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Aberdeen FC European Time Line
1955
Despite winning the league championship for the first time the Dons were not put forward by the SFA to compete in the inaugural European Champions Cup. Their place went to Hibernian who finished 15 points behind the Dons in the league.

1967
Aberdeen qualified for Europe for the first time after reaching the Scottish Cup Final. With Celtic winning the European Cup and Rangers reaching the ECWC Final, it was Aberdeen who would be put forward to play in the ECWC. The Dons opening tie created a club record 10-0 win over KR Reykjavik on 6th September 1967. Frank Munro scored a hat trick.

1968
Aberdeen competed in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup for the first time. After defeating Slavia Sofia 2-0 on aggregate the Dons went out to Spanish cracks Real Zaragoza in the 2nd round, losing 0-3 in Spain after a 2-1 win at Pittodrie.

1970
The Dons became the first team to go out in European competition on penalties after a controversial tie in Budapest. The Dons came up against Hungarian side Honved and with both teams winning their home legs 3-1 it was down to a first ever penalty shootout. Confusion reigned but Jim Forrest hit the bar with his effort and Aberdeen went out 5-4 on pens.

1971
Aberdeen entered the UEFA Cup for the first time and recorded a memorable win over Celta Vigo, winning both legs. The Dons came up against tournament favourites Juventus and go down 3-1 on aggregate. Joe Harper scored in three of the Dons four ties.

1972
Aberdeen lost at Pittodrie for the first time in European competition when Bundesliga giants Borrusia Monchengladbach escaped from Pittodrie with a 3-2 win. A late German goal was hard to bear for the Dons who battled back from 2-0 down.

1973
English opponents were faced for the first time when Aberdeen came up against Tottenham in the 2nd round of the UEFA Cup. Despite a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie, Aberdeen were beaten 4-1 in the return at White Hart Lane. The Dons had eased past Irish minnows Finn harps in the opening round.

1977
After a four-year absence Aberdeen return to European action. Their stay is a short one as they are beaten by Molenbeek in the UEFA Cup. The Dons had qualified after winning the League Cup in 1976 and after a 0-0 draw away from home; the Dons suffered their first defeat of the season going down 2-1 in the return.

1980
The Dons first foray into the European Champions Cup ended with a convincing defeat from an all-conquering Liverpool. Aberdeen played their first game in the Champions Cup by defeating FK Austria Memphis 1-0 with mark McGhee scoring the vital goal. The ‘battle of Britain’ clash against Liverpool captured the imagination of the football public as no less than 65,000 requests were made for tickets for the tie. Aberdeen went down 0-1 at Pittodrie and lost 0-4 in Liverpool who went on to win the European Cup that season.

1981
Holders Ipswich Town were humbled by Aberdeen in the UEFA Cup. After a 1-1 draw at Portman Road, Ipswich boss Bobby Robson claimed Aberdeen could not play any better. He was wrong as the Dons won the return leg 3-1 in a memorable European night at Pittodrie. Ipswich was a side full of internationals but two second half goals from Peter Weir settled the tie. Aberdeen reached the third round for the first time in any European competition before eventually going out to Franz Beckenbauers’ Hamburg.

1982
Aberdeen qualified for the ECWC after a sensational 4-1 win over Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final. Aberdeen were given a preliminary round against Sion and won 11-1 on aggregate, the Dons 7-0 romp at Pittodrie in the first game set the tone for a memorable campaign. Albanian side Dinamo Tirana were beaten in the 1st round and Polish league leaders Poznan were defeated in both legs as Aberdeen qualified for the quarter finals for the first time.

