In 1973, Ajax cemented its position as one of the all-time great clubs in European history by becoming the first club since Real Madrid in 1956-1960 to pull a three-peat of the European Champions Cup. It also became the first team to win the (not quite as coveted) World Club Rankings Team of the Year for three consecutive years. Dutch striker Johnny Rep scored in the fourth minute against Juventus in the final and that was all that was necessary as Ajax won the final 1-0. The Cup Winners Cup was also decided by an early goal as Luciano Chiarugi scored in the fifth minute of the final to lead AC Milan to a 1-0 victory over Leeds United. The UEFA Cup remained in England as another English club, this time Liverpool, won the trophy with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, thanks in no small part to two first-half goals in the first leg match by the future Geordie Messiah, Kevin Keegan.
As was the case in Europe, the Copa Libertadores saw a repeat winner as Independiente defeated Chilean power Colo Colo to take the title. After a home and away draw, the clubs met in a tiebreaker in Montevideo, Uruguay and traded first-half goals before Giachello scored an extra time goal in the 107th minute to deliver another title to Independiente.
As far as domestic competitions is concerned, the champions of the top domestic leagues reads for 1973 reads like a who’s who of great clubs with championships going to Ajax, Juventus, Celtic and Liverpool, not to mention Atletico de Madrid and Rosario Central. The Top 25 clubs in the world for 1973 are listed below:
World Club Rankings – Top 25 – 1973
1. Ajax (Ned) – Champions Cup-Winner; First team with three consecutive Number One rankings.
2. Juventus (Ita) – CC-RU.
3. Celtic (Sco) – CC-2R; Fifth consecutive Top 5.
4. Feyenoord (Ned) – UEFA Cup-2R; Fifth consecutive Top 25.
5. AC Milan (Ita) – Cup Winners Cup-Winner; Sixth consecutive Top 25.
6. Rangers (Sco)
7. Huracan (Arg)
8. San Lorenzo (Arg) – Copa Libertadores-SF.
9. Benfica (Por) – CC-2R; Thirteenth consecutive Top 20.
10. Olympiakos (Gre) – UEFA-2R; First ever ranking.
11. Independiente (Arg) – Copa Libertadores-Winner.
12. Real Madrid (Esp) – CC-SF.
13. Liverpool (Eng) – UEFA Cup-Winner.
14. Twente (Ned) – UEFA-SF.
15. Hibernian (Sco) – CWC-QF; Best ever ranking.
16. Sparta (Ned)
17. Derby County (Eng) – CC-SF.
18. Boca Juniors (Arg)
19. Lazio (Ita) – First ever ranking.
20. PAOK (Gre) – CWC-1R; Only ever ranking.
21. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) – CWC-2R.
22. Panathinaikos (Gre)
23. Arsenal (Eng) – CC-1R.
24. Leeds United (Eng) – CWC-RU; Fifth consecutive Top 25.
25. Ujpest Dozsa (Hun) – CC-QF.
Past Final Season Top 25s: 2007, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960
As was the case in Europe, the Copa Libertadores saw a repeat winner as Independiente defeated Chilean power Colo Colo to take the title. After a home and away draw, the clubs met in a tiebreaker in Montevideo, Uruguay and traded first-half goals before Giachello scored an extra time goal in the 107th minute to deliver another title to Independiente.
As far as domestic competitions is concerned, the champions of the top domestic leagues reads for 1973 reads like a who’s who of great clubs with championships going to Ajax, Juventus, Celtic and Liverpool, not to mention Atletico de Madrid and Rosario Central. The Top 25 clubs in the world for 1973 are listed below:
World Club Rankings – Top 25 – 1973
1. Ajax (Ned) – Champions Cup-Winner; First team with three consecutive Number One rankings.
2. Juventus (Ita) – CC-RU.
3. Celtic (Sco) – CC-2R; Fifth consecutive Top 5.
4. Feyenoord (Ned) – UEFA Cup-2R; Fifth consecutive Top 25.
5. AC Milan (Ita) – Cup Winners Cup-Winner; Sixth consecutive Top 25.
6. Rangers (Sco)
7. Huracan (Arg)
8. San Lorenzo (Arg) – Copa Libertadores-SF.
9. Benfica (Por) – CC-2R; Thirteenth consecutive Top 20.
10. Olympiakos (Gre) – UEFA-2R; First ever ranking.
11. Independiente (Arg) – Copa Libertadores-Winner.
12. Real Madrid (Esp) – CC-SF.
13. Liverpool (Eng) – UEFA Cup-Winner.
14. Twente (Ned) – UEFA-SF.
15. Hibernian (Sco) – CWC-QF; Best ever ranking.
16. Sparta (Ned)
17. Derby County (Eng) – CC-SF.
18. Boca Juniors (Arg)
19. Lazio (Ita) – First ever ranking.
20. PAOK (Gre) – CWC-1R; Only ever ranking.
21. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) – CWC-2R.
22. Panathinaikos (Gre)
23. Arsenal (Eng) – CC-1R.
24. Leeds United (Eng) – CWC-RU; Fifth consecutive Top 25.
25. Ujpest Dozsa (Hun) – CC-QF.
Past Final Season Top 25s: 2007, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960
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