Louis van Gaal and Johann Cruyff had a contentious relationship
through the years.
Many believe the root of the problems started in 1989. Cruyff was
hosting a
Christmas dinner with van Gaal among the guests.
During
the dinner, van Gaal received a phone call from his family informing him that
his sister had passed away and he was forced to leave abruptly.
Allegedly
Cruyff blamed him for not having thanked him for the dinner before leaving.
Cruyff
denied this version and called it nonsense. He even said that if van Gaal had
said this then he had ‘Alzheimer’s’.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 2, March 1989
(Johann
Cruyff)
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1995
(Louis van Gaal)
2- Jackie
Charlton and Eamon Dunphy, 1990
Republic of Ireland Manager Jackie Charlton and former player and
then journalist Eamon Dunphy got into an argument in a press conference on June
20th, 1990, the day before Ireland’s crucial match vs. Holland in
the World Cup.
Charlton refused to respond to Dunphy’s questions by saying "You're not allowed to ask a
question, you are not a proper journalist.” (he was actually accredited)
He furthermore stated "These lads here (the other sport
journalists) are interested in football... you're not. I'm not answering your
questions.”
Dunphy had been one of the critical voices of Ireland’s style of
play.
Photo From: World Soccer, August 1990
(Jackie Charlton)
Photo From: Gifted in Green, Author: Adam Ward,1999
(Eamon Dunphy)
3- Jean-Claude
Suaudeau and Marcelo Lippi, 1996
After Nantes’ elimination from the Champions League Semifinals at
the hands of Juventus in April 1996, Nantes Manager attacked his Juventus
counterpart Marcelo Lippi for the alleged gamesmanship used by Juventus
players.
Photo
From:Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Marcelo Lippi)
Photo From: Panini, France 1986/87
(Nantes Manager Jean-Claude Suaudeau)
4- Kevin
Keegan and Alex Ferguson, 1996
Newcastle United Manager Kevin Keegan had his famous meltdown on
Television responding to criticisms by Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson
in the run-up for the 1995/96 English Premier League title.
Photo
From:Goal, Issue 18, March 1997
(Kevin Keegan)
Photo
From:Goal, Issue 13, October 1996
(Sir Alex Ferguson)
5- Enzo
Bearzot and Italo Allodi, 1979
In
early 1979, Italy’s head of National Coaching Centre at Coverciano, Italo
Allodi recommended that Italian National Team Manager Enzo Bearzot should not
be awarded ‘Seminatore d’Oro’ (Golden Sower) for the success of the 1978 World
Cup.
According
to Allodi, Bearzot had not sown the players at National Team level but reaped
from the work of others. He felt he should instead just be given a golden
plaque.
An
angry Bearzot turned down this offer and said it was impossible to work with ‘a
brutus at my back’.
Auxerre
and Ajax Amsterdam were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1992/93 UEFA Cup.
The
French squad managed by their long-serving Manager Guy Roux were consistent
UEFA Cup qualifiers despite their limited financial means.
The
squad was not made of stars, but shone as a collective unit.
They
had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv
Plovdiv (2-2, 7-1), Denmark’s FC Copenhagen (2-0, 5-0 at home) and Belgium’s
Standard Liege (2-2, 2-1).
Ajax,
under the Management of Louis van Gaal, were the defending UEFA Cup Champions.
The
squad contained a host of internationals and many future greats.
Dennis
Bergkamp was the jewel in the crown. He and teammate Wim Jonk had just secured
a lucrative transfer to Internazionale Milano for the following season.
They
had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Austria’s Salzburg (3-0,
3-1 at home), Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes (3-0, 2-1 at home) and Germany’s
Kaiserslautern (2-o at home, 1-0).
It
was a battle of two Footballing skills with emphasis on youth development and
4-3-3 formation.
The
first leg, on March 3rd, was played at Auxerre’s Stade
de l'Abbé-Deschamps.
Auxerre
had been under some difficulty in the League and had lost five straight
matches. In the days leading up to this tie, Guy Roux signed a new five-year
contract.
Roux
had been beset by public criticism from his own players. Team Captain William
Prunier, due to their poor League form, had been besieged by jeers. He
threatened to walk out of the French League altogether.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Daniel Dutuel and Danny Blind, March 3, 1993,
UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1993
(Gerard
Baticle, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Winger
Christophe Cocard had complained of Roux’s brand of Management. He claimed the
paternal Roux treated the players like children. They had no freedom and
liberties under him. He likened going
to training like working at a factory.