1983
Success for Aberdeen as they go on to lift the ECWC in Sweden. Aberdeen came through a dramatic quarter final against Bayern Munich. After a 0-0 draw in Germany it took a sensational comeback to win the return 3-2 in what was a famous Euro night at Pittodrie. Belgian side Waterschei were swept aside in the semi final as Aberdeen came up against the legendary Real Madrid in the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg. Eric Black opened the scoring before Real equalised through a penalty in the opening 30 minutes. It took an extra time header from John Hewitt to give Aberdeen a famous victory in the Gothenburg rain. Aberdeen built on that success by lifting the European Super Cup in December, defeating European Champions Hamburg 2-0 at Pittodrie after a 0-0 draw in Germany. Aberdeen thus became the only Scottish side to win two European trophies.

1984
As ECWC holders Aberdeen are among the favourites to win the trophy again. The Dons progressed to the semi final stage after defeating Akranes, Beveren and Ujpest Dosza. It was an intriguing semi final set up with Aberdeen coming out against Porto and Juventus taking on Manchester Utd in the other semi final. The dream all-British final in Switzerland never came to pass as both Aberdeen and Manchester fell at that stage. Later that year the Dons returned to the European Cup but went out to Dinamo Berlin on penalties.

1986
Aberdeen reached the quarter final of the European Cup for the first time. As league champions the Dons went through to meet Swedish champions IFK Gothenburg. The Swedes had already been crowned UEFA Cup winners and they presented a tough task for Aberdeen. A 2-2 draw at Pittodrie was followed by a 0-0 draw in the Ullevi return. Aberdeen went out on the away goals ruling.

1991
The Dons UEFA Cup return was halted in the opening tie against BK 1903 from Copenhagen. Aberdeen had slumped in terms of stature and were no longer seeded for European ties, an accolade which was gained after winning the ECWC in 1983 and reaching the last four in their defence of the trophy the following year.

1993
A welcome return to European nights at Pittodrie with a visit from Torino of Italy in what was the Dons last ever ECWC tie. After a narrow 3-1 defeat in Turin the Dons hopes were high in the return but despite a sensational Lee Richardson strike the Dons went down 2-1. Aberdeen had eased past Valur in the opening round.

1994
Aberdeen hit rock bottom after a humiliating defeat against Latvian minnows Skonto Riga. While no tie was ever seen a s easy against a side so dominant in their own country, the Dons 0-0 draw in Riga was followed by a tame 1-1 draw at Pittodrie as Aberdeen went out at the Preliminary round stage.

1996
A return to the UEFA Cup and Aberdeen reach the 2nd round before going out to Ebbe Skovdahl’s impressive Brondby side. Earlier Aberdeen had defeated Zalgiris Vilnius and Welsh side Barry town to make progress in the UEFA Cup.

2002
A landmark in Aberdeen’s European history as they played their 100th tie in competition against Hertha Berlin at Pittodrie in the UEFA Cup. A spirited performance against the highly rated Germans was not enough as the Dons lost out 1-0 in the return with a goal in the last minute in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

2007
After a five year absence the Dons returned to Europe under Jimmy Calderwood. Aberdeen came up against Ukraine side Dnipro in the opening tie and they qualified on the away goals rule for the first time with a 1-1 draw in the Ukraine with Darren Mackie scoring the vital away goal. Aberdeen progressed to the group stages and qualified from Group B after a stunning 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the final group match. Group B also included Atletico Madrid and Panathinaikos who both qualified along with the Dons. Lokomotiv Moscow and Copenhagen were eliminated. Aberdeen lost out to old rivals Bayern Munich in the Round of 32 stage of the competition.

2009
Under Mark McGhee the Dons suffered their worst European defeat. After an unprecedented 5-1 humbling at home against Sigma Olomouc, the 3-0 defeat in the return was the clubs worst result in their European history.         

2014
After a five year absence from the European arena, Aberdeen qualified for the Europa League after a successful season that brought the League Cup to Pittodrie and qualification for Europe after a third place finish in the SPFL.   
 

