UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is the most important football tournament for clubs in and around Europe. The tournament is organised by the European Football Association UEFA Champions League has been in existence since 1992. The tournament was previously known as European Cup football club tournament

The winner will advance to the FIFA Club World Championship (in the past-t/m 2004-for the two camp to the World Cup). Which club will qualify for the European Super Cup, the winner of the game between the Champions League and the winner of the UEFA Europa League (since the season 2009/10, therefor of the Europe Cup II and then that of the UEFA Cup).



Content
[hide] *1 History 
 * 1.1 European Cup 1
 * 1.2 Champions League 1992-1993
 * 1.2.1 Participation
 * 1.2.2 Tournament structure
 * 1.3 Champions League 1993-1994
 * 1.3.1 Participation
 * 1.3.2 Tournament structure
 * 1.4 Champions League 1994-1997
 * 1.4.1 Participation
 * 1.4.2 Tournament structure
 * 1.5 1997-1999 Champions League
 * 1.5.1 Participation
 * Tournament design 1.5.2
 * 1.6 Champions League 1999-2003
 * 1.6.1 Participation
 * 1.6.2 Tournament structure
 * 1.7 Champions League 2003-present
 * 1.7.1 Participation
 * 1.7.2 Tournament structure
 * 2 Participation
 * 2.1 preliminary rounds
 * 2.2 first round, group stage
 * 2.3 second round, knockout stage
 * 3 -finals
 * 3.1 UEFA Champions League
 * 3.2 European Cup 1
 * 4 Statistics
 * 4.1 Winners of all time
 * 4.2 Winners by country
 * Belgian and Dutch winners 4.3
 * 4.4 best scorers of all time
 * 4.5 Chairmen
 * 4.5.1 UEFA Champions League
 * 4.5.2 Europacup 1
 * 4.6 Fastest goals in the UEFA Champions League

European Cup 1
The European Cup I (Champions Cup official English name) was the most important European club tournament each season the champions from all at the UEFA Member Nations participated. Only in the early years there were some exceptions, including the Dutch PSV that took part in the 1955/56 season instead of the Dutch champion Willem II. To win the Cup, which is still being awarded to the winner of the Champions League, is also called "cup with the big ears" called. That "big ears" are derived from the Greek/Roman amphora, whose ears served as a carrying grip.

In the tournament, one team from each country, with any added the winner of the season before. The teams played a League according to the knock-out system, in which two matches were played per round: one home and one away game. The final, in may at a predetermined neutral location, however, was only one game. In 1991, that formula changed. First there were two normal knock-outrondes and of the best eight teams played a two pools were laid out that entire League. The winners of both groups played the final. In 1992, the tournament continued as the UEFA Champions League.

The tournament was held for the first time in the season 1955/56, Real Madrid was the winner of the first five editions and with the sixth win in 1966 this club record holder. Dutch clubs won the tournament a total of 6 times: in 1970, Feyenoord , AFC Ajax in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995 and PSV EINDHOVEN in 1988. In 1963 the first Dutch club Feyenoord reached the semi finals, in 1969 was the first Dutch club Ajax who reached the final. The best performance of a Belgian club Club Brugge 's the lost finale was in 1978.

The Champions League was launched in 1992 as a continuation of the European Cup football club tournament. In that year, the group stage was introduced. Later there are still changes the most important of which in 1997: since that time departed from the concept that only champions and title defenders were allowed to do with it.

Participation
Every country affiliated with the UEFA (except Liechtenstein) should delegate its champion. For the meanwhile fragmented Yugoslavia Slovenian Olimpija Ljubljana took part.

Tournament Structure
After the collapse of the Soviet Union there were lots of new countries. Therefore, a qualifying round for the champions of the 9 worst prestererende countries in Europe. Because Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia, youngIsrael members were in the UEFA, were also sentenced for these champions to this round.

After the preliminary round began the main tournament with 32 teams. Round 1 and 2 worked according to the knock-out system. The 8 clubs that these 2 rounds had survived, were divided into 2 groups. The winners of these 2 groups (Olympique Marseille and AC Milan) played against each other the final in the Olympiastadion in the German Munich.

Participation
Only the champions were allowed to participate again.

Tournament Structure
In this 2nd Edition of the Champions League even more countries were represented. For example, Albania, Moldova, Georgia, Croatia , Walesand Belarus were represented for the first time. The preliminary round was extended to a discussion of 20 clubs.

The 10 winners were joined by 22 other champions who then played the main event. After 2 knock-out rounds were again divided into 2 groups the 8 survivors. New was that now not only the winners of the Group had passed on, but also the clubs which finished 2nd in the group. So there was a semi-final in life called.

Participation
Only champions qualified. Interestingly, now only 16 Champions took part in the main tournament of the Champions League instead of 32 with the previous design. In addition, if only the champions of the 24 most successful countries participating in the Champions League. Champions of lower rated countries were condemned to participation in the UEFA cup.

