by Matthew Adams

Created on: May 21, 2009   Last Updated: September 03, 2009

The Champions League (or European Cup as previously referred) is Europe's top club contest. With the best teams, and a history dating back to the 1950s.

It was in 1955, that the French newspaper L'Equipe proposed a European club contest for its best teams. This proposal was followed with a meeting invitation by the paper, to the 18 club teams considered amongst Europe's best.

In the event, 16 of those 18 clubs met the meeting call. It was agreed that a 16 team European knockout cup be held with games played on a home and away basis. The champions of Europe's best leagues would qualify to play in the European Cup.

After approval by FIFA & the national associations, the first European Cup was held in 1955. In the event, the first final was played between Real Madrid and Rheims of France. Real Madrid won this game, 4-3, to become the first team to lift the trophy.

They would also become the first team to defend the European Cup in 1956. Then, they would win a further four European Cups before they would finally be replaced by another champion in the early '60s.

That decade also became notable for the first British club to win the European Cup. The great Celtic team won the European Cup in 1967, by beating Inter-Milan 2-1 in the final.

In 1968 Manchester Utd became the first English club to win the European Cup. By beating Benfica 4-1 in the final, they would put Munich behind them.

The decade of 1970 would see some great teams. Firstly, Ajax would win three back-to-back European Cups playing 'total football'. Then, the German team of Bayern Munich would win a further three European cups, including a 4-0 thrashing of Atletico in 1974. Liverpool would also win their first European Cup in 1976, marking the beginning of a great run for English clubs. Nottingham Forest would win two further European Cups in the same decade.

Unfortunate events in the 1980s would see English clubs temporarily banned from Europe, after the Juventus-Liverpool European Cup final debacle. In the event Juventus won the cup, and English clubs would return in the '90s.

By the early 1990s, the European Cup would change somewhat. The European Cup was revamped, with a group stage added. As such, from '93 the 16 teams would play in four groups of four teams, playing home and away, with the top two progressing to the knock out stage. And the European Cup, would become the Champions League.

From here, the Champions League has increased in size. In 1998, second place teams could qualify for the first time. Then, further teams from the top leagues finishing 3rd and 4th. As such, now there are up to 32 teams playing for the trophy, with an extra knockout stage for 16 teams.

Arsenal, were the first London club to make the final of the Champions League but lost 2-1 to Barcelona. Most recently, Manchester Utd are the current champions after winning an all-English club final with Chelsea.

So now, the Champions League is played between 32 clubs with a group stage. Certainly, while no longer just between the league winners, it remains Europe's best club event.

Sources: History of Football (Sunday Times)

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