I was 14 years old and i was there in the stadium. What an incredible joy. I remember West ham supporters crying and drunk at the end of the match. Thx Robbie btw.
I witnessed this game. I was 17 years old. And a HUGE fan of Anderlecht...What a fantastic night it was. Rensenbrink and Van Der Elst were just tremendous!!! And tonight I will look at the the game between the same teams. I'm not sure about the same score, but we'll see!!!
The following season - 1976-77 - a revealing interview appeared, either in Shoot! or The International Football Yearbook, in which Robbie Rensenbrink was quoted as saying he felt there was only one player of real class in the West Ham team - one player with a “natural feel for the ball”. It came as little surprise to learn that “one player” was the then England midfield maestro Trevor Brooking.
Fair enough comment. The Anderlecht players would end their careers with 400 international caps between them; West Ham's would finish with 49 (and 47 of those belonged to Trevor Brooking). Eleven of the twelve Anderlecht players were internationals, for either Belgium or Holland; only two of the West Ham players ever made it to the England team; Brooking and Frank Lampard (senior--not to be confused with his eponymous son). Among the Anderlecht players were Rob Rensenbrink and Arie Haan, who each had two World Cup runners up medals. Francois van der Elst was a legendary Belgian international and Ludo Coeck was a top class player too. (If he could have taken corners in his BMW as well as he could on a football pitch he might have had more time to cement his reputation) West Ham did well to live with such a classy team for 90 minutes.
The tears rolled that night, but look at the players they had, Rensenbrink, Haan both great dutch internationals and the soon to come to upton park Francois van der elst. Thought we were sure to win it after the Frankfurt semi, what a night that was. First airin' for that admiral shirt too, badge in the centre, great memories.
Trevor Brooking was of England's few international class players post 1966 but like Glenn Hoddle seemed to struggle with his stamina. English players did seem to have problems with conditioning in those days.
I was in the stadium that night. It's not on the highlights but Brooking hit the crossbar when it was 0-0 and Lampard injured himself trying to make up for his mistake and didn't come out for the 2nd half. Rensenbrink was the difference though. A superb display. Sadly, that was the end for that West Ham team. It was packed with England under-23's all expected to go further but they'd all but faded by the end of the following season.
The best European final I've seen with an excellent counter attacking display from Anderlecht. The late Rob Rensenbrink showed that at the end of the day there is no substitute for skill and the underrated Francois Van der Elst took his goals really well. West Ham played their part too - this was really Ron Greenwood's team, following on from the 64/65 side that won the ECWC and well coached in real football.
I think Anderlecht always finishing 2nd to Ernst Happel's phenomenal Club Brugge side in that era prevented them from doing anything in the European Cup. That is why they aren't as highly regarded today but they were tremendous. Watching them demolish Bayern Munich 4-0 in the 1976 Super Cup is the best representation of how good they really were.
Highlights of Anderlecht's *4-1* demolition of Bayern Munich: czcams.com/video/gfRHV6B2sgk/video.html Watch out for Rensenbrink's insane through ball for Haan for Anderlecht's third goal.
European Cup/Champions League Finals, are generally drab affairs; one of the best was Porto’s win over Bayern Munich in 1987. With a sensational performance from Paulo Futre, the “Portuguese Maradona”. That said, the 1976 European Championship Final between West Germany and Czechoslovakia, remains the finest non-club European final I have seen.
@@markcusack6335 I agree and the semi final between Yugoslavia and West Germany and the third place play off between Yugoslavia and Holland were excellent too.
Like a previous comment I was there but I do remember the Stadium was past its sell by date.The match went by in a blur after having my first taste of Stella and a few more
A real scare for West Ham in the quarter final first leg….4-0 down at half time to Den Haag, rallying to score two second half goals before winning the return (home) leg 3-1, the Hammers progressing on the away goals rule.
Goold old Coleman...."1-nil" as Van Der Elst makes it 2-1! Thanks for posting, great memories of this side...my boyhood hero Billy Jennings and good old Keith Robson!
