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.

So, what was really bright in France to suggest turning point and better future? Practically, only Nantes and Saint Etienne. Nantes was slowly changing its squad, replacing aging and middle of the road players with promising youngsters. The transition was smooth and Nantes stayed among the best French clubs – they finished 4th in 1975-76. Bottom, from left: Bargas, Amisse, Michel, Triantafilos, Gadocha.
Second row: Bertrand-Demanes, Bossis, Rio, Osman, Van Starelen, Rampillon.
Not a bad team at all and if Triantafilos and Gadocha were perhaps a bit of disappointement, Bossis, Amisse, and Rio were already starters. As a whole, may be the second best squad in France.
As for Saint Etienne, 1975-76 was arguably their finest season ever. Third title in a row; 9th altogether – a French record! What could be better? Robert Herbin never stopped shaping his squad and by now it was polished to perfection. Curkovic was unchangeable and solid between the goalposts. Janvion, Lopez, Piazza, and Farison were one of the best defensive lines in Europe. Janvion and Piazza particularly. Batheney, Larque, and Synaeghel were fine midfield, and Rocheteau, Patrick Revelli and Saramagna in attack. A dream team… with a bunch of ‘reserves’, who – every one of them – played for France at one or another time: Herve Revelli, Repellini, Merchadier, Santini. And young unknown talented players like Larios. St. Etienne played a close approximation of total football, just a bit more conservative than the ‘classic’ Ajax, but with Janvion and especially Piazza operating on the whole pitch. The Argentine made mighty foreys in attack and scored goals as well, yet, was quick in returning to defensive duties. Larque was elegant, creative playmaker with wonderful vision and tailor-made passes. And there was Rocheteau in attack – only 21 years old and already a big star. As a whole, Saint Etienne played technical attacking football, increadibly beautiful to watch, for it was inventive football. It was not a rough team and although there was some iron by now, physical destruction of the opponent was never part of their game. Outplaying was and since most of the squad was 25 years old or younger, it was still a team for the future – young, yet, vastly experienced. Unfortunately, there were crucial weaknesses as well, perhaps not detectable in domestic championships, but visible when the ‘green boys’ were put to the real test of greatness: European club tournaments. Tactically, the team was not very rich and played attacking game in every occasion, even when it was not working. They also kind of ‘expired’ in the last minutes of a match: not that much physically, but mentally. Looked like they run out of willpower and it was crucial deficiency when meeting German clubs. The last problem was attack itself: Rocheteau and Patrick Revelli were great and dangerous, almost unstoppable, yet a liability – both had the tendency of missing the right moment to shoot and score. It was just a tiny moment – one more move, one more touch of the ball, one more step, and the opportunity was gone… and both were constantly making this extra touch, extra step, extra move. The end result was plenty of missed opportunities, blocked shots, and lack of goals. A big limitation, really, for Italian, German, Spanish teams were quick in defense and also never missed a chance to score. It may have been one opportunity in the whole match, but the opposition was scoring, when the French had 15 chances and blew them up all. But even with such limitations Saint Etienne were fantastically good and one of the top teams at the time in Europe. Most importantly, fans loved to watch their wonderful brand of football. Alas, there was no justice… the three best St. Etienne players never got the fame they deserved: Curkovic and Piazza were not called to play for, respectfully, Yugoslavia and Argentina, and Jean-Michel Larque was sandwiched between Michel, Jean-Marc Guillou, and the young Platini and played measly 14 games for France between 1969 and 1976. Lacking enough exposure, the three never became mega-stars. A pity… they deserved to be.
But never mind – in 1975-76 Saint Etienne were almost at the top of the world and certainly at the very top of their form and talent. And with them the change of French football really started, and so far brought some fruits – the harvest was to come a few years later.

