This
was the First Super Cup organized by UEFA following the success of the previous
years’ series.
These
second series for the winners of the two main European Club Competitions, once
again featured Holland’s Ajax Amsterdam after their third straight Champions
Cup triumph (defeating Juventus 1-0). Their opponents were the Italians of AC
Milan who had defeated England’s Leeds United in the Cup Winners Cup Final.
The
Dutch had retained the backbone of their squad. However, in the early stages of
the season, they had lost their inspirational star and most important player
Johann Cruyff. He had departed for a then record fee to Spain’s Barcelona.
Ajax
under George Knobel could nevertheless count upon stars such as Neeskens, Rep,
Suurbier and Keizer.
However,
Cruyff’s loss was to be felt as Ajax were eliminated in the Champions Cup in
the previous November by Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia.
They
also lagged behind in the League.
Cesare
Maldini’s Milan were still alive in European play but were also struggling in
the League.
In
the offseason they had lost key defender Roberto Rosato (to Genoa). Their main
acquisition had been the defender Aldo Maldera (from Bologna).
The
Milanese were still led by standard-bearer and Captain Giani Rivera
The
first leg was played on January 9th, 1974 at Milan’s San Siro
Stadium.
The home side had to contend with the
unavailability of striker Albertino Bigon. As a result, Rivera was deployed as
the number 9.
It was a somewhat dull match in a muddy
field. This may have been perhaps why Ajax changed their jerseys at halftime
(from white to yellow).
Ajax had chances but the state of the
pitch hindered their usual flowing play.
Ajax did score through Neeskens in the
first half, but was ruled out because of offside.
In the 77th minute Milan took
the lead. Villiam
Vecchi upfield kick reached Chiarugi and he ran clear to the goal. Ajax’s Horst
Blankenburg even attempted to pull him down, but Chiarugi went on and from the
edge of box took a hard shot to beat Stuy.
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(Luciano Chiarugi scoring Milan’s winner past
Stuy, January 9, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, AC Milan 1-Ajax Amsterdam 0)
The Second Leg took place the following
week at Amsterdam’s Olympisch Stadion on January 16th, 1974.
Ajax fielded an unchanged side, while
for Milan, the only change was the inclusion of Dario Dolci in
place of Alessandro
Turini.
It
had been reported that the Milan hierarchy including Technical Director, the
legendary Nereo Rocco, did not view this encounter with much importance. It was
said for them the upcoming League match vs. Bologna had taken precedence.
This
would show in Milan’s poor and uninterested display.
A
dominant Ajax took a comfortable two-goal lead by halftime.
In
the 26th minute, Jan Mulder scored through an indirect free kick
(his shot hit the post and went in).
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(Team
captains Piet keizer and Gianni Rivera, January 16, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 6-AC Milan 0 )
Piet
Keizer doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Johnny Rep took a free
kick from the right, Muhren headed it across for Keizer to score.
After halftime, Milan tried to pick up
the pace and had a few early chances.
But Ajax were in irresistible form and
with less than twenty minutes, the floodgates opened.
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(AC
Milan goalkeeper Villiam Vecchi, January 16, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 6-AC Milan 0 )
In the 71st minute, Keizer
took a short corner from the right side for Suurbier, who crossed it to
Hulshoff, who in turn headed it down for Neeskens to score.
Ten minutes later, Keizer sent in a
cross to an unmarked Rep in the box and he shot to the roof of the net.
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(January
16, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 6-AC Milan 0 )
Just a few minutes later, Krol was
fouled by Schnellinger in the box. Gerrie Muhren scored from the spot.
With three minutes remaining, Arie Haan
scored the sixth after a scramble in the box.
Ajax had been so dominant that many
likened this match to a training session.
Despite the heavy loss, the busy Milan
goalkeeper Villiam Vecchi had been the best Milan player and probably saved
them from an even heavier loss.