I was at this match. We felt confident that we could win it but so many factors were against us that night. Alongside the stadium was a huge funfair which was full of West Ham supporters. We hardly saw any Anderlecht fans at all until we got into the stadium. However, even 9 years before the 1985 disaster, I could tell that this stadium was a disaster waiting to happen. It was a crumbling wreck with shingle and bits of masonry strewn all across the terraces, some of which were being thrown. Furthermore, when we scored our goals a cloud of dust arose from the shingle and cinders that we were standing upon.
Remember me as a 10yr old watching this with my silk WH scarves wrapped around me. We played well that night but Anderlecht were a very good side. I was absolutely gutted at the end and didnt sleep well that night.
Remember watching this final with my mates we were all West Ham fans for the night, great game but remember getting angry when the hammer's lost, early signs of a potential hooligan !!
Robbie Resenbrink ran that game and Anderlecht had some fantastic players, Arie Haan, Frankie Vacautern, Frank Van Der Elst among them. West Ham were unlucky don't think that was a pen despite Dave Sextons suggestion and they had some great players also. Was a memorable night although probably not if you were a hammers fan.
A little known fact….Anderlecht, as was expected, fired their coach following the final - a consequence of the team’s failure to win the Belgian league, that season.
@@antonysimpson6288 to my eternal sadness, the chevrons were adopted the very year before I started to support The Irons. However, looking back at that game, seems Pat Holland went from hero to villain, and Francios VDE could just run through our defence like it weren't there. We bought him a bit later, and I was there at White Hart Lane when he scored for us. RIP.
Yep. Have to agree. England set the ball rolling with that awful Admiral kit in 1974. When West Ham ran out onto the pitch with that kit it was a real disappointment. West Ham did well to get to the Final with the players that they had. Its sad that the pace and skill of Anderlecht proved to much for them. Probably every First Division side would have struggled in that match.
@@thevillaaston7811 Indeed. Anderlecht played just two wingers up front and Haan as the nominal centre forward but playing as what they would describe today - a false 9.
Van der elst great player in his era . David colman best ever british football commentator ever in my personal view . My how its all change in what most would say a short period of time .
Old, good Heysel Stadium. It's very sad, how the history of this Stadium has ended.
I was 14 years old and i was there in the stadium. What an incredible joy. I remember West ham supporters crying and drunk at the end of the match. Thx Robbie btw.
I mostly remember rensenbrink as part of that brilliant dutch team, cruyff, neeskens, krol, rep, van hanegem.
What a classy player he was.
Oh what memories as a 11 yr old West Ham fanatic at the time I recall watching it on tv. I still love them.
I witnessed this game. I was 17 years old. And a HUGE fan of Anderlecht...What a fantastic night it was. Rensenbrink and Van Der Elst were just tremendous!!!
And tonight I will look at the the game between the same teams. I'm not sure about the same score, but we'll see!!!
The following season - 1976-77 - a revealing interview appeared, either in Shoot! or The International Football Yearbook, in which Robbie Rensenbrink was quoted as saying he felt there was only one player of real class in the West Ham team - one player with a “natural feel for the ball”. It came as little surprise to learn that “one player” was the then England midfield maestro Trevor Brooking.
Fair enough comment. The Anderlecht players would end their careers with 400 international caps between them; West Ham's would finish with 49 (and 47 of those belonged to Trevor Brooking). Eleven of the twelve Anderlecht players were internationals, for either Belgium or Holland; only two of the West Ham players ever made it to the England team; Brooking and Frank Lampard (senior--not to be confused with his eponymous son).
Among the Anderlecht players were Rob Rensenbrink and Arie Haan, who each had two World Cup runners up medals. Francois van der Elst was a legendary Belgian international and Ludo Coeck was a top class player too. (If he could have taken corners in his BMW as well as he could on a football pitch he might have had more time to cement his reputation)
West Ham did well to live with such a classy team for 90 minutes.
One of the best European Cup Winner's Cup finals ever, and Keith Robson's header a real masterpiece.
This is before my time, Keith Robson looked a classy player?
I was at this final as a 15 year old WHU supporter and left as a Rob Rensenbrink fan RIP Robbie.. you was the closest to Johan. C
me to 2...
The tears rolled that night, but look at the players they had, Rensenbrink, Haan both great dutch internationals and the soon to come to upton park Francois van der elst. Thought we were sure to win it after the Frankfurt semi, what a night that was. First airin' for that admiral shirt too, badge in the centre, great memories.
