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 Park, Glasgow
Referee	Alistair McKenzie (Scotland)
Attendance	57,209
Second leg
Ajax Rangers 3 2
Date	24 January 1973
Venue	Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam
Referee	Hans-Joachim Weyland (West Germany)
Attendance	26,168
1973 (Official) →

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 Rangers' centenary. 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.

Match details

First leg

16 January 1973

Rangers	1–3	Ajax
MacDonald 41'	Report	Rep 34' Cruijff 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 10 Arnold Mühren RF 16 Johnny Rep CF 14 Johan Cruijff  80' LF 11 Piet Keizer (c)  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.) Cruijff 79'	Report	MacDonald 2' Young 35'

Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam

Attendance: 26,168

Referee: Hans-Joachim Weyland (West Germany)

Ajax

Rangers

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 Cruijff LF 11 Piet Keizer (c) 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

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