Visiting one of the “Sons of God” – Ari Haan
One of the co-founders of Bulgarian Football Shirts – Milen Nikolov – had the rare opportunity to visit three-time European Champion Cup winner Ari Haan. The former Ajax midfielder is one of the most iconic figures in Dutch football and a legend of the great Ajax team, which won everything possible in the early 1970s and “set the trend” on European pitches. What’s more, Haan had an emotional reunion with two of his emblematic kits – Ajax and the Netherlands – which he wore more than half a century ago.
Wearing the “God’s Sons” jersey, Haan played in the 0:2 loss to CSKA in the second-leg round of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. On November 7, 1973, the “Army Men” achieved one of their greatest victories, bringing to their knees the reigning champions of the continent (1971, 1972, and 1973), whose ranks included the names Haan, Barry Hulshoff, Ruud Krol, Johan Neeskens, Piet Keizer, Johnny Rep, and others.
The “Tulips” jersey, meanwhile, was worn by the versatile footballer just a few months later – on June 23, 1974, when he faced Bulgaria in a Group 3 match of the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Led by the genius Johan Cruyff, the “Tulips” defeated the “Lions” 4:1 in front of nearly 55,000 spectators at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.
And who is Ari “BombAri”? Three-time Dutch champion (1970, 1972, 1973) and three-time KNVB Cup winner (1970, 1971, 1972) with Ajax. The “God’s Sons” were unstoppable on the European stage, winning the European Cup three consecutive times (1971, 1972, 1973) under the guidance of Rinus Michels and later Stefan Kovacs. To these achievements, they added the Intercontinental Cup (1972) and the European Super Cup (1972, 1973).
Later, the long-haired midfielder enjoyed an exceptionally successful period in Belgian football with Anderlecht and Standard Liège. Between 1975 and 1983, Ari won the Belgian league title three times (1981, 1982, 1983) and the Belgian Cup once (1976), while also claiming the Cup Winners’ Cup twice (1976, 1978) and the European Super Cup twice (1976, 1978).
Between 1972 and 1980, the versatile midfielder played 35 matches and scored 6 goals for the Netherlands. He participated in two World Cups – in 1974 and 1978. On both tournaments, the “Oranje” reached the final but failed to claim the title. Haan was an ever-present starter at both global events, losing the finals to Germany and Argentina, respectively. His goals against Dino Zoff (Italy) and Sepp Maier (Germany) are still remembered to this day.
Go back in time, take a close look at Ari Haan’s two kits, and enjoy them:
the jersey from the CSKA – Ajax match here
the jersey from the Netherlands – Bulgaria match here
One of the co-founders of Bulgarian Football Shirts – Milen Nikolov – had the rare opportunity to visit three-time European Champion Cup winner Ari Haan. The former Ajax midfielder is one of the most iconic figures in Dutch football and a legend of the great Ajax team, which won everything possible in the early 1970s and “set the trend” on European pitches. What’s more, Haan had an emotional reunion with two of his emblematic kits – Ajax and the Netherlands – which he wore more than half a century ago.
Wearing the “God’s Sons” jersey, Haan played in the 0:2 loss to CSKA in the second-leg round of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. On November 7, 1973, the “Army Men” achieved one of their greatest victories, bringing to their knees the reigning champions of the continent (1971, 1972, and 1973), whose ranks included the names Haan, Barry Hulshoff, Ruud Krol, Johan Neeskens, Piet Keizer, Johnny Rep, and others.
The “Tulips” jersey, meanwhile, was worn by the versatile footballer just a few months later – on June 23, 1974, when he faced Bulgaria in a Group 3 match of the 1974 World Cup in Germany. Led by the genius Johan Cruyff, the “Tulips” defeated the “Lions” 4:1 in front of nearly 55,000 spectators at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.
And who is Ari “BombAri”? Three-time Dutch champion (1970, 1972, 1973) and three-time KNVB Cup winner (1970, 1971, 1972) with Ajax. The “God’s Sons” were unstoppable on the European stage, winning the European Cup three consecutive times (1971, 1972, 1973) under the guidance of Rinus Michels and later Stefan Kovacs. To these achievements, they added the Intercontinental Cup (1972) and the European Super Cup (1972, 1973).
Later, the long-haired midfielder enjoyed an exceptionally successful period in Belgian football with Anderlecht and Standard Liège. Between 1975 and 1983, Ari won the Belgian league title three times (1981, 1982, 1983) and the Belgian Cup once (1976), while also claiming the Cup Winners’ Cup twice (1976, 1978) and the European Super Cup twice (1976, 1978).
Between 1972 and 1980, the versatile midfielder played 35 matches and scored 6 goals for the Netherlands. He participated in two World Cups – in 1974 and 1978. On both tournaments, the “Oranje” reached the final but failed to claim the title. Haan was an ever-present starter at both global events, losing the finals to Germany and Argentina, respectively. His goals against Dino Zoff (Italy) and Sepp Maier (Germany) are still remembered to this day.
Go back in time, take a close look at Ari Haan’s two kits, and enjoy them:
the jersey from the CSKA – Ajax match here
the jersey from the Netherlands – Bulgaria match here
