AC Milan-Ajax Champion Clubs Cup Final 1969

Some says 'total football' was successfully executed by Hungarians in 1950s for the first time and some says by Ajax in 1960s. Rinus Michels who is chosen the best coach in this century, started to coach Ajax in 1965 and expressed his footballers what is on his head. Any footballers should have the ability to play in any positions. He won many championships in Holland.

And then, it was 28th May 1969, when AC Milan is to face total football in Santiago Barnabeu. Catenaccio vs total football.

The most important fact about the match is that total football system was being developed yet and footballers like Barry Hulshoff honestly admitted they do not understand this system.

We were the member of Catenaccio counsil but as always we are more than a team which merely applied catenaccio. Our golden boy Rivera and his friends were on the stage again after the final in 1963. (AC Milan-Benfica CCC Final 1963) Pierino Prati was the star of the night: the hat-trick hero.

We defeated Dutch side 4-1. We would score 4 goals in finals twice after this final in 1989 against Steau Bucharest and in 1994 against Barcelona.

And history would proof us that a team is to lose a final, to win next time. (2th June 1971 Ajax-Panathinaikos CCC Final) It was the revolution time in football and total football showed us its grace in 1988 (1988 Holland-USSR European Championship Final)

Thanks again Grenoli....love the historical posts....makes me swell with pride every time I read...or re-read these posts!