Debut

 

Debut. This season played his first official game 18-years old fellow named Kenny Dalglish.

The talented Scot played for Celtic and as young broom he didn't have 'personal' number:

Dalglish played with number 8, 9, 11... seemingly, it did not matter. He was considered forward at first, but later he will be remembered as attacking midfielder and playmaker. Good start, but in his first year nobody expected him to become one of the greatest and well-known world-class stars.

Retirement

 

Retirement. 1969-70 was the last season for Djalma Pereira Dias dos Santos, known to the world as Djalma Santos (b. 27-02-1929 – d. 23-07-2013).

He retired at 40 after fantastic career, leaving great legacy behind.

He started in 1948 for Portuguesa as a midfielder, eventually moving back as right full-back. For Portuguesa he played 434 games, scoring 11 goals.

In 1959 he moved to Palmeiras, where he stayed until 1969, appearing in 498 games and scoring 10 goals.

He played his last season for Atletico Paranaense, adding 32 games and 2 goals to make a total 964 games and 23 goals – a formidable club record, but that was not all.

His talent made him Brazilian national team player in 1952 and he was included in the national team until 1968, collecting 98 caps and scoring 3 goals. Numbers alone made him one of the greatest players - at the time of his retirement he appeared in more than 1000 official games!

Djalma Santos cotributed gteatly to the development of the sport: he was one of the very first modern defenders going into attack on the wing, scoring goals, providing accurate dangerous passes, kicking deadly free-kicks and penalties. Possessing wonderful skills, he was versatile, capable to play not only on the right, but as central defender as well, and most importantly he was clean gentleman-player.

Djalma Santos was never sent off and had great work ethic, providing strong example for other players both on and off the field, both in training and official matches. And teams with him were successful:

Djalma Santos won trophies with Portuguesa (this photo is from 1950),

with Palmeiras,

and in his last season with Atletico Paranaense. But his international success was even bigger:

Djalma Santos was regular for Brazil at the 1954 World Cup,

played in the final of 1958 World Cup,

an important regular at 1962 World Cup,

and finally at the 1966 World Cup.

Four World Cups – a very rare achievment at the time – and twice world champion! Three times he was voted in FIFA World Cup all-stars teams: in 1954, 1958, and 1962. Truly one of all-time greatest players, he is recognized as one of the best even today,when not many contemporary journalists had the chance to see him play.

Yet even the best eventually retired. Honourable player and person, Djalma Santos left wonderful memories and is remembered with respect.

African Champions' Cup

 

Champions' Cup 1970

First Round
Aigle Royal              Gab  CARA Brazzaville         CoB   0-3  5-2  5-5x
CR Belcourt              Alg  ASC Jeanne d'Arc         Sen   5-3  w/o     y
Lavori Publici           Som  Prisons FC               Uga   2-1  2-4  4-5
AS Real Bamako           Mli  AS Fonctionnaires        UpV   3-0  2-2  5-2
Secteur 6                Nig  Union Douala             Cam   0-2  2-1  2-3
Stationery Stores        Nga  Forces Armées            Dah   3-1  3-2  6-3
Young Africans           Tan  US Fonctionnaires        Mad   4-0  2-4  6-4
AS Kaloum Star           Gui  bye
Al-Hilal                 Sud  bye
Asante Kotoko            Gha  bye
Ismaili                  Egy  bye
Modèle Lomé              Tog  bye
Nakuru All Stars         Ken  bye
Stade (Abidjan)          IvC  bye
TP Englebert             Zai  bye
Tele SC Asmara           Eth  bye
x CARA Brazzaville (probably) won after drawing of lots
y CR Belcourt withdrew after 1st leg; CR Belcourt were later renamed  
  CR Belouizdad

Second Round
AS Kaloum Star           Gui  ASC Jeanne d'Arc         Sen   3-1  1-2  4-3w
Ismaili                  Egy  Al-Hilal                 Sud   1-0  0-0  1-0
Nakuru All Stars         Ken  Young Africans           Tan   1-0  1-3  2-3
Prisons FC               Uga  Tele SC Asmara           Eth   3-2  1-2  4-4x
AS Real Bamako           Mli  Stade (Abidjan)          IvC   2-3  2-6  4-9
Stationery Stores        Nga  Asante Kotoko            Gha   3-2  abd     y
TP Englebert             Zai  CARA Brazzaville         CoB   3-0  2-2  5-2z
Union Douala             Cam  Modèle Lomé              Tog   0-0  1-1  1-1x
w 1st leg Jun 7, 2nd leg Jun 28
x Prisons FC and Modèle Lomé won after drawing of lots
y 2nd leg was abandoned at 1-0 for Asante Kotoko; Asante Kotoko qualified
z 1st leg May 24 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), 2nd leg May 28 in Yaoundé (Cameroon);
  TP Englebert were later renamed TP Mazembe

Quarterfinals
Ismaili                  Egy  Prisons FC               Uga   4-1  2-1  6-2
Modèle Lomé              Tog  TP Englebert             Zai   0-0  1-3  1-3
Stade (Abidjan)          IvC  AS Kaloum Star           Gui   1-1  3-4  4-5x
  [Déhi Maurice 22; Kandia 33]
Young Africans           Tan  Asante Kotoko            Gha   1-1  0-2  1-3
x 1st leg Sep 20, 2nd leg Oct 4

Semifinals
AS Kaloum Star           Gui  TP Englebert             Zai   1-2  1-3  2-5x
  [Aly Badra Kolev 6; Tshinabu 50, Kalala 1-2]
  [Kalala 1-1, 2-1, Tshinabu 3-1; Morciré 5]
Ismaili                  Egy  Asante Kotoko            Gha   0-0  0-2  0-2
x 1st leg Dec 13, 2nd leg Dec 20 in Kinshasa

Final (Jan 10 and 24, 1971)
Kumasi Stadium, Kumasi and 20th May Stadium, Kinshasa
Asante Kotoko            Gha  TP Englebert             Zai   1-1  2-1  3-2

TP Englebert lost in three games – sad, but there had to be a winner. This is possible picture of the losers.

