On This Day: Victory in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup!

On 11 October 1961, Roma beat Birmingham City to win the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and get their hands on some European silverware - a triumph that still lives on in the memory of the Giallorossi faithful.

Roma’s run to the final was a thrilling one. It started back in 1960 with a win over Belgian side Union St. Gilloise in the last-16, after which the Giallorossi saw off Cologne in the quarter-finals, with Roma winning 4-1 in a play-off game at the Stadio Flaminio on 1 March 1961.

Roma had beaten Cologne 2-0 in Germany in the first leg, only to lose by the same scoreline at home in the return fixture.

Back then, the rules stated that identical results in the first and second legs meant a third play-off match was to be played, rather than extra-time or a penalty shoot-out.

There was no away goals rule either. As such, when Roma drew 2-2 away at Hibernian in the semi-finals, followed by a 3-3 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, another play-off match was required.

In that third game, played on 27 May 1961, the Giallorossi were irresistible: Hibernian received a 6-0 thrashing, with Pedro Manfredini scoring a memorable four goals.

Between the semi-final and the final – a period which coincided with the summer break – Roma changed coaches, with the Argentine Luis Carniglia taking the place of Alfredo Foni.

The last obstacle standing between Roma and the trophy was Birmingham City. The first leg of the final ended in a 2-2 draw over in England, with Manfredini again catching the eye with a brace, but it was the Giallorossi who triumphed 2-0 in the return leg courtesy of a Frederick Farmer own-goal (although credit must go to Francisco Lojacano for his part in the build-up) and a 90th-minute goal from Paolo Pestrin.

And so it was that Roma captain Giacomo Losi came to lift the trophy skywards in front of 55,000 fans.

The stadium jumping, the atmosphere jubilant… the Giallorossi faithful bursting with pride for their champions.

Last-16

4 October 1960, Union St. Gilloise 0-0 Roma
1 November 1960, Roma 4-1 Union St. Gilloise

Quarter-final

18 January 1961, Cologne 0-2 Roma
8 February 1961, Roma 0-2 Cologne
1 March 1961, Roma 4-1 Cologne (play-off)

Semi-final

19 April 1961, Hibernian 2-2 Roma
26 April 1961, Roma 3-3 Hibernian
27 May 1961, Roma 6-0 Hibernian (play-off)

Final

27 September 1961, Birmingham City 2-2 Roma
11 October 1961, Roma 2-0 Birmingham City