SUPER DONS IN 1983 CROWNED BEST IN EUROPE

1983 European Super Cup
It is not very often that a provincial side in Scotland can ever boast to having achieved more in European terms than the Old Firm but the history books will tell you that Aberdeen remain the only Scottish side that has won two trophies in European football. ‘Trophy’ may not be the best description of the Aberdeen success in 1983. When Aberdeen defeated Hamburg at Pittodrie on 20th December 1983, UEFA presented the Dons with a special plaque which adorns the Pittodrie trophy cabinet to this day. While a copy of the Super Cup is now in place at the club, it was the plaque that was presented to captain Willie Miller and his team that night. Exactly 30 years have passed since that wonderful evening when the eyes of the world were firmly focused on Pittodrie in the 2nd leg of the European Super Cup Final. The final was being beamed live to more than 100 countries worldwide and the Pittodrie press facilities were at bursting point with no less than 50 different nations sending reporters to the game. Never before or since had the clubs profile been so high and on the back of that stunning success the Dons completed a memorable year when they were crowned ‘European Team of the Year’, edging out SV Hamburg the European Champions whom Aberdeen defeated to take the European Super Cup title.
The European Super Cup was created in 1972 on the back of the successful Ajax side that brought the ‘total football’ concept to the game. They were keen to be tested by the best and to determine which side were the best in Europe. The proposal to UEFA was that the Champions Cup winners would play the ECWC Winners on an annual basis and this was met with widespread approval in an effort to declare which side was the best in the continent. The UEFA Super Cup as it is now known has gone through many changes. The first trophy was in fact a plaque which Aberdeen won along with the likes of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. The present cup is a relatively new trophy and stands at an imposing 58cm, designed in Milan and is as impressive a trophy as you will see in modern day football. The competition did not have its’ troubles to seek in its’ first year the first final was between Ajax and Rangers. With Rangers banned for a year due to the troubles their support caused in the 1972 ECWC Final in Barcelona, the inaugural competition went ahead in an ‘unofficial’ capacity with Ajax defeating Rangers in any case. Since 1997 the final has been changed to a single game played at the Stade LouisII stadium in Monaco. Prior to that and in Aberdeen’s case, it was a two legged affair.
When Aberdeen came up against Hamburg in 1983 it provided the Dons with an ideal opportunity to avenge their UEFA Cup defeat in 1981. That result rankled with Aberdeen as they felt that they should have eliminated the Germans at that time and it was a great opportunity missed. It was a missed opportunity but certainly one that Aberdeen as a team learned a lot from. Hamburg had progressed to become worthy European champions after defeating Juventus to lift the Champions trophy while Aberdeen went on to defeat Real Madrid in the ECWC Final. Both side agreed to play the ties in December after the Dons had safely secured their passage to the last eight of the ECWC in defence of their trophy. Aberdeen were looking to complete a marvellous year by taking the Super Cup. The Dons had already gathered enough points to have a substantial lead at the top for the league and were also through to the latter stages of the ECWC. Manager Alex Ferguson provided the club with a massive boost when he announced that he had turned down the opportunity to manage Rangers. Fergie declared; “I have unfinished business with Aberdeen. This is a great club and I firmly believe that there is much more that can be achieved here. This side is a great one and I want them to impose themselves on Scottish football and really make their mark. If I did not believe that, then we would all be wasting our time here.” The first leg of the final was played in the Volkspark Stadion in Hamburg on 22nd November. Ferguson had always admired the German approach to the game and he had learned much from the Dons battles against Hamburg and Bayern Munich. Aberdeen went in to the game looking to at least keep their goal intact which was a measure of their confidence back then. The general belief was that they could beat anyone at Pittodrie although they did not come much bigger than the European Cup holders. In freezing conditions the Dons once again deployed their ‘early defence’ approach which had upset German opponents in previous ties. The tactic was simple enough in that the Germans would not be allowed the time or space to play in their own half as they had been used to. It meant that the