In 1969, Ajax played an unforgettable quarter-final in the European Cup I. The team of Rinus Michels faced Benfica, the record champion of Portugal, which had an absolute world star in Eusébio. Ajax, with a very young Johan Cruijff, took an important step towards the European top in this three-match series against Benfica.
On 2 June 1971, Ajax won the Europa Cup I for the first time. In the final, the Ajax players took on Panathinaikos. An early and a late goal ensured Ajax won 2-0. On their return to Amsterdam, the Ajax players and coach Rinus Michels were received as heroes. In this extended Ajax Doc, some of the protagonists go back in time more than fifty years.
Led by Johan Cruijff, Ajax captured the Europa Cup I on 31 May 1972. In Rotterdam, Internazionale were beaten 2-0 by two goals from the perennial number 14. Sjaak Swart, Marco van Basten, Heini Otto and Salo Muller each look back on the final match in the Ajax Doc 'Ajax 1972: The best final' in their own way.
In 1973, Ajax won the Europa Cup 1 for the third time in a row. In Belgrade they won 1-0 against Juventus through an early goal by Johnny Rep. Earlier that season, superpowers Bayern Munich and Real Madrid had already been beaten. Ajax definitely became a gilt-edged team. 50 years later, former players Johnny Rep and Jan Mulder look back on the win. Former Juventus player Fabio Capello talks about the final and Gerrie Mühren's widow Grietje reminisces about her husband.