Six-time European Cup winners; three-time UEFA Cup winners; a membership synonymous with continental glory and well-known nights beneath the floodlights: with regards to European competitors and experiences, you possibly can safely say that Liverpool have been there, performed that and purchased many t-shirts. Few groups have as a lot historical past throughout the continent. Loopy nights in Istanbul, thundering roars towards St-Étienne, and the despair of Heysel.
However each voyage begins with a primary tentative step. And for Liverpool, that preliminary journey into the good unknown commenced in the summertime of 1964. The nation was gripped by Beatlemania because the Fab 4 began to overcome the world. Such was the zeal, cinemas noticed the discharge of A Exhausting Day’s Evening accompanied by screaming youngsters whereas The Beatles’ return to their residence metropolis noticed 300 folks injured as round 150,000 tried to see their idols in particular person. Liverpool grew to become the epicentre of Britain, relegating London to a minor function – no less than till the Swinging Sixties exploded into full flowering.
And whereas Liverpool dominated the pop scene, it additionally dominated the soccer world. Invoice Shankly led Liverpool to the Second Division title in 1962, bringing the Reds again into the limelight. Extremely, simply two seasons later, Liverpool have been English champions for the primary time since 1947, powered by the targets of Roger Hunt, Ian St John and Alf Arrowsmith, who mixed for 92 strikes that season.
That Championship was rewarded by Liverpool’s maiden entry onto the European stage – a spot within the European Cup towards the elite of the continent. It was a contest that, on the time, was nonetheless purely contested between league champions, a straight knockout from the start. No teams, no seeding.
It’s nearly not possible now to think about Liverpool waiting for European competitors as an unknown amount, nevertheless it should be remembered that, till Shankly gained that title in 1964, Liverpool had been within the doldrums.
Early British escapades into Europe have been led by the likes of Wolves, Manchester United, Dundee and Hibs. As these golf equipment visited Barcelona, Madrid and Milan, Liverpool have been mired within the Second Division, travelling to the marginally much less glamourous metropolises of Scunthorpe, Plymouth and Rotherham. However all that had modified over the course of three seasons, and Liverpool have been now enjoying alongside the giants of Europe.
The competitors started with a preliminary spherical, though in impact it was principally a full spherical with solely the earlier season’s winners, Internazionale, afforded a bye. Given the straight draw and lack of seeding, Liverpool might theoretically have drawn anybody, together with the likes of Actual Madrid or Benfica – a possible recipe for a short-lived journey.
However they managed to keep away from the large boys and as a substitute began their first European expedition with a visit to Iceland, whose champions have been KR.
That season, KR grew to become the primary Icelandic workforce to enter the European Cup, so a visit to their island was unusual in these days. And what a visit it was. Now there are most likely direct flights from Liverpool to Iceland, however in these days it was considerably extra convoluted. Leaving from Liverpool, the workforce first needed to journey to Manchester, then fly from Manchester to London, then fly from London to Prestwick, and at last from there on to Reykjavik.
What’s extra admirable is that some Liverpool supporters really made the journey themselves. For a lot of, with Liverpool having by no means been in Europe, this might have been their first journey exterior of England. As one fan put it on the time, “We thought they have been all eskimos,” earlier than being shocked to search out they have been identical to scousers. Totally different instances, certainly.
Ayrshire was additionally the house county of Shankly, so he couldn’t resist displaying off the world to his boys earlier than travelling on to Iceland. Filled with delight, Shanks employed a bus to take the workforce to see … Butlin’s vacation camp. On proudly telling the camp chief that they have been Liverpool FC, en path to Iceland, the gentleman helpfully instructed them, “I feel you’ve taken the flawed highway, sir.”
And so, on 17 August 1964, Liverpool strode out for the very first time in European competitors on the inexperienced grass of Reyjavik earlier than 10,000 witnesses. Opening evening nerves and a scarcity of expertise affected them; at half-time, Liverpool have been carrying a slim 1-0 benefit heading into the break. However then health ranges and expertise kicked in and two targets from Wallace and Hunt noticed them run out 5-0 winners.
A month later, the Icelanders made the lengthy journey over to Anfield and, sadly for them, took one other pasting, this time shedding 6-1 with Ian St John grabbing a double. The competitors was already down to only 16 groups and the draw for the primary spherical correct awaited.
This time, Liverpool wouldn’t be getting such a simple tie. Destiny threw them up towards the Belgian champions, Anderlecht. This was an aspect that may then go on to win the next 4 Belgian First Division titles too – a streak that’s nonetheless a nationwide document.
It was a workforce led by the legendary Paul Van Himst, the scorer of 233 targets in 457 appearances for the membership 16 seasons. This workforce was so good that when Belgium performed towards the Netherlands in 1964, there have been ten Anderlecht gamers inside the beginning line-up. The one non-Anderlecht starter was the goalkeeper, Normal Leige’s Man Delhasse, however he was substituted throughout the sport by Jean-Marie Trappeniers who was, after all, an Anderlecht participant. Liverpool had their work minimize out.