Dons work rate would have to be exceptional and that chances would have to be taken. It worked a treat for the Scots who dominated the game for long spells. The 0-0 draw was about right as Hamburg did create some chances of their own but came up against what was arguably the best defence in European football at the time. At that time Aberdeen had gained a reputation of being the ‘perfect’ football side. Against the top German sides the perception was that they always envied the Scots battling qualities and passion; something the Germans by their own admission could never match. The belief that German football was technically superior had plenty of merit, but Aberdeen under Alex Ferguson had developed and matured into a side that had the perfect mix for European football, and their mean defence was at the heart of what was a side that remains arguably the best ever seen on these shores. As for the first game in Hamburg on another night it could have been better for Aberdeen as they scorned several chances to take an away goal with them but with the tie finely balanced it set up the decider at Pittodrie. It was a busy time for all concerned at Pittodrie and there was a blow for the Dons after Donald Mackay resigned as Dundee manager and Archie Knox left Pittodrie to take over as boss at Dens in his own right before the return match against Hamburg. At the same time the Dons snapped up 21-year-old full back Stewart McKimmie in a £90,000 deal from the Dens Park club. In the international arena the Dons had a record six players in the Scotland side that played Northern Ireland; it would have been a magnificent seven had it not been for a rare injury to Willie Miller. The Dons captain however was back in his usual place for the Super Cup Final against Hamburg and it was also a first European appearance for Stewart McKimmie. The all-ticket sell out crowd were also joined by millions across the world who were watching the game live on television. Conditions were far from perfect but that did not deter the slick Germans looking lively in the opening stages with some good early possession. It was Uli Stein the Hamburg keeper who was first called into action though when he had to be alert to smother a low Strachan cross. Felix Magath the Hamburg captain was the major influence in the German side and he was well policed by Neil Simpson who was given the task to shadow the Hamburg play maker. Magath did get free of Simpson’s shackles to send a shot just past the post as Hamburg went in search of an way goal that would have made the Dons task all the more difficult. Aberdeen responded in style and they should have taken the lead when a McKimmie cross was headed on by Hewitt to McGhee whose overhead kick was turned away for a corner. Stein then saved from John Hewitt and McMaster in quick succession as Aberdeen began to turn the screw on the Germans. Hamburg retaliated with some fine moves in the Dons half and they looked a real threat going forward. Just before half time a Doug Bell header just went over the bar as a tense half finished without a goal.
The second half got off to a great start as Aberdeen broke the deadlock with a goal in the opening minute. Peter Weir created the opening with a typical 60-yard run down the left. John Hewitt latched on to Weir’s cross and he set up Neil Simpson to score from close range. That goal almost brought the roof down at the old stadium as the Dons drew confidence from the goal and went on to dominate the game. There was no let up as McGhee then Hewitt both came close to extending the Dons lead. After 64 minutes Aberdeen struck again. Peter Weir had been inspired in the second half and it was from his corner that Mark McGhee scored from close range after Willie Miller had cut the ball back from the touchline. That second goal secured the Dons victory and they played the game out with a ring of confidence that was a joy to behold. The Dons should have scored more but they came up against Uli Stein who made some sensational saves as the Dons increased the pressure. Hamburg were a well beaten side long before referee Brummeier blew for full time. The whole ground rose to acclaim the Dons at full time as they were presented with their prize and went on a deserved lap of honour. Aberdeen had conquered Europe that year and they were now ‘Kings of Europe’ as the local Press & Journal claimed in the first match reports to emerge. It completed a remarkable year of success for Aberdeen and there was no sign of any let up.
Tuesday 20th December 1983 European Super Cup Final at Pittodrie Stadium Aberdeen
Aberdeen 2:0 SV Hamburg  Attendance; 22,500
ABERDEEN: Leighton, McKimmie, McMaster, Simpson, McLeish, Miller, Strachan, Hewitt, McGhee, Bell, Weir.   Hamburg; Stein, Kalz, Wehmeyer, Jacobs, Hieronymous, Hartwig, Schroder, Groh, Schatzschneider, Magath, Roth