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(January
16, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 6-AC Milan 0 )
Photo
From: Ajax, De Complete Werken, Aflevering 27 AC Milan
(Ajax
playesr with the Super Cup trophy, January 16, 1974, UEFA Super Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 6-AC Milan 0 )
This would be that last great
achievement of Ajax’s glorious side of the 70s. It would take another decade
for another generation (van Basten / Rijkaard) to achieve glory in Europe
(1987).
In a number of
years the star players such as Rep, Neeskens and others started leaving (just
like Cruyff) to weaken the squad (at least on the European stage).
As far as that
season, Ajax finished third in the League. AC Milan finished in a dismal
seventh place in the League.
They did reach
the Final of the Cup Winners Cup again that season, but lost in the Final to
East Germany’s Magdeburg (0-2).
January 9, 1974
Associazione
Calcio Milan (Italy) 1-Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Holland) 0
(Special thanks to @oldrangerspics who is responsible for the source material and the photos for this entry)
The
very first Super Cup in 1973 was not under the Official direction and
organization of UEFA. To celebrate their Centenary, Scotland’s Rangers Glasgow
had arranged a home and away series with Holland’s Ajax Amsterdam.
It
was Dutch reporter Anton Witkamp of ‘De Telegrafff’, who had come up with the
idea and concept of a Trophy between the Champions and Cup Winners Cup winners.
Rangers
had won the 1972/72 edition of the Cup Winners Cup by defeating Dinamo Moscow
(3-2) on May 24th, 1972.
UEFA’s
reluctance in getting involved with this first edition would most likely have
to do with the fact that Rangers were banned from playing in Europe, due to
crowd trouble in that Cup Winners Cup Final in May.
Johan
Cruyff’s Ajax, the absolute best team in Europe at the time, had won the
1971/72 edition of the Champions Cup (and their second straight) by defeating
Internazionale Milano (2-0) on May 31st (They would go on and win
their third straight Champions Cup, a few months later).
The
Trophy for this inaugural series was presented by Dutch Newspaper ‘De
Telegrafff’ and called ‘Super Cup of Europe’.
The
first leg was played on January 16th, 1973 at Glasgow’s Ibrox
Stadium.
In
an entertaining match, an excellent Ajax confirmed its status as the finest
team in Europe. Not that Rangers were poor, they did play well, but Ajax were
just a level above.
Ajax
started with Arnold Muhren as they were missing Neeskens.
They
took the lead in the 34th minute. Johan Cruyff
sent a cross into the path of Johnny Rep who drew McCloy out and struck home.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Johan Cruyff and John Greig before
kickoff with 1910-20s Rangers striker Andy Cunningham, January 16, 1973, Super
Cup, Rangers Glasgow 1-Ajax Amsterdam 3)
Photo From: Rangers News, Issue 77,
January 24, 1973 (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Johan Cruyff and John Greig shaking hands before kickoff, January 16,
1973, Super Cup, Rangers Glasgow 1-Ajax Amsterdam 3)
In the 41st minute, Rangers
tied the match against the run of the play. John Greig took a long throw in
towards Alfie Conn who gave it to MacDonald, wide on the left edge of penalty
area. He took a low shot on the turn past Stuy from a narrow angle.
Just before halftime, Ajax retook the
lead. Cruyff took a pass on the right edge of the box. He sidestepped Forsyth
and shot over McCloy’s shoulder into the net.
Early in the second half, Alfie Conn
limped off. Tommy McLean came on and his presence helped Rangers who created
many chances.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(January 16, 1973, Super Cup, Rangers
Glasgow 1-Ajax Amsterdam 3)
Ajax wrapped up the match in the 76th
minute. Barry Hulshoff sent Haan clear to score the third.
Rangers’ Greig and Parlane had chances
near the end but could not capitalize.
Rangers
General Manager Willie Waddell, described Ajax as ‘the best side to visit Ibrox ever’.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(January 16, 1973, Super Cup, Rangers
Glasgow 1-Ajax Amsterdam 3)
He had not seen any display as brilliant
as the first half. For the Scottish Press, this was a defeat without dishonor
against the best team in Europe. Rangers’ courage was praised despite being
outmatched in every way.