Roux
resolved the situation (after his new 5 year contract in hand) by authorizing
Prunier to leave at end of season and threatened Cocard with dismissal.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993
(Sonny
Silooy and Pascal Vahirua, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Auxerre
were behind as early as the third minute, when a free kick taken by Jonk from
the left, was slightly touched on by Vink and fell for Pettersson to score. At
this point it may have looked like the more experienced Ajax side would go and
win by even more goals.
However,
Auxerre leaving aside their poor domestic form continued to attack.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993
(Marc Overmars and Daniel Dutuel, March 3, 1993,
UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993
(March
3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
In
the 17th minute they leveled the score. A corner from left by Dutuel
was headed back across and former Ajax defender Franck Verlaat volleyed it.
Stanley Menzo should have saved it, but went past him.
Auxerre
went ahead in the 43rd from a beautifully curled free kick scored by
Corentin Martins.
However,
just before halftime, Bergkamp found Marciano Vink and he smashed his shot
home.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Daniel Dutuel and Marciano Vink, March 3, 1993,
UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Corentin Martins scoring Auxerre’s second goal
from free kick, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Undeterred
in the second half, the home team continued attacking and were finally rewarded
in the 82nd minute through another error by Menzo.
Pascal
Vahirua took a corner from the right side, Menzo tried to punch it clear but
instead he deflected it in.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2448, March 9, 1993
(Daniel Dutuel, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre
4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football 1993
(Corentin Martins celebrating, March 3, 1993,
UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
The
rout was complete in the 90th minute, by the impressive Dutuel.
Martins from the middle passed to Laslandes who in turn sent Dutuel clear to go
and score the fourth.
This
was Ajax’s first defeat in Europe after 18 matches.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Daniel
Dutuel scoring Auxerre’s fourth goal, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax
Amsterdam 2)
Auxerre
defenders Alain Goma and Stephane Mazzolini had successfully controlled
Overmars and Bergkamp throughout the match.
Prunier
declared the win justified the virtues of a 4-3-3 formation.
Guy
Roux believed that Ajax had taken them lightly and had not expected an
aggressive attacking game from them.
However,
the tie was not over and a (2-0) win at home was not beyond Ajax’s
capabilities.
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football 1993
(Auxerre
players celebrating, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre 4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 14, 1993
(Daniel
Dutuel after scoring Auxerre’s fourth goal, March 3, 1993, UEFA Cup, Auxerre
4-Ajax Amsterdam 2)
March 3, 1993
Association
de La Jeunesse Auxerroise(France) 4-Amsterdamsche Football
Club Ajax (Holland) 2
Other Subs: 12-Edwin van der sar, 15-Clyde Wynhard,
16-Alfons Groenedijk
Team
Captain: Danny Blind
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro
Shirt
Sponsor: ABN-Amro
Uniform Colors: Green Shirts, Green
Shorts, Green Socks
The
second leg, on March 16th, was played at Amsterdam’s De Meer Stadion.
Stanley
Menzo had nailed his own coffin after one poor display too many.
The
new starting Ajax goalkeeper was the young Edwin van der Sar.
Wim
Jonk was also missing and Michel Kreek repalced him in the lineup.
For
Auxerre, William Prunier had some injury worries, despite being fit to play.
Franck Rabarivony started in defense in place of Mazzolini.
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1993
(Former Ajax teammates, Franck Verlaat and
Dennis Bergkamp, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Ajax
defender Sonny Silooy had declared that defensively Auxerre were weak and was
confident of overturning the deficit.
Louis
van Gaal declared that they would press so hard, that Auxerre’s wingers would
be pushed back to play near Auxerre goalkeeper Martini.
This
statement angered the French specially Dutuel felt the opposition showed a lack
of respect of them.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993
(Corentin Martins, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup,
Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993
(Corentin Martins, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup,
Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Predictably,
Ajax dominated at home and attacked while Auxerre tried to hold firm.
In
their many breakaways, Auxerre actually had at least five god chances to score
that were wasted.
