The Second Division, tough as it was, provided some food for thought: Sunderland finished first. Sunderland was relegated from top flight in 1970 and so far was unable to return to 1st Division. Winning the FA Cup in 1973 suggested better days, which were slow to come. Confident winners Sunderland were not – they finished 3 points ahead of anybody else, but lost 10 championship games – ¼ of the total. Behind them on 2nd place finished Bristol City – ‘the Robins’ did not play 1st Division football so long, they probably had no living fans with memories of those days. Neither of the top two finishers looked like exciting addition to the finest league. The third one, edging Bolton Wanderers by a point, was West Bromwich Albion.
WBA came down from First in 1973 – and were returning after relatively short absence. What was a bit strange was their squad – it was far more interesting and promising than those of Sunderland and Bristil City.
Standing, from left: Wright (?) – physical condition trainer, Willie Johnston, Robert Edwards, Bryan Robson, Len Cantello, John Osborne, Gavin Ward, Tony Brown, Wilson, John Trewick, John Glover.
Sitting: Ally Robertson, Mick Martin, Dave Rushbury, John Wile, Johnny Giles – playing manager, Joe Mayo, Gordon Nisbet, Alistair Brown, Paddy Mulligan.
One interesting feature was the legendary Johhny Giles – playing managers were and are a rarity, and clubs usually avoid such risks. On this occasion the risk was justified: the Irishman delivered. Another Irish veteran, Paddy Mulligan, not so long ago a key Tottenham player, was helping along. Two more players were well known as well – Willie Johnston, Scottish international, and yet another Republic of Ireland international – Mick Martin. The rest of the squad was mostly local heroes – experienced and quite good to make a solid team. There was also one very young player named Bryan Robson, 19 years old, but already at his third season with the professionals. After a few years the world will know him well enough as captain of England and Manchester United. WBA was by far the most interesting side among the newly promoted clubs and, most importantly, it was a club building a momentum and eventually becoming better and better.
Yet, WBA is interesting in another aspect: it was usual practice of lower division clubs to use stars at the end of their careers – Giles and Mulligan were not exceptional at all – Bobby Moore, George Best, and Rodney Marsh played for Fulham this same season. Fulham finished 12th… old – or unruly – legs were hired to provide some class, stability, help the gates, but hardly anything more. Fulham was more or less the typical case: veterans were not enough for promotion. Giles and Mulligan, however, were… most likely because it was not only them, but rather a generally strong squad – the other teams looked like a few tired veterans and additional rag-tag bunch. Like Chelsea, who ended just a place above Fulham.
Back, from left: John Dempsey, Micky Droy, Derek Richsrdson,Steve Sherwood, Bill Garner, Ian Hutchinson.
Centre: Ron Harris, Martin Hinton, Garry Stanley, Ken Swain, Gary Locke, John Sparrow, Tommy Langley, Teddy Maybank.
Front: Ian Britton, Charlie Cooke, Graham Wilkins, Ray Wilkins, Steve Finnieston, Brian Bason, Steve Wicks.
True, Chelsea was plunging into finacial troubles and Second Division was shock to the system, for a club which not so long ago was beating Real Madrid, but it was tired squad too. The team depended on players who never really delivered – Hay, Hutchinson, Hollins, Garland, Houseman. Peter Bonetti was well beyond his prime and so was Ron Harris. Young talent seemed repeating the pattern of bright, promising beginning followed by years of disappointing mediocrity – Micky Droy and Ian Britton. By now, the front row, where traditionally apprentice players sat, was pretty much giving a list of the hopeless - players to avoid, if you are manager scouting talent. One Ray Wilkins sits there…

England by mid-70s was plunging into economic and social crisis. Football was not immunized, but it was hard to think of the most entertaining leagues in the world in terms of decline and trouble. On the surface, the aura remained intact – highly competitive, unpredictable, and entertaining tournaments. But the public was getting increasingly violent on and off the stadiums; the clubs were deeply in debt and the danger of bankruptcy was looming. The national team was struggling. Seemingly, the new young stars emerging were not as great as their predecessors, yet, they were getting more and more money and transfer fees were soaring. Looked like a feast during a plague. Perhaps the 1975-76 season, in retrospect, marked the moment of change in the English game – with national team players in the 2nd Division; with the decline of some not so long ago mighty clubs, particularly the London ones; and also small opening to the outside world. This year the first foreign kits appeared - fashionable Adidas was used by few clubs, triggering outlandish clash of styles in the next few years, when English makers decided to challenge foreign trends with their own versions and the notoriously ugly brown kit of Coventry City was born. It was also the beginning of long Liverpool monopoly – England never had one dominant ‘superclub’ before, but eventually became as almost every ‘Continental’ country. Hardly a positive change, but it also reflected the frontal clash of traditional English ways of running football and the current concepts: Liverpool improved their team constantly, buying useful players, and thus maintained strong squad until 1990 – others were either stubbornly traditional or incompetent… Of course, it was nice to see big stars playing for insignificant teams, but in the same time it was weird to see the better clubs uninterested in the brightest young star.