That kit is class.
Trevor Brooking was of England's few international class players post 1966 but like Glenn Hoddle seemed to struggle with his stamina. English players did seem to have problems with conditioning in those days.
I was in the stadium that night. It's not on the highlights but Brooking hit the crossbar when it was 0-0 and Lampard injured himself trying to make up for his mistake and didn't come out for the 2nd half. Rensenbrink was the difference though. A superb display. Sadly, that was the end for that West Ham team. It was packed with England under-23's all expected to go further but they'd all but faded by the end of the following season.
The best European final I've seen with an excellent counter attacking display from Anderlecht. The late Rob Rensenbrink showed that at the end of the day there is no substitute for skill and the underrated Francois Van der Elst took his goals really well. West Ham played their part too - this was really Ron Greenwood's team, following on from the 64/65 side that won the ECWC and well coached in real football.
I think Anderlecht always finishing 2nd to Ernst Happel's phenomenal Club Brugge side in that era prevented them from doing anything in the European Cup. That is why they aren't as highly regarded today but they were tremendous. Watching them demolish Bayern Munich 4-0 in the 1976 Super Cup is the best representation of how good they really were.
@@Veaseify Very good point Steve.
Highlights of Anderlecht's *4-1* demolition of Bayern Munich:
czcams.com/video/gfRHV6B2sgk/video.html
Watch out for Rensenbrink's insane through ball for Haan for Anderlecht's third goal.
European Cup/Champions League Finals, are generally drab affairs; one of the best was Porto’s win over Bayern Munich in 1987. With a sensational performance from Paulo Futre, the “Portuguese Maradona”. That said, the 1976 European Championship Final between West Germany and Czechoslovakia, remains the finest non-club European final I have seen.
@@markcusack6335 I agree and the semi final between Yugoslavia and West Germany and the third place play off between Yugoslavia and Holland were excellent too.
Like a previous comment I was there but I do remember the Stadium was past its sell by date.The match went by in a blur after having my first taste of Stella and a few more
A real scare for West Ham in the quarter final first leg….4-0 down at half time to Den Haag, rallying to score two second half goals before winning the return (home) leg 3-1, the Hammers progressing on the away goals rule.
Van der els was a great player as we later found out but rensenbrink was on a different level ⚒⚒⚒
Ahh great memories and a great final,my happy hammers beaten by a wonderful Anderlecht side,Robby Rensenbrink destroyed us.
Goold old Coleman...."1-nil" as Van Der Elst makes it 2-1! Thanks for posting, great memories of this side...my boyhood hero Billy Jennings and good old Keith Robson!
Keeping without handgloves ... seriously ? Ruiter - Ressel - Haan - Rensenbrink : the Dutch Connection of Anderlecht ... beautiful memories !
I was at this match. We felt confident that we could win it but so many factors were against us that night.
Alongside the stadium was a huge funfair which was full of West Ham supporters. We hardly saw any Anderlecht fans at all until we got into the stadium. However, even 9 years before the 1985 disaster, I could tell that this stadium was a disaster waiting to happen. It was a crumbling wreck with shingle and bits of masonry strewn all across the terraces, some of which were being thrown. Furthermore, when we scored our goals a cloud of dust arose from the shingle and cinders that we were standing upon.
Cracking game. Lovely bit of David Coleman commmentary "Vander Elst 1-0...2-1"
Haha! I noticed that too
Rensenbrink along with Johnny Rep and Rudi Krol were just fantastic to watch in that era. Haan had a quiet game but another great Dutch player
Interesting formation from Anderlecht, two wingers and Arie Haan lining up as the nominal centre forward but playing as loose man.
Remember me as a 10yr old watching this with my silk WH scarves wrapped around me. We played well that night but Anderlecht were a very good side. I was absolutely gutted at the end and didnt sleep well that night.
Remember watching this final with my mates we were all West Ham fans for the night, great game but remember getting angry when the hammer's lost, early signs of a potential hooligan !!
Third division Wrexham gave Anderlecht a real scare in the Quarter Finals that year, only losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Visited snookerpalace in Opwijk of swat van der elst few years ago , full of football poster in the shop , swat is a friendly guy , low profile , RIP
Vivid memories of this game. Felt like end to end attacking. Rensenbrink and Van Der Elst a real.handful that night.
