
Fernandez was yesterday’s man.
But
now nearing the veteran stage of his career, he took to his role as a leader
and guided Cannes with impressive performances and got a call up from his
former teammate Michel Platini to be back in the national team. While not a
starter he would nevertheless make significant contributions as a substitute
and participated in the 1992 Euros and along the way guided Cannes to the UEFA
Cup qualification in 1991 with a young
teammate named Zinedine Zidane.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 31, August 1991
(Luis Fernandez at Cannes, 1991)
4- Arnold
Muhren and Ajax Amsterdam and Holland 1986/88
Dutch
midfielder veteran Arnold Muhren had last played for Holland in 1982. He had
returned to Holland in 1985 after successful spells in England with Ipswich and
Manchester United.
With
Johann Cruyff as Ajax Manager he was the veteran amongst a young emerging squad
with Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard.
He
was surprisingly called up to the national team by Rinus Michels at age 36 and
remained there and was a key member of the 1988 UEFA European Championship
winning squad aged 38.
Photo
From: Voetbal International, June 18, 1988
(Arnold Muhren during the 1988 UEFA European
Championships)
5- Safet
Susic and Yugoslavia 1988/90
Yugoslav
midfielder Safet Susic had last played for Yugoslavia during their disastrous
1984 European Championships. Following that he had concentrated on his club
Paris St. Germain and his national team career seemed over.
However,
Yugoslavia Manager Ivica Osim felt he needed foreign based veterans to achieve
success with the national team and recalled Safet Susic aged 33 in 1988.
Ironically his first match back was vs. France, his country of residence on
November 19, 1988 (3 to 2 win and a goal by Susic).
He
stayed in the national team set up until the 1990 World Cup.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 68, November 1985
