Hans Gillhaus, the scout who denied La Quinta del Buitre their European Cup final | OneFootball

Hans Gillhaus is Valencia CF's head of European scouting, appointed in November when Ron Gourlay moved to build a global network. According to AS, his name still evokes the PSV attacker who helped deny Real Madrid’s Quinta del Buitre a European Cup final in 1988.

A skilful, opportunistic attacking midfielder at PSV Eindhoven and with the Netherlands, Gillhaus often worked in the shadows of Van Breukelen, Koeman and Vanenburg, later Romario. With the Oranje he played behind stars like Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard.

He missed the Euro 1988 triumph but did go to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Even so, one match stands out for him, the 1988 European Cup semi-final against Real Madrid.

PSV drew 1-1 at the Bernabéu, then Gillhaus started the return leg in Eindhoven, where the Dutch side held firm for 0-0 to progress. They went on to beat Benfica on penalties in the final, famously lifting the trophy without winning a game from the quarter-finals onwards.

For Madrid, that tie became a trauma after 22 years without the European Cup, and for La Quinta del Buitre in particular. That year was seen as their moment, with Steaua, Benfica and PSV considered inferior semi-finalists, but the Dutch, with Gillhaus in the side, stopped them.

Source: AS