On This Day: Vilanova died; Cruyff was born; 'Invincibles' Arsenal won PL

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (April 25th) 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 2014 - Tito Vilanova passed away

After a professional career which consisted of 26 La Liga matches in a combined three seasons, all with Celta, he went on to work with Barcelona as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola, being part of the squads that won 14 titles.

On 27 April 2012,  Barcelona confirmed Vilanova to replace the departing Guardiola as first team manager, and the team went on to lose only eight competitive matches during the campaign, scoring at least once in every league fixture and winning their 22nd domestic championship by a record margin of 15 points, totalling 100 in the process.

On 19 July 2013, Vilanova resigned as Barcelona manager as he relapsed from his condition, stating that the related treatment was not compatible with the status of a professional manager. He died on 25 April 2014, due to complications from cancer, at the age of 45 after suffering a relapse the previous week.

Barcelona have renamed the main pitch of their training complex after Vilanova to honour their record-breaking former head coach.

On this day in 2004 - Invincible Arsenal took their last title in EPL

On 25 April 2004, Arsenal drew 2-2 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The point they earned was enough to clinch the Premier League title with four matches remaining.

The Gunners were near the end of an incredible season, having gone undefeated in the league. They started the day on 81 points, nine clear of second-place Chelsea and with a game in hand. Playing before a crowd of 36,097 at the home of their fierce derby rivals, Arsenal never looked in danger of losing the title.

The result put Arsenal ten points clear of Chelsea, who had lost that day to Newcastle and had only three games left. Arsenal drew two of their last four, but finished the season undefeated.

On this day in 1947 - Johan Cruyff was born

On 25 April 1947, football legend and three-time European Footballer of the Year Johan Cruyff was born in Amsterdam.

A pioneer in the Dutch concept of "total football," Cruyff started his playing career at the age of 10, when he joined the Ajax youth academy. His first appearance for the first team came on 15 November 1964, when he scored the only goal for Ajax in a 3-1 loss. 

Within a year, he was a regular first team player, scoring 25 goals in 23 games in the 1965-66 season, as Ajax claimed the Eredivisie title. He was the league's top goalscorer the following season, with 33 goals, as Ajax again claimed the league title and also won the KNVB Cup. He stayed with Ajax until August 1973, scoring 251 goals in 319 appearances in all competitions.

In the summer of 1973, Cruyff was sold to Barcelona for 6 million guilders and immediately helped them claim the La Liga title that season - their first since 1960. He was an immediate fan favourite, and continued his prolific scoring, with 61 goals in 184 total appearances for the Catalan side.

Cruyff was lured away from Barça in 1979 by the Los Angeles Aztecs, who offered him a very lucrative deal in their efforts to legitimize American football. His was named NASL Player of the Year in his one season with the Aztecs. He then played for the Washington Diplomats and Levante in Spain before returning to the Netherlands to play for Ajax and then Feyenoord. 

He retired from playing in 1984, but enjoyed a successful managerial career with Ajax (1986-88) and Barça (1988-96), winning multiple awards and trophies.

On this day - World Cup winner Varane was born

Varane joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2011. Since joining the Spanish giants he has made over 250 appearances for the club and has won 16 major honours including two La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. 

At only 24 years of age, Varane won his third UEFA Champions League trophy making him the youngest defender ever to have won three Champions League trophies, beating Paolo Maldini who was 26 when he won his third Champions League title.

Varane was a France youth international, having earned caps at under-18, under-20 and under-21 level. He made his full international debut in March 2013 and represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

After an admirable performance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he was nominated for the Best Young Player award. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in which he played every minute of every game.

On this day in 2018 - Real Madrid beat Bayern in first-leg of  17/18 UCL semi-finals

The holders, attempting to win the competition for the third successive season, struggled defensively but were clinical in attack - and Marcelo and Marco Asensio scored either side of half-time.

Marcelo smashed home a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area to level matters before Asensio capitalised on an error by Rafinha to score a breakaway goal.

Joshua Kimmich had put Bayern in front when he slotted past Keylor Navas at the near post.

The German champions missed a host of chances in an error-strewn encounter, while Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for handball as his run of scoring in every game of this year's competition ended.

In the second leg after a week, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Bayern to reach the final and finally won the trophy for the 3rd consecutive season.

On this day in 2017 - Another sweet day for Arsenal

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Arsenal came from behind through goals from Nacho Monreal & Alexis Sanchez to beat Man City 2-1 after extra-time at Wembley to book their place in a record 20th FA Cup Final.

On this day in 2015 - Both Xavi & Gerrard played their 500th league game

On this day in 2015, Xavi becomes the first player to play 500 Liga games for Barcelona as they defeat Espanyol 2-0. Neymar and Messi the scorers.

On the same day, Gerrard made his 500th Premier League appearance for Liverpool. Two legends!