Global InformationList of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals information
 European Cup / Champions League trophy | |
| Founded | 1955 |
|---|---|
| Region | UEFA (Europe) |
| Number of teams | 32 (group stage) 2 (finalists) |
| Current champions |  Manchester City(1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  Real Madrid(14 titles) |
 2023 UEFA Champions League final | |
The UEFA Champions League is a seasonal football competition established in 1955.[1] Prior to the 1992–93 season, the tournament was named the European Cup.[1] The UEFA Champions League is open to the league champions of all UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) member associations (except Liechtenstein, which has no league competition), as well as to the clubs finishing from second to fourth position in the strongest leagues.[2] Originally, only the champions of their respective national league and the defending champions of the competition were allowed to participate. However, this was changed in 1997 to allow the runners-up of the stronger leagues to compete as well, and again in 1999 when third and fourth-placed teams of the said leagues also became eligible.[3] In the Champions League era, the defending champions of the competition did not automatically qualify until the rules were changed in 2005 to allow title holders Liverpool to enter the competition.[4]
Teams that have won the UEFA Champions League three consecutive times, or five times overall, receive a multiple-winner badge.[5] Six teams have earned this privilege: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Liverpool, and Barcelona.[6] Until 2009, clubs that had earned that badge were allowed to keep the European Champion Clubs' Cup and a new one was commissioned;[7] since 2009, the winning team each year has received a full-size replica of the trophy, while the original is retained by UEFA.[8]
A total of 23 clubs have won the Champions League/European Cup. Real Madrid hold the record for the most victories, having won the competition fourteen times, including the inaugural edition. They have also won the competition the most consecutive times, with five straight titles from 1956 to 1960. Juventus have been runners-up the most times, losing seven finals. Atlético Madrid is the only team to reach three finals without having won the trophy while Reims and Valencia have finished as runners-up twice without winning. Spain has provided the most champions, with nineteen wins from two clubs.[9] England have produced fifteen winners from a record six clubs and Italy have produced twelve winners from three clubs. English teams were banned from the competition for five years following the Heysel disaster in 1985.[10] The current champions are Manchester City, who beat Inter Milan 1–0 in the 2023 final.[11]
- ^ a b "Competition history". UEFA. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "Access list" (PDF). UEFA.com. 30 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "1997/98: Seventh heaven for Madrid". UEFA. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Liverpool get in Champions League". BBC Sport. 10 June 2005. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League Museum" (PDF). UEFA. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ Vieli, André, ed. (October 2005). "A brand-new trophy" (PDF). UEFA Direct (42). UEFA: 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2007/08" (PDF). UEFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Champions' League 2009/10" (PDF). UEFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ Haslam, Andrew (27 May 2009). "Spain savour European pre-eminence". UEFA. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ "1985: English teams banned after Heysel". BBC News. 31 May 1985. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League Finals 1956–2021". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.