The UEFA Champions League is a cup competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It is widely considered to be the most prestigious football club competition in the world.[1][2] The final of the competition has been the most watched annual sporting event worldwide, drawing 109 million television viewers in 2010, narrowly eclipsing the Super Bowl for the first time.[3]
Prior to 1992, the tournament was officially called the European Champion Clubs' Cup but was usually referred to as simply the European Cup. The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s the tournament began to be expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams. Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The UEFA Champions League should not be confused with the UEFA Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams join 22 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups consisting of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which ends with the final match in May. Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins, with Milan being the last club to successfully defend their title, in 1990. The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Real Madrid, who have won the competition nine times, including the first five seasons it was contested. Spain's La Liga is marginally the most successful league, having amassed 13 wins (9 with Real Madrid and 4 with Barcelona). Italy's Serie A is the league with most appearances in the final (26). England has produced the highest number of winning clubs (4), although English teams were banned from the competition for five years following the events at Heysel in 1985.[4]
Barcelona of Spain are the current champions, having beaten English side Manchester United in the 2011 final on 28 May 2011.
Prior to 1992, the tournament was officially called the European Champion Clubs' Cup but was usually referred to as simply the European Cup. The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s the tournament began to be expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams. Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The UEFA Champions League should not be confused with the UEFA Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams join 22 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups consisting of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which ends with the final match in May. Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins, with Milan being the last club to successfully defend their title, in 1990. The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Real Madrid, who have won the competition nine times, including the first five seasons it was contested. Spain's La Liga is marginally the most successful league, having amassed 13 wins (9 with Real Madrid and 4 with Barcelona). Italy's Serie A is the league with most appearances in the final (26). England has produced the highest number of winning clubs (4), although English teams were banned from the competition for five years following the events at Heysel in 1985.[4]
Barcelona of Spain are the current champions, having beaten English side Manchester United in the 2011 final on 28 May 2011.
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