ONE NIGHT IN VIENNA
World Soccer|July 2023
How Manchester City won their first and, at the time of writing, only - European silverware: the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup -
Simon Curtis
ONE NIGHT IN VIENNA

April 29, 1970 dawned damp in Austria’s capital. Malcolm Allison, the Manchester City coach, undeterred by the rain, went for a run in the Viennese woods, which – thanks to following the wrong group of joggers – took him on a nine-kilometre loop instead of the three he had planned. Like the players in his charge, however – assembled alongside manager Joe Mercer – there was never any danger of him running out of energy.

The young, exuberant City team had been built in Allison’s own style: fearless, flamboyant and frisky. Already league title winners in 1968, FA Cup winners in 1969 and League Cup winners earlier in the 1969-70 season, the European Cup Winners’ Cup represented another significant hurdle for the duo. And, for “Big Malc”, the venue for the final could not have been more fitting.

“It wasn’t the first time I had been to the Prater Stadium,” said Allison many years later. “I’d done my national service in Klagenfurt and I’d seen Austria play Italy there. I’d also played on the pitch in an army game.

“It was in Austria that I first got a taste for training and coaching. I picked up things that I brought with me to England.”

Allison had also travelled to see the great Hungarian side of the age, the “Magical Magyars” that featured Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis, Nandor Hidegkuti, Zoltan Czibor, Jozsef Bozsik and Gyula Grosics, which utterly captivated the Englishman.

Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av World Soccer.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av World Soccer.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WORLD SOCCERSe alt
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024