Full 58 years since Dinamo's historic celebration in Leeds

In the return match in England, Dinamo jumped in with a two-goal advantage from the first leg, Leeds attacked, pressed fiercely, the blue wall was in front of temptation, but again the closest to scoring were - the people from Zagreb. The main "highlight" of the match was a long-range "projectile" with which Dinamo's number eight, Denijal Pirić, shook the crossbar. On this day, September 6, 1967, the club from Maksimir recorded its greatest success in history: it won the Cup Winners' Cup which soon turned into the UEFA Cup, today's Europa League. The competition was organized by FIFA, later taken over by UEFA and only changed the name, but not the format. Moreover, Dinamo was personally awarded the trophy by the president of FIFA, Sir Stanley Rous.

That day, Dinamo played a 0:0 draw in the return final match in England, thus defending the 2:0 lead from the first, Zagreb match when the net of the English was pierced by the then inspired teenager Marijan Čerček and the skillful Krasnodar Rora.

It was Dinamo's second European final after they were defeated in the final battle for the same trophy by the brilliant Valencia in 1963, who, in addition to their high quality, also took advantage of the numerous injuries that affected the team from Maksimir. However, four years later, the trophy ended up in Dinamo's showcase.

The former Leeds star Billy Bremner, whose monument now adorns the entrance to the famous Elland Road, was encouraged by motivating announcements: "We will snatch the trophy from Dinamo's hands!" After the match, the tone was somewhat different: "We missed the opportunity to win a very important trophy in Leeds, but it should not be forgotten that Dinamo is one of the greatest European teams and that it was difficult to achieve more than 0:0."

Before 50,000 spectators, the English fiercely attacked Dinamo's goal with intense pressure in the first half hour. The heroes of the evening were goalkeeper Zlatko Škorić, central defensive duo Mladen Ramljak and Filip Blašković... Despite the pressure, there were very few direct shots towards the goal. The English media praised the Blues as an outstanding team, tactically stronger and more agile than the hosts.

Fifa's president, Sir Stanley Rous, stated: "Dinamo rightfully deserves this trophy. The first match in Zagreb was of higher quality, more interesting, and beautiful, but the one in Leeds was tougher. It was necessary to endure all those temptations. Dinamo thwarted all the opponent's plans with better tactics. With this victory, they have entered among the strongest clubs in Europe!"

The Yorkshire Post wrote: "Dinamo's defense was magnificent and intelligent. Leeds desperately tried to break through to the goal, which they failed to do because they were facing a strong and complete opponent, superior in every aspect. Dinamo's players in Zagreb were better than Leeds in attack, and in Leeds, they set up the defense so perfectly and skillfully that it was impossible to break through."

- Knowing these guys, watching them before, I was convinced they couldn't reach our 2:0. However, you do get a little nervous when you step onto the field and they start pressing you. But, we had Škorić in goal. We had Šilju Blašković. We had Ramljak... I think those three played their best game ever. When we landed in Zagreb and saw how many people came to the airport... All the way from Pleso to Zagreb, there were crowds of people along the road. A mass of people! Only then do you realize that you have really achieved something great - said Čerček, the scorer of the leading goal in the first match at Maksimir.

The then popular Maksimir defender Branko Gračanin remembers that there were so many people in front of the building with the club premises in Haulikova Street that not even a bicycle could pass through. 

Leeds, September 6, 1967.

Trade Fair Cities Cup, second leg

Leeds United - Dinamo 0:0

(first leg: Dinamo - Leeds United 2:0)

Elland Road

Leeds United: Sprake, Bell, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Reaney, Belfitt, Greenhoff, Giles, O'Grady

Coach: Don Revie

Dinamo: Škorić, Gračanin, Brnčić, Belin, Ramljak, Blašković, Čerček, Pirić, Zambata, Gutzmirtl, Rora

Coach: Ivica Horvat

Referee: Antonio Sbardella (Italy), Attendance: 50,000