Champions League

The UEFA Champions League came about as a new version of the European Cup and was played for the first time in the 1992-1993 season. Already established as the most prestigious club tournament in football, Champions League has become even more popular with the introduction of a mini-league group stage system. The new concept had a resemblance to the FIFA World Cup with an early phase of group play followed by a knockout phase. On several occasions has the competition expanded to include more clubs – the initial 8 have become 32 (qualification stage excluded). The Champions League trophy can be kept permanently by a club that win the tournament five times or three times in a row (since the rule changed in 2008 it is only a replica). It is today almost as adored as the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

Winners and runners-up

All the finals in the history of the Champions League.

Season	Winner	Runner-up
2023-2024	Real Madrid	Borussia Dortmund
2022-2023	Manchester City	Inter
2021-2022	Real Madrid	Liverpool
2020-2021	Chelsea	Manchester City
2019-2020	Bayern Munich	PSG
2018-2019	Liverpool	Tottenham
2017-2018	Real Madrid	Liverpool
2016-2017	Real Madrid	Juventus
2015-2016	Real Madrid	Atlético Madrid
2014-2015	Barcelona	Juventus
2013-2014	Real Madrid	Atlético Madrid
2012-2013	Bayern Munich	Borussia Dortmund
2011-2012	Chelsea	Bayern Munich
2010-2011	Barcelona	Manchester United
2009-2010	Internazionale	Bayern Munich
2008-2009	Barcelona	Manchester United
2007-2008	Manchester United	Chelsea
2006-2007	Milan	Liverpool
2005-2006	Barcelona	Arsenal
2004-2005	Liverpool	Milan
2003-2004	Porto	Monaco
2002-2003	Milan	Juventus
2001-2002	Real Madrid	Bayer Leverkusen
2000-2001	Bayern Munich	Valencia
1999-2000	Real Madrid	Valencia
1998-1999	Manchester United	Bayern Munich
1997-1998	Real Madrid	Juventus
1996-1997	Borussia Dortmund	Juventus
1995-1996	Juventus	Ajax
1994-1995	Ajax	Milan
1993-1994	Milan	Barcelona
1992-1993	Marseille	Milan

History

If the precessor, European Cup, is not counted the Champions League started in 1992. Although, when statistics are presented for Champions League it is common that Champions League and European League are accumulated.

What distinguish the Champions League from European Cup is for many the group play instead of the round-robin format. The fact is, however, that a group stage was introduced already in 1991, but the reshaping became formalised by the name shift. In the development of the competition a hybrid-form of group play and round-robin has evolved.

The tournaments have so far been dominated by the top European clubs and few surprise victories have occurred. Perhaps Porto's victory in 2004 should be counted as the biggest surprise. Potential sensations that could have happened was Nantes in 1995-96 that almost managed to go through Juventus in the semi-finals (lost 3-4 on aggregate). If Dynamo Kyiv had won in 1998-99 it would also be seen as a sensation; they were only one goal down on aggregation against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Two years later, Leeds reached the semi-finals, but wasn't near to beat Valencia that time. Villa Real is another club that is not familiar to be seen at the final steps in the biggest events; they were only one goal down on aggregation against Arsenal in the semi-finals in 2006.

Statistics

These clubs have won the most titles in the Champions League, the predecessor European Cup excluded.

Table 2. Most won titles by clubs.

Club	Titles	1st title
Real Madrid	8	1997-98
Barcelona	4	2005-06
Milan	3	1993-94
Bayern Munich	4	2000-01
Manchester United	2	1998-99
Liverpool	2	2004-05
Chelsea	2	2011-12
Marseille	1	1992-93
Ajax	1	1994-95
Juventus	1	1995-96
Borussia Dortmund	1	1997-98
Porto	1	2003-04
Inter	1	2009-10
Manchester City	1	2022-23

Most times runners-up are Juventus (3), Milan (3), Bayern Munich (3) and Atlético Madrid (3). Manchester United, Valencia and Liverpool have also lost the final more than once.

If Champions League and European Cup titles are combined, Real Madrid is still the best performing club with 13 titles (6 and 7 in European Cup and Champions League respectively).

A comparison between countries show that Spanish clubs has been the most successful through history in the Champions League (see table 3):

Table 3. Most won titles by country.

Club	Titles
Spain	12
England	7
Italy	5
Germany	4

In addition, clubs from France, the Netherlands and Portugal have won one title each.

Records

The largest victory margin happened between HJK Helsinki and Bangor City in the second qualification round in 2011–12. If the qualification phase is excluded, the biggest goal difference is eight goals in the matches Liverpool-Besiktas (2007-2008) and Real Madrid-Malmö FF (2015-2016). If only finals are considered, the biggest win was in the 1994 final when Milan defeated Barcelona 4 to 0.

Format and participating teams

In the first edition (1992-1993), the tournament consisted of 8 teams after a qualification phase. The eight teams were playing in two groups followed by a final between the group winners. The first season included in total 36 participating clubs in the qualification, since when the numbers have increased.

In the third edition of the Champions League (1994-1995), the tournament expanded to 16 teams (excluding the qualification). The format consisted of a group phase with four groups followed by three knockout stages.

In season 1997-1998 another expansion added more teams to 24 (excluding the qualification). A group phase, including six groups, was followed by a knockout phase in three stages.

In season 1999-2000 the tournament expanded for the third time and would now include 32 teams (excluding the qualification). Now, the teams were divided into eight groups and the first group stage was followed by a second, and finally a knockout stage.

In season 2014-2015, the second group stage was abandoned. Instead, another stage (Round of 16) in the knockout phase was played.