2 SV Hamburg 1983

The only European Final to be played at Pittodrie and watched worldwide as Aberdeen defeated the European Cup holders in style.

Never had the club profile been so high with the game being beamed live to more than 80 countries.

Two years after SV Hamburg had defeated the Dons in the UEFA Cup it was the more glamorous and prestigious European Super Cup that both sides would meet again.

It seemed that Aberdeen had learned a lot from their previous experience, as it was the Scots who were to emerge victorious on this occasion. In the first leg in Hamburg on 22nd November 1983 it was the tactical nous of boss Alex Ferguson that once again proved decisive.

A poor crowd of only 15,000 turned up to see an efficient Aberdeen go about their business in impressive fashion.

The Dons once again surprised their opponents by adopting a positive attitude and that meant for an open game. It was in defence that the Dons had to rely on to keep the tie at 0-0 with all to play for in the Pittodrie return.

The Dons could even have come back with a lead had it not been for a poor Mark McGhee finish in the second half after he had beaten two Hamburg defenders only to shoot tamely at Stein.

The return at Pittodrie was a more pulsating affair and typical of the legendary European nights that Pittodrie has been famed for in the past.

A full house and worldwide television audience it was a stirring second half display from Aberdeen that won the European Super Cup, the only Scottish club ever to do so.

Hero of the hour was Neil Simpson whose goal two minutes in to the second half opened the game up and subsequent Dons success. Mark McGhee added a second in 64 minutes in a second period that was dominated by the Dons and their joyous fans. It really did not get any better than that.

Aberdeen were quite superb in their approach and to the delight of manager Ferguson they took a deserved lap of honour after being presented with the Super Cup plaque. The fact that Hamburg’s ‘invincibility’ had been crushed only added to the occasion. The Germans were European Cup holders and the mantle of Europe’s best team was up for grabs.

The subsequent ‘Adidas European Team of the Year’ award came to Pittodrie on the back of their Super Cup success to end the year 1983 as the one year that Aberdeen were indeed the best in the continent. Aberdeen also had to put up with all sorts of statements attributed to some of their more illustrious names as they scoffed on the Aberdeen sides ability to compete with the best.

The Aberdeen players responded in the best possible fashion by eventually outclassing their more ‘illustrious’ opponents. Stewart McKimmie was signed from Dundee in a £90,000 deal only days before the Hamburg game and the young 21-year-old played in the Dons side that won the Super Cup; his first European appearance for Aberdeen.

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