Forward of the sport, Shankly selected a rebranding of his workforce. Liverpool had historically performed in purple shirts and white shorts, however the supervisor determined that enjoying in all purple would make the gamers look greater and extra intimidating – and so was born the legendary package that we all know and love so nicely right now. Shankly was additionally conscious of the risk posed by Van Himst and determined to throw a tricky younger defender up towards him by the identify of Tommy Smith.
And so onto Anfield for the primary leg on 25 November. Because the gamers have been getting set to depart the altering room, Shankly gave them his last phrases of recommendation: “Proper boys. You’ve nothing to beat tonight, they’re a load of garbage.”
Ninety minutes later, Liverpool had swept the Belgians apart 3-0, with targets from St John, Hunt and Ron Yeats. Shankly’s phrases on the Reds re-entering the altering room have been plain: “Congratulations, you’ve simply crushed top-of-the-line groups in Europe.”
An extra 1-0 win in Brussels noticed Liverpool via to the quarter-finals with 4 wins out of 4 beneath their belt. They gave the impression to be getting the dangle of this European factor. However now some severe removing had been performed and the competitors was all the way down to the foremost gamers, together with the ever-dangerous trio of Actual Madrid, Benfica and Inter. The hope could be to keep away from a kind of within the subsequent spherical.
As luck would have it, Actual Madrid drew Benfica, which means a kind of powers could be eradicated at this stage. Inter drew Scottish champions Rangers leaving Liverpool to face German champions Köln. It wasn’t the toughest tie however was removed from the best both.
Köln had gained entry into the European Cup by changing into winners of the first-ever Bundesliga in 1963. A 0-0 stalemate in Germany was adopted by the identical again on Merseyside; 180 minutes of soccer and no targets to indicate for it. Again then, the subsequent step was a playoff at a impartial venue.
And so, on 25 March 1965, Liverpool and Köln followers met up at Feyenoord’s De Kuip for the decider. The Reds bought off to a cracking begin, with St. John tapping in from shut vary on 20 minutes adopted by a Roger Hunt second on 37 minutes. Clearly the all-red strip was having the specified impact.
However Köln bought again into the match via a Karl-Heinz Thielen header a minute later, which means the Reds went into half-time 2-1 up. Shortly after kick-off, the Germans scored once more, this time via Hannes Löhr, to stage issues – and that’s how the sport remained till the ultimate whistle.
So how do you determine a high-profile European Cup quarter-final when the playoff is tied? On the time, penalties weren’t in use, and so it got here all the way down to the final word take a look at of soccer abilities and composure – the coin toss. Unbelievable to assume now however sure, a vital European Cup sport could be selected the flip of a coin. In the course of the pitch. Televised.
Up stepped the captains, Ron Yeats and Hans Sturm. Underneath the floodlights, Yeats remembers the occasions splendidly: “I believed, get in fast, I’ll have tails referee. And earlier than he requested, he went yeah – Liverpool tails, Köln heads. Up it went and it come down and I couldn’t imagine it, it caught in a divot on its aspect. We have been attempting to blow over to tails by now and naturally the German captain was attempting to blow over to heads. And he had extra puff than I had. It was coming over to heads and I stated to the referee, ref, you’re going to should re-toss the coin. And he stated you’re proper Mr Yeats and he picked it up. I believed, nice, up it went once more.”
Over 48,000 followers held their breath and waited for some form of sign – after which the Liverpool gamers have been leaping for pleasure. The Reds had simply progressed to the semi-finals of the European Cup due to Yeats and tails.
Shankly went over to the Köln bench to commiserate, saying that it was no strategy to determine such a hard-fought, evenly-balanced sport. And so, of their maiden continental odyssey, Liverpool discovered themselves within the European Cup semi-finals.
Becoming a member of them could be holders Inter, two-time champions Benfica, and ETO Győr, a Hungarian aspect who had simply gained the league for the primary time. In all probability hoping for Győr, Liverpool have been as a substitute drawn towards Inter. If the Reds have been hoping to get to the ultimate in, appropriately sufficient, Milan, they have been going to have to beat Helenio Herrera’s males.
Simply how daunting a process would that be? Nicely, Il Grande Inter, as they might later be named in recognition of their prowess, had lifted the European Cup the yr earlier than, defeating the dominant Actual Madrid 3-1. They have been managed by maybe the world’s most revered supervisor, Herrera, who had added metal via the adoption of a fifth defender, the libero, to raise catenaccio to an artwork type.
The workforce oozed high quality: Sarti, Burgnich, Facchetti, Picchi, Corso, Mazzola, Suárez and Jair. They have been on their strategy to recapturing the Scudetto, having simply thrashed AC Milan 5-2. This positively wasn’t Scunthorpe anymore.
Earlier than that journey, nevertheless, Liverpool did have the small matter of an FA Cup last to contest towards Don Revie’s Leeds. The crown jewel of the English season noticed Liverpool elevate the trophy after a 2-1 win, with all of the targets in additional time. Wild celebrations adopted again on Merseyside because the trophy was paraded earlier than an estimated 250,000 folks singing Beatles’ songs. For the primary time of their historical past, the trophy sat inside the halls of Anfield.
