1955-1956
Real Madrid CF 4-3 Stade de Reims Champagne(Di Stéfano 14, Rial 30 79, Marquitos 67; Leblond 6, Templin 10, Hidalgo 62)
Parc des Princes, Paris
The European Champion Clubs' Cup was the brainchild of Gabriel Hanot, editor of the French sports paper L'Equipe. His call, in December 1954, for a European inter-club championship was met with enthusiasm by the newly founded European football union, UEFA, and by September 1955 the competition was up and running.
The 16 entrants included seven national champions: RSC Anderlecht, AGF Århus, Djurgårdens IF FF, Milan AC, Real Madrid CF, Stade de Reims Champagne and SC Rot-Weiss Essen. But no English representative. This was a shame for Hanot, who had been upset by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's claim that they were the continent's best side after friendly wins over Kispest Honvéd FC and FC Spartak Moscow.
Madrid, in contrast, needed no persuading. They had tasted international success in the Latin Cup, which from 1949 pitted the Spanish champions against their French, Italian and Portuguese counterparts. In fact, Santiago Bernabéu's team did not just join the party; they brought the entertainment too, starting with a 7-0 aggregate defeat of Servette FC.
Their quarter-final opponents were FK Partizan, who had shared six goals with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the tournament curtain-raiser. The first leg took place on Christmas Day in Madrid, though there was little cheer for Partizan, recipients of a 4-0 thrashing. And while the Merengues lost the return 3-0, they went into a semi-final with Milan AC.
Featuring Swedish internationals Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, the Italian giants were just that. They had recovered from the setback of a 4-3 home loss to 1. FC Saarbrücken on their European debut to put eight goals past SK Rapid Wien in the quarter-finals. Yet Milanese hopes effectively ended with a late Alfredo di Stéfano strike in Madrid's 4-2 first-leg victory at Chamartín - the Spaniards progressing 5-4 on aggregate.
Reims were the pick of the other half of the draw and beat Scotland's Hibernian FC to book their place in the final in Paris on 13 June. Home advantage seemed to tell at the Parc des Princes when the French side raced into a 2-0 lead, then restored the advantage at 3-2 through Michel Hidalgo. But with centre forward Di Stéfano, winger Paco Gento and inside forward Héctor Rial on form, Madrid hit back. Manuel Marquitos restored parity before Rial sealed victory with the seventh goal of an exhilarating game.
Parc des Princes, Paris
The European Champion Clubs' Cup was the brainchild of Gabriel Hanot, editor of the French sports paper L'Equipe. His call, in December 1954, for a European inter-club championship was met with enthusiasm by the newly founded European football union, UEFA, and by September 1955 the competition was up and running.
The 16 entrants included seven national champions: RSC Anderlecht, AGF Århus, Djurgårdens IF FF, Milan AC, Real Madrid CF, Stade de Reims Champagne and SC Rot-Weiss Essen. But no English representative. This was a shame for Hanot, who had been upset by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's claim that they were the continent's best side after friendly wins over Kispest Honvéd FC and FC Spartak Moscow.
Madrid, in contrast, needed no persuading. They had tasted international success in the Latin Cup, which from 1949 pitted the Spanish champions against their French, Italian and Portuguese counterparts. In fact, Santiago Bernabéu's team did not just join the party; they brought the entertainment too, starting with a 7-0 aggregate defeat of Servette FC.
Their quarter-final opponents were FK Partizan, who had shared six goals with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the tournament curtain-raiser. The first leg took place on Christmas Day in Madrid, though there was little cheer for Partizan, recipients of a 4-0 thrashing. And while the Merengues lost the return 3-0, they went into a semi-final with Milan AC.
Featuring Swedish internationals Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, the Italian giants were just that. They had recovered from the setback of a 4-3 home loss to 1. FC Saarbrücken on their European debut to put eight goals past SK Rapid Wien in the quarter-finals. Yet Milanese hopes effectively ended with a late Alfredo di Stéfano strike in Madrid's 4-2 first-leg victory at Chamartín - the Spaniards progressing 5-4 on aggregate.
Reims were the pick of the other half of the draw and beat Scotland's Hibernian FC to book their place in the final in Paris on 13 June. Home advantage seemed to tell at the Parc des Princes when the French side raced into a 2-0 lead, then restored the advantage at 3-2 through Michel Hidalgo. But with centre forward Di Stéfano, winger Paco Gento and inside forward Héctor Rial on form, Madrid hit back. Manuel Marquitos restored parity before Rial sealed victory with the seventh goal of an exhilarating game.
1956-1957
Real Madrid CF 2-0 ACF Fiorentina(Di Stéfano 69p, Gento 75)
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
The second edition of the European Champion Clubs' Cup saw a new name in the hat, if not on the trophy. Manchester United FC defied Football League advice to join the starting field of 22 clubs; and Matt Busby's side swept aside any doubts about their commitment to the competition with a 10-0 thrashing of RSC Anderlecht.
Another feature of the preliminary round was BV Borussia Dortmund's tie with CA Spora Luxembourg, which went to a third match after ending 5-5 on aggregate. There was no away-goals' rule and Dortmund prevailed in the play-off only to fall at the second hurdle to United. The latter's reward was a quarter-final against Athletic Club Bilbao, which United won 6-5 over two legs.
The semi-finals would be the extent of the Red Devils' progress, however. The holders, Real Madrid CF, beat them 3-1 at home then drew 2-2 away to reach the final at their Chamartín stadium. UEFA had awarded hosting rights to the Spanish side the previous summer - and only SK Rapid Wien had looked capable of denying them the chance of defending the title in front of their own fans. The Austrian team, along with other top Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and Yugoslavian sides, had pioneered European club competition in the Mitropa Cup in the 1930s. Their pedigree was clear as they overcame a 4-2 reverse in the first round in Madrid to win 3-1 in Vienna; yet even they succumbed 2-0 in a replay.
