Aberdeen entered 1983 in good shape, looking to continue the success they had achieved in 82' when they won the Scottish Cup. Progress was also made in Europe, and a mouth-watering ECWC quarter final against Bayern Munich was keenly anticipated. The scene was set. Alex Ferguson had insisted on his side lifting two trophies to justify the standards that had been attained. So often in the past, the Dons had flattered to deceive, but Ferguson demanded tangible success. It was behind the driving force of Fergie that Aberdeen went on to become the European Team of the Year, a feat that was beyond the wildest imagination. Sure the Dons were a formidable side and would regularly take care of the Old Firm in their own backyard. The battlefields of Europe were another matter. To climb that summit Aberdeen would have to reach a standard never seen before in the clubs 80-year history.

What was remarkable about that Dons side was a team unity filled with Scottish players of rare talent and most importantly?a fearsome desire to win. Jim Leighton was the established Scotland keeper and he had no equal, superb agility and bravery to match. The defence was built around Leighton and the unique combo of Miller and McLeish. Willie Miller had been around Pittodrie long enough to be approaching legendary status even then. He had already tasted success with League, Scottish Cup and League winners medals, and was an inspirational captain. In the European arena he excelled. Described by both Fergie and Gordon Strachan as the best penalty box defender on the planet, Miller was a tough competitor and a real leader on the park.

Alex McLeish at that time was developing in to a centre half of great stature and the perfect foil for Miller. Another established Scottish international, his best years were still ahead. Stuart Kennedy was one of the more experienced players in the squad and his career was effectively ended after an injury against Waterschei in the ECWC semi final. Kennedy was as close to the complete professional as you could get, and another fierce competitor. In Kennedy's absence, Doug Rougvie and John McMaster filled the wide defensive roles. There was a fine contrast in skills and they offered a fine balance to the defence. Rougvie was a giant, never blessed with an abundance of skill, but one of the most determined players ever to wear the Red of Aberdeen. Rougvie enjoyed cult status with the Red Army. If Rougvie had the brawn, then McMaster had the brain.

A cultured player with a sweet left foot he surpassed himself in the Dons glory days and remains arguably the best ever Aberdeen player never to be capped for his country. In the Aberdeen engine room the Dons were blessed with two emerging talents that came through at the same time. Neil Simpson and Neale Cooper were certainly the workhorses in the side, their collective strength being they're covering of the box to box area. Cooper was touted as a sweeper but with Willie Miller entrenched in that position, Cooper was utilised in his midfield role. Simpson was another unsung hero and a firm favourite with the fans, despite the difficulties encountered following the infamous incident with Ian Durrant in 1987.

What made the Dons a real potent force at that time was perhaps the wide midfield of Gordon Strachan on the right and Peter Weir beating a path on the left. Often the victim of many a crude tackle, both Weir and Strachan were players of frightening natural ability. Up front, Mark McGhee, Eric Black and John Hewitt shared the striking responsibilities. Black and Hewitt both came through the ranks at Pittodrie while McGhee was a moderate purchase from Newcastle. All three had a major part to play in the goals that took the ECWC to Pittodrie in 1983, and their place in Aberdeen folklore is assured. What was all the more remarkable was that this Aberdeen team was Scottish in every sense of the word, and the whole side was amassed for a total of around £400,000! Even in the 80's, this was no fortune. Only Peter Weir, Gordon Strachan and Mark McGhee commanded a fee with the rest having been brought through the club system.

Aberdeen welcomed the New Year with a convincing festive win over Hibernian to bed themselves in at the top of the Premier and never looked back. Following a week long training stint in Spain, the Dons returned to demolish Rangers and Motherwell at Pittodrie before travelling to Parkhead for a crunch top of the table clash with arch rivals Celtic. Amongst the 42,000 crowd was a delegation from Euro opponents Bayern Munich including boss Uli Hoeness who was there to gauge the strength of the Dons. Hoeness left mightily impressed as the Dons cut through Celtic and won 3-1. Eric Black was the hero with a clinical hat trick. Aberdeen were now chasing a remarkable treble at home and abroad. Progress was made in the Scottish Cup as Hibernian, Dundee and Partick offered little resistance and as the Bayern match neared ever closer, the pressure was on the Dons.

In what was perhaps the most exciting era in their history, the Dons travelled to Munich looking to keep the tie alive for the return. Aberdeen did not disappoint. Many observers as one of the greatest performances from a Scottish club described a brave defensive display on foreign soil. Manager Alex Ferguson adopted a cautious but positive approach and had it not been for a couple of missed chances the Dons may have returned with a lead, as it was a 0-0 draw in the Olympic Stadion set up an incredible night of drama in the return. For those of us who were fortunate enough to be at Pittodrie for the return it was a night to remember and the last quarter of the game epitomised the spirit that existed at the club. Two incredible goals in a minute put the Dons through, but not before a frantic closing spell. Bayern threw everything at the Dons in search of the goal that would take them through, but they came up against a granite like Dons defence, urged on by a fervent crowd. The Dons were now through to their first European semi final and Fergie claimed his side had nothing to fear but with Real Madrid, Austria Vienna and unknown Belgian outfit Waterschei in the draw, Ferguson wanted the Belgians.

His wish was granted and in a frantic semi final at Pittodrie the Dons whirlwind start was enough to extinguish the Waterschei fire. Early goals from Black and Simpson ensured the Dons had a grip of the tie and eventually overwhelmed the Genk side 5-1. The return in Genk was merely academic and a 1-0 defeat was remarkably the Dons only defeat in any tie that year. A bruising semi final win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup at Hampden resulted in a solitary Peter Weir header taking the Dons through to the Final. The dream treble was still on. Aberdeen's cup exploits at home and abroad was taking its toll in the League. Rivals Dundee Utd and Celtic were free from any cup involvement and that distinct advantage was to eventually tell on the Dons. On May 11th, Aberdeen won the ECWC in a rainy night in Gothenburg as the aristocrats of Real Madrid were humbled in dramatic fashion. An extra time winner from John Hewitt ensured the Dons would go down as one of the greatest ever-Scottish club sides, and 15,000 Aberdeen supporters in the Swedish port were in dreamland.

As the title race entered its final day Aberdeen still had an outside chance of the title. A 5-0 win over Hibernian was duly achieved but results elsewhere meant that there would be no League title coming to Pittodrie. Seven days later the Dons locked horns with Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final and once again, extra time was needed to see off the Ibrox challenge. Eric Black's header in the 116th minute gave the Dons a dream Cup double, and although Alex Ferguson was scathing of his team's performance, the Dons boss was later remorseful as to his comments. The high standards set was taking its toll on an Aberdeen side that had played an incredible 60 matches in the season.

Alex Ferguson set his side a clear mandate to win the League title as season 1983.84 started in impressive fashion. The Dons made the entire early running and never looked likely of losing their top place. As a memorable tear was coming to a close, there was one piece of European business to attend to when the prestigious European Super Cup had to be contested. UEFA's method of deciding which side were the kings of Europe was a two-legged affair between the respective winners of the European and Cup Winners Cup. The first leg in the Volkspark Stadion was a triumph for Aberdeen tactics as once again, the Dons returned from Germany with a 0-0 draw. The return at Pittodrie was televised live across the world as Aberdeen hogged the limelight. A stunning display full of controlled aggression was rewarded with a comfortable 2-0 win and the Dons were proudly crowned as the Kings of Europe. Shortly afterwards the Dons were also named as the Adidas 'European Team of the Year'. A fitting finale to a memorable 12 months.