This Day in History: 2023-04-18

Nr. 439

AJAX WRECK LIVERPOOL’S EUROPEAN DREAM (1966)

In the 1966-67 season a 19-year-old Johann Cruyff gave a due as to his future influence in football when his contribution to a European Cup second round match helped to destroy Liverpool. Cruyff’s Ajax side overwhelmed English
champions Liverpool in a 5-1 first-round win played in foggy weather conditions at the Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, on 7 December. Liverpool, were unable to haul back the deficit in the second leg at their home ground and could only manage a 2-2 draw, so their European Cup debut ended with a defeat on a 3-7 aggregate.
In 1966 Cruyff, who was later to play a pivotal part in the Dutch ‘total football’ system of the 1970s, already had a Dutch championship medal and Holland international caps to his name.

Inspired by the young Johan Cruyff Ajax were just em barking on their most successful period in the club’s long history.