Tournament Structure
After the qualification round (16 teams competed for the remaining 8 spots in the main tournament where the 8 best rated clubs all straight for had been placed) was immediately the group stage played. This consisted of 4 groups of 4 teams. After the group stage went the 2 best teams from each group advance to the knockout stage which began at the quarter-finals.

Participation
<p len="372" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Not only champions also qualified themselves, clubs from countries from the top 8 that 2nd finished in the Patriotic League participated. The champions of the countries in the top 8 were directly qualified for the group stage as the title holder. After the total collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia names now also the champions from the Caucasus and the Balkans share.

Tournament Structure
<p len="297" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By increasing the number of members was there a need for a 2nd preliminary round. After two heats were 24 teams admitted to the main tournament. These were divided into six groups of four teams each. The six group winners and the two best runners-up qualified for the quarter-finals.

Participation
<p len="302" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">To the commercial potential of the full Champions League, was chosen to more teams from the big countries to participate. This eventually went at the expense of countries without football culture, because the differences in budgets were enormous between top, sub-top and middle bracket of Europe.

Tournament Structure
<p len="521" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The group stage of 32 teams. Also admitted were from large countries more teams. As a result, there is a 3rd qualifying round was to come. After the knock-outfases of the heats went the main tournament with 32 teams from start. These were divided into 8 groups of 4 according to strength. The 2 best of each group went further. The 2nd round was also a group round, but this time only 4 groups of 4 teams. Here, too, kept hitting the 2 best teams of each pool by. This was followed by the knockout phase to the final.

Participation
<p lang="en" len="61" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The participation was the same for this period as in the previous one.

Tournament Structure
<p lang="en" len="103" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The second round was also a knock-outronde now because the contest last for European teams became too large.

Participation
<p len="742" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A club can be located for this tournament places by a high finishing position in the national competition of the previous year. Each country that is connected at the UEFA should delegate at least one and up to four clubs;the stronger the country, the more clubs are allowed to participate. The distribution is based on the position of the country on the UEFA coefficient rankings. Liechtenstein has no participant in this tournament because this country has no national competition; the seven clubs from all Liechtenstein play in the Swiss League.

<p len="163" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">To do the first round of the main tournament 32 clubs with it. A number of clubs is directly qualified and the other clubs should be through the preliminary rounds places.

<p len="227" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the season 2009/10 is a number of changes in the composition of the first round. There are 22 instead of 16 teams directly qualified and there will be at least 17 champions get involved instead of 10.

Preliminary Rounds
<p len="628" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In three heats, according to the knock-out system with a home and an away game, the teams are determined in the first round at the directly qualified clubs add may. In the first heats of the weaker countries clubs play against each other. In the second and third heats flows clubs of stronger countries in. When entering any club depends on the number of participating clubs and the number of free places in the first round.

<p len="322" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the season 2009/10 there are 10 places in the first round available for clubs that are not directly posted. Because in the heats the champions be separated from the non-champion teams, 5 of the 10 places will eventually be occupied by champions and 5 by non-champion teams.

<p lang="en" len="604" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The losers of the third heat scrolling through to the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League, the winners advance to the playoff round of the CL. the losers of this round will qualify for the group stage of the Europa League.

First round, group stage
<p len="319" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The first round of the tournament is played in eight groups of four clubs. The classification of these groups is determined by a "guided" draw, using coefficients should result in groups that are of about equal strength.Clubs from the same country can at this stage not affect each other.

<p len="556" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The numbers one and two from each pool going through to the second round, while the number three by may go lower in the second round of the Europa League caught on. For the number four of the group is theEuropean football for the season over. If several clubs have the same number of points, looks at it.

Second round, knockout stage
<p len="376" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The second round consists of knock-outwedstrijden with a home and away match. The eight group winners from the first round play in the round of 16 against a number two from the Group and have the advantage that they start with an away game. After that there is a free draw for the quarterfinals and the semifinals. The finale is one game at a predetermined location.

<p lang="en" len="274" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">During the seasons 1999-2003 is experimented with a second group round (16 teams in 4 groups), but because this is the football calendar crowded lacking the spectacle made and football (team went calculating play), is again passed on the knock-out system.

Belgian and Dutch winners
<p len="613" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Below is a list of Belgians and Dutch who won the tournament. It comes to players who were on the field during a victory. Players who were connected at a club, which won the tournament, but not in action came in the final, are not listed. <p len="13" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Belgians
 * Eric Gerets (1988)

Best scorers of all time
<p len="518" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Without the heat races, updated to 22 July 2014 <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" len="173" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1]  <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" len="173" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2] <p len="52" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">bold: still active

UEFA Champions League
<p len="49" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">* season still runs

Fastest goals in the UEFA Champions League
<p len="96" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">* Unofficial time measurement The players are part of the list of teams in italics