Trevor Francis is the best example – he debuted with a bang and was probably the most promising young English player. Everybody was raving about him, predicting huge stardom. Yet, almost to the end of the decade he played for lowly Birmingham City. If Liverpool and Leeds United did not need him, having their own stars, what about the rest? The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspurs? Perhaps many of the young promising players of the early 1970s were stunted in their development because of playing for small or declining clubs. Some really were – Alan Hudson, for example – but even those who really became stars were somewhat limited and not as great as other players either from the Continent or from bygone years. English managers were somewhat slow to detect young talent, even slower to envision his role in their team, and perhaps slowest in implementing new tactics. The long term results were amply displayed in the 2010 World Cup…
But the aura remained, blinding everybody: English football was fun. Fast, attacking game. What other country would have 2nd Division clubs winning over 1st Division clubs? None! Was it so? Competitive – yes; but were ‘big’ clubs really big, if struggling against the small fry? Fearing a Cup match against 3rd Division nobodies? And more… English football was no longer high scoring game – the totals dwindled: there was team averaging 2 goals per game in 1975-76 season and it was not for the first time either. Numbers appeared high when compared to the rest of Europe, but it was only until one remembered that English clubs played 42-match season – much more than any other championship. Besides, the number of ties was constantly increasing as well. It was no longer high scoring ‘win or lose’ game… no matter how competitive. But it was all hidden behind the growing success of Liverpool – at the end of the day, it is never one-sided picture: Liverpool was becoming a giant; other clubs were having their best years as well… so what if some clubs were declining and no longer shined?

Spanish football remained the same so far… Real, Barcelona, and Atletico (Madrid). Atletico finished third, completing the familiar stability on the top. Unlike Real, Atletico had strong decade – the 1970s were one of the strongest, if not the best, period in the history of the club. Strong enough to stay the third big club in the country, however, with bite enough to win something or other. Atletico was not really a contender this year, rather fighting with Barcelona for the silver. This fight was lost, but Atletico won the Cup. It was significant success in retrospect: it was the last year when the Spanish Cup was officially called ‘Copa de S.E. El Generalísimo’. Franco died this year, the monarchy was restored, and the Cup got new name – ‘Copa de S.M. El Rey Don Juan Carlos I’ . The long dictatorship ended, and with that – the Falangistas. Once upon a time Atletico (Madrid) was The Falangista club… they started and, in a way, ended the period.
Political symbolism was hardly on the mind of fans and players – football was. Atletico met Real (Zaragoza) at the final. Zaragoza, at the time, was hardly a serious opponent, but finals have their own logic, and Atletico extracted difficult 1-0 win. Neither club shined, but who cares – Atletico got the Cup.
Top, from left: Luis Perreira, Ayala, Marcelino, Reina, Leal, Benegas.
Crouching: Marcos, Ruben Cano, Leivinha, Marcial, Capon.
This is not exactly the Cup winning squad, but Atletico was similar to Real and Barcelona – for years, they used pretty much the same squad, with hardly any new players introduced. Techically, the Brazilians Luis Perreira and Leivinha were the newest, but they stayed with team for a long time, just like the Argentine Ayala. Compared to the foreign stars of Real and Barcelona, those playing for Atletico tended to fade, at least internationally – Luis Perreira, Leivinha, and Ayala were no longer included in the national teams of Brazil and Argentina. None was considered huge star in Europe and their names were rarely mentioned. The same was the fate of Atletico as a whole… they remained truly the third club in Spain, not expected to become bigger or better… but they were not finished yet either. At least not in Spain. So, the status quo remained intact… sparkless.

