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{{other uses|European Cup (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the men's UEFA Champions League|the women's UEFA Champions League|UEFA Women's Champions League|the competition trophy|European Champion Clubs' Cup}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| name = UEFA Champions League
| current = ]
| logo = ]
| founded = 1955 (1992 in its<br />current format)
| region = Europe (])
| number of teams = 32 (group stage)<br />76 or 77 (total)
| current champions = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ESP}} ] (10th title)}}
| most successful club = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ESP}} ] (10 titles)}}<ref>{{cite web |first=M. A. |last=Umair |title=Champions League Winners: The most successful countries and cities |url=http://soccerlens.com/champions-league-wins-per-country/107703/ |work=Soccerlens.com |publisher=Soccerlens.com |date=7 May 2013 |accessdate=10 October 2013 }}</ref>
| broadcasters = ]
| song = ]
| website = {{URL|http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague}}
}}
The '''UEFA Champions League''', known simply as the '''Champions League''', is an annual continental club ] competition organised by the ] (UEFA). It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the national league champion (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of each UEFA national association. The ] was the most watched UEFA Champions League final to date, as well as the most watched annual sporting event worldwide in 2013, drawing 360&nbsp;million television viewers.<ref name="record">{{cite web |last=Chishti |first=Faisal |title=Champions League final at Wembley drew TV audience of 360 million |url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/05/30/champions-league-final-at-wembley-drew-tv-audience-of-360-million/ |work=Sportskeeda |publisher=Absolute Sports Private Limited |accessdate=31 December 2013 |date=30 May 2013}}</ref>

Introduced in 1992, the competition replaced the '''European Champion Clubs' Cup''', or simply '''European Cup''', which had run since 1955, adding a group stage to the competition and allowing multiple entrants from certain countries.<ref name="UCL">{{cite news |title=Football's premier club competition |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The pre-1992 competition was initially a straight knockout tournament open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s, the format was expanded, incorporating a round-robin group stage to include clubs that finished runner-up of some nation's top level league.<ref name="UCL"/> While most of Europe's national leagues can still only enter their national league champion, Europe's strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams for the competition,<ref>{{cite news |title=Clubs |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/clubs/country/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> and will provide up to five teams from the ] onwards.<ref>{{cite news |title=UEFA Europa League further strengthened for 2015–18 cycle |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=1956122.html |publisher=] |date=24 May 2013 |accessdate=2 August 2013 }}</ref> Clubs that finish next-in-line in each nation's top level league, having not qualified for the UEFA Champions League competition, may be eligible for the next level ] competition.

In its present format, the UEFA Champions League begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams enter the group stage, joining 22 other teams qualified in advance. The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four teams and play each other in a ]. The eight group winners and eight runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match in May.<ref name="Matches">{{cite news |title=Matches |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/matches/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies for the ] and the ].<ref name="UEFA Super Cup">{{cite news |title=Club competition winners do battle |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="FIFA Club World Cup">{{cite news |title=FIFA Club World Cup |url=http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/ |publisher=] |accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref>

