Now, was Atletico (Madrid) a surprise in 1970? Traditionally, they are one of the big three of Spanish football, alas, the least successful one. Not for nothing Los Conchoneros (The Mattress Makers) are also known as El Pupas (The Jinxed) and The Sufferers: always in the shadows of Real and Barcelona; always near the top, but not quite on it. The 1960s were good years in view of Atletico’s tradition: the only club to break Real’s dominance – champions in 1966, and now – champions again. However great the year for suffering fans, there was taint as well – Spanish football was already in decline. Spain did not qualify for the World Cup finals. No Spanish club won European tournament since 1966. Spanish players rarely, if at all, appeared among best European footballers. Barcelona was seemingly out of sorts since 1960 and after 1966 Real was going steadily downhill. Certainly Real of 1969-70 was far away from the team of Di Stefano, Koppa, Puskas and the rest of the glory years. Foreign players were banned since 1962 – this hardly helped, although the very reason for the ban was declining quality of home-grown players. Spain was no longer football superpower. And as much as it was refreshing to see different champion, the change was not optimistic – it was not great Atletico, but rather weak Real and Barcelona. Crisis on club level and crisis on national team level.Yes, in terms of the late 1960s Spain and in terms of club legends, Atletico had some good feet – but how good? Who remembers then today? Except for Luis Aragones…

Aragones posing with jinxed shirt and in action. Now… do we remember the player, or we know the coach leading Spain to the European title in 2008?