So to the final, where an AC Fiorentina side including forwards Beppe Virgili, Miguel Montuori and Brazilian winger Julinho Botelho lay in wait. The Viola had seen off Grasshopper-Club and FK Crvena Zvezda, but never recovered from a disputed Alfredo di Stéfano penalty 20 minutes from time. Paco Gento completed the scoring to leave captain Miguel Muñoz to collect the cup from General Franco.
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
The second edition of the European Champion Clubs' Cup saw a new name in the hat, if not on the trophy. Manchester United FC defied Football League advice to join the starting field of 22 clubs; and Matt Busby's side swept aside any doubts about their commitment to the competition with a 10-0 thrashing of RSC Anderlecht.
Another feature of the preliminary round was BV Borussia Dortmund's tie with CA Spora Luxembourg, which went to a third match after ending 5-5 on aggregate. There was no away-goals' rule and Dortmund prevailed in the play-off only to fall at the second hurdle to United. The latter's reward was a quarter-final against Athletic Club Bilbao, which United won 6-5 over two legs.
The semi-finals would be the extent of the Red Devils' progress, however. The holders, Real Madrid CF, beat them 3-1 at home then drew 2-2 away to reach the final at their Chamartín stadium. UEFA had awarded hosting rights to the Spanish side the previous summer - and only SK Rapid Wien had looked capable of denying them the chance of defending the title in front of their own fans. The Austrian team, along with other top Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and Yugoslavian sides, had pioneered European club competition in the Mitropa Cup in the 1930s. Their pedigree was clear as they overcame a 4-2 reverse in the first round in Madrid to win 3-1 in Vienna; yet even they succumbed 2-0 in a replay.
So to the final, where an AC Fiorentina side including forwards Beppe Virgili, Miguel Montuori and Brazilian winger Julinho Botelho lay in wait. The Viola had seen off Grasshopper-Club and FK Crvena Zvezda, but never recovered from a disputed Alfredo di Stéfano penalty 20 minutes from time. Paco Gento completed the scoring to leave captain Miguel Muñoz to collect the cup from General Franco.
1957-1958
Real Madrid 3-2 AC Milan (aet)(Di Stéfano 74, Rial 79, Gento 107; Schiaffino 59, Grillo 77)
Roi Baudouin, Brussels
Real Madrid CF were European champions for a third time in 1957/58, yet the campaign was overshadowed by the air tragedy which befell Manchester United FC's Busby Babes in Munich. Eight players were killed, including England internationals Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor, when their plane crashed on take-off after refuelling following the side's quarter-final victory over FK Crvena Zvezda.
With manager Matt Busby also seriously injured, United lost to AC Milan in the semi-finals, despite having rallied to win the first leg 2-1 at Old Trafford. It was not the first time the Italian side - 5-2 aggregate victors here - had struggled through: they had needed a play-off in neutral Zurich to get past SK Rapid Wien in the Preliminary Round.
Madrid, meanwhile, took a much smoother route to the final. The holders hit R. Antwerp FC for six at Chamartín before knocking eight past Sevilla FC, their bridesmaids in the league the year before. They carried this devastating home form into the semi-finals, where Vasas SC were beaten 4-0 before defeating the champions 2-0 in Budapest.
The final at Brussels' Heysel Stadium was a meeting of Europe's heavyweights. Where the Merengues had strengthened with the signing of Stade de Reims Champagne striker Raymond Kopa, the Rossoneri could call on South Americans Juan Schiaffino and Ernesto Grillo. In the event, the key man was Alfredo di Stéfano. He scored one of two Madrid equalisers before Paco Gento settled the match in the Spanish side's favour, at 3-2, in the second period of extra time.
Roi Baudouin, Brussels
Real Madrid CF were European champions for a third time in 1957/58, yet the campaign was overshadowed by the air tragedy which befell Manchester United FC's Busby Babes in Munich. Eight players were killed, including England internationals Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor, when their plane crashed on take-off after refuelling following the side's quarter-final victory over FK Crvena Zvezda.
With manager Matt Busby also seriously injured, United lost to AC Milan in the semi-finals, despite having rallied to win the first leg 2-1 at Old Trafford. It was not the first time the Italian side - 5-2 aggregate victors here - had struggled through: they had needed a play-off in neutral Zurich to get past SK Rapid Wien in the Preliminary Round.
Madrid, meanwhile, took a much smoother route to the final. The holders hit R. Antwerp FC for six at Chamartín before knocking eight past Sevilla FC, their bridesmaids in the league the year before. They carried this devastating home form into the semi-finals, where Vasas SC were beaten 4-0 before defeating the champions 2-0 in Budapest.
The final at Brussels' Heysel Stadium was a meeting of Europe's heavyweights. Where the Merengues had strengthened with the signing of Stade de Reims Champagne striker Raymond Kopa, the Rossoneri could call on South Americans Juan Schiaffino and Ernesto Grillo. In the event, the key man was Alfredo di Stéfano. He scored one of two Madrid equalisers before Paco Gento settled the match in the Spanish side's favour, at 3-2, in the second period of extra time.
1958-1959
Real Madrid CF 2-0 Stade de Reims Champagne(Mateos 1, Di Stéfano 47)
Neckarstadion, Stuttgart
The 1958/59 season saw a rerun of the original European Champion Clubs' Cup final between Real Madrid CF and Stade de Reims Champagne. Albert Batteux's team included Just Fontaine, the French international striker who had hit 13 goals in the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. It was Fontaine who scored twice as Reims recovered a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win their quarter-final against R. Standard de Liège 3-2 on aggregate.
Fontaine and Co also had to come from behind in the semi-final with BSC Young Boys - though they were not alone in their struggles. Madrid, boosted by the arrival of the great Hungarian Ferenc Puskás, needed Doña Fortuna on their side in the last-four clash with neighbours Club Atlético de Madrid. Atlético had qualified for the competition as runners-up to Madrid in the Spanish first division, yet here they were anything but second best. After losing 2-1 at Chamartín, the Rojiblancos forced a play-off by winning the second leg through a solitary Enrique Collar strike. But Puskás's class told as the Galloping Major grabbed the third and deciding goal in the replay.
Another great name of the mid-1950s failed to live up to billing elsewhere in the draw, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC falling to FC Schalke 04 in the First Round. Still, Spanish expectations were met in the final as Enrique Mateos and Alfredo di Stéfano gave Madrid - hamstrung by the absence of Puskás and an early injury to Raymond Kopa - a routine 2-0 victory.
Real Madrid CF 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt(Di Stéfano 27 30 73, Puskás 46 56p 60 71 ; Kress 18, Stein 72 75)
Hampden Park, Glasgow
This was the year Real Madrid CF claimed their fifth consecutive European Champion Clubs' Cup with probably their most famous victory of all: a 7-3 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in Glasgow. Few, however, will remember that it was great rivals FC Barcelona who almost denied Miguel Muñoz's team their crowning glory.
Coached by Helenio Herrera, and fielding the attacking might of Hungarians Zoltán Czibor, Sandor Kocsis and Ladislav Kubala, the Catalan side defeated Milan AC 7-1 on aggregate before destroying Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the last eight - winning 4-0 at Camp Nou then 5-2 at Molineux. In the semi-finals, though, the Spanish champions were unable to dislodge the European champions.
Madrid, conquerors of AS Jeunesse Esch and OGC Nice, preserved their 100 per cent home record in the competition with a 3-1 first-leg victory against Barcelona in the semi-finals, secured by goals from Alfredo di Stéfano, a brace, and Ferenc Puskás. They then salted the wound with a repeat result in Catalonia. Meanwhile, Madrid's final opponents, Eintracht, registered their intent with 12 goals in the last-four meeting with Rangers FC.
That, however, was no preparation for events at Hampden Park where Madrid mesmerised the capacity 127,000 crowd. Richard Kress's early opener for Eintracht did nothing to deter the Spanish side, who raced into a 3-1 interval lead. And by the time the Germans next found the target, which they did twice late on, Puskás and Di Stéfano had shared seven goals between them.
SL Benfica 3-2 FC Barcelona
Football's muses had been kind to Real Madrid CF. But by 1960/61, its monopolies' commission had tired of the men in white. So the mantle of power moved from one Iberian capital to another, Lisbon.
In fact, SL Benfica did not even have to beat the holders; that task fell to FC Barcelona, who succeeded where they had failed the previous year, eliminating the Merengues 4-3 on aggregate in the second round. Two goals from Spanish international Luis Suárez made Barcelona the first team to avoid defeat in Madrid in the competition's history, and they followed that result, a 2-2 draw, with a 2-1 triumph at Camp Nou. Further victories, over SK Hradec Králové in the quarter-finals and Hamburger SV in the semis (albeit after a replay), then sealed the Catalan side's status as favourites. Benfica had other ideas, though.
They had enjoyed comfortable wins against Újpesti TE, AGF Århus and SK Rapid Wien. Indeed, the most serious scenario Bela Guttmann's team faced was the crowd trouble in Vienna which caused their semi-final second leg to be abandoned with Benfica 4-1 up on aggregate. The final in Berne would be a much closer affair. Sandor Kocsis and Zoltán Czibor scored for Barcelona in the same stadium where, seven years earlier, they had lost a FIFA World Cup final with Hungary. But goals in between - and against the run of play - from José Águas, Mario Coluna and an own goal from Antonio Ramallets wrested the trophy from Spanish hands. The Eagles had taken flight.
SL Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid CF(José Águas 25, Cavém 33, Mário Coluna 50, Eusébio 64 69; Puskás 18 23 39)
Olympisch, Amsterdam
Twenty-nine teams entered the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1961/62. Despite the increased competition, two familiar names emerged to contest a classic final in Amsterdam: SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF. The holders had reinforced with the signing of Mozambique-born striker Eusébio, and it was he who inspired their 4-3 aggregate victory over Tottenham Hotspur FC in the semi-finals.
Spurs, conquerors of KS Górnik Zabrze, Feyenoord and Dukla Prague, had just claimed the English double of first division championship and FA Cup and were one of a number of crack sides in the draw. Another, Juventus FC, complete with Welsh and Argentinian internationals John Charles and Omar Sivori, had provided Madrid with their toughest test in the quarter-finals. Alfredo di Stéfano's goal separated the sides in the first leg in Turin. But the Italian side won by the same margin at Chamartín, so ending Madrid's unbeaten home record in Europe. This meant a play-off in Paris, which finished 3-1 in favour of Madrid.
In this form - with Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás and Luis Del Sol at their peak - the Merengues represented a major challenge to a Benfica side many had thought lucky to beat FC Barcelona the previous season. So it proved as a Puskás hat-trick gave Madrid a 3-2 interval lead in the final. Yet the Lisbon team rallied, levelling through Mario Coluna before the rising star, Eusébio, settled the match with two cannonball strikes. 
AC Milan 2-1 SL Benfica(Altafini 58 69; Eusébio 19)
Wembley, London
Gianni Rivera, Cesare Maldini, Giovanni Trapattoni ... just three of the reasons why Milan AC were Italy's first winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1962/63. Another, of course, was the goals of Brazil's José Altafini. He hit 14 of them in the competition – including eight against US Luxembourg in the opening round – as Nereo Rocco's men brushed aside Ipswich Town FC, Galatasaray SK and Dundee FC en route to the final.
Dundee had become the second Scottish team to reach the last four after Hibernian FC in 1956, but a 1-0 triumph at Dens Park was no consolation for the 5-1 hammering they took at San Siro in the semi-final first leg. SL Benfica, bidding for a third straight win in the competition, had a much rougher ride to Wembley. After a Eusébio hat-trick had seen off IFK Norrköping, the holders narrowly overcame Dukla Prague, and then Feyenoord 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final.
That they made it, however, left the business of giant slaying to RSC Anderlecht. The Belgian side's first European scalp was a mighty one: that of Real Madrid CF, whom they beat 1-0 in Brussels after a 3-3 draw in Spain in the Preliminary Round. The final itself brought together two Goliaths in centre forwards Altafini and Eusébio. The latter opened the scoring in the first half; the former responded in the second, twice running on to passes from playmaker Rivera to give Milan a 2-1 victory. 
