On This Day: Barca & Madrid secured UCL titles; Two world-class keepers born

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (May 20th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers.

On This Day in 1998 - Real Madrid secured their 7th UCL title

The 1998 UEFA Champions League Final took place at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, on 20 May 1998. It pitted Real Madrid of Spain and Juventus of Italy. Juventus appeared in their third consecutive final, while Real Madrid were in their first of the Champions League era. Real Madrid won 1–0, the only goal scored by Predrag Mijatović, to clinch their seventh European title, their first for 32 years. The two teams faced each other in the final again in 2017 in Cardiff; Real Madrid won 4–1.

Mijatovic is the goalscorer in the final. Curiously, only scored one goal in Europe during the same year. He left Madrid in 1999 to play with Fiorentina where he stayed for three years before returning to Valencia to play with Levante. There, he would retire in 2003. In 2006, he returned to be the director of football in Madrid. He brought in players like Van Nistelrooy, Cannavaro, Pepe and Marcelo amongst others. Resigned from his role in 2009 but continues working as a players' agent.

On This Day in 1992 - Barcelona lifted European Cup for the first time 

Springtime in London. Cruyff, the football revolutionary and his assembled team of artists, known as the "Dream Team," were at Wembley for the first European Cup final of the Dutchman's managerial reign.

Opponents Sampdoria had poachers supreme in Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini, but Barcelona could offset the Italians with Michael Laudrup, Pep Guardiola, Hirsto Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman.

Full-time turned into extra-time and the score remained goalless. Knees were knocking, in the stands and in the dugout. Penalties were looming. Fear.

But with less than 10 minutes remaining Barcelona were awarded a free-kick. Koeman, the sweeper with a sniper's eye for long-range goals, steped forward.

Twenty-five yards from goal, Koeman shoot. He aimd low towards the bottom corner. Defenders rushed forwards, breaking from the defensive wall. The goalkeeper stretched and dived to his right. But they were all too late. They were beaten.

On This Day in 1981 - Spain goalkeeper legend Iker Casillas was born

Iker Casillas is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portuguese club Porto and the Spain national team. Popularly dubbed "San Iker" ("Saint Iker") for his ability to produce spectacular saves, Casillas is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, known for his athleticism, quick reactions and outstanding shot-stopping ability.

During his highly successful time in Madrid, he won five La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, four Supercopa de España titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. 

In 2008, he was made Spanish national team captain, and led the team to that year's European Championship. He also led Spain to their first World Cup in 2010, and retained the European Championship in 2012.

The 37-year-old was taken to hospital last month after being struck by an acute myocardial infarction at Porto's training ground.

On This Day in 1982 - Arsenal keeper Petr Cech was born

Cech started playing football at the age of seven for Skoda Plzen, now known as Viktoria Plzen.

Petr Cech in his early days played as a striker. At age 10, after breaking his leg playing for the youth team of Victoria Plzen, Cech upon recovery was often used as a goalkeeper on a temporary basis, because of his height. He soon realized his future was in goalkeeping.

Despite failing to win the league title at Sparta, he attracted interest from Arsenal due to his international performances. Due to difficulties in obtaining a work permit, however, a proposed deal with the Gunners fell through. It was Chelsea who took the opportunity.

Cech sustained a head injury in the match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 14 October 2006 when he collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt inside Chelsea’s penalty area within the first minute of a premier league match.

Hunt’s right knee hit Cech’s head. Cech was taken off after several minutes and later underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture, that nearly cost him his life.

The 36-year-old joined Arsenal in June 2015 from the London rivals Chelsea, where he spent 11 years.

Petr Cech will retire at the end of the 2018/2019 season.

On This Day in 2018 - Iniesta played final domestic game for Barca

The Sunday 20 of May at the Camp Nou was a special and emotional day. Andres Iniesta played his 670th and final game for Barcelona as the league champions closed out the 2017-18 Spanish Primera Division season against Real Sociedad.

The Camp Nou crowd participates in several pre-match displays of support for the midfielder, not least the "Infinit Iniesta" message.

He even receives a "pasillo" (guard of honour) from the Sociedad players before the match.

It doesn't take long for Iniesta to settle into his rhythm and, as has been so often the case in his career, end up in possession with several opponents trying to dispossess him.

In the end, Iniesta doesn't score, but Philippe Coutinho's free kick gives Barcelona a 1-0 lead midway through the second half.

Iniesta leaves Barcelona after a glittering career in which he won 32 trophies since making his senior debut as an 18-year-old back in 2002, including nine league titles, four Champions Leagues, three FIFA Club World Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.

On This Day in 2018 - Torres played final domestic game for Atletico

The Atlético Madrid striker played out his last game for his boyhood club and at the end took to the field in front of his adoring fans at the Wanda Metropolitano.

After the conclusion of his final game for Atlético Madrid, Fernando Torres addressed the Atleti faithful with the following words:

"I would like to thank a lot of people. Many of you have helped with this. To start with, those in the third tier, especially Luis Aragonés. I would like to mention my grandfather. Also, to my family, my parents, with whose effort has allowed their children to fulfill their dreams. To my father for teaching me his values. Thank you Dad. To my brother, Israel, my sister... my wife, who is a pillar in my life, who keeps me calm and has always been there".

Torres now plays for J1 League club Sagan Tosu.