When the season started smiles and polite optimism were gone… Weissweiler and Cruyff clashed, indeed. The team backed up their captain and it was clear that Cruyff ruled the locker room. Weissweiler was resisted and disrespected. And came to impasse: Weissweiler insisted on unconditional following of his requirements. He wouldn’t imagine mear players arguing, refusing to follow orders, and questioning his authority and rightness. ‘I am the best coach in the world!’, he snapped. ‘And I am the best player in the world!’, Cruyff immediately responded. In a way, it was fantastic situation – Weissweiler had no problems with free-willing and opinionated Netzer; Cruyff had no problem with dictatorial Michels. What was different to each of them now? Nothing worked… the prophesy of the pre-season photo came true: Weissweiler needed Fogts, not Cruyff… and he was not getting any Fogts, for, as the season progressed, the result of the battle with Cruyff was also progressing to conclusion – the coach lost it. ‘Saint’ Cruyff was to stay, and Weissweiler was to look for employment. Barcelona finished second – in Catalunia, second place means unforgivable and miserable failure. The failure may had been orchestrated by Cruyff, but Weissweiler was to pay for it.
‘Disastrous’ Barcelona: practically, the very same team who won the 1974 championship. Built by Michels. Seemingly, there was no imput by Weissweiler… in fact, the only faint similarity with Borussia Moenchengladbach came in numbers – like Weissweiler’s Borussia, Barcelona scored the most goals in the Spanish league, but had exceptionally leaky defense. From what I saw of this vintage, Barca was uninspired team, sometime looking lost, desperately depending of toughness. Cruyff was pale shadow of himself and Neeskens – not even that. Weissweiler paid at the end and Cruyff fumed a little longer, just to have the final word… may be Weissweiler would have been better off in the ‘German’ Real Madrid… but they did not need a coach.
Real still had Milan Miljanic, perhaps more difficult person to deal with than Weissweiler, but the difficult egos of Netzer and Breitner somehow never clashed with Miljanic’s one. Real Madrid ended champions, just like in 1975. They finished 5 points ahead of Barcelona, but were by no means overwhelming victors: the attack was measly, for instance, scoring only 54 goals in 34 games. Less than 2 goals per match average… the defense was best in the league, though, giving the impression that Real played untypical for its tradition defensive football. But Miljanic was no fan of defensive tactics, so most likely it was not new tactics, but rather mediocre form, or something not quite working on the pitch. May be not the best bunch of players, who knows… those were not the greatest years of Real anyway. Business as usual for Real – another title! But it was the same squad of the last few years… unlike Barcelona’s, with more future, for it was younger. The club was not rattled by scandals, but nobody was really happy and satisfied either – Miljanic’s contract was not extended, although his record was perfect – two titles in two seasons. Netzer was to go… Breitner was to go… not right away, like Miljanic, but their days were numbered. And the days of Santiago Bernabeu were numbered… his age made his departure certain… any day, really. Barcelona and Real were like negatives of each other this year…suggesting fundamental problems of Spanish football, but at least Real ended champions. The ironic spell… a suspect winner in 1976 became the suspect coach of world champions 35 years later… Vicente Del Bosque.

Italy continued to struggle, but may be Spain was improving? It was supposed to be so since the lifting of embargo on foreign players. Well, the aura of Spansih rich sharks, swallowing international talent was present… not supported by results. Spanish clubs continued to fail in Europe. The national team was no better. Big money bring big players was mostly a myth, for contrary to popular opinion few top stars were brought to Spain – the myth was based largely on Crujff, Neeskens, Netzer, and Breitner. In reality, Spanish clubs shopped largely in South America and not necessarily the most famous. There were no English and Italian players in Spain, for instance. Very few Germans and Dutch stars. Even the usual European suppliers – Yugoslavia and Sweden – were barely represented. Spanish clubs showed lack of vision: younger talent was practically undetected – the prime example is Platini, who was already noted around Europe and should have been a focus of interest. Young and cheap (he still played for lowly Nancy – a bargain to buy), no Spanish club wanted him. The whole Spanish attitude seemed wrong: total football was not employed and there was no building for the future – Spanish football appeared stuck in the 1950s and early 1960s: a star player plus hard working rest of the team was considered enough. But even stars were trickling in numbers: the big 1975 transfers were only two. One was Johnny Rep, joining Valencia. Looked like ambitious attempt of the club to challenge Real and Barcelona… but if the length of hair was still an indication of greatness, the sight of short-cropped Rep was rather ominous. Valencia, with the biggest buy of 1975: no longer long haired Johhny Rep at the far left of first row. Salif Keita was still in the team – collecting grievances against the club and its supporters, and quite over the hill… The new Dutch superstar scored 14 goals in his first season, helping Valencia to… not the title, but 10th place!