Neckarstadion, Stuttgart
The 1958/59 season saw a rerun of the original European Champion Clubs' Cup final between Real Madrid CF and Stade de Reims Champagne. Albert Batteux's team included Just Fontaine, the French international striker who had hit 13 goals in the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. It was Fontaine who scored twice as Reims recovered a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win their quarter-final against R. Standard de Liège 3-2 on aggregate.
Fontaine and Co also had to come from behind in the semi-final with BSC Young Boys - though they were not alone in their struggles. Madrid, boosted by the arrival of the great Hungarian Ferenc Puskás, needed Doña Fortuna on their side in the last-four clash with neighbours Club Atlético de Madrid. Atlético had qualified for the competition as runners-up to Madrid in the Spanish first division, yet here they were anything but second best. After losing 2-1 at Chamartín, the Rojiblancos forced a play-off by winning the second leg through a solitary Enrique Collar strike. But Puskás's class told as the Galloping Major grabbed the third and deciding goal in the replay.
Another great name of the mid-1950s failed to live up to billing elsewhere in the draw, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC falling to FC Schalke 04 in the First Round. Still, Spanish expectations were met in the final as Enrique Mateos and Alfredo di Stéfano gave Madrid - hamstrung by the absence of Puskás and an early injury to Raymond Kopa - a routine 2-0 victory.
1959-1960
Real Madrid CF 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt(Di Stéfano 27 30 73, Puskás 46 56p 60 71 ; Kress 18, Stein 72 75)
Hampden Park, Glasgow
This was the year Real Madrid CF claimed their fifth consecutive European Champion Clubs' Cup with probably their most famous victory of all: a 7-3 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in Glasgow. Few, however, will remember that it was great rivals FC Barcelona who almost denied Miguel Muñoz's team their crowning glory.
Coached by Helenio Herrera, and fielding the attacking might of Hungarians Zoltán Czibor, Sandor Kocsis and Ladislav Kubala, the Catalan side defeated Milan AC 7-1 on aggregate before destroying Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the last eight - winning 4-0 at Camp Nou then 5-2 at Molineux. In the semi-finals, though, the Spanish champions were unable to dislodge the European champions.
Madrid, conquerors of AS Jeunesse Esch and OGC Nice, preserved their 100 per cent home record in the competition with a 3-1 first-leg victory against Barcelona in the semi-finals, secured by goals from Alfredo di Stéfano, a brace, and Ferenc Puskás. They then salted the wound with a repeat result in Catalonia. Meanwhile, Madrid's final opponents, Eintracht, registered their intent with 12 goals in the last-four meeting with Rangers FC.
That, however, was no preparation for events at Hampden Park where Madrid mesmerised the capacity 127,000 crowd. Richard Kress's early opener for Eintracht did nothing to deter the Spanish side, who raced into a 3-1 interval lead. And by the time the Germans next found the target, which they did twice late on, Puskás and Di Stéfano had shared seven goals between them.
1960-1961
SL Benfica 3-2 FC Barcelona
Football's muses had been kind to Real Madrid CF. But by 1960/61, its monopolies' commission had tired of the men in white. So the mantle of power moved from one Iberian capital to another, Lisbon.
In fact, SL Benfica did not even have to beat the holders; that task fell to FC Barcelona, who succeeded where they had failed the previous year, eliminating the Merengues 4-3 on aggregate in the second round. Two goals from Spanish international Luis Suárez made Barcelona the first team to avoid defeat in Madrid in the competition's history, and they followed that result, a 2-2 draw, with a 2-1 triumph at Camp Nou. Further victories, over SK Hradec Králové in the quarter-finals and Hamburger SV in the semis (albeit after a replay), then sealed the Catalan side's status as favourites. Benfica had other ideas, though.
They had enjoyed comfortable wins against Újpesti TE, AGF Århus and SK Rapid Wien. Indeed, the most serious scenario Bela Guttmann's team faced was the crowd trouble in Vienna which caused their semi-final second leg to be abandoned with Benfica 4-1 up on aggregate. The final in Berne would be a much closer affair. Sandor Kocsis and Zoltán Czibor scored for Barcelona in the same stadium where, seven years earlier, they had lost a FIFA World Cup final with Hungary. But goals in between - and against the run of play - from José Águas, Mario Coluna and an own goal from Antonio Ramallets wrested the trophy from Spanish hands. The Eagles had taken flight.
1961-1962
SL Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid CF(José Águas 25, Cavém 33, Mário Coluna 50, Eusébio 64 69; Puskás 18 23 39)
Olympisch, Amsterdam
Twenty-nine teams entered the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1961/62. Despite the increased competition, two familiar names emerged to contest a classic final in Amsterdam: SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF. The holders had reinforced with the signing of Mozambique-born striker Eusébio, and it was he who inspired their 4-3 aggregate victory over Tottenham Hotspur FC in the semi-finals.
Spurs, conquerors of KS Górnik Zabrze, Feyenoord and Dukla Prague, had just claimed the English double of first division championship and FA Cup and were one of a number of crack sides in the draw. Another, Juventus FC, complete with Welsh and Argentinian internationals John Charles and Omar Sivori, had provided Madrid with their toughest test in the quarter-finals. Alfredo di Stéfano's goal separated the sides in the first leg in Turin. But the Italian side won by the same margin at Chamartín, so ending Madrid's unbeaten home record in Europe. This meant a play-off in Paris, which finished 3-1 in favour of Madrid.
In this form - with Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás and Luis Del Sol at their peak - the Merengues represented a major challenge to a Benfica side many had thought lucky to beat FC Barcelona the previous season. So it proved as a Puskás hat-trick gave Madrid a 3-2 interval lead in the final. Yet the Lisbon team rallied, levelling through Mario Coluna before the rising star, Eusébio, settled the match with two cannonball strikes.
