European Cup 1977

Lore & Background

Both teams were appearing in their first European Cup final, though they had met in the 1973 UEFA Cup final, which Liverpool won 3–2 on aggregate. Liverpool took an early lead through Terry McDermott, but Allan Simonsen equalised for Mönchengladbach early in the second half. Liverpool regained the lead with a headed goal from Tommy Smith, and a penalty by Phil Neal ensured a 3–1 victory. Bob Paisley became the first manager to win the UEFA Cup and European Cup, though not in successive seasons—the UEFA Cup came in 1973 and the European Cup in 1977.

In Their Own Story

The air in Rome was thick with heat and anticipation, but inside the Stadio Olimpico, a different kind of fire burned. As Terry McDermott's shot curled into the net, the roar from the Liverpool section cut through the Italian crowd like a blade. PhilNeal added a penalty to extend the lead before Alan Kennedy surged forward on the left flank in the 80th minute. He didn't just cross; he struck with precision. The net rippled, the referee blew his whistle, and for the first time in history, the European Cup was held aloft by men who wore red. Emlyn Hughes, tears streaming through the sweat, embraced the silverware as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' began to rise from 60,000 throats.

Reader's Guide

The match was watched by a crowd of 52,078. Liverpool's route to the final included victories over Crusaders, Trabzonspor, Saint-Étienne, and FC Zürich. Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated Austria Wien, Torino, Club Brugge, and Dynamo Kyiv. The venue was decided in Bern by the UEFA Executive Committee on 17 September 1976.

Did You Know?

• Liverpool's third goal was scored by Phil Neal from a penalty, not by Alan Kennedy.
• Tommy Smith scored the second goal for Liverpool with a header in his 600th appearance for the club.
• The 1977 final was the first European Cup final for both clubs.