European Champion Clubs' Cup
Encyclopedia
The European Champion Clubs' Cup, also known as Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens, or simply the European Cup, is a trophy
awarded annually by UEFA
to the football club that wins the UEFA Champions League
. The competition in its older format shared its name with the trophy, being also known as the European Cup, before being renamed for the 1992-93 season onwards.
Several different physical trophies have had the name, as a club was entitled to keep the cup after five wins or three consecutive wins, with a new cup having to be forged for the following season.
The original European Cup trophy was donated by L'Équipe
, a French
sports newspaper
. This trophy was awarded permanently to Real Madrid
in March 1967. At the time, they were the reigning champions, and had won six titles altogether, including the first five competitions from 1956 to 1960. Celtic
thus became the first club to win the cup in its current design in 1967.
The replacement trophy, with a somewhat different design from the original, was commissioned by UEFA from Jörg Stadelmann, a jeweller from Bern in Switzerland
. At a cost of 10,000 Swiss franc
s, it was silver
, 74 cm high, weighing 8 kg. The trophy bears the title "COUPE DES CLUBS CHAMPIONS EUROPÉENS". Subsequent replacement trophies have replicated this design. In Spanish
, it is nicknamed La Orejona ("big-ears") because of the shape of the handles and for this reason, Luis Omar Tapia, a long-time ESPN
UCL announcer made the name "la Orejona" popular on the American continents.
The trophy that was awarded at the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final
is the sixth, and has been in use since 2006, after Liverpool
won their fifth European Cup in 2005
.
The previous rule to allow a club to keep the trophy after five wins or three consecutive wins was introduced before the 1968–69 season. At that point, Real Madrid were the only club meeting either qualification, and indeed met both. Once a club had been awarded the trophy, the count was reset to zero. For example, a club with no prior titles which won six titles in a row would have been permanently awarded trophies after the third and sixth wins (each for three-in-a-row) but not after their fifth win.
Since 2009, a club that gets 3 consecutive or 5 overall wins will get a special mark of recognition, the multiple-winner badge, instead of keeping the original trophy.
A club, whose Champions League title win was not a fifth overall or third consecutive, previously kept the real trophy for ten months after their victory and received a scaled-down replica to kept permanently. Since 2009, the real trophy remains with UEFA at all times, but the winning club now receives a full-sized replica with their name engraved on it.
, after their third consecutive win in 1976. They won a fourth in 2001. Milan
, after their fifth title in 1994. They have since won it twice more, in 2003 and 2007. Liverpool, after their fifth title, in 2005.
The multiple-winner badge was introduced for the start of the 2000–01 competition for clubs who have been awarded the trophy permanently. The badge itself adorns the left sleeve of the team's shirt during Champions League. (Milan
are the only club who wear the badge for all competitions, including friendlies.) It is a navy blue oval on which is an outline of the current trophy in white, overlaid with part of the Champions League starball logo. Above the trophy is the total number of titles held by the club. The badge will still be awarded to clubs winning five overall, or three consecutive, titles.
A separate "title-holder logo" is worn by the reigning Champions League champions in the following season's competition in place of the regular patch worn by the other competing teams. The logo was introduced in 2004–05, with Porto as the defending champions. The distinction between the title-holder logo and the badge of honour can be compared to the distinction between the scudetto (shield) worn by the reigning Serie A
champions in Italy
, and the stella
(star) worn by teams with over 10 Serie A titles in total. However, whereas Juventus
sport 2 stars as they have won over 20 titles, there is no provision for multiple UEFA badges of honour, as the count within the badge can be incremented indefinitely.
In addition to the logo, the title holders play their home games in the competition with the match ball used in their triumphant final.
The design for the title-holder badge changed for the 2009 competition
. Without the star ball background, it features a design of the trophy which was used to promote the previous season's final
.
It has been revamped again in 2010 with a variation of the star design. Barcelona
currently sport the logo.
(6) - 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966 Benfica (2) - 1961, 1962 Internazionale
(2) - 1964, 1965 Milan
(1) - 1963
Redesigned trophy Milan
(6) - 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007 Liverpool
(5) - 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005 Ajax (4) - 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995 Bayern Munich
(4) - 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001 Barcelona
(4) - 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011 Manchester United
(3) - 1968, 1999, 2008 Real Madrid
(3) - 1998, 2000, 2002 Nottingham Forest
(2) - 1979, 1980 Juventus
(2) - 1985, 1996 Porto (2) - 1987, 2004 Celtic
(1) - 1967 Feyenoord (1) - 1970 Aston Villa
(1) - 1982 Hamburg
(1) - 1983 Steaua Bucureşti (1) - 1986 PSV Eindhoven (1) - 1988 Red Star Belgrade
(1) - 1991 Marseille
(1) - 1993 Borussia Dortmund
(1) - 1997 Internazionale
(1) - 2010
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
awarded annually by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
to the football club that wins the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. The competition in its older format shared its name with the trophy, being also known as the European Cup, before being renamed for the 1992-93 season onwards.
Several different physical trophies have had the name, as a club was entitled to keep the cup after five wins or three consecutive wins, with a new cup having to be forged for the following season.
The trophy
Since 2009, Champions League winners have not kept the real trophy, which remains in UEFA's keeping at all times. A full-size replica trophy, the Champions League winners trophy, is awarded to the winning club with their name engraved on it. Winning clubs are also permitted to make replicas of their own; however, they must be clearly marked as such and can be a maximum of eighty percent the size of the actual trophy.The original European Cup trophy was donated by L'Équipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...
, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
sports newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. This trophy was awarded permanently to Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in March 1967. At the time, they were the reigning champions, and had won six titles altogether, including the first five competitions from 1956 to 1960. Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
thus became the first club to win the cup in its current design in 1967.
The replacement trophy, with a somewhat different design from the original, was commissioned by UEFA from Jörg Stadelmann, a jeweller from Bern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. At a cost of 10,000 Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
s, it was silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, 74 cm high, weighing 8 kg. The trophy bears the title "COUPE DES CLUBS CHAMPIONS EUROPÉENS". Subsequent replacement trophies have replicated this design. In Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, it is nicknamed La Orejona ("big-ears") because of the shape of the handles and for this reason, Luis Omar Tapia, a long-time ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
UCL announcer made the name "la Orejona" popular on the American continents.
The trophy that was awarded at the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final
2010 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2010 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid, on Saturday, 22 May 2010, to determine the winners of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League. It was the first Champions League final to be played on a Saturday, rather than the...
is the sixth, and has been in use since 2006, after Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
won their fifth European Cup in 2005
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
.
The previous rule to allow a club to keep the trophy after five wins or three consecutive wins was introduced before the 1968–69 season. At that point, Real Madrid were the only club meeting either qualification, and indeed met both. Once a club had been awarded the trophy, the count was reset to zero. For example, a club with no prior titles which won six titles in a row would have been permanently awarded trophies after the third and sixth wins (each for three-in-a-row) but not after their fifth win.
Since 2009, a club that gets 3 consecutive or 5 overall wins will get a special mark of recognition, the multiple-winner badge, instead of keeping the original trophy.
A club, whose Champions League title win was not a fifth overall or third consecutive, previously kept the real trophy for ten months after their victory and received a scaled-down replica to kept permanently. Since 2009, the real trophy remains with UEFA at all times, but the winning club now receives a full-sized replica with their name engraved on it.
Clubs awarded the trophy permanently
Five clubs have kept the actual trophy under the old rules from 1968 to 2009: Real Madrid after six wins, 1956-60 and 1966. They have since won it three more times, in 1998, 2000, and 2002. Ajax after their third consecutive win in 1973. They won a fourth in 1995. Bayern MünchenFC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, after their third consecutive win in 1976. They won a fourth in 2001. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, after their fifth title in 1994. They have since won it twice more, in 2003 and 2007. Liverpool, after their fifth title, in 2005.
Multiple-winner badge
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
are the only club who wear the badge for all competitions, including friendlies.) It is a navy blue oval on which is an outline of the current trophy in white, overlaid with part of the Champions League starball logo. Above the trophy is the total number of titles held by the club. The badge will still be awarded to clubs winning five overall, or three consecutive, titles.
Title-holder logo
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
champions in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and the stella
Star (football crest)
In association football, some national and club sides include one or more stars as part of the crest appearing on their shirt, to represent important trophies the team has previously won. Sometimes this is a unilateral decision by the team concerned rather than a privilege earned and sanctioned...
(star) worn by teams with over 10 Serie A titles in total. However, whereas Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
sport 2 stars as they have won over 20 titles, there is no provision for multiple UEFA badges of honour, as the count within the badge can be incremented indefinitely.
In addition to the logo, the title holders play their home games in the competition with the match ball used in their triumphant final.
The design for the title-holder badge changed for the 2009 competition
UEFA Champions League 2009–10
The 2009–10 UEFA Champions League was the 55th season of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 18th under the current UEFA Champions League format. The final was played on 22 May 2010, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home ground of Real Madrid, in Madrid, Spain. The final was won by...
. Without the star ball background, it features a design of the trophy which was used to promote the previous season's final
2009 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2009 UEFA Champions League Final was played on 27 May 2009 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. The match determined the winners of the 2008–09 season of the UEFA Champions League, a tournament for the top football clubs in Europe. The match was won by Barcelona of Spain, who beat England's...
.
It has been revamped again in 2010 with a variation of the star design. Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
currently sport the logo.
Winners
Original trophy Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(6) - 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966 Benfica (2) - 1961, 1962 Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
(2) - 1964, 1965 Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
(1) - 1963
Redesigned trophy Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
(6) - 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007 Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
(5) - 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005 Ajax (4) - 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995 Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
(4) - 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001 Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
(4) - 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011 Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
(3) - 1968, 1999, 2008 Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(3) - 1998, 2000, 2002 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
(2) - 1979, 1980 Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
(2) - 1985, 1996 Porto (2) - 1987, 2004 Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
(1) - 1967 Feyenoord (1) - 1970 Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
(1) - 1982 Hamburg
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
(1) - 1983 Steaua Bucureşti (1) - 1986 PSV Eindhoven (1) - 1988 Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
(1) - 1991 Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
(1) - 1993 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
(1) - 1997 Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
(1) - 2010
External links
- Picture of the original trophy held by Alfredo Di StéfanoAlfredo Di StéfanoAlfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
after the 1956 European Cup Final1956 European Cup FinalThe 1956 European Cup Final was the first ever final in the pan-European football competition, the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League. It was contested by Real Madrid of Spain and Stade de Reims-Champagne from France. It was played at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 13 June 1956...
. From Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty Images, Inc. is a stock photo agency, based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is a supplier of stock images for business and consumers with an archive of 80 million still images and illustrations and more than 50,000 hours of stock film footage...
. - Picture of the multiple-winner badge posted on imagebucket.
