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European football (and more) when Wenger joined Arsenal

Arsène Wenger took over as Arsenal manager on 1 October 20 years ago, but what else happened in 1996 and what did European football look like? UEFA.com dusts down the archives.

European football (and more) when Wenger joined Arsenal
European football (and more) when Wenger joined Arsenal ©Getty Images

What else happened in football in 1996 ...

Germany won EURO '96 thanks to Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal against the Czech Republic.

• Germany libero Matthias Sammer was named European Footballer of the Year.

• Juventus beat Ajax on penalties in the 1995/96 UEFA Champions League final in Rome.

• Jari Litmanen, Ajax's scorer in the decider, finished as the competition's leading marksman with nine goals.

• Bayern München completed their set of European trophies with victory against Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup final.

• Nigeria became the first African team to win men's Olympic football gold.

• Ronaldo joined Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven for a world-record transfer fee.

• Manchester United midfielder David Beckham scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon.

• Players born: Kingsley Coman, Dele Alli, Leroy Sané, Marco Asensio, Alen Halilović, Julian Brandt.

Kingsley Coman was born just a few months before Wenger took over
Kingsley Coman was born just a few months before Wenger took over©Getty Images

When Wenger took over ...

• Litmanen was all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 16 goals.

• The Milan pair of Paolo Maldini and Sebastiano Rossi had made more UEFA Champions League appearances than anyone else (26).

• There were 50 UEFA associations compared with 55 today.

• Lennart Johansson was just six years into his 17-year tenure as UEFA President.

• Chelsea's Ruud Gullit was the only other Premier League manager from outside the British Isles. Today there are 13.

Alfredo Di Stéfano was European top scorer in 1996
Alfredo Di Stéfano was European top scorer in 1996©Getty Images

• Alfredo Di Stéfano was still the European Cup's all-time leading marksman with 49 goals.

• Madrid had won just six of their current tally of 11 European Cups.

• Lionel Messi was nine, Cristiano Ronaldo 11.

Also in 1996 ...

• Bill Clinton was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States of America.

• Bishop Carlos Belo and José Ramos-Horta were awarded the Nobel Peace Price for their work in East Timor.

Donovan Bailey won Olympic gold in 1996
Donovan Bailey won Olympic gold in 1996©Getty Images

• Donovan Bailey became men's Olympic 100m champion in a world-record time of 9.84 seconds.

• The English Patient won the Oscar for Best Picture.

• Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell.