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 De Telegraaf to decide who was the best club in Europe.^[1]

In 1972 Witkamp proposed the idea to 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 endoursment; 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 misbehaviour of their fans.^[1]

The match went ahead, but unofficially as a celebration of the I 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 reconigised 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	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 58,000
	MacDonald  41'		Rep  34' Cruijff  45' Haan  76'

Rangers

Ajax

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

GK 1 Heinz Stuy RB Wim Suurbier CM Horst Blankenburg CB Barry Hulshoff LB Ruud Krol DM Arie Haan CM Gerrie Mühren CM Arnold Mühren RF Johnny Rep CF Johan Cruijff LF Piet Keizer Manager: Ştefan Kovács

Second leg

24 January 1973	Ajax	3–2	Rangers	Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam Attendance: 43,000
	Haan  12' Mühren  37' (pen.) Cruijff  79'		MacDonald  2' Young  35'

GK 1 Heinz Stuy RB Wim Suurbier CM Horst Blankenburg CB Barry Hulshoff LB Ruud Krol DM Arie Haan CM Gerrie Mühren CM Johan Neeskens RF Sjaak Swart CF Johan Cruijff LF Piet Keizer Manager: Ştefan Kovács

GK 1 Peter McCloy RB 2 Sandy Jardine LB 3 Willie Mathieson CB 4 John Greig 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

• European Cup 1971–72
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1971–72
• Rangers F.C. season 1972-73

References

External links

• RSSSF