THE CLASS OF 83’ WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Jim Leighton went on to become the most capped keeper for Scotland with 91 caps. He moved to Manchester Utd in 1988 after a memorable Aberdeen career. Returned to Pittodrie in 1997 from Hibernian and is currently the goalkeeping coach at the club.
Stewart McKimmie amassed 40 caps for Scotland, the last of which came in Euro 96 as he flourished at his hometown club in the aftermath of Gothenburg. Received a testimonial from the Dons in August 1994 and is currently working in the local media.
John McMaster returned to his native Morton in 1987 where he completed his playing career before turning to coaching. McMaster and is still attached to the Dons working as a scout in the west.
Neil Simpson was another local boy made good and another Scotland international. ‘Simmy’ returned to Pittodrie after his playing career and is currently heads up the award winning Community department at Pittodrie. Simpson received a benefit match from the club in 2012 when Manchester United visited Pittodrie.
Alex McLeish went on to play for the Dons until 1994 before embarking on a coaching and managerial career at Motherwell. His best spell as a manager perhaps came in 2007 when he almost took Scotland to the Euro Finals in 2008. McLeish moved to Birmingham then on to Aston Villa where his brief spell as manager ended in disappointment.
Neale Cooper left Aberdeen in 1986 and joined Aston Villa in a £350,000 deal. Cooper returned to Scotland and played for Rangers, Dunfermline and Ross County before turning to coaching. He is currently assistant to Derek Adams at Ross County.
Willie Miller remains the clubs greatest ever servant and captain and an iconic figure for everything the club achieved during the 80’s. Miller returned to club as a director in 2004 and was responsible for the appointment of Jimmy Calderwood as manager. Willie is still a popular figure on match days as he works for the BBC reporting on matches in the north east.
Gordon Strachan returned to Scotland after spells in English football as player, coach and manager. His most successful period came at Celtic Park where he led Celtic to three successive league titles and Champions league football. Strachan was appointed manager of Scotland last year and his return saw an immediate upturn in fortunes.
John Hewitt remains the local lad who scored THAT goal in Gothenburg in 1983 and thus earning his place in Pittodrie folklore. Hewitt played for Celtic and St Mirren after leaving Aberdeen and he returned to the region after his playing days and currently works in the oil industry.
Mark McGhee had a brief and unsuccessful period as Aberdeen manager in 2009 after he took Motherwell into Europe. McGhee was brought back into the fold by Gordon Strachan as assistant manager of the Scotland national side. 
Eric Black left Aberdeen in 1986 to play in France before a back injury forced a premature retirement from playing. After a spell as an agent, Black went into coaching and was involved with Motherwell, Sunderland, Coventry, Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers.
Doug Bell missed the Dons date with Real Madrid in 1983 through injury but he was a potent weapon for the Dons in the European arena. Currently coaching the Clyde youth team.
Peter Weir is another whose affiliation with Aberdeen remains as strong as ever and he currently heads up the Dons coaching and youth set up in the west of Scotland. Weir also had a double celebration on the night against Hamburg as his wife gave birth during the game and Peter was told immediately after the game had finished.   

  

DONS TAKE EUROPEAN BOW IN 1967

Aberdeen v KR Reykjavik

The oldest club in Iceland were the Dons first ever opponents in Europe when the sides were drawn in the opening round of the 1967.68 ECWC competition. Aberdeen were in Texas of all places when they learned of the opponents on 5th July 1967 after the draw was made in Belgrade.
KR Reykjavik were founded in 1899 and were Icelandic champions on 19 occasions when they travelled to Pittodrie for the Dons historic debut in the European arena. Reykjavik may have been ‘kingpins’ in Iceland but they were strictly amateur, captained by Ellert Schram, a 27 year-old Reykjavik lawyer. Their manager Sveinn Jonsson was a player for ten seasons and was in his first coaching job in charge of the side. Bjarni Felixon was the club secretary and also doubled up as KR’s left back.
Aberdeen manager Eddie Turnbull predicted his side would score a few goals and he was certainly proven correct as Aberdeen went on to win the opening tie 10-0, the club’s record score in European football. Frank Munro had the distinction of scoring Aberdeen’s first ever goal in Europe and he went on to complete a hat trick in that tie. Since then only current Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee has achieved that feat, in the 1984 ECWC quarter final against Ujpest Dozsa. Reykjavik held out for 19 minutes but after that the Dons imposed themselves on the game and virtually scored at will. Bobby Clark had one save to make in the game, from Hafsteinsson in 82 minutes. The goal avalanche came from Munro in 19, 53 and 62 minutes, Jimmy Smith in 32 and 78 minutes, Jim Storrie in 21 and 56, Tom McMillan 44, Ian Taylor 49 and Jens Petersen in 72 minutes.
On that same evening a certain Alex Ferguson scored for the Scottish League against Ireland in Belfast, while at Pittodrie, the 14,000 crowd were surprised to see Aberdeen reserve keeper Ernie McGarr listed as substitute against Reykjavik. Harry Melrose had been listed but European rules at that time meant that only a substitute keeper could be listed and not outfield players as had been the way in the Scottish League.
Aberdeen completed the job in the Icelandic capital a week later with a 4-1 win that also brought them a rebuke from manager Turnbull who was annoyed at the loss of an Hafsteinsson volley in the 74th minute after Aberdeen had built up a four goal lead in the return.
Wednesday 6th September 1967
ECWC 1st Round
ABERDEEN 10:0 KR Reykjavik
Aberdeen; Clark, Whyte, Shewan, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, J Wilson, Munro, Storrie, Smith, Taylor. Sub; McGarr.
Attendance; 14,000

