1972 European Super Cup

The 1972 European Super Cup was a football match played over two legs between the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup and the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup. The match was proposed by Anton Witkamp of De Telegraaf to decide who was the best club in Europe.[1]

1972 European Super Cup

Rangers Ajax 3 6
on aggregate
First leg
Rangers Ajax 1 3
Date	16 January 1973
Venue	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Referee	Alistair McKenzie (Scotland)
Attendance	57,000
Second leg
Ajax Rangers 3 2
Date	24 January 1973
Venue	Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam
Referee	Hans-Joachim Weyland (West Germany)
Attendance	26,168

History

In 1972, Witkamp proposed the idea to Jaap van Praag, the then president of Ajax, who were holders of the European Cup at that time. The idea was then taken to UEFA to seek official endorsement; however Artemio Franchi, the president of UEFA at that time, rejected the idea as the reigning European Cup Winners' Cup champions—Rangers—were serving a one-year ban at the time imposed by UEFA for the alleged misbehaviour of their fans.[1]

The match went ahead, but unofficially as a celebration of the Centenary of Rangers F.C.. The first leg was played on 16 January 1973 and the second on 24 January 1973. Ajax won the tie 6–3 on aggregate, beating Rangers both at home and away, 3–1 in Glasgow and 3–2 in the second leg in Amsterdam. Despite not being officially recognised by UEFA it is often regarded as the first ever European Super Cup match.

Match details

First leg

16 January 1973

Rangers	1–3	Ajax
MacDonald  41'	Report	Rep  34' Cruyff  45' Haan  76'

Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

Attendance: 57,000

Referee: Alistair McKenzie (Scotland)

Rangers

Ajax

GK 1 Peter McCloy RB 2 Sandy Jardine LB 3 Willie Mathieson CB 4 John Greig (c) CB 5 Derek Johnstone  66' CB 6 Dave Smith RM 7 Alfie Conn  46' CM 8 Tom Forsyth CF 9 Derek Parlane CM 10 Alex MacDonald LM 11 Quinton Young Substitutes: MF 12 Tommy McLean  46' MF 14 Graham Fyfe  66' Manager: Jock Wallace

GK 1 Heinz Stuy RB 3 Wim Suurbier CM 12 Horst Blankenburg CB 4 Barry Hulshoff LB 5 Ruud Krol DM 15 Arie Haan CM 9 Gerrie Mühren CM Arnold Mühren RF 16 Johnny Rep CF 14 Johan Cruyff  80' LF 11 Piet Keizer  65' Substitutes: FW 8 Sjaak Swart  80' MF 2 Heinz Schilcher  65' Manager: Ştefan Kovács

Second leg

24 January 1973

Ajax	3–2	Rangers
Haan  12' Mühren  37' (pen.) Cruyff  79'	Report	MacDonald  2' Young  35'

Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam

Attendance: 26,168

Referee: Hans-Joachim Weyland (West Germany)

GK 1 Heinz Stuy RB 3 Wim Suurbier CM 12 Horst Blankenburg CB 4 Barry Hulshoff LB 5 Ruud Krol DM 15 Arie Haan CM 9 Gerrie Mühren CM 7 Johan Neeskens RF 8 Sjaak Swart  46' CF 14 Johan Cruyff LF 11 Piet Keizer Substitute: FW 16 Johnny Rep  46' Manager: Ştefan Kovács

GK 1 Peter McCloy RB 2 Sandy Jardine LB 3 Willie Mathieson CB 4 John Greig (c) CB 5 Derek Johnstone CB 6 Dave Smith RM 7 Tommy McLean CM 8 Tom Forsyth CF 9 Derek Parlane CM 10 Alex MacDonald LM 11 Quinton Young Manager: Jock Wallace

See also

• 1971–72 European Cup
• 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup
• 1972–73 Rangers F.C. season
• AFC Ajax in European football
• Rangers F.C. in European football

References

1. "UEFA Super Cup - History". UEFA. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.

External links

• RSSSF