AJAX SIDE OF 1973 WAS OUT OF THIS WORIX) SAYS JARDINE
"THEY HAD BEATEN
INTER MILAN IN THE
FINAL OF THE
EUROPEAN CUP IN 72
AND ALSO WON THE
TOURNAMENT IN 71 SO
THEY WERE
EXCEPTIONALLY
STRONG AT THAT TIME"
Sandy Jardine came up against
some of the world's greatest
players and teams during his
remarkable career at Ibrox but the
Gers1 legend believes the Cruyff-
inspired Ajax side he came up
against in January 1973 was a cut
above the rest.
Having famously lifted the Cup
Winners' Cup in 1972, Rangers were
subsequently suspended from Europe
the following season due to fans
running on to the pitch at the Nou
Camp but the club was to take part in
an unofficial European Super Cup
seven months later.
The brainchild of Anton Witkamp, a
reporter and sports editor of Dutch
newspaper De Telegraaf, the Super
Cup came about at a time when Dutch
teams, in particular Ajax, ruled
supreme in Europe.
Witkamp came up with the idea of
'something new' to decide the top club
side in Europe and, ultimately, to test
Ajax's ability further.
He later explained where the idea for
the concept came from, he said: "The
reason was to celebrate Ajax and
Cruyff and the idea was conceived
during the era of total football which
was a Dutch era.
"Four consecutive European Cups
between Ajax and Feyenoord showed this.
"But the Super Cup is more than
money or glory, it is the right to be
called the best."
Witkamp proposed the idea of a
match between Ajax, the European Cup
holders and Rangers, the Cup Winners'
Cup holders and Jaap van Praag, then
President of Ajax, loved his presentation.
However, fhe fact that Rangers were
banned at that time posed a problem
and UEFA President Artemio Franchi
was unable to provide an official
endorsement of the game.
The match, however, went ahead
and Rangers, who were also enjoying
centennial celebrations that year, took
part in the two-legged encounter
against a formidable Ajax side.
Goals from Johnny Rep, Cruyff and
Arie Haan gave Ajax a 3-1 victory in
Glasgow with Alex McDonald scoring
for Rangers.
McDonald and Quentin Young then
hit the net in the second-leg but Jock
Wallace's side were again outgunned
with Haan, Gerd Muhren and Cruyff
