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champions, so that for the first time in history of
the Dutch Football Association two of their clubs
were in the struggle for success with a stake in
the European Cup. By the way, once more the
name of Ajax was mentioned on the pedestal of
the Dutch Cup.
In the first round Dynamo-Dresden were
eliminated bya Dutch victory of2—OafteraO—0
draw in Eastern-Germany. In the second round
Olympique-Marseille followed the same way; a
2—2 draw in France and a 4— 1 triumph in
Amsterdam, beating Arsenal twice
at home 2 1, away 0—1, Feyenoord, in this
quarter-finals, were pushed out of the way by
Benfica, being in the semi-finals opponents of
Ajax. It led to two heavy games as the ultimate
result declares: Ajax Benfica 1 —0,
Benfica Ajax 0 0.
European Cup-final in Rotterdam on the 31st of
May 1972 between Ajax and Inter Milan.
With 65,000 spectators in the Rotterdam
Feyenoord-Stadium and millions outside in 28
countries on the television, Soccer-Europe saw
the brilliant team of Ajax win by two goals to zero
in a big match which can be considered as one of
the best, if not the best one in the European Cup
competitions of the last few years.
A very successful result as well for coach/trainer
Stefan Kovacs in his first year with Ajax.
This victory meant, that a heart's desire of Ajax
was fulfilled too, the so-called TRILOGY. For
besides this European Cup (second success) they
won (for the fifteenth time) the League
championship and (third successive time) the
Dutch Cup. No other club in the Netherlands has
such a brilliant record.
While Ajax refused in 1971 to play for the World
Club Cup in South-America against Nacionale
both under medical advice and taking warning
from the bad experiences of other European
Cup-winners as AC Milan, Celtic, Benfica,
Feyenoord a .o. now in 1972, more or less
forced by fans and Press, Ajax could not get out
of it to play against Independiente. So it
happened. On September 6th in Buenos Aires:
Independiente—Ajax 1 1three weeks later in
Amsterdam: Ajax— Independiente 3 0.
There was much gladness in taking this fourth
Cup but in spite of a perfect physical prepara
tion, it appeared that due to the long journey and
other serious objections, it would not be wise to
play any more for ;he World Club Cup.
As an alternative Ajax, supported by one of the
biggest Dutch newspapers, made a proposal to
the UEFA to organise in future two matches
between the winners of the European Cup and
European Cup Winners Cup
resulting in the absolute European
championship with at stake, the Super Cup.
Due to the behaviour of the supporters of Ajax'
opponents Glasgow Rangers during their final in
Barcelona, the UEFA was not willing to organise
this time the matches officially, but gave allow
ance for playing, Ajax scored successfully. In
Scotland the victory was 1 —3, in Amsterdam
3 2. So all (football) Cups in the World came to
Amsterdam, to Ajax.
In June 1973 the UEFA authorised the Super-Cup
competitions formally in a somewhat changed
shape.
At the end of the season 1972-1973 two big
victories were booked again, for the sixteenth
time the League championship and for the third
successive time the European Cup. About this
latest thing, after eliminating CSKA (Bulgaria),
Bayern Munchen (Western Germany) and Real
Madrid (Spain) millions of people saw, on May
30th Ajax' glory in Belgrade against Juventus
(Italy) beating in the final the club from Turin by
1-0.
Having been through two tremendous and
successful seasons, trainer-coach Stefan Kovacs
left Ajax for France. He was succeeded by
Georga Knobel, up till now trainer-coach of MVV,
a league-club in Maastricht, town in the south of
the Netherlands. Knobel signed a two years'
contract with Ajax.
Continuing their policy, Ajax still concludes
contracts of long standing, trying to keep the
team (selection) together in order to increase its
performance to the highest level.
A new season is starting, in which Ajax will do
their utmost by maintaining its world famous
reputation.
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