They had lost to a better side no shame.
The entertaining match ended with fireworks to celebrate the centenary
Rangers Manager Jock Wallace vowed that
Rangers would fight back in the return leg in Amsterdam.
Photo From: Rangers News, Issue 77,
January 24, 1973 (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Johan Cruyff with the pennant exchanged before kickoff, January 16,
1973, Super Cup, Rangers Glasgow 1-Ajax Amsterdam 3)
The Second Leg took place at Amsterdam’s
Olympisch Stadion on January 24th, 1973.
Not many had given Rangers any chance,
but they came out fighting and once again were praised for their courage.
For Rangers, Greig and Parlane were
outstanding, as was McCloy who made many saves in the match.
Ajax may have underestimated Rangers
after winning so convincingly in the first leg and had taken their foot off the
pedal.
Rangers took the lead in the second
minute. MacDonald struck a shot from outside of the box after a missed attempt
by Parlane.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(January 24, 1973, Super Cup, Ajax
Amsterdam 3-Rangers Glasgow 2)
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Johan Cruyff, January 24, 1973, Super
Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 3-Rangers Glasgow 2)
Ten minutes later, Ajax tied the match.
From the left side, Cruyff sent Haan clear with a through ball and he beat
McCloy.
In the 35th minute, Rangers
took the lead once more. McLean took a free kick from the right side that was
headed in by Quinton Young.
Just two minutes later Ajax were level
again. The linesman flag had been raised for an offside, when Neeskens was
fouled by Willie Mathieson in the box. The referee awarded the spot kick
despite the protests and Gerry Muhren scored from the spot.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Gerry Muhren’s penalty kick, January
24, 1973, Super Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 3-Rangers Glasgow 2)
Just before halftime, Greig scored a goal that was waved off due
to Offside.
In a relatively quieter second half, Cruyff settled the matters
with ten minutes remaining. A long cross was headed across by Muhren (on the
left side) to Cruyff who struck the winner.
Rangers fought to the end, but Ajax’s
superiority was beyond dispute.
They collected yet another trophy in
their era of domination.
From the following year, UEFA took over
the Organization of this new competition that survives to this day.
Photo From: (thanks to @oldrangerspics)
(Ajax players celebrating with the
trophy, January 24, 1973, Super Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 3-Rangers Glasgow 2)
January 16, 1973
Rangers Football Club-Glasgow(Scotland) 1-Amsterdamsche Football
Club Ajax (Holland) 3
Super
Cup- First Leg
Venue: Glasgow-Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 58,000
Referee: Alistair
McKenzie (Scotland)
Goalscorers: (Rangers): Alex MacDonald 41st
(Ajax): Johnny Rep
34th, Johan Cruijff 45th, Arie Haan 76th
Lineups:
Rangers
Glasgow:
Peter McCloy; Sandy Jardine, Willie Mathieson; John Greig, Derek
Johnstone (Graham Fyfe 66th), David Smith; Alfie Conn (Tommy McLean
49th), Tom Forsyth, Derek Parlane, Alex MacDonald, Quinton Young
Coach:
Jock Wallace
Team
Captain: John
Greig
Uniform
Colors: Blue Shirts , White Shorts, Red Socks
Ajax:
Heinz Stuy; Wim Suurbier, Barry Hulshoff; Horst Blankenburg (West
Germany), Ruud Krol, Gerry Mühren; Arie Haan, Arnold Mühren, Johnny Rep, Johan
Cruijff (Sjaak Swart 80th), Piet Keizer (Heinz Schilcher 65th)
Coach:
Stefan Kovacs (Romania)
Team
Captain: Johan Cruijff
Uniform
Colors: Red/White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks
Note: some sources show Rep
replaced by Swart in the 80th minute, but match reports name Cruyff
as the one being substituted.
January 24, 1973
Amsterdamsche
Football Club Ajax (Holland) 3-Rangers
Football Club-Glasgow(Scotland) 2