1962-1963
AC Milan 2-1 SL Benfica(Altafini 58 69; Eusébio 19)
Wembley, London
Gianni Rivera, Cesare Maldini, Giovanni Trapattoni ... just three of the reasons why Milan AC were Italy's first winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1962/63. Another, of course, was the goals of Brazil's José Altafini. He hit 14 of them in the competition – including eight against US Luxembourg in the opening round – as Nereo Rocco's men brushed aside Ipswich Town FC, Galatasaray SK and Dundee FC en route to the final.
Dundee had become the second Scottish team to reach the last four after Hibernian FC in 1956, but a 1-0 triumph at Dens Park was no consolation for the 5-1 hammering they took at San Siro in the semi-final first leg. SL Benfica, bidding for a third straight win in the competition, had a much rougher ride to Wembley. After a Eusébio hat-trick had seen off IFK Norrköping, the holders narrowly overcame Dukla Prague, and then Feyenoord 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final.
That they made it, however, left the business of giant slaying to RSC Anderlecht. The Belgian side's first European scalp was a mighty one: that of Real Madrid CF, whom they beat 1-0 in Brussels after a 3-3 draw in Spain in the Preliminary Round. The final itself brought together two Goliaths in centre forwards Altafini and Eusébio. The latter opened the scoring in the first half; the former responded in the second, twice running on to passes from playmaker Rivera to give Milan a 2-1 victory.
1963-1964
FC Internazionale Milano 3-1 Real Madrid CF(Mazzola 43 76, Milani 61; Felo 70)
Praterstadion, Vienna
The 1963/64 season marked a sea change in European football. The most compelling evidence of this came in the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup where Helenio Herrera's FC Internazionale Milano beat a fading Real Madrid CF 3-1 in Vienna. Thus the baton of power passed to a team synonymous with the catenaccio style of play.
On solid foundations, including sweeper Armando Picchi and full back Giacinto Facchetti, former FC Barcelona coach Herrera had grafted Spain's Luis Suárez, Brazil's Jair and Italy's own Sandro Mazzola, the young inside forward whose father, ex-Torino Calcio captain Valentino, had died in the Superga air tragedy of 1949.
This blend proved too strong for Everton FC, defeated 1-0 on aggregate in the opening round, AS Monaco FC, FK Partizan and semi-final opponents BV Borussia Dortmund. In the other half of the draw, holders Milan AC overcame IFK Norrköping before having the misfortune to meet a fired-up Madrid in the quarter-finals. The Merengues ran out 4-1 winners in the Spanish capital then lost 2-0 at San Siro - enough to earn a last-four clash with FC Zürich, who were dispatched with ease.
That, however, would be the last olé for Sres Puskás and Di Stéfano. While the 38-year-olds foundered on a miserly Inter rearguard at the Prater stadium, Mazzola was magic in the Nerazzurri attack. His two goals sandwiched another from Aurelio Milani, and all Madrid could muster by way of a reply was a consolation strike from Felo.
Praterstadion, Vienna
The 1963/64 season marked a sea change in European football. The most compelling evidence of this came in the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup where Helenio Herrera's FC Internazionale Milano beat a fading Real Madrid CF 3-1 in Vienna. Thus the baton of power passed to a team synonymous with the catenaccio style of play.
On solid foundations, including sweeper Armando Picchi and full back Giacinto Facchetti, former FC Barcelona coach Herrera had grafted Spain's Luis Suárez, Brazil's Jair and Italy's own Sandro Mazzola, the young inside forward whose father, ex-Torino Calcio captain Valentino, had died in the Superga air tragedy of 1949.
This blend proved too strong for Everton FC, defeated 1-0 on aggregate in the opening round, AS Monaco FC, FK Partizan and semi-final opponents BV Borussia Dortmund. In the other half of the draw, holders Milan AC overcame IFK Norrköping before having the misfortune to meet a fired-up Madrid in the quarter-finals. The Merengues ran out 4-1 winners in the Spanish capital then lost 2-0 at San Siro - enough to earn a last-four clash with FC Zürich, who were dispatched with ease.
That, however, would be the last olé for Sres Puskás and Di Stéfano. While the 38-year-olds foundered on a miserly Inter rearguard at the Prater stadium, Mazzola was magic in the Nerazzurri attack. His two goals sandwiched another from Aurelio Milani, and all Madrid could muster by way of a reply was a consolation strike from Felo.
1964-1965
FC Internazionale Milano 1-0 SL Benfica
(Jair 43)
Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Of the 31 teams that entered the 1964/65 competition, Internazionale FC were again No1. The Nerazzurri emulated Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica's achievement in winning back-to-back European Champion Clubs' Cups by beating the latter team 1-0 in the final at San Siro. But as with the muddy, waterlogged pitch, so with the manner of victory. This was not a win for the purist.
Appearing in their fourth final in five years, Benfica were undone first by the conditions, which stymied their passing game, then by Jair's goal close to half time. Certainly, luck was on the Italians' side from the moment UEFA awarded the final to their home ground - the precedent having been set in 1956/57 when Madrid played AC Fiorentina at Chamartín.
Donna Fortuna was also in attendance when Inter edged past Rangers FC in the last eight; and again when they overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Liverpool FC 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals. European debutants Liverpool questioned the legality of Joaquín Peiró's goal after the striker 'stole' a bounced ball from goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence.
While Inter struggled through, Benfica took the points for artistic merit. Eusébio and Co embarrassed Madrid 5-1 at the Da Luz stadium in the quarter-finals, then repeated the dose with a 5-0 dismantling of Vasas SC in the semis. That, though, was as good as it got for Lisbon's finest.
(Jair 43)
Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Of the 31 teams that entered the 1964/65 competition, Internazionale FC were again No1. The Nerazzurri emulated Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica's achievement in winning back-to-back European Champion Clubs' Cups by beating the latter team 1-0 in the final at San Siro. But as with the muddy, waterlogged pitch, so with the manner of victory. This was not a win for the purist.
Appearing in their fourth final in five years, Benfica were undone first by the conditions, which stymied their passing game, then by Jair's goal close to half time. Certainly, luck was on the Italians' side from the moment UEFA awarded the final to their home ground - the precedent having been set in 1956/57 when Madrid played AC Fiorentina at Chamartín.
