1981 UEFA Cup final

Association football match December 2019 1981 UEFA Cup final 1980–81 UEFA Cup Ipswich Town ENG 30px 5 AZ '67 NED 30px 4 on aggregate First leg 3 0 6 May 1981 Portman Road Ipswich Adolf Prokop (East Germany) 27,532 Second leg 2 4 20 May 1981 Olympic Stadium Amsterdam Walter Eschweiler (West Germany) 28,500 1980 1982 The 1981 UEFA Cup final was an association football match played over two legs between AZ '67 of the Netherlands and Ipswich Town of England. The first leg was played at Portman Road, Ipswich, on 6May 1981 and the second leg was played on 20 May 1981 at the Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam. It was the final of the 1980–81 season of European cup competition, the UEFA Cup. Both Ipswich and AZ '67 were appearing in their first European final. Each club needed to progress through five rounds to reach the final. Matches were contested over two legs, with a match at each team's home ground. The majority of Ipswich's ties were won by at least two goals, the exception being the second round against Bohemians of Prague, which Ipswich won 3–2 on aggregate. AZ '67's early ties were one-sided: they won the first three rounds by at least five goals on aggregate, but their quarter-final and semi-final ties were won on aggregate by a single goal. Watched by a crowd of 27,532 at Portman Road, Ipswich took the lead in the first leg when John Wark scored from the penalty spot. Second half goals from Frans Thijssen and Paul Mariner meant Ipswich won the first leg 3–0. Therefore, in the second leg at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, Ipswich had to avoid losing by three clear goals to win the competition. A crowd of 28,500 watched Ipswich take an early lead courtesy of a Thijssen goal. AZ '67 quickly equalised through Kurt Welzl before taking the lead after a goal from Johnny Metgod. Wark scored again for Ipswich to equalise the leg, but AZ '67 struck back through Pier Tol and Jos Jonker. No further goals were scored, and Ipswich won the final 5–4 on aggregate to win their first and, as of 2025, only European trophy. Background The UEFA Cup was an annual football club competition organised by UEFA between 1971 and 2009 for eligible clubs.UEFA Europa League History https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/ UEFA Union of European Football Associations 27 April 2008 It was the second-tier competition of European club football, ranking below the UEFA European Cup.https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/feb/14/europa-league-is-back-more-than-ever-competition-to-savour-round-of-32-arsenal The Europa League is back and more than ever is a competition to savour Sachin Nakrani 14 February 2018 The Guardian 9 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20191129004712/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/feb/14/europa-league-is-back-more-than-ever-competition-to-savour-round-of-32-arsenal 29 November 2019 live From 2010, the UEFA Cup evolved into the Europa League. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/europa-league/5344380/Europa-League-Guide-to-Uefa-Cups-replacement-tournament.html The Daily Telegraph Europa League: Guide to Uefa Cup's replacement tournament 9 May 2020 19 May 2009 John Ley https://web.archive.org/web/20170531010253/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/europa-league/5344380/Europa-League-Guide-to-Uefa-Cups-replacement-tournament.html 31 May 2017 live Ipswich Town had made their first appearance in European football in the 1962–63 European Cup and, before the 1980–81 season, their most successful tournament was the 1973–74 UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Lokomotive Leipzig.http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10272~343381,00.html Ipswich in Europe 29 January 2008 16 May 2007 Ipswich Town F.C. dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080720034828/http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10272~343381%2C00.html 20 July 2008 https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-story-of-early-years-in-europe-1-6377488 East Anglian Daily Times Dangerous conditions in Malta, a riot at Lazio and a trip behind the Iron Curtain: the story of Town's early days in Europe Tony Garnett 17 November 2019 15 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200115114907/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-story-of-early-years-in-europe-1-6377488 15 January 2020 live This was Ipswich's eighth European campaign.Houseley, Houseley, pp. 6, 10, 16, 20, 25, 28, 36 AZ's first European experience was in the 1977-78 UEFA Cup where they reached the second round, https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52327/profile/history/index.html UEFA 9 May 2020 AZ Alkmaar – History https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050324/https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52327/profile/history/index.html 15 February 2019 dead losing 5–4 on penalties to FC Barcelona. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/seasons/1977/matches/ UEFA 29 May 2020 1977/78 season – PSV get the better of Bastia The 1980–81 UEFA Cup campaign was their third season in European football. Ipswich Town qualified for the 1980–81 UEFA Cup as a result of finishing third in the Football League First Division the previous season, behind Manchester United, who also qualified for the UEFA Cup, https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52682/profile/history/index.html UEFA 20 May 2020 Manchester United FC – England – History https://web.archive.org/web/20180221221718/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52682/profile/history/index.html 21 February 2018 dead and Liverpool, who qualified for the 1980–81 European Cup. https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1979-80.html 14 June 2011 Stuart Jackson Season 1979–80 https://web.archive.org/web/20110604174826/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1979-80.html 4 June 2011 RSSSF live https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=7889/profile/history/index.html UEFA 20 May 2020 Liverpool FC – England – History https://web.archive.org/web/20190323155805/https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=7889/profile/history/index.html 23 March 2019 dead AZ '67 finished the 1979–80 Eredivisie season in second place, three points behind champions Ajax. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned80.html Netherlands 1979/80 14 June 2011 20 February 2005 Jan Schoenmakers https://web.archive.org/web/20160801161915/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/ned80.html 1 August 2016 RSSSF live Ipswich and AZ had faced each other in two matches before, in the two-legged first round of the 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup which the English club won 2–0 on aggregate. https://www.11v11.com/teams/ipswich-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/AZ%20Alkmaar/ Ipswich Town football club: record v AZ Alkmaar 27 March 2020 11v11.com https://web.archive.org/web/20190512073101/https://www.11v11.com/teams/ipswich-town/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/AZ%20Alkmaar/ 12 May 2019 live Route to the final 1980–81 UEFA Cup Ipswich Town F.C. Round Opposition First leg Second legAggregate score 1stGRC Aris 5–1 (h) 1–3 (a) 6–4 2ndTCH Bohemians 3–0 (h) 0–2 (a) 3–2 3rdPOL Widzew Łódź 5–0 (h) 0–1 (a) 5–1 Quarter-finalFRA Saint-Étienne 4–1 (a) 3–1 (h) 7–2 Semi-finalFRG Köln 1–0 (h) 1–0 (a) 2–0 Ipswich's 1980–81 UEFA Cup campaign commenced in the first round against the Greek team Aris Salonika. The first leg, at Ipswich's home ground Portman Road, was an ill-disciplined match which saw Aris' Giorgos Foiros sent off after a second yellow card towards the end of the first half. Ipswich were awarded three penalties, all of which were converted by John Wark, who scored a fourth from open play. Paul Mariner struck a fifth for Ipswich before Aris scored from the spot through Theodoros Pallas in what would be a consolation goal in a 5–1 win for Ipswich,Henderson, p. 141https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66541--ipswich-vs-aris-thessaloniki/ UEFA 1980/81, First round, 1st leg – Ipswich 5–1 Aris 20 January 2020 described as a "sparkling" victory by the Belfast Telegraph. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19800918/501/0025 British Newspaper Archive Injuries are key in United's Euro bid Belfast Telegraph 18 September 1980 30 January 2020 25 Two weeks later, Aris won 3–1 in the return leg, taking an early 2–0 lead with goals from Thalis Tsirimokos and Konstantinos Drampis, before Eric Gates pulled one back for Ipswich. Although Zeleliolis scored a third for Aris midway through the second half, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19801002/229/0014 British Newspaper Archive Aris Salonika 3–1 Ipswich Newcastle Journal 14 2 October 1980 30 January 2020 Ipswich progressed to the next round 6–4 on aggregate, https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66542--aris-thessaloniki-vs-ipswich/ UEFA 1980/81, First round, 2nd leg – Aris 3–1 Ipswich 20 January 2020 where they faced Bohemians of Prague. A 3–0 home win saw Wark score twice more; he was then substituted off with a tendon injury, to be replaced by Kevin Beattie who scored a third