] is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament ten times, including its first five seasons. Spanish clubs have accumulated the highest number of victories (14 wins), followed by England and Italy (12 wins apiece). The competition has been won by 22 different clubs, 12 of which have won it more than once.<ref name="Winners">{{cite news |title=European Champions' Cup |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/ec1.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins; ] were the last holders to successfully defend their title, in the 1989–90 season.<ref name="1990S">{{cite news |title=1989/90 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1989/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The ] are Real Madrid, who secured their tenth win in the competition after defeating ] 4–1 in the ].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Joe|last1=Prince-Wright|title=Real Madrid win Champions League, seal tenth title after dramatic comeback|url=http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/24/real-madrid-are-european-champions-seal-tenth-title-after-dramatic-comeback/|publisher=NBC Sports|accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|European Cup and UEFA Champions League history}}
The first pan-European tournament was the Challenge Cup, a competition between clubs in the ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=García |first1=Javier |last2=Kutschera |first2=Ambrosius |last3=Schöggl |first3=Hans |last4=Stokkermans |first4=Karel |year=2009 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/oost-habs-challenge.html |title=Austria/Habsburg Monarchy&nbsp;– Challenge Cup 1897–1911 |publisher=] |trans_title= |editor= |accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> The ], a competition modelled after the Challenge Cup, was created in 1927 by Zeid Edilbi and played between Central European clubs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |year=2009 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/mit.html |title=Mitropa Cup |publisher=] }}</ref> In 1930, the ] ({{lang-fr|link=no|Nations Cup}}), the first attempt to create a cup for national champion clubs of Europe, was played and organised by Swiss club ].<ref name="Nations Cup">{{cite web |last1=Ceulemans |first1=Bart |last2=Michiel |first2=Zandbelt |year=2009 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/coupedesnations30.html |title=Coupe des Nations 1930 |publisher=] |trans_title= |editor= |accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> Held in ], it brought together ten champions from across the continent. The tournament was won by ] of Hungary.<ref name="Nations Cup"/> ]an nations came together to form the ] in 1949.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |last2=Gorgazzi |first2=Osvaldo José |year=2006 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/latin.html |title=Latin Cup |publisher=] |trans_title= |editor= |accessdate=5 September 2011 }}</ref> After receiving reports from his journalists over the highly successful '']'' of 1948, ], editor of '']'', began proposing the creation of a continent-wide tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=86xAxuxomoo&feature=related |title=Primeira Libertadores&nbsp;– História (Globo Esporte 09/02/20.l.08) |publisher=Youtube.com |date= |accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref> After ] declared ] "Champions of the World" following a successful run of friendlies in the 1950s, in particular ] against ], Hanot finally managed to convince UEFA to put into practice such a tournament.<ref name="UCL"/> It was conceived in Paris in 1955 as the '''European Champion Clubs' Cup'''.<ref name="UCL"/>

===1955–1966: Beginnings===
] – ], 12 April 1961]]
The first edition of the European Cup took place during the ] season.<ref name="1956S">{{cite news |title=1955/56 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1955/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1956R">{{cite news |title=European Champions' Cup 1955–56 – Details |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195556det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Sixteen teams participated: ] (Italy), ] (Denmark), ] (Belgium), ] (Sweden), ] (Poland), ] (Scotland), ] (]), ] (Netherlands), ] (Austria), ] (Spain), ] (]), ] (]), ] (Switzerland), ] (Portugal), ] (France), and ] (Hungary).<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first European Cup match took place on 4 September 1955, and ended in a 3–3 draw between Sporting CP and Partizan.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The first goal in European Cup history was scored by ] of Sporting CP.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/> The inaugural final took place at the ] between Stade de Reims and Real Madrid.<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid">{{cite news |title=Trofeos de Fútbol |url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Club/1193040475224/PalmaresTotal/Palmares.htm |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The Spanish squad came back from behind to win 4–3 thanks to goals from ] and ], as well as two goals from ].<ref name="1956S"/><ref name="1956R"/><ref name="Real Madrid"/>

Real Madrid successfully defended the trophy ] in their home stadium, the ], against ].<ref name="1957S">{{cite news |title=1956/57 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1956/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1957R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1956–57 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195657det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> After a scoreless first half, Real Madrid scored twice in six minutes to defeat the Italians.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1957S"/><ref name="1957R"/> In ], Milan failed to capitalize after going ahead on the scoreline twice, only for Real Madrid to equalize.<ref name="1958S">{{cite news |title=1957/58 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1957/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1958R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1957–58 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195758det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The final held in ] went to extra time when ] scored the game-winning goal to allow Real Madrid to retain the title for the third consecutive season.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1958S"/><ref name="1958R"/> In a rematch of the first final, Real Madrid faced Stade Reims at the ] for the ], easily winning 2–0.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1959S">{{cite news |title=1958/59 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1958/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1959R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1958–59 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195859det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> West German side ] became the first non-Latin team to reach the European Cup final.<ref name="1960S">{{cite news |title=1959/60 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1959/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1960R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1959–60 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195960det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> The ] still holds the record for the most goals scored, but the record is overshadowed by the 7–3 thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt received in ], courtesy of four goals by ] and a ] by Alfredo Di Stéfano.<ref name="Real Madrid"/><ref name="1960S"/><ref name="1960R"/> This was Real Madrid's fifth consecutive title, a record that still stands today.<ref name="Winners"/>