Donna Fortuna was also in attendance when Inter edged past Rangers FC in the last eight; and again when they overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Liverpool FC 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals. European debutants Liverpool questioned the legality of Joaquín Peiró's goal after the striker 'stole' a bounced ball from goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence.
While Inter struggled through, Benfica took the points for artistic merit. Eusébio and Co embarrassed Madrid 5-1 at the Da Luz stadium in the quarter-finals, then repeated the dose with a 5-0 dismantling of Vasas SC in the semis. That, though, was as good as it got for Lisbon's finest.
1965-1966
Real Madrid CF 2-1 FK Partizan(Amaro 70, Serena 76; Vasović 55)
Heysel, Brussels
Old habits die hard, so it was no great surprise when Real Madrid CF returned to winning ways in 1965/66 with their sixth European Champion Clubs' Cup success. What was striking about this Madrid team, however, was a line-up showing eleven Spanish players for the final against FK Partizan - and captained by the veteran Paco Gento.
Another old-timer had enjoyed a less publicised, if more emphatic, swansong in the opening round against Feyenoord. Ferenc Puskás scored four goals, his last in Europe, as Madrid recovered from a 1-0 loss in Rotterdam to go through 5-1 on aggregate. Kilmarnock FC and RSC Anderlecht were then given equally short shrift en route to the semi-finals, where the Merengues faced holders Internazionale FC. José Martínez Pirri secured a 1-0 win at Chamartín before a 1-1 draw in the return at San Siro ended Inter hopes of a hat-trick of victories in the competition.
The other notable result that season came in Lisbon. A George Best-inspired Manchester United FC shattered SL Benfica's 100 per cent home record with a 5-1 triumph to add to the 3-2 scoreline at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. But if United were expecting a procession to the Brussels final, they were to be disappointed. More apples fell from carts as Partizan beat the English side 2-1 on aggregate to become the first finalists from Eastern Europe. Another upset was on the cards in the final when Velibor Vasović put the Yugoslav side in front at the Heysel Stadium, but this time Madrid had the answers, replying through Amancio Amaro and Fernando Serena in the last 20 minutes to take the trophy.
Heysel, Brussels
Old habits die hard, so it was no great surprise when Real Madrid CF returned to winning ways in 1965/66 with their sixth European Champion Clubs' Cup success. What was striking about this Madrid team, however, was a line-up showing eleven Spanish players for the final against FK Partizan - and captained by the veteran Paco Gento.
Another old-timer had enjoyed a less publicised, if more emphatic, swansong in the opening round against Feyenoord. Ferenc Puskás scored four goals, his last in Europe, as Madrid recovered from a 1-0 loss in Rotterdam to go through 5-1 on aggregate. Kilmarnock FC and RSC Anderlecht were then given equally short shrift en route to the semi-finals, where the Merengues faced holders Internazionale FC. José Martínez Pirri secured a 1-0 win at Chamartín before a 1-1 draw in the return at San Siro ended Inter hopes of a hat-trick of victories in the competition.
The other notable result that season came in Lisbon. A George Best-inspired Manchester United FC shattered SL Benfica's 100 per cent home record with a 5-1 triumph to add to the 3-2 scoreline at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. But if United were expecting a procession to the Brussels final, they were to be disappointed. More apples fell from carts as Partizan beat the English side 2-1 on aggregate to become the first finalists from Eastern Europe. Another upset was on the cards in the final when Velibor Vasović put the Yugoslav side in front at the Heysel Stadium, but this time Madrid had the answers, replying through Amancio Amaro and Fernando Serena in the last 20 minutes to take the trophy.
1966-1967
Celtic FC 2-1 FC Internazionale Milano(Gemmell 63, Chalmers 84; Mazzola 7p)
Nacional de Jamor, Lisbon
"It was inevitable. Sooner or later the Inter of [Helenio] Herrera, the Inter of catenaccio, of marginal victories, had to pay for their refusal to play entertaining football." Thus argued the Portuguese newspaper Mundo Desportivo after Celtic FC became the first non-Latin winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1966/67.
The Scottish team's victory – one of open play over the "negative football" of FC Internazionale Milano – was all the more remarkable because manager Jock Stein had fielded ten Glasgow-born players in the final at Lisbon's Estádio Nacional. The local boys made good, though, replying to Sandro Mazzola's early penalty and Inter's spoiling tactics with second-half goals from Tommy Gemmell and Steve Chalmers.
The Italian side had been clear favourites to lift the trophy. Although they needed a play-off to beat FC CSKA Sofia in the semi-finals, the Nerazzurri had knocked out holders Real Madrid CF in the quarter-finals, 3-0 on aggregate. Yet Celtic's quality was also clear as they disposed of FC Zürich, FC Nantes Atlantique, FK Vojvodina and Dukla Prague.
The closest-run thing for them was the last-eight clash with Vojvodina, surprise second-round conquerors of Club Atlético de Madrid. One-nil up at Celtic Park after a 1-0 reverse in Yugoslavia, Stein's men were spared the potential banana skin of a replay by an 89th-minute header from Billy McNeill. That year's other big achievers were Linfield FC: the Northern Irish champions reached the quarter-finals where they were beaten 1-0 by CSKA Sofia after a 2-2 draw in Belfast.
Nacional de Jamor, Lisbon
"It was inevitable. Sooner or later the Inter of [Helenio] Herrera, the Inter of catenaccio, of marginal victories, had to pay for their refusal to play entertaining football." Thus argued the Portuguese newspaper Mundo Desportivo after Celtic FC became the first non-Latin winners of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1966/67.
The Scottish team's victory – one of open play over the "negative football" of FC Internazionale Milano – was all the more remarkable because manager Jock Stein had fielded ten Glasgow-born players in the final at Lisbon's Estádio Nacional. The local boys made good, though, replying to Sandro Mazzola's early penalty and Inter's spoiling tactics with second-half goals from Tommy Gemmell and Steve Chalmers.
