GOODIES : Serie A 2011 2012 Highlights FR

Coupe des Clubs Champions 1972 1973 Ajax Amsterdam Real Madrid

By the time the two sides next met, in the 1972/73 European Cup semi-finals, Ajax were on the verge of achieving what the great Real Madrid side of the 1950s attained and that was to win three European Cups in succession. Ajax were playing a brand of football somewhat never seen before known as ‘Total Football’ – the origins traced back to Ajax coaches Vic Buckingham (who also discovered Johan Cruijff) and Jack Reynolds, both laid the foundations of this footballing philosophy and it was taken on further by legendary coach Rinus Michels, who played under Reynolds. Ajax were now managed by Stefan Kovács – Michels had moved on to coach Real’s arch-rivals FC Barcelona in 1971 – in this period of success they were known as the ‘Golden Ajax’Ajax took a 2-1 lead to the Bernabéu on 25 April, 1973 (Jose Martinez “Pirri” again getting the away goal for Los Merengues), and it was on this day that according to David Winner, author of ‘Brilliant Orange’ the greatest moment of Ajax’s ‘Golden Age’ was not a goal or a great save. It was a simple piece of juggling by a player who had idolised the legends which had graced the turf of the Bernabéu before him.