Asante Kotoko triumphed.

For the first time a team from Ghana won the African trophy.

African Player Of The Year

 

African Footballer of the Year. The award was established by the French magazine 'France Football' in 1970. In the first issue the winner was European-based star – somerthing not to happen again until 1982! Also there was no Moroccan player among the top 3 – rather strange, since Morocco played at the 1970 World Cup. Anyhow, in the first issue of the award Ali Abo Greisha (Ismaily, Egypt) was 3^rd with 28 points.

Laurent Pokou (ASEC Abijan, Cote d'Ivoire) was second also with 28 points.

Salif Keita, 24-years old striker of French champion Saint Etienne, was voted number one in Africa with points. He was born in Bamako, which was then in French Sudan. The independence changed the name to Mali and that country he represented both in Europe and Africa.

In 1967 Keita, only 20-years old, joined Saint Etienne and instantly became a star, scoring many goals.

By 1970 Keita was among the best European stars, contributing greatly for the success of his club in the second half of the 1960s. It is worth mentioning that in the 5 years with St. Etienne he played 149 games, scoring 125 goals. He was also regular member of the national team of Mali, making his debut in 1963, when he was only 16-years old. It was more than fair to be voted best African player in 1970.

Morocco

 

Morocco. NB: 3-2-1 point system.

Final table:

 1.AS Forces Armées Royales (Rabat)                 30 16 12  2 27- 9 74 champions 
 2.Union Sidi Kacem                                 30 13 11  6 29-19 67 
 3.Raja Club Athletic (Casablanca)                  30 11 14  5 26-17 66 
 4.Sporting Club Chabab de Mohammédia               30 11 12  7 38-23 64 
 5.Wydad Athletic Club (Casablanca)                 30 11 11  8 23-17 63 [C] 
 6.Maghreb Association Sportive (Fès)               30  9 15  6 25-20 63 
 7.Renaissance Sportive de Settat                   30  7 19  4 27-23 63 
 8.Fath Union Sport (Rabat)                         30 10 11  9 22-23 61 
 9.Difaa Hassani Jadidi                             30 10 10 10 34-30 60 
10.Raja Beni Mellal                                 30 10  9 11 27-32 59 [P] 
11.Mouloudia Club Oujda                             30  9 11 10 24-29 59 
12.Association des Douanes Marocaines (Casablanca)  30  9  9 12 27-24 57
13.Tihad Athlétique Sport (Casablanca)              30  8 11 11 26-29 57 
14.Kénitra Athletic Club                            30  9  6 15 20-25 54 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.Etoile Jeunesse Sportive Casablanca              30  5  9 16 17-38 49 relegated 
16.Association Sportive de Salé                     30  3  8 19 11-45 44 [P] relegated

Promoted: Moghreb Athlétic de Tétouan and Kawkab Athlétique Club de Marrakech.
FAR collected their 7th title. 

Cup: WAC Casablanca 1-0 RS Settat

Wydad – or WAC – won the Cup. For the first time!

Algeria

 Algeria. NB: 3-2-1 points system

Final Table:

 1.CR Belcourt             22  13  8  1  40-17  56  Champions
 2.MC Alger                22  11  8  3  39-22  52 
 3.CSS Kouba               22   9  4  9  41-33  44  [RCK became CSSK] 
 4.ES Guelma               22   7  8  7  32-42  44 
 5.USM Alger               22   7  7  8  34-30  43 
 6.JS Kabylie              22   7  7  8  28-31  43 
 7.MC Oran                 22   8  4 10  26-32  42 
 8.NAA Hussein Dey         22   6  7  9  24-28  41  [NAHD became NAAHD: Nasr Air Algérie Hussein Dey] 
 9.USM Bel Abbès           22   7  5 10  20-24  41 
10.ES Sétif                22   7  5 10  26-35  41 
--------------------------------------------------
11.JS Djidjelli            22   8  3 11  24-36  41  Relegated 
12.USM Annaba              22   7  4 11  26-30  40  Relegated

Cup: CR Belcourt 1-1 USM Alger

replay: CR Belcourt    4-1 USM Alger 

CR Belcourt finished with a double and alltogether 4^th title and 3^rd Cup.

European Player Of The Year

 

European Player of the Year. Strong competition, given the great performance of many not only in Europe, but at the 1970 World Cup as well.

Gigi Riva (Cagliari, Italy) was voted 3^rd with 65 points.

Bobby Moore (West Ham United, England) was second with 70 points.

Gerd Muller (Bayern, BRD) was voted best European player with 77 points. Well deserved award for sure. Interestingly, Muller was doubted before the World Cup:

Critics argued that combining him and Uwe Seeler would be counter-productive for both. But the duo shunt critics with great chemistry and mutual understanding.

Muller ended as best scorer of the World Cup and overall memorable performance.

Significantly, Muller was awarded before his teammate Franz Beckenbauer, who, so far, had more stellar career than the goal-scoring machine. Well, 1970 was Gerd Muller's year.