Nice, Bordeaux, Reims – the faces of the old French football, the faces of either decline, or stagnation… the Cup final added two more: Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon met at the final. Lyon continued to be truly a Cup club – even in the season when they came dangerously close to relegation, they were strong in the Cup tournament, reaching the final for 3rd time since 1970. Bottom, from left: Chiesa, Mailard, Ferrigno, Mariot.
Standing: Garrigues, Chemier, Lanthier, Jodar, Valette, Domenech, Baldassara.
Compared to the Cup winners in 1973, this team look weaker – Lyon was going through generational change. Chiesa, Jodar, and their captain Domenech maintained the quality of the team, but it was more about attitudes than anything else at play here: good team, but hardly one to win a championship. Raymond Domenech – remember the coach of the 2010 French World Cup team? – represents the typical approach of ‘big’ French clubs: aging stars belonging more to the 1960s than to the 1970s were preferred.
Lyon lost the final 0-2 and Marseille won their 9th Cup. Good for them. Cup winners! Standing from left: Tresor, Victor Zvunka, Bracci, Baulier, Charrier, Bulgues.
Front row: Boubacar, Albaladejo, Yazalde, Bereta, Emon.
Not a bad squad? Iron duo in defence – Bracci and Tresor. Lethal attack – Bereta, Emon, Yazalde. Really? Instead of building a dynasty, as it looked like at the beginning of the 70s, Marseille struggled to keep postion among the top French teams. Big transfers were the hope, yet, they were more the key for the failure than anything: Marseille seemed stuck in the past – big names were bought one after the other, but those were fading stars. Some were outright disasters – Jairzinho and Paulo Cesar Lima. They were gone after a year, but who replaced them? Hector Yazalde. Yes, he was the best goalscorer in Europe. Yes, Bereta and Emon were French stars. But Yazalde failed to score for Marseille and Bereta, Emon, and Bracci were former French national players already. The squad appeared mighty on paper, but not on the field. With the exception of Marius Tresor none was player for the future. Marseille and Nice, and Lyon to a point, represented old attitudes and the results were negative. Luckily, Marseille won the Cup… they did not know the next trophy will come in 1989… dark years laid ahead.

The ‘stagnated’ clubs perhaps lacked managerial vision: reliable players were recruited, but hardly great, and almost never promising youngsters, but more of aging stars, already having reached the maximum of their potential. Like Bordeaux:

Bottom, from left: ?, J. Gallice, Goubet, Jeandupeux, Holmstroem.
Top: Bergeroo, Largouet, Meynieu, Camus, Arribas, A. Gallice.
Solid names, but even those who eventually played for France – J. Gallice and Bergeroo – were second fiddle. The foreign stars – the Swiss Jeandupeux and the Swede Holmstroem – rather kept the club in mid-table, not making it a title contender. Solidity itself was not enough: Sochaux finished 3rd in 1976. Front, from left: Posca, Rust, Djaadaoui, Wasmer, Courbis, Dufour.
Standing: Soler, Pintenat, Renaut, Pfertzel, Guttierez.
Unlikely club to finish that high and with a squad even less impressive than Bordeaux and Reims : only Rust and Soler meritted something and this ‘something’ was similar to the case of Gallice and Bergeroo – second string national team players, most often invited as reserve players. Yet, a team like Sochaux was capable of equal or better performance than Lyon, Bordeaux, and Reims. True, Sochaux was not to stay among the top clubs for more than an year, but seemingly there was always a team like Sochaux to push behind the ‘respectable’ clubs. Unfortunately, this was not a sign of improvement of French football… and club finishing with silver in 1976 was not representing positive change either.
OGC Nice finished 2nd. Of course, Nice tried their best to win the championship. As a squad, they appeared to be strong contender full of stars – Adams, Molitor, Baratelli, Guillou, Katalinski (the Yugoslav star was perhaps at his best form in this period). But… Nice was steadily declining since the end of the 1960s and no matter who played for them – or may be precisely because of who was playing for them – this season was the swan song of once upon a time very dangerous and succeful club. Since 1975-76 happened to remain the last strong season of OGC Nice, let see them one more time before they plummet to insignificance: Without their usual striped shirts, but with Musemic – the second Yugoslavian in the squad this year. Looking good? Mmmm… may be. Looking good for the last time would be truer – definitely not a team of the future, but of the past.

