"Ajax's 1995 Champions League win remains one of the most memorable triumphs in modern football history. Louis van Gaal's young, largely homegrown side looked to be the perfect modern template for success, combining Dutch flair and technical ability with physicality. Many predicted that years of European dominance would follow, but instead this would be the high-water mark of the team, as the newly-established Bosman ruling would soon rip apart the side."
"Only two of us actually had any real European Cup experience Frank Rijkaard and I. When the draw came Milan, AEK Athens and Casino Salzburg we were excited. The first game was at home against Milan and we felt no pressure because everyone just expected us to lose. Four months earlier, they'd beaten Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League final, but we won 2-0. That was a huge step for us from that moment, everything changed."
"The second game against Milan was played in Trieste [after crowd trouble at a previous Milan game at San Siro]. I remember the talk in Italy they weren't going to underestimate Ajax a second time. I scored early to make it 1-0, then we added a second to win again. Even the Milan fans applauded us. From that point, we were sure we could go far in the competition."
Ajax's 1995 Champions League victory showcased a young, largely homegrown team under Louis van Gaal that combined Dutch flair, technical skill and physicality. Many expected sustained European dominance, but the Bosman ruling soon dismantled the group. Jari Litmanen emerged as the creative playmaker after a failed Premier League spell and became central to Ajax's success. Litmanen remembered the campaign vividly, highlighting two wins over Milan — including scoring early in Trieste — and a standout semi-final second leg in which he scored twice in a 5-2 win over Bayern Munich.
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