 The European Super Cup was founded in the early 1970s , as a means to determine the best team in Europe and serve as a challenge to Ajax , the strongest club side of its day . The proposal by Dutch journalist Anton Witkamp , a football match between the holders of the European Cup and Cup Winners ' Cup , failed to receive UEFA 's backing , given the recent Cup Winners ' Cup winners Rangers had been banned from European competition . Witkamp nonetheless proceeded with his vision , a two @-@ legged match played between Ajax and Rangers in January 1973 . The competition was endorsed and recognised by UEFA a year later . 
