1995 - Ajax 1 Milan 0
Frustrating. Not only were Milan never in top gear the whole season, losing out to Juventus domestically, they were always a little off the pace in Europe - and they still reached the final. Patrick Kluivert had been the difference between the sides in the group stage and was the only player Milan could not really shackle.

Inevitably, it was Kluivert who scored in the final as a young vibrant Ajax beat a rather limp Milan. My favourite, Dejan Savicevic, didn't play, Zvonimir Boban was off colour and Franco Baresi was a yard too slow all night. Louis Van Gaal had unleashed his brood on Europe and in retrospect it was a very good Ajax team that beat Milan that night. They passed around very well and their movement off the ball was too much for Demetrio Albertini and Roberto Donadoni to handle. It would be another nine years before Milan made it back to the final.

When it rains it pours; this time I got to see the Cup Winners' Cup final and this time Arsenal proceeded to lose in rather farcical circumstances. David Seaman would get lobbed and beaten from distance several times in his career - but this was arguably the most high profile. If 1994 was my zenith as a football fan, 1995 was definitely the nadir.

1996 - Juventus 1 Ajax 1 (Juventus win on penalties)
When the white feather, Fabrizio Ravanelli, scores, his inevitable celebration is an 'I told you so' run towards the coach with his finger pointed. He didn't do that here despite scoring from the spot as Juventus surged into the lead. Ajax, however, were better in this game and looked sharper with smooth passing and movement - hallmarks of the Louis Van Gaal style. 

Jari Litmanen's leveller was the least they deserved but some smart tactical substitutions by Marcelo Lippi ensured the balance slowly tilted in Juventus's favour. Ajax attacked but Juve, featuring ex-Milan youth player Gianluca Pessotto, held firm and inevitably penalties were the order of the day.

Keeping in theme with Yugoslav players making a telling contribution to Champions' League finals, Vladimir Jugovic slotted home the winning penalty and Juventus won. Ajax have not made the final since. Kluivert went to Milan while most of the rest of the golden Ajax team slowly reunited at Barcelona under Van Gaal.

1997 - Borussia Dortmund 3 Juventus 1
Quite simply Dortmund outclassed Juventus. Two goals from an irrepressible Karl-Heinze Reidle, who seemed to be about to score every time he got the ball, and a late marker from Lars Ricken ensured Dortmund won the final with plenty to spare.

Paulo Sousa turned out for the Germans against his old team, who never really got going. The commentator was awful, reminding us time and again how Dortmund were lucky to have beaten Manchester United in the semi-finals - but there was nothing lucky about this. They pressed on the attack and defended deep. The only Juventus player who seemed up for it was Alessandro Del Piero who, fittingly, scored a consolation to briefly revive the tie after Dortmund had shot to a 2-0 lead.

Stefan Reuter made some telling tackles on Alen Boksic while Jurgen Kohler held the back-line together with an efficient performance.  A certain Angelo Di Livio played - I don't recall him doing one thing of note the entire match. A very good game with lots of playmaking and a fair smattering of goals, and, of course a new champion of Europe.

Oh, a year after helping Bordeaux beat Milan in the UEFA Cup, a certain Zinedine Zidane played this final - although I scarcely recognised him from the year before. Needless to say, he was largely anonymous.

1998 - Real Madrid 1 Juventus 0
There was a strange media circus leading to this game. Everyone was constantly reminded about how this was to be the Spanish team's year - getting back the trophy that they owned early on in the century - way back when. Personally I couldn't care less who won. I wanted to see Zidane (Juventus), Roberto Carlos, Davor Suker and Pedrag Mijatovic (all Real) play.

The game was a tactical masterpiece, Raul and Mijatovic going wide whenever they got the ball, dragging Mark Iuliano and Paulo Montero with them, out of position; Fernando Redondo pulling the strings in the midfield while Zidane danced all over the place looking to play either Del Piero or Filippo Inzaghi in, with French team-mate Christian Karembeu in tow. Clarence Seedorf battled national team colleague Edgar Davids in a midfield scrapfest while Di Livio did . . . well, nothing. He never does anything, anyway - his making way for Alessio Tacchinardi was refreshingly welcome.

The disappointment was not seeing Davor Suker start, but Mijatovic scored a clinical goal, getting behind Angelo Peruzzi (see Yugoslav players, Champions League finals) and slotting home before he came off for the Croatian marksman. The media circus reached an apoplectic frenzy after the win - Real finally being crowned champions of Europe after several decades. You should have seen Fernando Hierro's face.

Postscript: Arsenal made 1998 super special - that's right, the double in spectacular fashion! Arsene Wenger had truly arrived.