1972 European Cup final

Match programme cover
Event	1971–72 European Cup
Ajax Inter Milan 2 0
Date	31 May 1972
Venue	De Kuip, Rotterdam
Man of the Match	Johan Cruyff
Referee	Robert Héliès (France)
Attendance	61,354
← 1971 1973 →

The 1972 European Cup final was a football match held at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 31 May 1972, that was contested between AFC Ajax of the Netherlands and Internazionale of Italy to determine the champions of the 1971–72 European Cup. Ajax defeated Inter by a score of 2–0 to claim their second successive European Cup victory, following their triumph in the 1971 final. Two second-half goals from forward Johan Cruyff provided the margin of victory for the Dutch side.

This game has been cited as Total Football's greatest moment. Ajax dominated much of the game as Inter defended desperately with their catenaccio strategy.^[1][2][3]

Route to the final

Ajax				Round	Inter Milan
Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg		Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg
Dynamo Dresden	2–0	2–0 (H)	0–0 (A)	First round	AEK Athens	6–4	4–1 (H)	2–3 (A)
Olympique de Marseille	6–2	2–1 (A)	4–1 (H)	Second round	Borussia Mönchengladbach	4–2	4–2 (H)	0–0 (A)
Arsenal	3–1	2–1 (H)	1–0 (A)	Quarter-finals	Standard Liège	2–2 (a)	1–0 (H)	1–2 (A)
Benfica	1–0	1–0 (H)	0–0 (A)	Semi-finals	Celtic	0–0 (5–4 p)	0–0 (H)	0–0 (a.e.t.) (A)

Match

Details

31 May 1972

Ajax	2–0	Inter Milan
Cruyff 47', 78'	Report

De Kuip, Rotterdam

Attendance: 61,354

Referee: Robert Héliès (France)

Ajax	Inter Milan

GK 1 Heinz Stuy RB 3 Wim Suurbier CB 4 Barry Hulshoff CB 12 Horst Blankenburg LB 5 Ruud Krol CM 7 Johan Neeskens CM 15 Arie Haan CM 9 Gerrie Mühren RW 8 Sjaak Swart CF 14 Johan Cruyff LW 11 Piet Keizer (c) Manager: Ștefan Kovács

GK 1 Ivano Bordon RB 2 Mauro Bellugi LB 3 Giacinto Facchetti DM 4 Gabriele Oriali CB 5 Mario Giubertoni  12' SW 6 Tarcisio Burgnich RW 7 Jair da Costa  56' CM 8 Gianfranco Bedin CF 9 Roberto Boninsegna CM 10 Sandro Mazzola (c) LF 11 Mario Frustalupi Substitutions: MF 14 Mario Bertini  12' MF 16 Sergio Pellizzaro  56' Manager: Giovanni Invernizzi