ABERDEEN IN EUROPE-THE EARLY YEARS

Aberdeen made their debut in the European arena when they faced Icelandic part time side KR Reykjavik in the Cup Winners Cup in 1967. It could have been a different story for the club had they been granted their rightful place in the first European Cup competition back in 1955 as Scottish champions. It is fair to say that there was great excitement in September 1967 when the local ‘Evening Express’ proudly declared that ‘PITTODRIE HISTORY WAS BEING MADE’ on the eve of the game. The draw for the preliminary round was made on the 5th July 1967 and made front page news in Aberdeen while the Aberdeen squad was still over in Texas playing in the USA Presidents Cup. Reykjavik were the most northerly team in the competition and Aberdeen were immediately installed as firm favourites to progress. The Icelandic side had been hammered 8-4 by Nantes in their first European Cup tie a year earlier and their European history was littered with heavy defeats. Being an all amateur club they were not expected to trouble the Dons. By the time the tie came around Aberdeen had enough information about their opponents. Although they were certainly the top club in Iceland, back then the standard in the region was poor and Icelandic sides had never made their mark in European football. Bjarni Felixon doubled up as club secretary and player and he declared that the trip to Scotland would be a great adventure for his side—“Although Reykjavik have not been in the best of form recently we remain confident of putting up a good show in Aberdeen.” The visitors arrived at Aberdeen Airport with 16 players and four officials on the Monday before travelling to train at Pittodrie under the lights. Aberdeen were in no mood to be merciful as they had their own agenda and were keen to erase the memory of a heavy defeat against Celtic in a League Cup-tie at Pittodrie which was controversial after a clash with Bobby Clark and Bobby Lennox of Celtic. Manager Eddie Turnbull had injury worries before the tie with Jens Petersen and Jim Storrie struggling to make it. The Dons boss was keen to field his strongest side as this was new, unexplored territory for the club and Turnbull had ambitions to fulfil in Europe. Although he was mindful that the Dons opponents would be of a poor standard, he was adamant that his players take full advantage and make the most of the occasion.  A crowd of 14,000 turned out to see one of the most one-sided games at Pittodrie as a ruthless Aberdeen won 10-0, creating a club record in their very first outing and also a Scottish record in Europe, bettering Dundee’s 8-1 in over Cologne. Frank Munro was married two days before the game and he celebrated by scoring the Dons first ever goal in Europe and Munro went on to claim a hat trick, only one of two Aberdeen players ever to do so in Europe. From the outset Aberdeen were looking to get amongst the goals and within minutes the visitors were forced back to try to hold the Aberdeen forwards. Bobby Clark was a spectator for long spells—“I don’t remember too much about the game, it was a calm summer evening and it was as easy a game as I had ever played in. The Reykjavik side were all amateurs and it showed. We hardly broke sweat all night and I remember us scoring at will.”
Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Smith was inspired as he got the freedom of the park and he displayed his full repertoire of skills and he weighed in with a couple of goals. The only real surprise was that it took the Dons 19 minutes to make the breakthrough when Frank Munro headed past Petursson after Buchan had set up the chance from an Ian Taylor corner. It was all Aberdeen as they proceeded to pile on the goals in 21, 32, 44, 49, 53, 56, 62, 72 and 78 minutes. On reflection the game was bordering on the farcical; so far ahead were Aberdeen that Bobby Clark made only one save all night and that came in the 82nd minute after Aberdeen had completed the rout. There was also confusion before the game as outfield substitutes were not allowed in Europe back then and only a goalkeeper could be replaced. That meant that young Ernie McGarr was stripped and listed as the substitute, prompting much furrowed brows from the home support as Ernie warmed up trackside. The European story had begun for Aberdeen and their first away trip was of course the formality of wrapping up the tie in Iceland. With little incentive for the Aberdeen players it was down to manager Turnbull to motivate his players to add to their goals tally. The Dons began the game slowly in the Municipal Stadium in Reykjavik before a sparse 1,500 crowd. Despite dominating the game it took the Scots 42 minutes to score when Jim Storrie reacted quickly after Petursson could not hold a shot from Munro. Just before half time Martin Buchan headed a Munro cross past a helpless Reykjavik keeper. Frank Munro was at the centre of all of the Aberdeen pressure and he scored the Dons third in 52 minutes from a free kick awarded when Ian Taylor was brought down. In 59 minutes Jim Storrie scored the Dons fourth goal after his clever header from Jimmy Wilson’s cross completed the rout. The one crumb of comfort for the home side came late in the game when Aberdeen had visibly eased off and began to showboat, much to the later dismay of manager Turnbull. The hard working Hafsteinsson was rewarded when he scored from a Felixson cross to the ironic delight of the home support. That late goal was not lost on Turnbull who promptly ripped into his players for their lack of professionalism in the closing minutes. It was a lesson that the Dons manager would hammer into his players as he was well aware that tougher opponents would be faced in the next round.
