Nostalgia for the Football Fans - Group G
For those fans of football whose fascination into the sport ranges from more than just the last 10 years, Group G of this year's Champions League draw brings back some glorious memories. The coming together of Real Madrid, AC Milan and Ajax in the group represents a former glory of the game - when these giants of football ruled the world. Milan and Madrid may still be great clubs but they have eclipsed by the likes of Inter and Barcelona during recent years. Ajax, unfortunately, have fallen strictly into a lower quality rung of foot-balling teams. They seem very far away from their pinnacle in the 70s when they would contest the finals of the European Cup against AC Milan for example. The rise of English game in the form of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United may have become constant in recent years but they do not represent the legacy of the competition as well as Liverpool, who were the titans of the game in the 80s.
With all due respect to Auxerre, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Ajax represent to many experienced connoisseurs of the game, the perfect trident of clubs. Forget the gorgeous brand of football that they have advocated down the years; they are historic in numbers as well. Of the total 55 Champions League titles decided in more than a past half century, 20 have been clinched by these three clubs combined. Madrid, of course, despite their recent travails, rule the roost with 9 titles. AC Milan are not far behind with 7 titles while Ajax Amsterdam may have fallen short in recent times, yet they can still boast 4 titles, the most recent of which came in 1995. These 3 clubs represent more than half of the clique of 5 which can boast the UEFA Badge of Honor that is given to a club for winning the European elite title 3 times in a row or to win it 5 times at least. The other two clubs are Liverpool of England and Bayern Munich.
The successes of Real Madrid and AC Milan especially in recent times have made them the favorites of many fans. Ajax, however, has had less success to deal with recently. Yet their team in the early 1970s was the best in the world and had won three consecutive titles. They were the kings of Europe and played with such panache and style that nobody could live with them on the football field. In fact, it was Ajax's playing style which sowed the seeds of the Total Football of 1974 when the Dutch team wowed the world on their way to the World Cup final.
The Ajax team of that time was coached by the architect of Total Football, Rinus Michel (also adjudged coach of the century in some quarters). The team contained such illustrious names such as Johan Cruyff, Piet Keizer, Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol among others. The team played with verve and style with each player playing the role of a midfielder, a forward as well as a defender. In fact, it is Ajax's brand of football which has influenced the foot-balling philosophies of Arsene Wenger and Barcelona FC. In fact, Cryuff later moved to Barcelona and became not just a great player but a spiritual guide for the club. Michel also found himself at Barcelona and it was this Dutch influence which finally led to the academy restructuring of the club in the early 90s. It is indicative of the indirect effect that Ajax has had on European football that luminaries such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and the current crop of Catalan players are a product of those very same academies.
As a result, the downfall of Ajax has been that much more painful to watch for the lovers of beautiful football. Their last batch of quality academy players was stolen away by the rest of Europe after their triumph in 1995.
For these reasons, despite the current circumstances of the club involved, Group G represents a mini-education course on the history of football and how it has come to evolve in Europe. While Madrid are still trying to make history having splurged on the Special One, Jose Mourinho and spent millions of the new Galacticos, Ajax are treading into the backwaters of European football trying to climb back on their perch. The aging AC Milan side has been going through a recent slump as well.
Yet, if one knew the histories of these magnificent clubs, watching group G in the Champions League this season would surely bring back some of the most beautiful memories of European football.
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