1995 in football (soccer) , 1995 IN FOOTBALL (SOCCER)

[edit] Events

Copa Libertadores 1995: Won by Grêmio after defeating Atlético Nacional on an aggregate score of 4-2.

January 18 – Guus Hiddink makes his debut as the manager of Dutch national team with a friendly loss (0-1) against France. Two players make their debut as well: strikers Michael Mols (FC Twente) and Glenn Helder (Vitesse Arnhem).

January 19 – Dutch club FC Zwolle names former goalkeeper Piet Schrijvers as their new manager to replace Ben Hendriks.

January 25 – Eric Cantona, in an away match against Crystal Palace, he launched a 'kung-fu' style kick against an abusive Crystal Palace fan, Matthew Simmons, after being sent off by the referee for a tackle on Palace defender Richard Shaw. He then got up from his seat and left, leaving many of the assembled crowd bemused. One month later, he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service after an appeal court overturned a 2 week prison sentence for assault. He was also suspended by The Football Association until the following October.

February 15 – English soccer hooligans, led by members of Combat 18, riot at Lansdowne Road during a friendly between the Republic of Ireland and England. The match, refereed by Dutchman Dick Jol, is abandoned.

February 22 – Guus Hiddink loses his first match as the new head coach of the Dutch national team; Portugal defeats Holland in Eindhoven through a goal by Pedro Barbosa.

March 29 – Bryan Roy plays his last international match for the Dutch national team, earning his 32nd cap against Malta.

May 20 – Everton claims the English FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

May 24 – UEFA Champions League won by Ajax Amsterdam after defeating A.C. Milan in the Ernst Happel Stadium through a goal from Patrick Kluivert.

June 7 – John van 't Schip plays his last international match for the Dutch national team, earning his 41st cap against Belarus, while goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar makes his debut in the Euro 1996 qualifying match in Minsk.

June 18 – In 2nd edition of FIFA Women's World Cup, Norway wins 2-0 over Germany

August 16 – Ajax Amsterdam once again claims the Dutch Super Cup, the annual opening of the new season in the Eredivisie, this time by a 2-1 win in extra-time over Feyenoord Rotterdam.

October 2 – Feyenoord Rotterdam fires manager Willem van Hanegem and names Arie Haan as his successor.

November 20 – Manager Ronald Spelbos is fired by Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem and replaced by Frans Thijssen.

November 28 – Ajax Amsterdam wins the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo, Japan by defeating Brazil's Grêmio after penalties: 4-3. The decisive penalty is scored by skipper Danny Blind.

December 8 – Dutch club NEC Nijmegen fires Cees van Kooten and appoints Wim Koevermans.

December 12 – The Lebanese national team shockingly beat Slovakia national football team 2 - 1 in a friendly match in Beirut.

December 13 – The Dutch national team qualifies for Euro 1996 by defeating the Republic of Ireland (2-0) in a play-off at Anfield Road, Liverpool. Both goals are scored by Patrick Kluivert.

December 15 – The European Court of Justice makes the Bosman ruling, which means all footballers not under contract is free to move clubs without any economic compensation to his former club. A secondary result of the ruling means the abolition of the foreign player quotas, at least as they affect nationals of European Union member states.

December 15 – Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings is officially founded.