Simply three days later, Liverpool welcomed Inter with gamers nonetheless affected by an extra-time last on the spacious Wembley pitch and a few lingering hangovers. Anticipation was at fever pitch with the bottom full at 17.30 for a night kick-off. Formally, 54,000 followers packed out Anfield, however there have been most likely extra squeezed in.
If that wasn’t intimidating sufficient for Inter, Shankly then cranked up his thoughts video games once more. Wouldn’t or not it’s a fantastic concept if the FA Cup was paraded as soon as once more across the floor simply earlier than kick-off? And so it was, pitching the Liverpool followers right into a state of pure rapture and upping the amount significantly. It was time for Liverpool to actually see how they matched up towards the good Inter.
In a later interview, Ian St. John describes the sport as “the evening of nights”. Though at this level no-one knew what number of nice European Anfield nights the longer term would maintain, this one would nonetheless go down alongside the perfect.
After simply three minutes, a Callaghan cross was fantastically transformed by Hunt. Mazzola then struck again shortly after for Inter, however after that it was all Liverpool. After 33 minutes, a stunning free-kick routine noticed Callaghan dummy taking it, then run on because the free-kick was taken to get it again into his stride earlier than hammering it into the nook. It was straight off the coaching floor. By now Anfield was a thundering cauldron of noise as Liverpool stored sweeping ahead. A shell-shocked Inter staggered into the dressing room at half-time to try to catch their breath.
After 74 minutes, a shot by Hunt was parried by Sarti straight into the trail of St. John, who gratefully accepted the tap-in. It was job performed on Merseyside. Liverpool had a two-goal benefit to take to Milan, which means that the kings of catenaccio must come out of their shells. To this present day, many older Liverpool followers will nonetheless swear that this Anfield evening was the workforce’s biggest show and the membership’s most atmospheric night.
Ominously, the Italian press warned Liverpool that “you’ll by no means be allowed to win”. The shenanigans started as quickly because the squad arrived at their Lake Como base. Church bells and singing locals ensured that sleep could be a luxurious. And that was earlier than the Reds needed to step out in entrance of 76,000 on the San Siro. The sport was going to wish a agency and courageous referee – and the person chosen for this massive evening was one José María Ortiz de Mendíbil from Spain.
After eight minutes, Inter have been awarded a free-kick simply exterior the world, which the Liverpool gamers believed was signalled as oblique by Ortiz. The referee strode out the ten yards for the wall, utilizing probably the most exaggerated, prolonged strides you’ll ever see, earlier than pushing the Liverpool wall again to what’s extra like 20 yards from the free-kick. Corso then struck a stunning shot into the nook – straight. A purpose was awarded and Inter had simply the beginning they wanted.
Simply two minutes later, issues went from unhealthy to worse. Inter ahead Joaquín Peiró chased an extended ball however Liverpool goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence was paying consideration and bought to it first. Bouncing the ball as he moved up the world, Lawrence was unaware of Peiró arising behind him, who stole the ball on a bounce and rolled it into the empty web.
The transfer represented what was typically seen as “ungentlemanly conduct”, together with Peiró coming from an offside place, though I’ve to admit that it regarded a good sufficient steal to me. The Liverpool gamers protested vehemently however to no avail: Ortiz let it stand. Liverpool’s two-goal benefit was worn out within the area of ten mad minutes.
A 3rd Inter purpose by the fantastic Facchetti after 62 minutes noticed the Liverpool dream lastly extinguished, regardless that St. John had a purpose disallowed for an infringement unknown to him. The sport ended 3-0 and Inter went on to reclaim the trophy in their very own stadium towards Benfica. The final picture from that evening within the San Siro was Yeats chasing Ortiz, calling him “El Bastardo” whereas kicking him on the ankles. It was a tragic finish to an excellent run.
Curiously sufficient, the secretary of Inter on the time was Italo Allodi, who was later accused of match-fixing scandals together with the notorious Juventus-Derby sport in 1973. Allodi was near a Hungarian referred to as Dezső Solti who was accused by a referee in 1966 of attempting to bribe him earlier than the 1964 European Cup last with “sufficient {dollars} to purchase 5 Mercedes”.
Later, UEFA and journalistic investigations discovered Solti responsible of providing bribes between 1963 and 1967. None of this proves that something intentionally untoward was manifest that evening, however suspicion lingers.
If skullduggery was certainly at work that evening, the soccer gods made positive to rectify the state of affairs going forwards. Whereas Shankly would by no means win the European Cup, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp would see that Liverpool lifted ol’ massive ears six instances, whereas Inter would solely get pleasure from yet another evening of glory in 2010.
The 1964/65 European Cup marketing campaign grew to become the springboard for Liverpool’s dominance on the continent. They performed in Europe for an unimaginable 20 successive seasons after their inaugural go to and nonetheless stay some of the profitable golf equipment in historical past. And it began with a marketing campaign that included visiting little-known Iceland, successful video games via a twice-taken coin toss, and one of many biggest nights that Anfield has ever witnessed, earlier than being curtailed in considerably doubtful circumstances. It taught Liverpool many classes on the wily methods of European competitors – classes that they realized nicely and utilized with a vengeance going forwards.
By Dominic Hougham