The Cup. Fortuna (Sittard) reached the final and had to clash with Feyenoord. Perhaps even the club was not expecting anything, considering the form Feyenoord had this year. However, the final was a tough battle, won by a single goal – unfortunately, Fortuna did not score it.
Fortuna (Sittard) was a modest club, so reaching the Cup final was great achievement. As for winning the trophy… it depended who they faced at the final, and unfortunately it was Feyenoord. No shame losing to them, but no sensation either. Third row from left: Chris Dekker, Mario Eleveld, Tiny Ruys, Jaap v.d. Berg, JO Bux.
Middle row: Jos Wesolek (fysiotherapeut), Dr. Jessen, clubarts, Theo v. Well, Arthur Hoyer, Nico Hanssen, Chris Korver, Wim Koevermans, Anne Evers, Peter Bruls (verzorger).
Sitting: Huub Smeets, Wilbert Suvrijn, Willy Boessen, Frans Korver (trainer), Joop Castenmiller (manager), Dick Voorn (ass.trainer), Rene Maessen, Gerrie Schrijnemakers, Matj Toonen.
May be not an easy win, but Feyenoord made a double. A historic moment – this was their only 3rd double and the previous one came in 1969. Feyenoord was not champion since 1974 and not a Cup winner since 1980. Back in mid-70 Feyenoord made the mistake of procrastination and rebuilding was started too late and, unfortunately, at a time when Holland had no great young generation of players. Thus, no significant team was built and by 1984 it was again in troublesome situation: the key players were not old enough for replacement, but also they were not great. Success, naturally, escaped them. Until Cruijff arrived and instantly Feyenoord won a double. But the feelings were mixed. At the end of the previous season Cruijff and Ajax locked horns over new contract – typically, Cruijff wanted more money plus something else. Ajax brass did not think a 36-years old player should get more money plus something else. ‘Something else’ must have been coaching position for which Cruijff was not formally qualified. Both sides stood their ground stubbornly and Cruijff was free – Ajax ‘reasonably’ thought that player at his age would not be either great asset, nor great danger if playing elsewhere, they had a team bursting with young talent. Cruijjf immediately took the offer of Feyenoord – this did not endear him to Ajax fans and even less so when Feyenoord was instantly transformed and started winning. But Feyenoord fans did not his arrival either, Cruijff was met with hostility and banners saying ‘Cruijff is not Feyenoord’ were regularly displayed at the stands. Opposite feelings collided – Cruijff was the arch-enemy and playing a bit with Feyenoord jersey was almost and insult. But with him the team started playing intelligent football, not just pleasant to watch, but bringing victories. Of course, not everybody was unhappy – Ruud Gullit was thrilled to play along with the great master and benefit from his passes and vision. Bulgarian Andrey Zheliakov was also in seventh heaven: having an impossible dream come true. Cruijjf was his hero, but there was no chance for Zheliazkov not only to play with him, but even against him. Zheliazkov played for Slavia (Sofia) before Feyenoord, a team having no chance of meeting neither Ajax, nor Barcelona in the European tournaments. In 1974 he was too young and not in the national team, so the game Holland – Bulgaria at the World Cup he saw only on TV. Now the impossible was a reality: playing together with his hero. Other players were most likely also pleased to play along with one of the best ever players, who was still wonderful on the pitch. Feyenoord won a double, a great achievement, and a season to be celebrated and remembered. But the mixed feelings somewhat depreciated the success, especially because of the next bitter pill Cruijff delivered. He played his last match for Feyenoord, which was great for rubbing salt into Ajax wounds, but right after that Cruijff left Feyenoord to coach Ajax. Perhaps neither club was fully satisfied with the great man in 1983-84 – he was controversial as ever. But a winner. And his retirement immediately opened the old problems of Feyenoord: the team was not that great. Without Cruijff and also soon to be wihtout Zheliazkov, who was approaching retirement himself, there was not a big enough core to start a new team – Ruud Gullit was not enough. Money were getting short and Feyenoord did not have too many players attracting foreign buyers. The double was not a start of great era, just the opposite – a very dark, perhaps the darkest period in Feyenoord history started exactly after this great season: not only almost 10 years long, but nearly fatal, for Feyenoord eventually arrived at the brink of bankruptcy. If people knew what the future was bringing, may be the double would have been cherished more, much more. But Cruijff’s shadow tainted the season – it was vicious situation: he brought the great success, may be impossible without his help, but he was and remained the arch-enemy. He came and immediately won a rare double for ‘us’, only to leave ‘us’ right after, join the arch-enemy, made them great and ‘we’… we left to suffer as never before. Weird season, weird sentiments, weird decisions, weird controversies, and fantastic season as well. As a novelty, Cruijff retired playing with number 10 – not his famous number, not even 9, with which he played longer than with 14 – but 10 was not exactly new number. Apparently, he played with it around 1969 for a while.