The second big transfer was not a player at all, but a coach… Rinus Michels was sacked for failing to duplicate the title of 1974, and was replaced by Hennes Weissweiler. By now, the German was considered the leading coach in the world – he built the fantastic Borussia (Moenchengladbach) and its peculiar brand of of almost reckless attacking football. What the Barcelona brass was thinking? Michels failed to convert Barcelona into total football, actually conforming to the usual gritty Spanish style. How Weissweiler would be different? Observers were immediately critical: they pointed out that Weissweiler and Cruyff are ill-matched and clash of egos was imminent. They pointed out that the style favoured by Weissweiler was entirely alien the a team schooled by Michels and particularly to the Dutch stars of Barcelona. German coach and Dutch players seemed a combustive mix after the 1974 World Cup final.
The protagonist appeared quite benevolent and optimistic at first – at least in public.
It was somewhat cautionary and cool, but positive nevertheless: Weissweiler said he was not going to change the ‘Dutch’ style of Michels. Cruyff was a bit more obscure: ‘I think I am in my best form again.’ Both were confident that Barcelona will win the title. PR was fine… Perfect picture of friendship: Bertie Fogts visiting former fows Cruyff and Neeskens and former coach Weissweiler. All smiles, Fogts and Cruyff next to each other – perfect photo. Fogts praised the ‘new’ Barcelona: according to him, Barcelona was playing football previously undreamed of. Right…
Except, the picture brought vile thoughts as well: may be Barcelona was needing Bertie Fogts and not Dutch stars?

The sorry state of Italian football was further displayed at the Cup tournament. Unlikely clubs reached the final and although it is ever exciting to see unfamiliar faces and small boys challenging giants, the inability of the so-called giants to eliminate small fry is perhaps more informative: it was not heroic small clubs fighting their way, but rather weak and clueless ‘giants’, no longer distinct from anybody else. Napoli and Verona met at the final.
Back then, saying ‘Verona’ was clear enough – today clarification is needed: it was Hellas Verona, not Chievo Verona, currently playing Serie A. Hellas were known only as name, one of the ‘also run’ clubs in Italian premier football. It was ‘known’ as one of the least exciting Italian clubs, which speaks volumes for the class of the team, since there was no exciting football in Italy to begin with. No need to say Hellas Verona never won anything in their history – 1975-76 was their best season ever. True, they fought for survival in the league, as usual – finishing 11th, but only a point above relegated Ascoli (14th). They excelled in the Cup – eliminating Torino and Inter on the road to the final. Lowly Hellas eliminated the season’s champions! How heroic!
Heroic, indeed! This was not a squad of noticeable players. Reaching the final was fantastic, but… the lack of class showed exactly when mattered most: they lost 0-4.
Napoly triumphed with the Cup.
When it comes to Napoli, the shadow Maradona’s period casts practically obliterates everything else. True, until the arrival of Maradona Napoli hardly anything to boast about, but meager success is usually well remembered just because it is rare… until 1975-76 Napoli managed to win the Italian Cup once, in 1961-62, and that was the grand total of trophies collected. Normally, one of the middle of the road Italian clubs, on the modest side. But ambitions grew in the 1970s and eventually the club acquired some star players, topped by the sensational transfer of Beppe Savoldi, with the ambition to win something at last. Results improved, yet, hopes never really materialized… Napoli failed to become one of the ‘big boys’; came short of winning a championship; and appeared to be better situated then usual just because Italian football was in crisis. In the European club tournaments Napoli was especially unremarkable – even during the years of Italian mediocrity, Napoli managed to present itself more mediocre than other clubs. Anyway, those were relatively strong years for Napoli and their crown performance was the Cup final in 1976 – they comfortably won 4-0 and got their second Cup.
Cup at last! Standing, from left: Pogliana, Bruscolotti, Carmignani, Burgnich, La Palma, Orlandini
Front row: Braglia, Esposito, Savoldi, Juliano, Massa.
Hellas Verona may have been particularly weak opponet, but still this team deserves remembering! Savoldi, Juliano, and Burgnich. May be Beppe was not worth the money spent for him, but still he was one of the brightest Italian strikers in the 1970s. Juliano was may be unlucky – caught between two different generations and playing styles, he did not play a lot for the Italian national team, but was very well respected player nevertheless. As for Burgnich, he was a big star – constant part of the Italian national team of the 1960s, and iron defender. By mid-70s he was getting dangerously old, but still was reliable. A single Cup may be not much, but it was fine triumph for stars playing for relatively small club. Of course, this squad is no match for Maradona and company, but they were second – and last – to win anything for Napoli before Maradona arrived.
Anyhow, 1975-76 season was more or less beggars’ banquet. Which is fun, no matter how good or bad local football is.