''Los Merengues'' reign ended in the ] when ] ] dethroned them in the quarter-finals.<ref name="1961S">{{cite news |title=1960/61 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1960/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1961R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1960–61 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196061det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Barcelona themselves, however, would be defeated in the final by Portuguese outfit ] 3–2 at ].<ref name="1961S"/><ref name="1961R"/><ref name="Benfica">{{cite news |title=Anos 60: A "década de ouro" |url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/DecadaaDecada/Decada60/decada60.asp |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Reinforced by ], Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5–3 at the ] in Amsterdam and kept the title for a ].<ref name="Benfica"/><ref name="1962S">{{cite news |title=1961/62 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1961/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1962R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1961–62 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196162det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> Benfica wanted to repeat Real Madrid's successful run of the 1950s after reaching the showpiece event of the ], but a brace from Brazilian-Italian ] at the ] gave the spoils to Milan, making the trophy leave the ] for the first time ever.<ref name="1963S">{{cite news |title=1962/63 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1962/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1963R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1962–63 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196263det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="ACMilan1963">{{cite news |title=Coppa Campioni 1962/63 |url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/club/palmares/cdc1962_63 |publisher=Associazione Calcio Milan |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> ] beat an ageing-Real Madrid 3–1 in the ] to win the ] and replicate their local-rival's success.<ref name="1964S">{{cite news |title=1963/64 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1963/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1964R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1963–64 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196364det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Inter1964">{{cite news |title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1963/64 |url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=14 |publisher=FC Internazionale Milano |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 |language=Italian }}</ref> The title stayed in the city of ] for the ] after Inter beat Benfica 1–0 at their home ground, the ].<ref name="1965S">{{cite news |title=1964/65 European Champions Clubs' Cup |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1964/index.html |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1965R">{{cite news |title=Champions' Cup 1964–65 |url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196465det.html#cc |publisher=] |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Inter1965">{{cite news |title=Palmares: Prima coppa dei campioni – 1964/65 |url=http://www.inter.it/aas/palmares/vitt?L=it&IDV=15 |publisher=FC Internazionale Milano |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=23 May 2010 |language=Italian }}</ref>

==Anthem==
{{Main|UEFA Champions League Anthem}}
The UEFA Champions League anthem, officially titled simply as "Champions League", was written by ], and is an adaptation of George Frideric Handel's '']'' (one of his ]).<ref name=UEFACHL>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/music/index.html|title=UEFA Champions League anthem|work=UEFA.com|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TAQDxYxQDU8C&pg=PA129&dq=tony+britten+champions+league&hl=en&ei=WgVzTZu_Do2XhQfzsbFG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=tony%20britten%20champions%20league&f=false|title=Media, democracy and European culture|publisher=Intellect Books|page=129|date= 2009|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> UEFA commissioned Britten in 1992 to arrange an anthem, and the piece was performed by London's ] and sung by the ].<ref name=UEFACHL/> The chorus contains the three official languages used by UEFA: English, German, and French. The anthem's chorus is played before each UEFA Champions League game, as well as at the beginning and end of television broadcasts of the matches. The complete anthem is about three minutes long, and has two short verses and the chorus. For the ] in Rome, tenor ] sang backing lyrics to the Champions League anthem, whilst similarly ] provided the tenor for the ]. Girl band ] performed at the ]. ] provided the tenor for ], whilst ] performed with his violin. The anthem has never been released commercially in its original version.

==Format==

===Qualification===
{{See also|UEFA coefficient}}
]
], the UEFA Champions League begins with a double ] group stage of 32 teams, which is preceded by two qualification 'streams' for teams that do not receive direct entry to the tournament proper. The two streams are divided between teams qualified by virtue of being league champions, and those qualified by virtue of finishing 2nd–4th in their national championship.

The number of teams that each association enters into the UEFA Champions League is based upon the ] of the member associations. These coefficients are generated by the results of clubs representing each association during the previous five Champions League and ] seasons. The higher an association's coefficient, the more teams represent the association in the Champions League, and the fewer qualification rounds the association's teams must compete in.

