Blind and Kluivert in a European final: 22 years ago to the day
The Fathers of Daley Blind and Justin Kluivert played in a European cup final 22 years ago and one of them will lift the trophy again tonight.
At the Friends Arena on Wednesday night, two families with deep footballing ties will be reunited in a European final. 22 years after the Champions League final in 1995, a member from the Blind family and one from the Kluivert family, will again play in a European final with Ajax and Manchester United facing off.
22 years ago
That first final starred a veteran Danny Blind and a young Patrick Kluivert on the 24th of May 1995. That Ajax team was filled with young talent including Van Der Sar, Kluivert, Overmars, Davids and Seedorf along with some veterans such as Rijkaard and Blind, who was nearing the end of his career. They played against a Milan side including the likes of Baresi, Maldini, Boban and Capello in the Ernst Happel in Vienna. Kluivert stole the show with a goal that would win it for Ajax. It was their last European final to this day.
Today, it is the turns of their two sons, Daley and Justin who will dispute the Europa League final Daley is looking to put his name on the trophy in the red of Manchester United. Kluivert, just 18 years of age, has started to show his true quality this season and backs up an eleven that is brazenly young. He will have to wait for his opportunity from the bench tonight but regardless, one of the two will end up lifting the trophy 22 years to the day since their Father did the same.