If France was showing signs of positive change, Italy remained stagnant. 1975-76 was yet another unexciting season. The Italians so far were utterly unable to grasp, let alone adapt to, total football. Juventus was the most promising team and also the strongest, yet, even this is questionable: seemingly, Juve were superior and supposed to dominate easily the domestic scene. But no… they finished 2nd. It was quite alarming, for the next two in the final table were same old, same old Milan and Inter. Unlike Juventus, the clubs from Milano seemed paralyzed – they still depended on Mazzola, Fascetti, and Rivera, the once upon a time mighty superstars, who were getting older and older. And they were prime examples of 1960s football, which at the end shaped both Milan and Inter in mid-70. The Milanese were not even real contenders anymore, yet they were still at the top of the table. Worse, there was no other club emerging with strong and modern squad, challenging the status quo. Worst – no young bright stars were in sight… The unusual champions of the years before – Caglairi and Lazio – proved to be freakish accidents, emphasizing the state of crisis more than anything – the won mostly because the grand clubs were weak, and neither lasted for long. Lazio quickly returned to its normal mid-table position (they finished dangerously close to relegation in 1975-76 – 13th) and Cagliari… the champions of 1970 were dead last in 1975-76 and Second Division bound. Meantime Napoli made an effort to challenge status quo – they got Savoldi for a record transfer fee and also had a few other strong players – but nothing really happened: Napoli managed to elevate itself a bit, but coveted championship title was still beyond their reach. 1975-76 proved to be their most successful season during the 1970s, yet, they finished behind the struggling Milan and Inter. Torino FC finsished first. Naturally, it was great year for the long suffering club: their previous title dated 1949! The years of the ill-fated ‘grand Torino’ squad. The most recent trophy was the Italian Cup, won in 1971. By numbers, the club still ranked high with its 6 titles, but it was clear for years that it was a club of ancient success. At the end, this affected even the derby with arch-rivals Juventus: it was important in token, not in reality, for it had only moral and local significance by now, deciding nothing important. Winning its 7th title seemed like revival, like opening of new era. Beating hated Juventus by two points, finishing with best attack and best defense in the league, and with impressive record of home games: 14 wins and one tie. Superb. Away matches were not that great – the team seemingly depended on the old Italian habit to play for a point. Eight ot total 15 away games were tied, but who cares when the title is secured. Champions at last! Top, from left: Castellini, C. Sala, Zaccarelli, Graziani, Mozzini, Santin
Front row : Pecci, Salvadori, Pulici, P. Sala, Gorin
How good were the champions? Well, Luigi Radice eventually became very well respected coach, but hardly capable of building a dynasty. He depended on minimal squad – the above eleven were practically his whole team: they played practically every game. Mozzini ended with least – 25 out of total 30 matches. The reserves rarely stepped on grass - only 6 more players appeared during the season, and only one of them – Gorin II – played in more than 5 matches. He had 12 appearances. Yes, it was stable, well oiled starting team, but evidently with limited resources. A single injury of a starter and collapse was imminent. As for the starters… Claudio and Patrizio Sala, Pulici, Zaccarelli, and Graziani all played for the Italian national team. Yet, hardly any became big star – Paolo Pulici is the best example: he was Italian top goal scorer in 1972-73, 1974-75, and 1975-76. He was in the Italian squad at two World Cups (1974 and 1978). But he largely sat on the reserves bench… anybody recognizing his name today? Only Francesco Graziani became relatively big – and World Champion with Italy in 1982, but by that time he was no longer playing for Torino. The champions were strikingly without superstar – Cagliari and Lazio at least had one each when winning the Italian championship. Torino had none – only a group of ‘second bests’. Which immediately prophesized the future: Torino was unlikely to stay on top. (The future mercilessly confirmed predictions: after 1976 and up to today Torino won nothing.) So, enjoy the moment and cherish the memory.
Italy was still in the dark. Torino was hardly bringing positive change, but managed to edge Juventus – the most up to date Italian team.
Second, instead of first. ‘The Old Lady’ looked fantastic – to the point there was no place for one Paolo Rossi! (Rossi was loaned to Como because of that). Invinsible… on paper.
Milan, a place behind Juventus – clearly outdated by now.
Nereo Rocco still coaching, with Trapattoni staring to learn the craft. But what kind of art can be learned from the catenaccio’s arch-priest? The past governed Milan – Rivera, Anquilletti, Bigon, Albertosi, Chiarugi… Milan was more representative of the Italian football at the time than Juventus. No wonder Torino – closer to Milan rather than Juventus in style – won the championship.