Five of the remaining ten qualifying places are granted to the winners of a four round qualifying tournament between the remaining 39 or 38 national champions, within which those champions from associations with higher coefficients receive byes to later rounds. The other five are granted to the winners of a two round qualifying tournament between the 15 clubs from the associations ranked 1 through 15, which have qualified based upon finishing second, third, or fourth in their respective national league.

In addition to sporting criteria, any club must be licensed by its national association to participate in the Champions league. To obtain a license, the club must meet certain stadium, infrastructure, and finance requirements.

In ], ] and ] became the first teams to reach the Champions League group stage after playing in all three qualifying rounds. In ], both ] and ] achieved the same feat. Manchester United holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the group stage, having qualified 18 times in a row (1996-2013).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://euro.futbal.org/EC1.scorers.php?team=Manchester%20United&mode=1&year=0&ignoreQuals=1|title=EuroFutbal - Manchester United}}</ref> They will be joined on 18 in the 2014-2015 season by Real Madrid (1997-2014) and followed by Arsenal with 17 (1998-2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/live/index.html?day=-1&session=2&match=2014212|title=The official website for European football – UEFA.com|publisher=|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>

Between 2003 and 2008, no differentiation was made between champions and non-champions in qualification. The 16 top ranked teams spread across the biggest domestic leagues qualified directly for the tournament group stage. Prior to this, three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds whittled down the remaining teams, with different teams starting in different rounds.

An ] happened in 2005, after ] won the Champions League the year before, but did not finish in a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League that season. UEFA gave special dispensation for Liverpool to enter the Champions League, giving England five qualifiers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4613695.stm |title=Liverpool get in Champions League |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=10 June 2005 |accessdate=11 December 2007}}</ref> UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing. However, for those leagues with four entrants in the Champions League, this means that if the Champions League winner falls outside of its domestic league's top four, it will qualify at the expense of the fourth-placed team in the league. No association can have more than four entrants in the Champions League.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index |title=EXCO approves new coefficient system |publisher=UEFA |date=20 May 2008 |accessdate=12 September 2010 |archivedate=21 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521053931/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=698237.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index |deadurl=yes}}</ref> In May 2012, ] finished fourth in the ], two places ahead of Chelsea, but failed to qualify for the ], after Chelsea won the ].<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea"/> Tottenham were demoted to the Europa League for the 2012–13 season.<ref name="Spurs_Chelsea">{{cite news |title=Harry Redknapp and Spurs given bitter pill of Europa League by Chelsea |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/20/harry-redknapp-spurs-europa-league |work=] |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=20 May 2012 |accessdate=24 November 2012 }}</ref>

The top three leagues in Europe are currently allowed to enter four teams into the Champions League. ], the UEFA president, had proposed taking one place from the top three leagues and allocating it to that nation's cup winners. This proposal was rejected in a vote at a UEFA Strategy Council meeting.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/13/sfnuef113.xml |title=Clubs force UEFA's Michel Platini into climbdown |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 November 2007 |accessdate=2 December 2007 |first=David |last=Bond}}</ref> In the same meeting, however, it was agreed that the third-placed team in the top three leagues would receive automatic qualification for the group stage, rather than entry into the third qualifying round, while the fourth-placed team would enter the play-off round for non-champions, guaranteeing an opponent from one of the top 15 leagues in Europe. This was part of Platini's plan to increase the number of teams qualifying directly into the group stage, while simultaneously increasing the number of teams from lower-ranked nations in the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7090646.stm |title=Platini's Euro Cup plan rejected |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=12 December 2007 |accessdate=11 December 2007}}</ref>

===Tournament===
The tournament proper begins with a group stage of 32 teams, divided into eight groups. ] is used whilst making the draw for this stage, whilst teams from the same country may not be drawn into groups together. Each team meets the others in its group home and away in a round-robin format. The winning team and the runners-up from each group then progress to the next round. The third-placed team enters the ].

