1971 European Cup Final
The 1971 European Cup Final (Greek: Τελικός Κυπέλλου Πρωταθλητριών 1971) was a football match between Ajax of the Netherlands and Panathinaikos of Greece οn June 2, 1971, the most glorious page in the history of Panathinaikos Football Club was written. Panathinaikos having defeated great football clubs of Europe played against the fantastic team of Ajax F.C. in the final of the European Champions' Cup in the Wembley Stadium. Panathinaikos had a good performance but eventually lost by 2 to 0. Regardless of the outcome of the match, the recollection of that unforgetable day remains, and it still does, vivid in all the "green" fans' minds.
Thirty thousand Ajax fans travelled to London for the match. Ajax had never before gone this far in the European competition. They had reached their second European Cup Final in 1971.
At the kick-off, the ball was played to Johan Cruyff, who was acknowledged as the best player in Europe between 1971 and 1973. The Ajax team produced some dazzling football during the match and took the European Cup for the first time. Ajax, inspired by Cruyff, won 2-0 and the Flying Dutchman became the first player from his country to be voted European Footballer of the Year.
The following day Ajax were greeted by jubilant crowds in Leidseplein.
The Game
Players:
- Panathinaikos: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Kamaras, Sourpis, Grammos, Fylakouris, Antoniadis, Domazos, Kapsis.
- Ajax: Stuy, Neeskens, Hulshoff, Vasovic, Suurbier, Rijnders (46’ Blankenburg), G. Muhren, Swart (46’ Haan), Cruyff, Van Dijk, Keizer
Goals: 5' Van Dijk, 87' Haan
Following are the games that Panathinaikos had played until they reached the final.
The road to Wembley
vs Jeuness d' Esch
- 1-2 in Luxemburg, on September 16, 1970
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras (86' Kapsis), Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Domazos, Filakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis, Kalligeris (80' Deligiannis)
Goals: 6' Antoniadis (0-1), 35' Eleftherakis (1-2)
- 5-0 in Athens, on September 30, 1970
Panathinaikos to the second round 7-1 on aggregate
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras (46' Mitropoulos), Kamaras, Sourpis, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis, Kalligeris (46' Gonios)
Goals: 17' Eleftherakis, 27', 30', 37', 58' Antoniadis
vs Slovan
- 3-0 in Athens, on October 21, 1970
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis, Kalligeris (75' Deligiannis)
Goals: 3' Domazos, 55' Antoniadis, 88' Deligiannis
- 2-1 in Bratislava, on November 4, 1970
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Kamaras (46' Mitropoulos), Sourpis, Vlahos, Eleftherakis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis, Kalligeris (75' Deligiannis)
Goals: 52' Antoniadis (1-1)
Panathinaikos to the quarter finals 5-1 on aggregate
vs Everton
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Kapsis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis,
Goals: 82' Antoniadis (1-0)
Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Kapsis, Kamaras, Sourpis, Vlachos, Athanassopoulos, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis
Panathinaikos to the semi finals on the away goals rule (1-1)
vs Red Star
Players: Economopoulos (72' Konstantinou), Tomaras, Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Kapsis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis,
Goals: 50' Kamaras (1-3)
Players: Konstantinou, Tomaras, Kapsis, Kamaras, Sourpis, Vlachos, Kalligeris (54' Athanasopoulos), Domazos, Fylakouris (Hadjiandreou), Grammos, Antoniadis.
Goals: 1’, 55' Antoniadis, 63' Kamaras.
Panathinaikos to the final on the away goals rule (4-4)
Panathinaikos 1971 European Champions' Cup Roster
| Player | Position | Games played | Games started | Goals |
| Antonis Antoniadis | F | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Aristidis Kamaras | D-M | 9 | 9 | 2 |
| Mimis Domazos | M | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| Fragiskos Sourpis | D | 9 | 9 | |
| Giorgos Vlachos | D | 9 | 9 | |
| Giannis Tomaras | D | 9 | 9 | |
| Totis Fylakouris | M-F | 9 | 9 | |
| Haris Grammos | M-F | 9 | 9 | |
| Takis Ikonomopoulos | G | 8 | 8 | |
| Kostas Eleftherakis | M | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| Anthimos Kapsis | D-M | 6 | 5 | |
| Dimitris Kalligeris | M-F | 5 | 5 | |
| Giorgos Deligiannis | M-F | 3 | 1 | |
| Vasilis Konstantinou | G | 2 | 1 | |
| Kostas Athanasopoulos | D | 2 | 1 | |
| Victor Mitropoulos | D | 2 | ||
| Giorgos Gonios | D-M | 1 | ||
| Kostas Chatziandreou | M-F | 1 | ||
| Mitsos Dimitriou | D-M | |||
| Takis Papadimitriou | F | |||
| Petros Panopoulos | G | |||
| Pavlos Gerakis | F |
30 Years Later
On December 21, 2000, the two teams that played the 1971 final met again for an exhibition game. Panathinaikos, who started the game with all eleven players that played at Wembley Stadium, won the game 1-0, with a goal by Mimis Domazos. Johan Cruyff remained in Spain, due to prior commitments, and did not join the game with Ajax.