Format of European Cup 1970/71
It was a knockout competition; the forerunner of today’s UEFA Champions League is seen here being paraded before first-round action in the European Cup 1970/71 season. An original field of 64 from across Europe took part in home and away round ties. Teams played home-and-away games and the team with the higher aggregate score after two matches moved on to the next round.
Key Teams and Players
Ajax Amsterdam
A second 1970/71 season in which Ajax Amsterdam was the team to beat. Ajax, under the tutelage of a Dutch great Rinus Michels, was the pioneer of ‘Total Football’. It was a style that emphasized movement, ball rotation led by players, and the introduction of a very intelligent adversary.
Star Players:
Johan Cruyff:
If they stole the devotary to Ajax’s success period he would make a list but as Dutch, he is not only a great striker but sometimes we can say on the field, kind of too advanced in tactical ways!!! That is how essential his creativity and ability were to the forward play of Ajax.
Midfield Arie Haan:
Although he made a name for himself with his thunderbolt long-range shoots, Haan also came in handy to strengthen the middle of the park.
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos, Greek football’s great white hope having just reached their first European Cup final. It was a story of bravery and fortitude.
Key Player
Name: Antonis AntoniadisKey member of the ’70s Panathinaikos who was celebrated for his versatility and attacking license.
The Road to the Final
The road to Wembley had been a long, tortuous one. Van der Fart went and along with other important squad members, began in the most promising of fashions with victory at Cardiff City in Wales and displayed their attacking might.
Quarter-Final Highlights
Kyiv — Five-time winners and newly confirmed Teams Ajax-Ajax did their best to secure status as a top seed ahead of the last step, with the tickets now on offer only thanks to an excellent set-up qualifying round.
In the semis, Panathinaikos showed a very determined face and managed to eliminate Estrela Vermelha from Belgrade. Although the two-legged tie ended 4-4 on aggregate, it was Panathinaikos who advanced away goals.
The Final: Ajax v Panathinaikos
Ajax faced Panathinaikos in the final on 2nd May 1971 at Wembley Stadium, London. Flocking from all sides of Europe, rightful sympathizers convened to witness this colossal collision between two giants.
Match Summary
Ajax 0-1Celtic (Commons) Ajax began the quicker of the two teams with emerging youth promoting their attacking pretty-passing brand football. Johan Cruyff had scored minutes before half time and the Ajax fans were bouncing.
Entering the second half, Arie Haan capped off a 3-0 victory with that third strike before Jonny Rep struck again to round off the set on the hour mark. Ajax was tactically dominant and performed as a team better throughout.
The Legacy of Ajax
Ajax won this fixture to lift the European Cup in 1970/71 and that success marked the start of one of the most glorious eras enjoyed by any club. All hail the champions of Europe, who’d won it back in 1972.
Impact on Football
Today, Ajax’s trailblazing has been replicated by clubs in every corner of the world, new blueprints for youth development and tactical play. Since then, it has been an influence in the sport to change however players and coaches will ever see their role on a field respectively, via Total Football.
Memorable Moments
This was the season that introduced us to the world of the greatest tournament: 1970s and early 1980s!
Cruyff’s Brilliance:Johan Cruyff was magnificent and his ability to do things with pure allure in terms of the dribble and vision was unparalleled.
Wembley Atmosphere The Wembley final also provided a wonderful example of the EC as part of footballing culture due to electric fans who created an incredible environment.
Impact On European Football
European football’s club meetings, meanwhile, had been typified by the European Cup, and its growing status was underlined in 1970/71. The success of Ajax would reinforce the idea that Europe was now facilitating a loose affiliation or alliance of such high-quality clubs, also paving the way for some great continental rivalries and tournaments in the future.
Conclusion
The competition has ticked all of football’s strongest traditions, an entirely wooden shellacked form rotisserie sine nil that served as both the first defense for reigning champion 1970/71 Feyenoord and coronation of maestro Ajax in its maiden reign. The Premier League relegation scrap – made sexier by far.
