The Totally Football Show with James Richardson Totally Gold 96/97: Dortmund win the last ever 'Champions' League
Jul 22, 2025
Joined by football writer James Horncastle and German football expert Raphael Honigstein, the conversation dives into the nostalgic 1996/97 Champions League season. They recount Borussia Dortmund's spectacular journey to victory, the last time only champions competed. The duo reminisces about Juventus’s reign, the performances of Manchester United and the underwhelming season for Milan. Highlights include tales of Auxerre's surprising success and insights into Matthias Sammer's impactful return to Dortmund. It's a captivating look back at an unforgettable era in football.
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Obscure Champions League Top Scorer
- Milinko Pantic was the Champions League top scorer in 1996/97 but remained relatively obscure thereafter.
- His career reflects unusual cases where top scorers don’t achieve broader football fame.
Juventus as United’s Benchmark
- Manchester United began facing Juventus as the standard in Europe in this period, revealing the gap between Premier League and Serie A.
- Juventus and Italian clubs were considered a class above English clubs at the time.
Milan’s Champions League Collapse
- AC Milan had their worst Champions League season ever, failing to advance from a relatively easier group.
- Their decline was also reflected domestically as they finished 11th in Serie A.