‘Stagnation’ is perhaps the best description for three clubs somewhat expected to perform better – at least their names justified expectations: Lyon, Bordeaux, and Reims. Olympique (Lyon) was constantly among the best clubs of France, and the most likely team to become major force. But it was not happening, and even looked like Lyon exhausted itself before achieving anything: this season finished dangerously near relegation zone – 16th, with only 2 points more than Monaco. Girondins de Bordeaux were different story: during the 70s the club settled as typical mid-table club. Nothing special. As for Stade Reims, their glory years were ancient memory – the club gradually faded during the 1960s. But they finished surprisingly high in 1976 – 5th. May be Reims were coming back to life? Bottom, from left: Lech, Bianchi, Vergnes, Simon, Ravier.
Second row: Krawczyk, Masclaux, Dubouie, Aubour, Laraignee, Brucato.
The squad itself hardly brought great enthusiasm – except Lech, a former French national player, nothing much… Team for the future Reims were not, and their strong season could be attributed to the man, who cut his hair, compensating the reduction with growing a beard, but always sitting on the ball during photo sessions: Carlos Bianchi. It could be said that Reims finished so high thanks to the Argentine alone – Bianchi ended the best scorer of the season with impressive 34 goals! It was his second award after 1974 and Bianchi was to stay best French goalscorer for 4 years straight. It was also Argentinian monopoly – Delio Onnis (Monaco) was the best in 1975 and until 1983 there was no other better goalscorer in France, only Bianchi and Onnis. If the list of top scorers was suggestive for the state of French football, the picture was rather pessimistic: from 1970 to 1987 foreigners scored most goals. The only Frenchman to grace the list was Patrice Garande (Auxerre), who shared the honour with Onnis in 1984. The Argentinian monopoly was almost interrupted in 1980, when the German Erwin Kostedde (Laval) tied Onnis on top. But no matter how great Carlos Bianchi was, he was not enough to keep Reims among the best teams: in fact, Reims was going downhill.

Better, worse – evaluations are questionable. Very likely the 1975-76 season was the turning point for the French football – the dreadful years of insignificance, if not decline, ended. The tide turned for better. But positive changes do not bring immediate results. Besides, if someone is climbing up, there is another sliding down, which makes overall estimation shaky. On one hand, the mid-70 were the years of reforms, introduced with the hope of revitalize football. USSR, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland were the best known examples, but France introduced changes as well: the major concerns were low scores, stiff tactics, and increasingly smaller gates. The French approach was giving an extra point to a team winning by more 3 or more goals difference in the First Division (introduced in 1973-74) and in the Second Division – an extra point for every win by 2 goals difference. Was the new scheme helping or not is perhaps debatable, but there was no big fuss in France at the time: scoring was not exactly affected by the encouragement – Metz, 6th placed at the finals table, produced the best record of 72 goals. This is less than 2 goals per game average. As for extra points, the best number was 7, achieved by three clubs – Nice, Metz, and Nancy. Note, that the champions of the year did not lead in scoring and big wins, but had the best defense. Best, but kind of leaky… 39 goals allowed in 38 matches. Numbers alone hardly suggest general improvement. On the other hand, there was young generation of exciting players coming into maturity and a French club played at the European Champions Cup final. Sounds good… but some familiar clubs were either struggling or outright declining and there was no new name establishing itself as a major force.
At the bottom of the table finished clubs supporting critical views: Monaco, Strasbourg, and Avignon were relegated.
Avignon finished last in their first season in First Division. There is no surprise seeing absolute beginners going down immediately, but at the same time it was clear that Second Division was not producing teams able to handle top flight, let alone shaking the status quo.
Bottom, from left: Leroy, Jean, Castellan, Chazaretta, Pech.
Top: Hoffmann, Gilles, Joly, Palermini, Herbet, Louis.
The aging Argentine star Chazaretta, brought in 1975 especially to add class to the team, was not enough… and Avignon sunk back to Second Division, never to emerge again.
Strasbourg finished 19th and Monaco – 18th. Different story, although not a positive one – well known and respected clubs both, but given to wide and wild amplitudes. Unpredictable, at best… one year among the contenders and struggling to avoid relegation the next. Both clubs were joining Second Division for the second time since 1970. Strasbourg, infamously 19th: Bottom, from left: Lehmann, Wagner, Tonnel, Gemmrich, Dugueperoux.
Top: Dropsy, Specht, Zamojski, Spiegel, Deutschmann, Erlacher.
May be not much of a team, yet, having players like Gemmrich and Specht, who suggested something better than relegation. Hard to imagine goalkeeper going to play Second Division to become national team player, but… it will come soon. Back, left to right: Petit, Chauveau, Pleimelding, Vanucci, Feuillerat, Burkle
Front: Dalger, Guignedoux, Onnis, Pastoriza, Lechantre
Does it look like Second Division team? With well known players like Pleimelding, Vanucci, Petit; national team prospects – Chauveau; national team regular – Dalger; and two Argentine stars – Onnis and Pastoriza. Delio Onnis was the top goalscorer of France in 1975 – and now going to Second!
Monaco and Starsbourg are interesting case: both clubs were to be French champions very, very soon. Impossible to imagine in the summer of 1976, when the best prediction one would have made was that Monaco and Strasbourg were most likely joining the ranks of the clubs in limbo, constantly moving between First and Second Division. The freshly promoted clubs were typical of those: Rennes, Angers, and, to a point, Laval. Too strong for Second; too weak for First… Rennes and Angers were returning after short absence, but were not expected to be major improvement of the First Division. Their predicament was to struggle for survival; to play a season or two, and face relegation again. Looked like Monaco and Strasbourg were rapidly becoming similarly insignificant unsettled clubs.

