1971 European Cup Final

Mimis Domazos attempts to dribble

Johan Cruyff attacks Panathinaikos before passing to Haan for second goal.

The first goal

Celebrating the first goal

Crowds greeting the Ajax team in Amsterdam

On 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

• 1-1 in Liverpool, on March 9, 1971

Players: Economopoulos, Tomaras, Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Kapsis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis,

Goals: 82' Antoniadis (1-0)

• 0-0 in Athens, on March 24, 1971

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

• 1-4 in Belgrade, on April 14, 1971

Players: Economopoulos (72' Konstantinou), Tomaras, Sourpis, Kamaras, Vlachos, Eleftherakis, Kapsis, Domazos, Fylakouris, Grammos, Antoniadis,

Goals: 50' Kamaras (1-3)

• 3-0 in Athens, on April 28, 1971

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)

30 Years Later

Antonis Antoniadis in 2000 game against Ajax

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.

External Links

• Video Clip with goals