In
the 18th minute, Ajax Captain Danny Blind was forced off injured and
he was replaced with 17-year-old Clarence Seedorf.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Pascal
Vahirua and Frank De Boer, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre
0)
Ajax
continued to press and both Pettersson and Alflen hit the post. A penalty kick
appeal for Bergkamp was also denied.
Finally
in the 61st minute, Ajax broke the deadlock.
Alflen
took free kick from the right and Frank de Boer powerfully headed it in.
There
was still half an hour to go and qualification was still possible for Ajax who
continued to press.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993
(March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam
1-Auxerre 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 68, September 1994
(Corentin Martins and Marciano Vink, March 16,
1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Auxerre’s
wingers Cocard and Vahirua seemed tired towards the end and could go forward no
longer. Martini had to come to the rescue and make two good saves from
Pettersson and Bergkamp near the end.
Auxerre
held on and Ajax were eliminated. They had eliminated a top European side and
written its part of history in European competition.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993
(Auxerre’s
Gerard Bourgoin and Christophe Cocard celebrating, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup,
Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 51, April 1993
(Bruno
Martini making a save, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
Auxerre
were stopped in the semifinals by a new up and coming European power Borussia
Dortmund after a penalty kick shoot-out.
The
win over Ajax, also galvanized and helped improve their form for the rest of
the season.
Stanley
Menzo was the starting Ajax and National Team goalkeeper at the start of the
season. By the end of the season, he had lost both positions.
Edwin
van der Sar went on to have along and distinguished career for club(s) and
country for the remainder of his career.
Ajax,
though they won the Cup title, had a disappointing season.
However,
van Gaal was already plotting Ajax’s rise.
The
following season, Jari Litmanen was installed up front and Seedorf, Davids and
other young players improved further and won the League title three years in a
row, not to mention the 1995 Champions League.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2450, March 23, 1993
(Auxerre’s
William Prunier, March 16, 1993, UEFA Cup, Ajax Amsterdam 1-Auxerre 0)
March 16, 1993
Amsterdamsche
Football Club Ajax (Holland) 1-Association de La Jeunesse Auxerroise(France) 0
The Journalist João Saldanha, was already a
controversial and outspoken figure, within Brazil Football circles when he was
appointed as Brazil Manager in 1969.
It
was no secret that he did not get on well with Pele (among others).
He
was fired after contemplating to drop Pele in a match vs Chile in March 1970.
Photo
From: World Soccer, August 1992
(Pele)
Photo
From: Placar, Issue 1370, September 2012
(João
Saldanha)
2- Wolfram
Wuttke and Schalke, 1982
In the
spring of 1982, Wolfram Wuttke (then of Borussia Moenchengladbach) sued his
former club Schalke.
As a 17 year he had signed and
he was promised additional wages after improved performances that were not
paid.
The
court ruled his suit was valid and was entitled to extra £5,500.
Photo
From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 11, November 1989
(Wolfram Wuttke)
3- Carlos
Manuel and Benfica, 1987/88
Benfica
star Carlos Manuel had a falling out with his employers during the 1987/88
season and missed practice sessions in anger.
He
transfered to Swiss club Sion midway through the season.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 70, December 1985
(Carlos
Manuel)
4- Louis
van Gaal and Bryan Roy 1992
In
the first few months of the 1992/93 season, Ajax Amsterdam Manager Louis van
Gaal dropped International winger Bryan Roy after a falling out.
He
remarked that hopefully there is a manager who can get the best out of him.
Roy
joined Italian club Foggia shortly thereafter.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 29, June 1991
(Bryan Roy at Ajax Amsterdam)
Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1995
(Louis van Gaal)
5- Paulo
Roberto Falcao and Dino Viola, 1985
AS
Roma’s Brazilian star Paulo Roberto Falcao was injured during the 1984/85
season and had to go to USA for surgery.
AS
Roma summoned him back to Italy for medical check but he refused.
Therefore
AS Roma President Dino Viola asked the Federation to cancel Falcao’s contract.
The Federation sided with Viola and AS Roma signed Poland’s Zbigniew Boniek as a replacement.
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 27, February 2000
(AS
Roma President Dino Viola)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2021, January 1, 1985
(Paulo Roberto Falcao after his operation)
Photo
From: EL GRAFICO Nº 3319 (1983)
(Paulo Roberto Falcao with AS Roma teammate
Bruno Conti)