Another big Belgian transfer in the summer of 1975 was also both lucky and unlucky: Paul van Himst, arguably the best ever Belgian player, quite Anderlecht and moved to the smaller neighbours RWD Molenbeek. It was logical move – van Himst was approaching the end of his playing days and was no longer up to the ambitions of Anderlecht. After so many years of loyalty, his departure was no big deal. RWD Molenbeek evidently benefited from the aging star – he brought class and preserved the unexpected strong position of the club: after winning the championship, RWD Molenbeek finished 3rd in 1975-76. Van Himst’s contribution was valuable, no doubt, but it was more than ironic that his former club, Anderlecht, achieved its biggest international success to date without him. Bad luck, one may argue… may be not so bad… well, for RWD Molenbeek it was fine surely.
Top, left to right: De Bree, Boskamp, Wissmann, Martens, Desanghere, Week, Lafont, Bjerre, Van Himst, Polleunis, Léonard
Bottom: Schouppe, Veenstra, Bloemberg, Koens, Nielsen, Wellens, Dumon, Teugels
Paul van Himst was still finishing strong with his new jersey, but what about his former colours? Anderlecht remained one of the two best Belgian clubs as ever. Finished second, 4 points behind the champions – for ambitious club, may be the season was not perfect. But Anderlecht confidently won the Belgian Cup, beating Lierse 4-0 at the final. The domestic Cup was followed by winning another, much more valuable Cup – the European Cup Winners Cup, about which – later. At the end, it was very successful season for Anderlecht and the championship silver was easily forgivable: the boys were strong!

Familiar Cup winners: Standing, from left: Lomme, Van Binst, Broos, Dockx, Ruiter, Thissen.
Bottom: Coeck, Ressel, Van der Elst, Rensenbrink, Vercauteren.
Well, without Van Himst, Anderlecht was going more Dutch: Hans Croon was coaching them this year, and he used 5 compatriots. The 6th foreign player was Dane – Torsten-Frank Andersen, who was generally a reserve. The imports from Holland were impressive, though: Rob Rensenbrink and Jan Ruiter were already old hands in Belgium and had splendid season. Rensenbrink was true mega-star ever since his fantastic performance at the 1974 World Cup. Ruiter got some recognition as well – he was included in the Dutch national team for the 1976 European Championship finals. Ruiter played only one match for Holland and in my opinion he deserved much more, but never mind. Ronny van Poucke was not famous and generally a reserve, but in the summer of 1975 two speacial players arrived – Peter Ressel and Arie Haan. Ressel rarely played for Dutch national team, but he came from Feyenoord, winning the UEFA Cup in 1974. Arie Haan of the great Ajax does not need any introduction. The new players brought quality and experience, making the new Anderlecht world class team. Add the Belgian national team regulars Van Binst, Broos, Dockx, and Thissen. And don’t forget the young sensations Coeck, Van der Elst and Vercauteren. So much talent… add aging Belgian player Erwin van den Daele and the young goalkeeper, who was to play for Belgium in the future, Jacky Munaron – it was difficult to get reserve spot in this squad, let alone regular place. Hans Croon was not exactly among the top coaches of the period, but he was Dutch, which already automatically ment ‘total football’. The style was well preserved South of Holland, with one of the original ‘priests’ – Haan – leading the ceremony. Rensenbrink was perhaps the bigger name by now, but Arie Haan deserves a special note: perhaps he was the best example of total football. However nominal, posts are preserved in total football – Haan was defensive midfielder in Ajax. In 1974 he played central defender for Holland. And now he was a playmaker. Changing positions was effortless for him and more – he excelled no matter what he was asked to play. This new role was not the final one either – Haan was still to play new positions in the future. Going Dutch, mastering total football – Anderlecht were in good health indeed. And, at least on the top of pyramid, Belgian football seemingly was getting better. Slightly better than Holland this year.