While the draw had been kind to the Dons in the preliminary round, there was no such luck when they came up against Standard Liege of Belgium in the next round. While Reykjavik were out of their depth in Europe, it was the novices from Aberdeen who were up against a side with an impressive pedigree in European competition. The best Belgian sides more than held their own in Europe and Liege were seen as one of the favourites to go all the way in the competition that year. The first leg in the intimidating Sclessin Stadium was a far cry fro the relative calm of Iceland. A large home crowd made it an uncomfortable night for the Dons who went down 3-0 in what was a huge disappointment. Set pieces were Dons weakness, losing two goals from corners in the first 11 minutes. When Aberdeen lost a third just after the hour, it was a lost cause for the Scots. The return at Pittodrie was a huge anti-climax for Aberdeen. A severe snowstorm hours before kick off kept the crowd down to less than what turned up for the Reykjavik tie. If ever Aberdeen needed their support behind them it was then with a three goal deficit to make up, it was always going to be an impossible task. Aberdeen were forced to take chances and go on the offensive at every opportunity. Despite the Belgians showing a good technical approach they had no answer to the guile of the Aberdeen players who showed enough to suggest that all was not lost. Frank Munro scored with a searing volley in the 20th minute and after Harry Melrose made it 2-0 in 65 minutes it was game on. Despite laying siege on the visitor’s goal in a frantic closing spell the Dons ran out of luck and time. Bobby Clark recalled—“Liege brought us down to earth after the Reykjavik game. They were a quality side and they hit us hard over in Belgium. We had usually defended well at set pieces but they got the better of us before their own support. I remember the return being played in thick snow and the game should never have taken place. But we did give them a real time of it at Pittodrie. Chalky (Jim Whyte) missed a great chance that could have taken the tie to extra time but it wasn’t to be.”
In 1968 Aberdeen qualified for the grandly named Inter Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner to the current UEFA Cup, by virtue of their league placing in season 1967.68. The Dons came up against Slavia Sofia in what would be their first trip behind the Iron Curtain as Eastern Europe was called back then. Trips to the eastern bloc were invariably fraught with difficulties and the Dons had more than the usual hassles to contend with. Five days before the Dons were due to fly to Sofia; Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia, turning up the heat in the Cold War. The political turmoil that followed forced UEFA to redraw the ties in the European and Cup Winners Cups, but the Fairs Cup draw remained and Aberdeen were forced to travel after some hastened paperwork and visas were obtained. In that first leg in the searing heat of Sofia, manager Turnbull made a tactical switch that was to have long reaching consequences for he club. Martin Buchan had flirted with first team football since breaking into the side two years ago and the youngster was deployed in a deep defensive role behind Tom McMillan. After the experience of Liege the Dons had learned that defending in depth away from home was no crime and they soaked up wave after wave of attack and held out in a 0-0 draw. Buchan was outstanding and following his inspired display in Sofia the new ‘sweeper’ position would be one that Buchan would hold down with distinction. The return at Pittodrie was perhaps the first of the famed ‘European Nights’ at Pittodrie. A near capacity crowd, two Aberdeen goals in an all out attacking display of pace and power and Aberdeen had progressed against a side that had a far greater European pedigree than Aberdeen. Bobby Clark recalled he had other things on his mind before the tie against the Bulgarians—“I had planned to get married that summer, but Betty and I decided to wait until our new house was ready and that was going to be in September. I asked Eddie about a possible date back in April and he told me any Monday would be suitable. I picked 16th September and all was set for my wedding day in Golspie. It was around July when my wife to be arrived at my digs and asked me what I was doing on the 16th September. Very proud that I had remembered our wedding date, I was sure she was still not happy. She then thrust a copy of the Evening Express in front of me as it declared that Aberdeen would be in Sofia on the 17th September! There was an immediate panic and after some long discussions we opted for a small wedding in Aberdeen a week later. Not many players back then would postpone a wedding to get to a football match but it was worth it as we went through after a fine defensive performance in Bulgaria.”
Aberdeen came up against Spanish opponents for the first time when they came up against Real Zaragoza in the next round. With the first game at Pittodrie, the stage was set for a classic, but Aberdeen were struggling in the league and confidence was low. Zaragoza were one of the top sides in Europe and had developed an irritating habit of knocking British sides out in Europe. Dundee, Cardiff, West Ham, Hearts and Leeds Utd had all previously fallen to the Spaniards. Aberdeen raced into a two goal lead at Pittodrie and looked good value to pull off a shock result. However a Tom McMillan own goal late in the tie changed the whole complexion of the tie and armed with the away goal the pendulum swung in favour of Zaragoza. The return in Spain was a difficult experience for the Dons as they were well beaten n a 3-0 defeat. It was the Dons poorest performance to date in their European travels and one that had Eddie Turnbull rethinking his long term strategy for the club. Aberdeen had shown enough to suggest that they could be a force but it was on their travels that they struggled to adapt to the conditions and different styles of opponents. Turnbull was determined to change that which meant a complete change of tactics and payer personnel. Aberdeen struggled throughout the 1968.69 season and were nowhere near the qualifying places for Europe come the end of the season. The Dons had a taste of what European football was like and they were determined that lessons had been learned for the future.