for Ipswich with a free kick, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19801023/633/0027 British Newspaper Archive 23 October 1980 Pool give Aberdeen nightmare Belfast Telegraph 30 January 2020 described in The Times as a "thunderbolt". https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/the-50-greatest-ipswich-town-players-7nqxxx6jgzw The Times 30 January 2020 The 50 greatest Ipswich Town players 6 July 2009 Tim Meston https://web.archive.org/web/20200130161225/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-50-greatest-ipswich-town-players-7nqxxx6jgzw 30 January 2020 live The goal would prove to be pivotal as Ipswich, without regular goalkeeper Paul Cooper, midfielder Frans Thijssen and striker Mariner, all through injury, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002454/19801102/224/0046 British Newspaper Archive Oh Bobby 2 November 1980 The People 46 30 January 2020 lost the away leg 2–0 with goals from Antonín Panenka and Tibor Mičinec. Ipswich still qualified for the third round 3–2 on aggregate. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66587--ipswich-vs-bohemians-praha/ UEFA 1980/81, Second round, 1st leg – Ipswich 3–0 Bohemians 1905 20 January 2020 https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66588--bohemians-praha-vs-ipswich/ UEFA 1980/81, Second round, 2nd leg – Bohemians 1905 2–0 Ipswich 20 January 2020 Three weeks later, Ipswich faced Widzew Łódź from Poland, who had defeated Manchester United and Juventus in previous rounds, at Portman Road. Wark once again found the net, scoring a hat-trick; goals from Alan Brazil and Mariner completed a comprehensive 5–0 victory. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66615--ipswich-vs-widzew/ UEFA 1980/81, Third round, 1st leg – Ipswich 5–0 Widzew 20 January 2020 The only negative was a trip to hospital for Mick Mills for 15 stitches in a cut to his shin. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19801127/594/0029 British Newspaper Archive Belfast Telegraph 27 November 1980 29 Ipswich aces destroy Poles 31 January 2020 On a frozen pitch which many observers considered to be dangerous,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19801211/698/0022 Ipswich stars given all-clear Ian Hargreaves Liverpool Echo 31 January 2020 11 December 1980 22 Widzew Łódź won the away leg 1–0 with Marek Pięta pl scoring for them but went out 5–1 on aggregate. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66616--widzew-vs-ipswich/ 1980/81, Third round, 2nd leg – Widzew 1–0 Ipswich 20 January 2020 UEFA The lead from the first leg allowed the Ipswich manager Bobby Robson to withdraw Mariner and Arnold Mühren: he noted at the time that he was prioritising Ipswich's league challenge. After a three-month break, Ipswich faced the French team AS Saint-Étienne in the quarter-finals in March 1981, the first leg being held in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The Dutch player Johnny Rep put the home team in the lead after 16 minutes, but a brace from Mariner and goals from Mühren and Wark ensured Ipswich took a 4–1 lead into the second leg. https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-s-greatest-games-the-blues-thump-the-superstars-of-st-etienne-1-5095222 Ipswich Star Ipswich Town's greatest games: The Blues thump the superstars of St. Etienne Mark Heath 8 July 2017 20 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200220171340/https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-s-greatest-games-the-blues-thump-the-superstars-of-st-etienne-1-5095222 20 February 2020 live The victory against the French team has been described by the Ipswich Star as one of the greatest performances in Ipswich's history. Robson noted: "We have demolished a good side with one of the best victories anyone has achieved in Europe in the past ten years." https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/mar/04/features.sport10 The Observer 4 March 2007 Frozen in time: 18 March 1981 31 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20141003011912/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/mar/04/features.sport10 3 October 2014 live Ipswich won the game at Portman Road 3–1 with goals from Terry Butcher, Mariner and another penalty from Wark, while Saint-Étienne's consolation goal came from Jacques Zimako. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66632--ipswich-vs-st-etienne/ UEFA 1980/81, Quarter-finals, 2nd leg – Ipswich 3–1 St-Étienne 20 January 2020 Winning the tie 7–2 on aggregate, Ipswich progressed to the semi-finals where they met the German side 1. FC Köln. Both legs finished 1–0 to Ipswich: Wark scored again in the home leg, https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66633--ipswich-vs-koln/ UEFA 1980/81, Semi-finals, 1st leg – Ipswich 1–0 Köln 20 January 2020 his 12th goal of the European campaign, British Newspaper Archive 31 January 2020 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810409/551/0024 European goal number 12 for Wark 9 April 1981 24 Aberdeen Press and Journal and Butcher headed in a Mills free kick in Cologne. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810423/490/0022 British Newspaper Archive 29 May 2020 23 April 1981 Ipswich pride wins the day Mike Green 22 Aberdeen Press & Journal https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/66634--koln-vs-ipswich/ UEFA 1980/81, Semi-finals, 2nd leg – Köln 1–0 Ipswich 20 January 2020 The 2–0 aggregate victory ensured that Ipswich qualified for their first (and, 2023 y, their only) European cup final,https://www.11v11.com/teams/ipswich-town/tab/honours/ 11v11.com Ipswich Town football club honours 22 March 2023 where they would face Dutch team AZ '67. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/008a-0e6a0a02d996-129ab95150db-1000--1980-81-ipswich-thankful-for-thijssen/ UEFA 1980/81: Ipswich thankful for Thijssen 30 April 2010 20 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20100913041054/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=392026.html 13 September 2010 live AZ '67 Round Opposition First leg Second legAggregate score 1stLUX Red Boys Differdange 6–0 (h) 4–0 (a) 10–0 2ndBUL 1971 Levski Sofia 1–1 (a) 5–0 (h) 6–1 3rdYUG Radnički Niš 2–2 (a) 5–0 (h) 7–2 Quarter-finalBEL Lokeren 2–0 (h) 0–1 (a) 2–1 Semi-finalFRA FC Sochaux 1–1 (a) 3–2 (h) 4–3 AZ '67 started their European campaign in the first round at home against the Luxembourg team Red Boys Differdange, against whom AZ had won 16–1 on aggregate in the opening round of the 1977–78 UEFA Cup. This time, the first leg ended 6–0 with goals from Hugo Hovenkamp, Kristen Nygaard, Jan Peters (2), Kurt Welzl and Pier Tol. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+red+boys&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ABCDDD:010846719:mpeg21:a0219&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010846719:mpeg21:a0219 Delpher Het Parool 18 September 1980 27 March 2020 nl Henk Van der Sluis 'Kermisnummer' AZ slap vertier The second leg, played in front of 1,500 spectators at the Stade du Thillenberg, Differdange, ended in a 4–0 victory to the Dutch team, which included a Kees Kist hat-trick. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&query=%28%28az+uefa%29+red+boys%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2230-09-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2203-10-1980%22%29&redirect=true&identifier=ABCDDD:010880044:mpeg21:a0245&resultsidentifier=ABCDDD:010880044:mpeg21:a0245 Delpher De Volkskrant nl 1 October 1981 27 March 2020 Hattrick Kist bij rentree voor AZ In the second round, AZ faced the Bulgarian side Levski Spartak with the first leg held at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in Sofia. Kist put the Dutch club ahead early in the second half but Emil Spasov equalised and the game ended 1–1. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+spartak&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:010640272:mpeg21:a0115&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640272:mpeg21:a0115 Delpher Amigoe nl 22 October 1980 27 March 2020 AZ'67 speelt gelijk tegen Levski Spartak The second leg was one-sided as AZ won 5–0 in front of 15,000 spectators at the Alkmaarderhout. Tol scored the opening goal in the first half, and second-half goals from Nygaard, Kist, Peters, and a second from Tol ensured a 6–1 aggregate victory and qualification for the third round against the Yugoslav team Radnički Niš. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=%28az+uefa%29+spartak&page=1&maxperpage=50&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:011204796:mpeg21:a0248&resultsidentifier=ddd:011204796:mpeg21:a0248 Delpher 5 November 1980 27 March 2020 De Telegraaf Hoofdrol vor Pier Tol nl Henk Evenblij The first leg was played at the Čair Stadium in Niš in front of a crowd of 27,000 and once again saw AZ take the lead through a first-half Tol goal. Radnički Niš equalised early in the second half with a penalty from Dragan Pantelić before AZ regained the lead with a goal from Kist. With less than ten minutes remaining, Aleksandar Panajotović equalised for Niš and the game ended 2–2. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+Radnicki&coll=ddd&maxperpage=50&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:010570424:mpeg21:a0389&resultsidentifier=ddd:010570424:mpeg21:a0389 Delpher 27 November 1980 27 March 2020 Limburgsch dagblad nl Gunstig perspectief AZ'67 At home, AZ once again dominated their opposition, with another Kist hat-trick and goals from Nygaard and Welzl ending the game 5–0 and the tie 7–2 on aggregate to the Dutch club. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=%28az+uefa%29+Radnicki&page=1&maxperpage=50&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:011204827:mpeg21:a0350&resultsidentifier=ddd:011204827:mpeg21:a0350 Delpher De Telegraaf nl 27 March 2020 11 December 1980 Pantelic: handen tekort Jan De Deugd Three months later, AZ faced their quarter-final opponents Lokeren of Belgium. The first leg was played at the Alkmaarderhout in front of 13,400 spectators. Two first half goals, from Tol and Welzl, settled the match and AZ took a 2–0 advantage into the second leg. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+lokeren&coll=ddd&maxperpage=50&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:010640447:mpeg21:a0120&resultsidentifier=ddd:010640447:mpeg21:a0120 Delpher 5 March 1981 27 March 2020 Amigoe nl AZ'67 sterker dan Lokeren 2–0 The second leg saw AZ's only defeat on their route to the final, losing 1–0 to a first-half René Verheyen goal, but the Dutch side still progressed to the semi-final, winning 2–1 on aggregate. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+lokeren&coll=ddd&maxperpage=50&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:011008189:mpeg21:a0350&resultsidentifier=ddd:011008189:mpeg21:a0350 Nederlaag deert AZ niet Delpher 19 March 1981 27 March 2020 Nieuwsblad van het Noorden nl The first leg of the semi-final, against French opponents Sochaux took place at the Stade Auguste Bonal in Montbéliard. Peter Arntz opened the scoring for AZ early in the match, but Bernard Genghini equalised soon after, and the game ended 1–1. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&query=%28az+uefa%29+sochaux&coll=ddd&maxperpage=50&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:011204980:mpeg21:a0368&resultsidentifier=ddd:011204980:mpeg21:a0368 Delpher 9 April 1981 27 March 2020 De Telegraaf nl Sochaux geen partij voor AZ '67 Jan De Deugd The second leg, at the Alkmaarderhout, saw Sochaux take an early lead through Genghini before goals from Metgod, Jonker and Peters gave the Dutch team an aggregate 4–2 lead. Thierry Meyer fr scored a late consolation goal for the French club but the game ended 3–2 to AZ, and the Dutch team qualified for their first European cup final. https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=%28az+uefa%29+sochaux&page=1&maxperpage=50&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-08-1980%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2230-06-1981%22%29&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:011008222:mpeg21:a0307&resultsidentifier=ddd:011008222:mpeg21:a0307 Delpher 23 April 1981 27 March 2020 Nieuwsblad van het Noorden nl AZ '67 met de hakken over de sloot First leg Summary right|thumb|alt=Portman Road|The first leg of the final was played at Portman Road. Heading into the first leg of the 1981 UEFA Cup final, several of the Ipswich team played despite carrying injuries: Thijssen was suffering a groin strain, Mariner had an Achilles tendon injury, and Cooper was forced to wear a protective covering for an arm injury sustained in the previous domestic match against Middlesbrough. Gates had also just recovered from a calf injury. This was the club's 65th match of the season. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE Clive White The Times 9 May 2020 20 May 1981 9 Three goal Ipswich in sight of prize AZ '67, who had defeated Feyenoord in the Eredivisie to win the Dutch league title with six games to spare in their previous match, were able to play their full-strength side, Kist replacing Welzl in the starting eleven. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE Gale The Times Clive White Why double-Dutch can be an alarming experience 9 May 2020 6 May 1981 10 The first leg took place at Portman Road on 6May 1981 in front of a crowd of 27,532. Ipswich were denied a strong penalty appeal in the second minute of the first half when the referee, Adolf Prokop, waved away appeals after Gates was brought down by AZ's Richard van der Meer. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810507/455/0024 British Newspaper Archive Bob Harris Aberdeen Press and Journal 7 May 1981 24 26 March 2020 Dazzling Ipswich set to clinch UEFA Cup Butcher exploited AZ's renowned weakness in the air, but his header went just wide, before a shot from Gates was palmed out by the AZ goalkeeper Eddy Treijtel. During the first third of the match, Ipswich won several corners without capitalising but were caught offside numerous times by a disciplined AZ defensive line. Ipswich took the lead through Wark, who had recently been named the PFA Players' Player of the Year, scoring from the penalty spot after 30 minutes following a Hovenkamp handball. It was Wark's 13th goal of the European campaign and which ensured that he had scored in every round of the competition. Russell Osman cut out Tol's subsequent breakaway chance before Thijssen's 39th-minute strike flew over the bar. No further goals were scored and the half ended 1–0 to Ipswich. A minute into the second half, Ipswich doubled their lead with a header from Dutchman Frans Thijssen after his initial shot was saved by Treijtel. https://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-s-greatest-games-blues-lift-the-uefa-cup-in-1981-1-5055006 Green 'Un Archant 20 January 2020 Ipswich Town's greatest games: Blues lift the UEFA Cup in 1981 Mark Heath 17 June 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20200220171343/https://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-s-greatest-games-blues-lift-the-uefa-cup-in-1981-1-5055006 20 February 2020 live A third goal for Ipswich, this time from Mariner after Brazil had beaten his opposition player and put in a low pass to the near post, saw the English team win the game and take a 3–0 lead into the second leg at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2079905.html UEFA AZ stir memories of 1981 run 3 April 2014 Berend Scholten 20 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20140601072711/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2079905.html 1 June 2014 dead Such was Ipswich's dominance that they restricted AZ to a single shot on target throughout the match, and only conceded the first corner midway through the second half. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50562601/ipswich-blanks-alkmaar/ Newspapers.com 9 May 2020 Ipswich blanks Alkmaar Ottawa Citizen Steve Kettle 44 20 May 1981 United Press International Thijssen was named man of the match. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19810507/178/0012 Newcastle Journal British Newspaper Archive 26 March 2020 7 May 1981 Goal-king Wark sets it up Bob Harris After the game, the AZ coach Georg Keßler was circumspect: "there are another 90 minutes to play, but naturally it will be very difficult for us." https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19810507/647/0025 Belfast Telegraph 25 British Newspaper Archive 26 March 2020 Ipswich battle to hold lead – and Robson Robson's future at Ipswich was subject to debate as he had been linked to other clubs including Sunderland, who had offered him a then-British record of £1million over ten years. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19810505/252/0014 British Newspaper Archive 18 May 2020 Bobby Robson – a £1m decision John Richardson Newcastle Journal 5 May 1981 He noted: "if we lose this three goal lead in the second leg, I am definitely leaving this club, you can quote me on that." Details 1981 05 6 y 19:30 Ipswich Town ENG 3–0 (Report) (Teams) NED AZ '67 Wark 30 pen.Thijssen 47Mariner 55 Portman Road, Ipswich 27,532 Adolf Prokop (East Germany) _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _whitehoops_top _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _color_3_stripes_white _adidasonwhite 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE Ipswich Town _shoulder_stripes_red_stripes _shoulder_stripes_red_stripes _shoulder_stripes_red_stripes _color_3_stripes_red _adidaswhite FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FF0000 FFFFFF AZ '67 GK 1ENG Paul CooperRB 2ENG Mick Mills (c)LB 3ENG Steve McCall CM 4NED Frans ThijssenCB 5ENG Russell Osman CB 6ENG Terry ButcherCM 7SCO John WarkCM 8NED Arnold Mühren CF 9ENG Paul Mariner CF 10SCO Alan Brazil AM 11ENG Eric GatesManager: ENG Bobby Robson GK 1 NED Eddy TreijtelRB 2 NED Richard van der MeerCB 3NED Ronald SpelbosCB 4NED John MetgodLB 5 NED Hugo Hovenkamp (c)MF 6 NED Jan PetersMF 7 NED Jos JonkerMF 8 NED Peter ArntzCF 9NED Kees KistMF 10DEN Kristen Nygaard 57CF 11 NED Pier Tol Substitutes:FW 12 AUT Kurt Welzl 57Manager:FRG Georg Keßler Second leg Summary right|thumb|alt=Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam|The Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam hosted the second leg of the final. Ipswich were able to name an unchanged line up for the second leg of the 1981 UEFA Cup final. Both Thijssen and Mariner had responded positively to treatment during the two-week break between the final legs. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50562653/az-pose-the-final-question/ The Guardian 9 May 2020 20 May 1981 Robert Armstrong AZ pose the final question Van der Meer was the only injury problem for AZ '67. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE Gale The Times 9 May 2020 20 May 1981 This one is for the team-maker Clive White left|thumb|alt=Arnold Muhren kissed by a fan|Arnold Muhren celebrating with supporters after the final whistle. The second leg took place at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam on 20 May 1981 in front of a crowd of 28,500. Ipswich took 6,000 travelling fans to the game. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19810521/291/0012 British Newspaper Archive 26 March 2020 21 May 1981 12 A cup for Robson – but it's oh so close Mike Green Newcastle Journal Thijssen scored four minutes into the game following a poor clearance of a Gates corner by AZ's Peter Arntz, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50562632/robsons-european-dream-comes-true/ 21 May 1981 Newspapers.com 10 May 2020 Robson's European dream comes true The Guardian Robert Armstrong giving Ipswich a 4–0 aggregate lead. Almost immediately AZ struck back: Hovenkamp's long ball into the area to Metgod brought Cooper out to challenge, but Metgod chipped the ball to Austrian striker Welzl whose header made the score 1–1. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810521/499/0024 British Newspaper Archive 27 March 2020 21 May 1981 Ipswich get their reward Aberdeen Press and Journal 24 Mike Green Welzl clipped the post shortly afterwards before a Peters cross was headed home by an unmarked Metgod. Wark scored in the 38th minute with a well-struck shot from a corner, before Tol headed in a Jonker pass to make the aggregate score 5–3. Cooper made two saves late in the second half which were described by Mike Green writing in the Aberdeen Press and Journal as "superb", including one to deny a Welzl header from 6 yd. Jonker scored AZ's fourth of the day with a 25-yard free kick with 16 minutes to go. Despite most of the later action taking place in the Ipswich penalty area, the English club held on to win 5–4 on aggregate, and Cooper was named man of the match.Henderson, p. 26 Mühren, one of two Dutchmen playing for Ipswich, later recalled: "most teams would have given up, but AZ suddenly had wings... AZ seemed possessed that night... we really had to give all we had to reach the end, by the skin of our teethrelieved and happy." Robson noted: "it was a little bit of a knife edge and showed we needed those three goals from the home match. It was a nervy performance." https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19810521/291/0012 British Newspaper Archive 26 March 2020 21 May 1981 12 We were a bit nervy – Robson Newcastle Journal Details 1981 05 20 y 19:30 AZ '67 NED 4–2 (Report) (Teams) ENG Ipswich Town Welzl 7Metgod 25Tol 40Jonker 73 Thijssen 4Wark 32 Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam 28,500 Walter Eschweiler (West Germany) _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _whitehoops_top _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _color_3_stripes_red _adidasonwhite FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF AZ '67 _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _whitehoops_top _shoulder_stripes_white_stripes _color_3_stripes_white _adidaswhite 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE 0036EE Ipswich Town GK 1 NED Eddy TreijtelRB 2 NED Hans ReijndersCB 3 NED Ronald Spelbos CB 4 NED John MetgodLB 5 NED Hugo Hovenkamp (c)MF 6 NED Jan PetersCF 7 AUT Kurt Welzl 80 MF 8 NED Peter ArntzMF 9 NED Jos JonkerMF 10 DEN Kristen NygaardCF 11 NED Pier Tol 46 Substitutes:FW 12 NED Kees Kist 46MF 14 NED Rick Talan 80Manager:FRG Georg Keßler GK 1 ENG Paul CooperRB 2 ENG Mick Mills (c)LB 3 ENG Steve McCallCM 4 NED Frans ThijssenCB 5 ENG Russell Osman CB 6 ENG Terry ButcherCM 7 SCO John WarkCM 8 NED Arnold Mühren CF 9 ENG Paul Mariner CF 10 SCO Alan Brazil AM 11 ENG Eric GatesManager: ENG Bobby Robson Post-match right|thumb|upright|John Wark scored a record fourteen goals during Ipswich's 1980–81 UEFA Cup campaign. Ipswich's Wark set a competition record by scoring 14 goals, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-13455199 BBC News Ipswich Town 1981 Uefa Cup victory exhibition 20 May 2011 6 May 2020 equalling the long-standing scoring record in a European competition, set by José Altafini of A.C. Milan in the 1962–63 European Cup.http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=588365.html Altafini reflects on Milan marvel UEFA 30 January 2008 18 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080227030718/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind%3D1/newsid%3D588365.html 27 February 2008 dead The tally was later exceeded by Jürgen Klinsmann, who scored 15 in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup.http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=829171.html Love conquers all in UEFA Cup goal race 20 May 2009 UEFA 14 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20090523104613/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=829171.html 23 May 2009 dead A civic reception was held on 24 May 1981 where around 50,000 supporters were present at Ipswich Town Hall to see the team and the trophy. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19810525/225/0012 British Newspaper Archive 25 May 2020 25 May 1981 12 Newcastle Journal Bill Bradshaw Robson finally slams the door At the event, Robson announced that he would remain with Ipswich for the following season, having turned down Sunderland and opting not to apply for the Manchester United manager's position. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810525/418/0016 British Newspaper Archive 18 May 2020 25 May 1981 Bobby Robson stays at Ipswich 16 Aberdeen Press & Journal He left Ipswich in 1982 to become the England national football team manager, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4779033.stm BBC Sport Robson was gentleman of game Julie Tunney 29 May 2020 31 July 2009 leading England to the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. This was the best result for the nation since another former Ipswich manager, Alf Ramsey, led the country to World Cup victory in 1966. https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 East Anglian Daily Times Ramsey, Robson ... Southgate? A proud record Ipswich Town fans will be happy to see scrubbed Stuart Watson 11 May 2020 7 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20190321115655/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ramsey-robson-southgate-the-ipswich-record-fans-will-be-happy-to-see-scrubbed-1-5592625 21 March 2019 live Ipswich's defence of the UEFA Cup started in September 1981 against Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen. The first leg ended 1–1 with Thijssen scoring for Ipswich and John Hewitt equalising. The second leg at Pittodrie saw both Gordon Strachan and John Wark score from the penalty spot before Peter Weir settled the tie with two goals. Ipswich went out of the cup 4–2 on aggregate. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/04/sport.comment3 Rob Smyth 28 February 2020 The Joy of Six: All-British European ties 4 April 2008 The Guardian https://web.archive.org/web/20200228105144/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/04/sport.comment3 28 February 2020 live After that, Ipswich's most successful campaign to date was when they made it to the third round of the 2001–02 UEFA Cup. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1693221.stm Vieri stuns Ipswich 6 December 2001 15 June 2011 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20120124072803/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1693221.stm 24 January 2012 live The season after the final, AZ '67 played in the European Cup where they were eliminated in the second round 5–4 on aggregate by Liverpool.Souness, p. 61 Subsequently, AZ '67's most successful European football campaign was when they reached the semi-final of the 2004–05 UEFA Cup where they lost 4–3 on aggregate to the Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/05/uefa.lisbon/ CNN 15 June 2011 5 May 2005 Garcia goal breaks Alkmaar hearts https://web.archive.org/web/20121024231409/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/05/uefa.lisbon/ 24 October 2012 live See also 1981 European Cup final 1981 European Cup Winners' Cup final AZ Alkmaar in European football Ipswich Town F.C. in European football 1980–81 Ipswich Town F.C. season References Bibliography 1980–81 – The Greatest Season in Ipswich Town's History White Space Design 978-0-9548737-2-1 2010 Mel Henderson none On a European Journey with Ipswich Town in Europe 1962–2002 David Houseley Philip Houseley 978-0-9532511-9-3 2011 Pilgrim Book Services Limited https://books.google.com/books?id=LOprDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT61 61 Graeme Souness – Football: My Life, My Passion Graeme Souness Graeme Souness Headline 19 October 2017 978-1-4722-4252-5 Final Uefa Cup Final 1981 Uefa Cup Final 1981 1981 UEFA Cup final Uefa Cup Final 1981 Uefa Cup Final Uefa Cup Final UEFA Cup Final UEFA Cup Final, 1981 Category:1980s in Amsterdam Category:20th century in Suffolk 1981 Category:Sport in Ipswich