During the summer, the Spanish Football Federation lifted the ban on the transfers of foreign players after eleven seasons.[1] As such, Madrid signed Argentine forward Oscar Más,[2] German midfielder Günter Netzer,[3] as well as bringing in Spanish teenage defender José Antonio Camacho and youngster Vicente del Bosque. On 8 September 1973, the club announced plans to build a new stadium in Fuencarral,[4] a project that was ultimately rejected by City Government.[5] Madrid finished in just eighth place in the league table, sixteen points behind champions CF Barcelona and their new arrival, Dutch playmaker Johan Cruijff, known internationally as Johan Cruyff.[6] Cruyff was instrumental in the 5–0 defeat of Los Blancos at the Bernabéu in the league Clásico.[7] During the campaign, Miguel Muñoz (head coach since 1960) was fired on 14 January 1974 after a bad streak of results, being replaced by Luis Molowny.[8]
Shockingly, in the UEFA Cup the squad bowed out early at the hands of Ipswich Town after losing the first leg of the series 0–1 and a achieving only a miserable draw 1–1 in Madrid.[10]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
