1974 in association football

Events

• The FIFA World Cup is held from June 12 to July 7 in West Germany. West Germany wins its second title, defeating much favored Netherlands 2–1 in the final. Surprisingly, Poland take 3rd after defeating Brazil 1–0.
• European Cup: Bayern Munich beats Atlético Madrid 4–0 in the final. This was the first German EC win.
• UEFA Cup: Feyenoord wins 2–1 and 2–0 in the final against Tottenham Hotspur, winning the cup for the first time.
• UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1. FC Magdeburg wins 2–0 over AC Milan, winning the cup for the first time. This also marks the only instance of an East German club winning a European title.
• Copa Libertadores 1974: Won by Independiente after defeating São Paulo Futebol Clube on an aggregate score of 1–0.
• February 17 – Zamalek disaster, that occurred in Cairo, before a friendly match between Zamalek SC & Dukla Prague.
• May 1 – PSV Eindhoven claims the Dutch Cup by defeating title holders NAC Breda: 6–0.
• September 18 – Dutch club FC Amsterdam makes its European debut by defeating Malta's Hibernians F.C. 5–0 in the first round of the UEFA Cup, with two goals from Nico Jansen.

  Winners club national championship

Asia

• Qatar: Al-Sadd SC

  Europe

• : Magdeburg
• : Leeds United
• : AS Saint-Étienne
• : Újpest FC
• : Lazio
• : Feyenoord
• : Ruch Chorzów
• : Barcelona
• : Fenerbahçe
• : Bayern Munich
• : Hajduk Split

  North America

• : Cruz Azul
• /
• *Los Angeles Aztecs
• *Rhode Island Oceaneers

  South America

• Argentina
• *Metropolitano – Newell's Old Boys
• *Nacional – San Lorenzo
• Brazil – Vasco da Gama

  International tournaments

• African Cup of Nations in Egypt
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• 1974 British Home Championship
• FIFA World Cup in West Germany
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  Births

• January 2 – Jason de Vos, Canadian soccer player and sportscaster
• January 6 – Daniel Cordone, Argentinian striker
• January 10 – Bob Peeters, Belgian footballer
• January 11 – Jens Nowotny, German footballer
• January 22 – Jörg Böhme, German footballer
• January 31 – Bob Mulder, Dutch footballer
• March 5 – Jens Jeremies, German footballer
• March 9 – Franz Calustro, Bolivian footballer
• March 14 – Mark Fish, South-African footballer
• March 30 – Tomislav Butina, Croatian footballer
• April 6 – Robert Kovač, Croatian footballer
• May 28 – Hans-Jörg Butt, German footballer
• June 26 – Pablo Galdames, Chilean footballer
• August 29 – Denis Caniza, Paraguayan footballer
• September 5 – Ivo Ulich, Czech footballer
• September 16 – Fricson George, Ecuadorian footballer
• October 5 – Jeff Strasser, Luxembourgish footballer
• November 9 – Alessandro Del Piero, Italian footballer
• November 16 – Paul Scholes, English footballer
• December 3 – Damiën Hertog, Dutch footballer
• December 12 – Franklin Anangonó, Ecuadorian footballer
• December 24 – Marcelo Salas, Chilean footballer

  Deaths

March

• March 26 – Werner Kohlmeyer, West-German defender, winner of the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

  June

• June 8 – Anfilogino Guarisi, Brazilian/Italian striker, winner of the 1934 FIFA World Cup and first ever Italian player to score in a FIFA World Cup qualification match.
• June 13 – Ernesto Vidal, Uruguayan striker, winner of the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

  July

• July 1 – Kick Smit, Dutch footballer.

  September

• September 24 – Canhoteiro, Brazilian striker, winner of the Pequena Taça do Mundo of 1955.

  October

• October 28 – Everaldo, Brazilian left back, winner of the 1970 FIFA World Cup and active player of Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense.