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Ajax celebrations at Real Madrid reminded me of Leeds in Milan - Dom Matteo EXCLUSIVE
THE CELEBRATIONS sparked by Ajax players and fans after they rocked Real Madrid in the Champions League this season was something Dominic Matteo thought he would never see again.
Ajax stunned hosts Real Madrid last month, beating Los Blancos 4-1 in the Bernabeu to send the European champions crashing out of the tournament.
Players celebrated with the travelling Ajax fans - packed into the rafters of Real’s enormous stadium - well into the night.
It will go down as an iconic fixture in European football.
But for ex-Leeds captain Matteo, the celebrations proved to him that passion is still alive and well in football.
Back in 2000, Matteo scored what would be a crucial header in Leeds’ memorable 1-1 draw against Milan in the San Siro, which saw them progress to a second group stage.
Leeds United fans and players celebrated that draw well into the night - one of their great achievements on a run that saw David O’Leary’s side reach the Champions League semi-finals.
And watching Ajax rumble another European giant on their home patch sent the memories thundering back for Matteo.
“The link between the fans within Leeds’ European run was phenomenal,” Matteo told Express Sport.
I thought that had gone in football forever
“It was funny because I was watching the Ajax vs Real Madrid game - and when the young centre-half Matthijs De Ligt came out after the game and was singing with the fans, that brought everything back for me.
“Because I thought that had gone in football forever.
“We had a right sing-song with the Leeds United fans in Milan, in Rome when we played Lazio.
“And to see this young kid doing it in the Bernabeu the other day, it really opened up a few memories for me!
“This kid will always be a super-talented player at Ajax. I would love him to be in the Premier League soon.
“And it just brought it all back. Any Leeds United fan you speak to about that - it's probably the best time they've had since, I dunno, maybe the promotion year.
“Or even back to the 1970s when they won leagues. This is giving them a little bit of joy.”
Indeed, Matteo is still well loved among Leeds fans for his goal in Milan.
The former defender is one of a number of ex-players who still regularly attend games at Elland Road.
Leeds are chasing promotion back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa this season.
And for Matteo, he is reminded of those Champions League nights on an almost daily basis.
“The amount of people I've met who were in Milan that night when I scored,” Matteo, speaking on behalf of Soccer Speaker, said.
“The stadium only holds what, 90,000? There must have been 200,000 Leeds fans - because everyone I've met tells me they were there!
“But to get the games we got, the teams that we played against. For any football fan and for me as a player, I don't think we could have wished to play any more of the elite teams in Europe.
“Probably apart from Bayern Munich we got everyone we wanted to play. It was just a special run.”
Since those heady days of European conquest, Leeds have gone into financial ruin, plummeted down England’s football hierarchy, been threatened with insolvency and begun a remarkable rebuild.
Three seasons in League One saw the club visit grounds across the country very few Leeds fans will have imagined they would ever see.
But the memories of those Champions League nights remain.
“Any football fan, when you get to travel to those kind of stadiums and experience it - even as a player - you have to take it in,” Matteo added.
“The memories you never lose. That's the one thing I take out of those games.
“It's the pinnacle for a fan and a football player.
“For me, the pinnacle is pitching yourself against the best players in the best stadiums in Europe. And it's been some great memories.”
Dominic Matteo was speaking on behalf of Soccer Speaker. You can book Dominic and other former players or sports personalities to speak at your event here – www.soccerspeaker.co.uk