Champions League is a tournament that every soccer fan loves. It takes place every year and represents the competition of the most titled football clubs in Europe for the Champion title.
Tournament History
Champions League champions throughout history have come a long way and have done a lot to win the prestigious title. Not all teams are capable of this. After all, the Champions League is considered the most prestigious club tournament. It originates in 1955. But before the 1991/92 season, competitions were held according to the playoff system. Then everything changed - both the name and the format of the event. Since 2009, I must say, the principle of conducting qualification rounds has changed a lot. Now 22 teams have entered the group stage, not 16. Among them are the winner of the tournament (out of competition), three clubs that take first place in the league table of the championship of their country (also in the UEFA coefficient in the first three lines) club from those countries that are from 7 to 12 line. But there are 10 more vouchers. They are also being played. The first round is held for teams from those countries that are in the ranking from 1 to 15 places. However, clubs should not be winners. And in the second round, champions who are below line 13 participate (the exception is Liechtenstein). Total - 32 clubs get a ticket to the most prestigious football tournament.
Spanish favorite
Champions League champions in history have changed more than once, but Madrid “Real” scored the largest number of victories. This team is rightfully considered the Spanish favorite, and players have repeatedly proved their primacy by showing real football art on the field. By the way, the first victory in the European Cup (then this tournament was called that way) also belongs to Real Madrid. It was the distant 1956th year, and the Spaniards played the final match with the French Reims, which, by the way, reached the finals in the future only once, in 1958. His opponent again was Real Madrid, which also won. It must be said that before the 1960/61 season, the Spaniards won every year. Thus, they chalked up five Champions titles in a row! However, after that, the Madrid “Real” was a kind of lull in terms of victories - until the moment when the tournament was not renamed the Champions League. Since then, Real Madrid won the tournament four more times. The Club of Madrid is one of five that is allowed to keep the Cup forever.
Eternal title deed
Continuing the theme, I would like to note that some of the Champions League champions received the right to the eternal storage of the trophy. This is “Milan” (known in Italy as Rossoneri), Munich “Bavaria” (German car), “Ajax”, and “Liverpool”. Only those teams that have won the tournament three times in a row or five times in their entire history can get the right to keep a trophy. These clubs are just those. It is necessary to regret the fans of the Portuguese “Benfica” and the Turin “Juventus”, as these teams lost in the finals most often - as much as five times. If the outcome of those matches were different, then these clubs would also receive the right to keep the cup eternal.
The most tragic match in the history of “Bavaria”
Intrigue, drama, despair, passions and emotions - all this is football. The Champions League remembers many cases when the outcome of matches changed in an instant. However, it is unlikely that it will ever be possible to repeat such a meeting, which took place between Bayern and Manchester United in the 1998/99 season. Throughout 90 minutes, the Munich team was in the lead with a score of 1: 0. However, at the end, the referee added five minutes, and during this negligible time, the British were able to score two goals into the opponent’s goal. It was the most tragic defeat for the Ottmar Hitzfeld team and an incredible victory for Manchester United.
Champions League most dramatic finale
It was a match of the 2004/05 season, which took place in Istanbul. The Italian favorite AC Milan then entered the field against the English “Liverpool”. It was real football. The Champions League is noteworthy in that it is only within its framework that you can see such spectacular matches. It is worth noting that the “Liverpool” that season almost lost his place in the 1/8 tournament. But “Milan” took first place in its group. All the fans were sure that the Italians would win this time. But the incredible happened. The first half ended with the score 3-0 in favor of the Milanese, but after a break real madness began to happen. For seven minutes in the second half, the British equalized - 3-3 on the table! Potential champions of the 2004/05 Champions League did not know what to do, because no one had expected such a turn. The match ends with the score 3: 3 and this is followed by a series of penalties. 3: 2 - and “Liverpool” pulls out his victory. These were the full champions of the Champions League, who really won the honorary title through sweat and blood. Although, admittedly, after a season, in 2006/07, “Milan” recouped. Then the Rossoneri again met in the final with “Liverpool” and with a score of 2: 1 regained the title of winners.
Italian triumph
Everyone knows that the second best club in Spain is the Catalan Barcelona. These footballers are distinguished by a really special, philosophical technique, and they are also frequent winners of the Champions League in recent years - in 2006, 2009, 2011, the Catalans confidently won a victory. However, before in this tournament, things went well for them. Take, for example, the 1993/94 season. Then “Barcelona” played with “Milan”, and the players expected anything, but not at all such a rout. The Italians confidently defeated the Spaniards with a score of 4: 0, leaving no trace of the former champions (“Barcelona” was the winner of the Champions League a season ago, in 1992), given that “Milan” entered the field with a weakened roster.
Gorgeous twenty
All clubs that have ever won the Champions League should be listed. As already mentioned, these are Real Madrid (9 wins), AC Milan (7), Bayern Munich (5), Liverpool (5), Ajax (4), Barcelona (4), Manchester United (3), Inter (3), Juventus (2), Benfica (2), Porto (2), Chelsea (1), Celtic (1), “Steaua” (1), “Red Star” (1), “Borussia D.” (1), “Marseille” (1), “PSV” (1), “Aston Villa” (1), “Feyenoor” (1), “Hamburg” (1). Thus, over the sixty-year history of the Champions League, there are 20 winning clubs.
Forgotten stars
All the winners of the Champions League are teams with a terrific history, with their own traditions and characteristics. Unfortunately, many clubs that used to be favorites have ceased to appear in the tournament, even in the group stage. Take, for example, “Nottingham Forest” - this team became the winner twice in a row, wresting a victory from “Malmö” and “Hamburg” (1979 and 1980). Or, for example, “Porto” - previously all Champions League champions could compete with this club for the title of winners, but in recent years it has shown a not very good game. Although this season the team came out in 1/8, demonstrating a decent level in the group stage. There were different Champions League champions in history, but some truly worthy teams have not been awarded this honorary title. For example, the French club PSG from Paris. A truly worthy team. However, this is a fairly young club with everything ahead. Champions League champions throughout history have become a real football asset and, it must be said, no less interesting spectacle awaits lovers of this sport.