Brilliant

GREATEST EVER FOOTBALL

BANKROLLED by media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, this vintage Rossoneri side was to be voted the greatest of all-time by World Soccer magazine.

We might disagree as to their overall ranking, but there is little doubt that the quality of player that worked under Arrigo Sacchi was special.

The San Siro giants already had a sprinkling of home-grown talent that was dominating the national side.

Franco Baresi (above) was already a club legend — his No.6 shirt would eventually be retired.

Paolo Maldini was on his way to the same accolade and his No.3 jersey would follow suit.

With Alessandro Costacurta and Carlo Ancelotti making up the numbers, Sacchi’s side had the look of quality about it.

But the Dutch triumvirate of Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten added the stardust and ensured that Berlusconi’s gamble would pay off in spectacular style.

They won the European Cup in ’89, defeating Steaua Bucharest, and then completed back-to-back victories with a triumph over Benfica 12 months later.

IT was manager Rinus Michels who made the world truly sit up and take notice of Dutch football.

With a talented and hungry group, the legendary coach stunned the best the continent had to offer with fluid movement and interchanging of positions among players with what became known as “Total football”.

Led by the genius of Johan Cruyff (above), Ajax became the benchmark for every other club at the start of the 70s. Feyenoord broke the glass ceiling for Holland when they lifted the European Cup in 1970 — Cruyff’s side then lifted it to an altogether different level.

The striker was aided by a string of players who formed the nucleus of a great Dutch side that reached the World Cup final in ’74 in West Germany and, four years later, in Argentina.

Johnny Rep, Ruud Krol and Johan Neeskens were his accomplices in one of the most exciting club sides ever.

Michels led Ajax to a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos in 1971 and left for Barcelona, saying, “My work here is done” — but, under the guidance of his successor Stefan Kovacs, the Ajax players ensured it wasn’t.

A year later, they beat Inter 2-0 in Rotterdam before defeating Juventus in Belgrade to lift their third title.