The Italian side had been clear favourites to lift the trophy. Although they needed a play-off to beat FC CSKA Sofia in the semi-finals, the Nerazzurri had knocked out holders Real Madrid CF in the quarter-finals, 3-0 on aggregate. Yet Celtic's quality was also clear as they disposed of FC Zürich, FC Nantes Atlantique, FK Vojvodina and Dukla Prague.
The closest-run thing for them was the last-eight clash with Vojvodina, surprise second-round conquerors of Club Atlético de Madrid. One-nil up at Celtic Park after a 1-0 reverse in Yugoslavia, Stein's men were spared the potential banana skin of a replay by an 89th-minute header from Billy McNeill. That year's other big achievers were Linfield FC: the Northern Irish champions reached the quarter-finals where they were beaten 1-0 by CSKA Sofia after a 2-2 draw in Belfast.
1967-1968
Manchester United FC 4-1 SL Benfica (aet)(Charlton 53 99, Best 92, Kidd 94; Graça 79)
Wembley, London
British rule extended into a second season in 1967/68, as Manchester United FC marked the tenth anniversary of the Munich air tragedy by lifting the European Champion Clubs' Cup against SL Benfica in London. United had picked up the gauntlet after holders Celtic FC lost to FC Dynamo Kyiv in the first round. They beat Hibernians FC, FK Sarajevo, KS Górnik Zabrze and Real Madrid CF on the road to Wembley, surviving a number of scares along the way.
Madrid tension
Matt Busby's side failed to win a single away game, a statistic that almost cost them dear in the semi-finals. Three-one down in the return leg in Madrid, United were facing a fourth defeat at this stage of the competition until late strikes by David Sadler and Bill Foulkes carried them through, 4-3 on aggregate.
Stepney save
Benfica, meanwhile, had been the first team to win a tie on the new away goals' rule. This helped them past Glentoran FC in the first round, before further wins against AS Saint-Etienne, Vasas SC and Juventus FC, 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. However, Portuguese luck ran out in the final at Wembley, just as it had two years earlier in Portugal¹s FIFA World Cup semi-final against England. Alex Stepney's late save from Eusébio sent the match into extra time after Jaime Graça had cancelled out Bobby Charlton's 54th-minute opener. And when Munich survivor Charlton struck for a second time, the result was beyond doubt, goals from George Best and Brian Kidd merely icing United's cake.
Wembley, London
British rule extended into a second season in 1967/68, as Manchester United FC marked the tenth anniversary of the Munich air tragedy by lifting the European Champion Clubs' Cup against SL Benfica in London. United had picked up the gauntlet after holders Celtic FC lost to FC Dynamo Kyiv in the first round. They beat Hibernians FC, FK Sarajevo, KS Górnik Zabrze and Real Madrid CF on the road to Wembley, surviving a number of scares along the way.
Madrid tension
Matt Busby's side failed to win a single away game, a statistic that almost cost them dear in the semi-finals. Three-one down in the return leg in Madrid, United were facing a fourth defeat at this stage of the competition until late strikes by David Sadler and Bill Foulkes carried them through, 4-3 on aggregate.
Stepney save
Benfica, meanwhile, had been the first team to win a tie on the new away goals' rule. This helped them past Glentoran FC in the first round, before further wins against AS Saint-Etienne, Vasas SC and Juventus FC, 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. However, Portuguese luck ran out in the final at Wembley, just as it had two years earlier in Portugal¹s FIFA World Cup semi-final against England. Alex Stepney's late save from Eusébio sent the match into extra time after Jaime Graça had cancelled out Bobby Charlton's 54th-minute opener. And when Munich survivor Charlton struck for a second time, the result was beyond doubt, goals from George Best and Brian Kidd merely icing United's cake.
1968-1969
AC Milan 4-1 AFC Ajax(Prati 8 40 75, Sormani 67; Vasović 60p)
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Manchester had two goes at winning the 1969 European Champion Clubs' Cup, but English champions Manchester City FC lost to Fenerbahçe SK in the first round, while holders Manchester United FC fell to Milan AC at the second-last. The Italian side's 2-1 aggregate success was all the more admirable given that they had managed to stop Denis Law scoring.
The Scottish international had hit seven goals in United's 10-2 rout of Waterford United FC, and another two in the second round against RSC Anderlecht. No matter: it was Nereo Rocco's side, conquerors of IFK Malmö FK and Celtic FC, who were through to the final at Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, their opponents being AFC Ajax.
Rinus Michel's team had beaten SL Benfica 3-0 in a quarter-final replay with two goals from a young Johan Cruyff. This after overhauling a 3-1 first-leg deficit by winning the second leg by the same margin in Lisbon. Ajax then defeated FC Spartak Trnava of Czechoslovakia - one of few Eastern European teams to have avoided a boycott of the tournament - 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Yet the Dutch side's inexperience would tell against them on the big day. Pierino Prati, with the first hat-trick in a final since Ferenc Puskás in 1962, and Angelo Sormani gave the Rossoneri a comfortable 4-1 victory. Milan were European champions for a second time, adding club football's prize bauble to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup they had lifted a year before.
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Manchester had two goes at winning the 1969 European Champion Clubs' Cup, but English champions Manchester City FC lost to Fenerbahçe SK in the first round, while holders Manchester United FC fell to Milan AC at the second-last. The Italian side's 2-1 aggregate success was all the more admirable given that they had managed to stop Denis Law scoring.
The Scottish international had hit seven goals in United's 10-2 rout of Waterford United FC, and another two in the second round against RSC Anderlecht. No matter: it was Nereo Rocco's side, conquerors of IFK Malmö FK and Celtic FC, who were through to the final at Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, their opponents being AFC Ajax.
