Ajax stories - Darren Fletcher, commentator, BT Sport

Where to start with the man who commentated on one of the most famous nights in the Club’s 138-year history?

How about after those astonishing events at the Johan Cruyff Arena, where Lucas Moura’s hat-trick, including a dramatic last-second winner, had seen us recover from 2-0 down on the night, 3-0 on aggregate, to win 3-2 and go through to the Champions League Final on away goals.

Over to Darren Fletcher, whose words for BT Sport on 8 May, 2019 will live with us all forever...

“We went back to the hotel after the game, went to the bar, ordered a few drinks and sat there around the table, myself, JJ, then Glenn Hoddle (part of BT’s team at the stadium, with Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand) arrived and a few others and we sat and reminisced about the evening.

“Then Glenn made the point that he was just happy that he was there to see it. Then you remember everything Glenn had gone through (he’d recovered from a cardiac arrest suffered in October, 2018). It couldn’t have been more perfect, the fact that his beloved Tottenham had reached the Champions League Final in those circumstances, with Glenn back in the studio. That added another element to an already a very special night.

“Look, I love football and I’ll be honest, I’ve always had a soft spot for Spurs, simply because I loved the 1981 FA Cup Final team. I had the kit. It remains my favourite football shirt, to this day. Glenn was my favourite player as a kid. I’m a Forest supporter, but Glenn was my favourite player.

“I had the 81 kit - shirt, shorts and shirt. Le Coq Sportif. I always say to Glenn, ‘that’s the best football kit ever’ and Glenn always says it’s the best one he ever wore, so we agree on that, me and the maestro.

“The beauty of this is, the bottom line - we all love football. I don’t think you ever lose that. Those big moments get the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. Even talking about it now, I’ve got a tingle thinking about that night. I’ll never lose that. That’s the best thing.

“We’re all a community - the fans, people who work in clubs, broadcasters - one thing we’ve all got in common is a shared love of football and nights like that are what make it the best game in the world.”

Fletch on ‘Three Little Birds’

“The thing that sticks with me most isn’t the first half (Ajax led 2-0, 3-0 on aggregate) but half-time, when they (Ajax’s PA at the stadium) were playing ‘don’t worry, ‘bout a thing’ (Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’) and everyone is singing, including all the Ajax legends. I remember vividly a shot of Patrick Kluivert belting it out! It just dawned on me at that stage ‘there is another 45 minutes to play’. Everyone around us, you could hear the conversations, and anyone speaking English was talking about Liverpool and the final. That song lasted into the second half.”

Fletch on our revival

“When it went to 2-2 (Lucas’ goals on 55 and 59 minutes), I remember saying ‘they were singing ‘don’t worry about a thing’ at half-time, well they’ve plenty to worry about now’. That was the change. Ajax still had chances, Hakim Ziyech was running riot, and I thought the chance had gone when Jan Vertonghen hit the crossbar (87 minutes). I thought that was it. It’s the old commentator’s cliché, ‘everyone gets a chance’ and I thought that was it. I remember Hugo Lloris making a save in stoppage time and saying, ‘that just about keeps Tottenham in the Champions League’. Then, of course, the big moment arrives...”

Fletch on ‘that’ goal

“I’ve described it two ways, and I still don’t know which way it is. Sometimes it feels like it all sped up, sometimes like it all slowed down. I remember as the move started, it was the perfect imperfect attack, every pass was a stretch, nothing was zipped into feet, but Ajax didn’t get anywhere near it, so it was perfect in that respect! Lucas scored and then it’s ‘my God, what am I going to say now?’, best-laid plans, and all that. You just say what comes into your mind. It was a complete explosion. I must have vocal cords made of leather because after what happened the night before (Darren commentated on the Liverpool-Barcelona second leg), I was just glad I had a bit of voice left to get through it.”

Fletch on JJ

Our legendary former midfielder, a Spur for seven years, 2005-2012, was caught up in the emotion of it all and struggled to get the words out when Lucas scored...

“I’ve known JJ on and off since he was an apprentice at Forest. I’ve followed his career with such great interest and he’s such a genuinely nice bloke. I consider him a really good friend. So, the goal goes in, I say what I say, and off goes Lucas. I didn’t need to look at JJ, because this croaky voice just went, ‘I can’t believe it, Fletch’, and at that point, I knew I was on my own for a little while. I had a little glance, and he’d gone. I remember thinking ‘this is the most unbelievable moment I’ve ever experienced at a football ground’. It was also the most unbelievable two nights (with Liverpool-Barca) that I’ll ever experience. At that stage, it was just a case of going with it. So many thoughts flash through your mind. Then JJ regained a little composure. We laugh about it now. I don’t think anyone will ever forget it and I think that made the moment, the fact that it meant so much to the fella that alongside me.”

Fletch on Ajax, one year on

“I still can’t describe it, if I’m honest. I’ve had a year to think about it, and I still just pull faces. I don’t really know what to say, because I don’t think it will happen again, two nights like that, I don’t think that will happen again in my lifetime. I always say to everyone, the Anfield night was extremely special because it was Liverpool, Barcelona, Anfield, 4-0, it was crazy. But Tottenham was more dramatic, because at 2-0, you were finished, and Ajax were playing so well, they were always going to score again. But they didn’t. If you played the game 10 times, I think they would go through nine. It was the perfect storm on that night. It has to be the most dramatic football match that I’ll ever commentate on. I just feel humble and grateful and honoured to have played a small part in some way.”