Feyenoord led Dutch game into golden era

Feyenoord Rotterdam celebrate the 50th anniversary of their European Cup success on Wednesday. It put the Netherlands on the world football map and kicked off a golden era.

Though rivals Ajax Amsterdam would outdo their triumph with three successive European Cup titles, and in the process introduce Johan Cruyff and “total football”, it was Feyenoord’s victory on May 6, 1970 that announced the arrival of Dutch football and caused the country to start punching way above its weight.

“Even if they tell you in Amsterdam they won the cup four times, we were the first [Dutch winners],” former Feyenoord captain Rinus Israel told Voetbal International magazine.

Feyenoord beat Celtic 2-1 in extra time in Milan to win a competition that began with a formidable field and in which the Dutch champions had been given little chance.

But Feyenoord’s shock second-round elimination of holders AC Milan, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to win 2-1 on aggregate, signalled their potential, though they still went into the final as underdogs after the Glaswegians overcame Leeds United in their semifinal.

Feyenoord went behind in the showpiece match at San Siro but Israel equalised and Swedish import Ove Kindvall scored the winner in extra time, after a long kick forward that Celtic captain Billy McNeill failed to clear.

“It was the moment when a club from a different country [outside the big European leagues] won and everybody from these countries started believing they could too,” recalled midfielder Wim Jansen.

It was also the making of the reputation of Dutch tactical nous. Feyenoord’s Austrian coach Ernst Happel had his side open up play when in possession but when without the ball, they closed in on the opponent, restricting their space.

It proved innovative at the time and caused them to dominate the final against a skilful Scottish side who were the first British side to win Europe’s elite club trophy in 1967.

Seven of Feyenoord’ s Cup winners featured in the Netherlands squad that finished runners-up at the 1974 World Cup, including Wim van Hanegem, still an icon of the Dutch game whose forceful opinions remain regularly solicited.

“Feyenoord, at that time, changed the way football was played a lot more than Ajax supposedly did later,” he said.

“We played with an attacking intent, we moved the ball about quickly, had pace up front and were forceful in the duels. That whole season we never had any doubt.”