Anderlecht was a great team with many excellent players: Rensenbrink, Haan, Van Der Elst, Vercauteren !
Robbie Resenbrink ran that game and Anderlecht had some fantastic players, Arie Haan, Frankie Vacautern, Frank Van Der Elst among them.
West Ham were unlucky don't think that was a pen despite Dave Sextons suggestion and they had some great players also. Was a memorable night although probably not if you were a hammers fan.
Robbie the best ever
A little known fact….Anderlecht, as was expected, fired their coach following the final - a consequence of the team’s failure to win the Belgian league, that season.
Thank you for the upload. I'm only 18 so it's interesting to see what it was like back then
Thanks for posting this...the end of an era for West Ham... great counter attack by Anderlecht
Why did it go wrong for West Ham after this? They had a lot of good players here.
Watched this game as a child,nice to watch it again 💙Rangers 🇬🇧
West Ham were just so accustomed to playing up to their ankles in mud they didn't know how to deal with the lovely turf!
Remember the shock when West Ham came out in that kit! Good side Anderlecht mid 70's great football
That was the kit that started the slide towards the abominations that the players wear today.
@@antonysimpson6288 to my eternal sadness, the chevrons were adopted the very year before I started to support The Irons.
However, looking back at that game, seems Pat Holland went from hero to villain, and Francios VDE could just run through our defence like it weren't there.
We bought him a bit later, and I was there at White Hart Lane when he scored for us.
RIP.
I liked the "classic" 1975 Cup Final shirt better, but I think the Brussels shirt looked great too.
Yep.
Have to agree. England set the ball rolling with that awful Admiral kit in 1974. When West Ham ran out onto the pitch with that kit it was a real disappointment.
West Ham did well to get to the Final with the players that they had.
Its sad that the pace and skill of Anderlecht proved to much for them.
Probably every First Division side would have struggled in that match.
@@thevillaaston7811 Indeed. Anderlecht played just two wingers up front and Haan as the nominal centre forward but playing as what they would describe today - a false 9.
A strong Anderlecht team with Rensenbrink, Vander Elst, Haan and Vercauteren. Why were they given even more advantage playing at home ?
RIP F Vander Elst
@John C no he hasn't lol
@@iben3271 yes he is.
gran equipo aquel Anderlecht de los años 70 y 80
NICE TO WATCH THIS
look at the giant corner flags - one of my main memories of this game
See what you mean about the flags-massive!!
Great Anderlecht side.
our 2 strikers Van der Elst & Rensenbrink were outstanding that day in Brussels
Bjorn Vermeerch Frankie van de els
Agree class players
RIP Robbie and Swatje ...
Nostalgie nostalgie...
Van der elst great player in his era . David colman best ever british football commentator ever in my personal view . My how its all change in what most would say a short period of time .
Cannot watch this game , broke my heart at 16 when we lost.
Haan-Van der Elst- Rensenbrick
great night the two west han i went with that night no longer with us rip
Vd Elst en Rensenbrink beiden dood. Waren toppers
Cette équipe d'Anderlecht était peut être plus forte
que le Liverpool 77
Ca tombe bien, ce Liverpool a ete battu par Anderlecht lors de la Super Coupe justement...
Anderlecht were lucky to Be in that final, Wrexham should av beaten them in the quarter final
One nil….err…two one…! 😂😂
Le match ou les joueurs ont changes de maillot a la mi-temps...Sauf Francois...
West Ham seemed to be bigger players then
Was the team entirely British players
Think everyone playing for West Ham were all eligible for England. Quick Wiki check, saw only English flags by their names.
West Ham is still the last all English team to have won the FA Cup, in 1975.
Hate to say i like this vid cos i'm British.
??
West ham could of won this if they had scored more goals than Anderlect
5:47 That's not a penalty - he got the ball!
He took his legs in the process though, so as Dave Sexton said - technically a penalty.
Anderlecht
Verry Good tram. On the seventies.. Thank ROBBY Rensenbrink .😤😣😥
One of the worst matches of Frank Lampard Sr.