Rinus Michel's team had beaten SL Benfica 3-0 in a quarter-final replay with two goals from a young Johan Cruyff. This after overhauling a 3-1 first-leg deficit by winning the second leg by the same margin in Lisbon. Ajax then defeated FC Spartak Trnava of Czechoslovakia - one of few Eastern European teams to have avoided a boycott of the tournament - 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Yet the Dutch side's inexperience would tell against them on the big day. Pierino Prati, with the first hat-trick in a final since Ferenc Puskás in 1962, and Angelo Sormani gave the Rossoneri a comfortable 4-1 victory. Milan were European champions for a second time, adding club football's prize bauble to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup they had lifted a year before.
1969-1970
AC Milan 4-1 AFC Ajax(Prati 8 40 75, Sormani 67; Vasović 60p)
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Manchester had two goes at winning the 1969 European Champion Clubs' Cup, but English champions Manchester City FC lost to Fenerbahçe SK in the first round, while holders Manchester United FC fell to Milan AC at the second-last. The Italian side's 2-1 aggregate success was all the more admirable given that they had managed to stop Denis Law scoring.
The Scottish international had hit seven goals in United's 10-2 rout of Waterford United FC, and another two in the second round against RSC Anderlecht. No matter: it was Nereo Rocco's side, conquerors of IFK Malmö FK and Celtic FC, who were through to the final at Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, their opponents being AFC Ajax.
Rinus Michel's team had beaten SL Benfica 3-0 in a quarter-final replay with two goals from a young Johan Cruyff. This after overhauling a 3-1 first-leg deficit by winning the second leg by the same margin in Lisbon. Ajax then defeated FC Spartak Trnava of Czechoslovakia - one of few Eastern European teams to have avoided a boycott of the tournament - 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Yet the Dutch side's inexperience would tell against them on the big day. Pierino Prati, with the first hat-trick in a final since Ferenc Puskás in 1962, and Angelo Sormani gave the Rossoneri a comfortable 4-1 victory. Milan were European champions for a second time, adding club football's prize bauble to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup they had lifted a year before.
Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Manchester had two goes at winning the 1969 European Champion Clubs' Cup, but English champions Manchester City FC lost to Fenerbahçe SK in the first round, while holders Manchester United FC fell to Milan AC at the second-last. The Italian side's 2-1 aggregate success was all the more admirable given that they had managed to stop Denis Law scoring.
The Scottish international had hit seven goals in United's 10-2 rout of Waterford United FC, and another two in the second round against RSC Anderlecht. No matter: it was Nereo Rocco's side, conquerors of IFK Malmö FK and Celtic FC, who were through to the final at Real Madrid CF's Santiago Bernabéu stadium, their opponents being AFC Ajax.
Rinus Michel's team had beaten SL Benfica 3-0 in a quarter-final replay with two goals from a young Johan Cruyff. This after overhauling a 3-1 first-leg deficit by winning the second leg by the same margin in Lisbon. Ajax then defeated FC Spartak Trnava of Czechoslovakia - one of few Eastern European teams to have avoided a boycott of the tournament - 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Yet the Dutch side's inexperience would tell against them on the big day. Pierino Prati, with the first hat-trick in a final since Ferenc Puskás in 1962, and Angelo Sormani gave the Rossoneri a comfortable 4-1 victory. Milan were European champions for a second time, adding club football's prize bauble to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup they had lifted a year before.
1970-1971
AFC Ajax 2-0 Panathinaikos FC(Van Dijk 5, Haan 87)
Wembley, London
Totaal voetbal: a fluid form of catenaccio or total football? Whatever it was, it worked and in 1970/71 its chief exponent, AFC Ajax, were European champions. The Amsterdam side took over the mantle from Dutch rivals Feyenoord, the holders having been waylaid in the First Round by Romania's FC UTA Arad. That result was in keeping with the rest of the competition, for with no Real Madrid CF in the field, the underdogs were well and truly let out; indeed, only two of the 33 teams involved were previous winners.
Ajax accounted for the other, Celtic FC, in the quarter-finals, along with 17 Nëntori Tirana, FC Basel and Club Atlético de Madrid. In the other half of the draw, Panathinaikos FC benefited from a couple of rule changes to become the first Greek finalist. UEFA had introduced the penalty shoot-out as a way of deciding drawn ties - doing away with the unsatisfactory tossing of a coin. They had also decided that the away-goals' rule should apply to all rounds, and not just the first two as had been the case.
The latter change helped Ferenc Puskás's side past Everton FC - conquerors of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in the cup's first penalty drama - in the quarter-finals, then FK Crvena Zvezda in the semis. Here Panathinaikos overturned a 4-1 defeat in Belgrade to win the return 3-0 with two goals from Anton Antoniadis. The final was all Ajax, though. Dick van Dijk was first to show, putting Rinus Michel's team into an early lead; and with Johan Cruyff pulling the strings, Arie Haan sealed the victory on 87 minutes.
Wembley, London
Totaal voetbal: a fluid form of catenaccio or total football? Whatever it was, it worked and in 1970/71 its chief exponent, AFC Ajax, were European champions. The Amsterdam side took over the mantle from Dutch rivals Feyenoord, the holders having been waylaid in the First Round by Romania's FC UTA Arad. That result was in keeping with the rest of the competition, for with no Real Madrid CF in the field, the underdogs were well and truly let out; indeed, only two of the 33 teams involved were previous winners.
Ajax accounted for the other, Celtic FC, in the quarter-finals, along with 17 Nëntori Tirana, FC Basel and Club Atlético de Madrid. In the other half of the draw, Panathinaikos FC benefited from a couple of rule changes to become the first Greek finalist. UEFA had introduced the penalty shoot-out as a way of deciding drawn ties - doing away with the unsatisfactory tossing of a coin. They had also decided that the away-goals' rule should apply to all rounds, and not just the first two as had been the case.
The latter change helped Ferenc Puskás's side past Everton FC - conquerors of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in the cup's first penalty drama - in the quarter-finals, then FK Crvena Zvezda in the semis. Here Panathinaikos overturned a 4-1 defeat in Belgrade to win the return 3-0 with two goals from Anton Antoniadis. The final was all Ajax, though. Dick van Dijk was first to show, putting Rinus Michel's team into an early lead; and with Johan Cruyff pulling the strings, Arie Haan sealed the victory on 87 minutes.
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