A Dream Come True: Following Steaua to Amsterdam
Amsterdam. February chill. Steaua vs. Ajax. 400km drive. Anticipation. Red & blue tide. Chants, flags, passion. Freezing, didn't care. Ajax dominated, 2-0. Fans unbowed, singing. Amsterdam transformed: red & blue. Steaua scarves, songs. City conquered by passion. Unforgettable first away day.
My first European away day. The February chill bit at my face as my colleague and I arrived at the Amsterdam Arena. Just two weeks after my Bundesliga experience, I was back on the road, this time to see my beloved Steaua Bucharest play Ajax in the Europa League Round of 32. As I was still in Germany at the time, this was an opportunity I couldn't miss. After a 400km drive, we were the first fans at the stadium.
Before the game
Between 2012 and 2014, Steaua enjoyed a golden age. Under coach Laurentiu Reghecampf, and with players like Tatarusanu, Gardos, Chiriches, and Pintili, they won the Romanian Championship twice and reached the Europa League Knockoff rounds. This game felt like a continuation of that success.
It was my first time in an away section, and it felt special to be supporting my team abroad. Despite the freezing temperatures, the adrenaline was pumping. We waited for an hour and a half before kickoff and the anticipation was building. It was a game full of emotion.
Ajax dominated the match, as expected, but our boys put up a decent fight. Alderweireld and Van Rhijn scored in Ajax's 2-0 victory. The stands around us were a sea of red and blue, full of Romanian fans who had traveled from all over Europe, just like us, to support the most beloved team in the country.
Atmosphere on Amsterdam ArenA
After the final whistle, we had to stay in the stadium for another hour. But the fans were still singing, their spirits undimmed. The hit of the year was a song called "I'm happy and I feel good". It was dedication done by the Steaua fans to the football team.
We stayed in Amsterdam for a few more days, and everywhere we went, we encountered Steaua fans, proudly wearing their scarves and singing club songs. It was a unique experience to see a major European capital taken over by our fans.
Amsterdam - Heiniken Museum
Two weeks later in Bucharest, Steaua pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory, the same scoreline as the first leg. It was one of Steaua's best performances in the last two decades, and the win led to qualification on penalties. In the Round of 16, Steaua faced Chelsea, the reigning Champions League winners, who narrowly defeated our team over two legs. I was eager to attend the London game, but unfortunately, I couldn't get tickets. The Amsterdam trip, though, remains a cherished memory, a testament to the passion of Steaua fans and the thrill of European football.
What was the first away game of your favorite team you saw in Europe?