For this stage, the winning team from one group plays against the runners-up from another group, and teams from the same association may not be drawn against each other. From the quarter-finals onwards, the draw is entirely random, without association protection. The tournament uses the ]: if the aggregate score of the two games is tied, then the team who scored more goals at their opponent's stadium advances.<ref>. UEFA.com.</ref>

The group stage is played from September to December, whilst the knock-out stage starts in February. The knock-out ties are played in a two-legged format, with the exception of the final. This is typically held in the final two weeks of May.

===Distribution (2014–15)===
Since the title holders (Real Madrid) qualified for the Champions League group stage through their domestic league, the group stage spot reserved for the title holders is vacated, and the following changes to the default allocation system are made:<ref name="access">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/accesslist/index.html|title=2013/14 UEFA Champions League access list|publisher=UEFA.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/access2013.html|title=Access list 2013/2014|publisher=Bert Kassies}}</ref>
*The champions of association 13 (Switzerland) are promoted from the third qualifying round to the group stage.
*The champions of association 16 (Austria) are promoted from the second qualifying round to the third qualifying round.
*The champions of associations 47 (Northern Ireland) and 48 (Wales) are promoted from the first qualifying round to the second qualifying round.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=2|
!Teams entering in this round
!Teams advancing from previous round
|-
!colspan=2|First qualifying round<br>(6 teams)
|
*6 champions from associations 49–54
|
|-
!colspan=2|Second qualifying round<br>(34 teams)
|
*31 champions from associations 17–48 (except Liechtenstein)
|
*3 winners from the first qualifying round
|-
!rowspan=2|Third qualifying round
!Champions<br>(20 teams)
|
*3 champions from associations 14–16
|
*17 winners from the second qualifying round
|-
!Non-champions<br>(12 teams)
|
*9 runners-up from associations 7–15
*1 third-placed team from association 6
|
|-
!rowspan=2|Play-off round
!Champions<br>(10 teams)
|
|
*10 winners from the third qualifying round for champions
|-
!Non-champions<br>(10 teams)
|
*2 third-placed teams from associations 4–5
*3 fourth-placed teams from associations 1–3
|
*5 winners from the third qualifying round for non-champions
|-
!colspan=2|Group stage<br>(32 teams)
|
*13 champions from associations 1–13
*6 runners-up from associations 1–6
*3 third-placed teams from associations 1–3
|
*5 winners from the play-off round for champions
*5 winners from the play-off round for non-champions
|-
!colspan=2|Knockout phase<br>(16 teams)
|
|
*8 group winners from the group stage
*8 group runners-up from the group stage
|}

==Referees==

===Ranking===
The UEFA Refereeing Unit is broken down into five experience-based categories. A referee is initially placed into Category 4 with the exception of referees from France, Germany, England, Italy, or Spain. Referees from these five countries are typically comfortable with top professional matches and are therefore directly placed into Category 3. Each referee's performance is observed and evaluated after every match; his category may be revised twice per season, but a referee cannot be promoted directly from Category 3 to the Elite Category.<ref name="referees">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/trainingground/referees/index.html |title=UEFA Referee |publisher=Uefa.com |date=7 July 2010 |accessdate=24 July 2011}}</ref>

===Appointment===
In co-operation with the UEFA Refereeing Unit, the UEFA Referee Committee is responsible for appointing referees to matches. Referees are appointed based on previous matches, marks, performances, and fitness levels. To discourage bias, the Champions League takes nationality into account. No referee may be of the same origins as any club in his or her respecting groups. Referee appointments, suggested by the UEFA Refereeing Unit, are sent to the UEFA Referee Committee to be discussed and/or revised. After a consensus is made, the name of the appointed referee remains confidential up to two days before the match for the purpose of minimising public influence.<ref name="referees"/>

===Limitations===
Since 1990, a UEFA international referee cannot exceed the age of 45 years. After turning 45, a referee must step down at the end of his season. The age limit was established to ensure an elite level of fitness. Today, UEFA Champions League referees are required to pass a fitness test to even be considered at the international level.<ref name="referees"/>

==Prizes==

===Trophy and medals===
{{main|European Champion Clubs' Cup}}
]'s museum.]]
Each year, the winning team is presented with the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the current version of which has been awarded since 1967. Any team that wins the Champions League three years in a row or five times overall wins the right to retain a full-sized replica of the trophy (UEFA retains the original at all times). Five clubs have earned this honour: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Milan and Liverpool.

The current trophy is {{convert|74|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall and made of silver, weighing {{convert|11|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. It was designed by Jörg Stadelmann, a jeweller from ], ], after the original was given to Real Madrid in 1966 in recognition of their six titles to date, and cost 10,000 ]s.

As of the 2012–13 season, 40 gold medals are presented to the Champions League winners, and 40 silver medals to the runners-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/79/68/69/1796869_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=2012/13 Season|work=Regulations of the UEFA Champions League: 2012–15 Cycle|publisher=UEFA|page=8|accessdate=22 September 2012}}</ref>

===Prize money===
As of 2015–16, UEFA awards €2&nbsp;million to the play-offs winners and €3&nbsp;million to the eliminated clubs in the play-off round. For reaching the group stage, UEFA awards a base fee of €12&nbsp;million. A win in the groups is awarded with €1.5&nbsp;million and a draw is worth €500,000. In addition, UEFA pays teams reaching the first knockout round €5.5&nbsp;million, each quarter-finalist €6&nbsp;million, €7&nbsp;million for each semi-finalist, €10.5&nbsp;million for the runners-up and €15&nbsp;million for the winners.<ref>{{cite web |title=UEFA Champions League revenue distribution |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1858497.html |work=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=1 March 2015 |accessdate=March 2015 }}</ref>

*First Qualifying Round: €200,000
*Second Qualifying Round: €300,000
*Third Qualifying Round: €400,000
*Play-offs Eliminated: €3,000,000
*Play-offs Winners: €2,000,000
*Base fee for group stage: €12,000,000
*Group match victory: €1,500,000
*Group match draw: €500,000
*Round of 16: €5,500,000
*Quarter-finals: €6,000,000
*Semi-finals: €7,000,000
*Losing finalist: €10,500,000
*Winning the Final: €15,000,000

A large part of the distributed revenue from the UEFA Champions League is linked to the "market pool", the distribution of which is determined by the value of the television market in each country. For the 2012–13 season, ], who were eliminated in the quarter-finals, earned nearly €65.3&nbsp;million in total, of which €20.5&nbsp;million was prize money, compared with the €55.0&nbsp;million earned by Bayern Munich, who won the tournament and were awarded €35.9&nbsp;million in prize money.<ref>{{cite journal |date=July 2013 |title=Clubs benefit from Champions League revenue|journal=uefadirect |issue=1 |page=1 |publisher=Union of European Football Associations|url=http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Finance/01/97/52/97/1975297_DOWNLOAD.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=26 July 2013}}</ref>

==Sponsorship==
Like the ], the UEFA Champions League is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues. When the Champions League was created in 1992, it was decided that a maximum of eight companies should be allowed to sponsor the event, with each corporation being allocated four advertising boards around the perimeter of the pitch, as well as logo placement at pre- and post-match interviews and a certain number of tickets to each match. This, combined with a deal to ensure tournament sponsors were given priority on television advertisements during matches, ensured that each of the tournament's main sponsors was given maximum exposure.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thompson |first1=Craig |last2=Magnus |first2=Ems |date=February 2003 |title=The Uefa Champions League Marketing |journal=Fiba Assist Magazine |pages=49–50 |url=http://www.ekospor.com/Sports-Marketing/Sport%20Marketing%20uefa.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=19 May 2008 }}</ref>

From the ], UEFA have utilised the LED advertising hoardings installed in knock-out participant stadiums, including the final stage. It is planned to use such hoardings to play-off matches onwards.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Emmett|first1=James|title=BT’s Champions League coup gives Uefa head-start on 20 per cent growth target|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/quick_fire_questions/bts_champions_league_coup_gives_uefa_head_start_on_20_per_cent_growth_targe|website=SportsPro|publisher=SportsPro|accessdate=13 July 2014}}</ref>

] before every Champions League match.]]

] advertisements are banned in ]. On 9 April 2013, ] (whose sponsor was ] at that moment) were forced to wear sponsor-free jerseys while playing against ] in ].]]

The tournament's current main sponsors are:
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mastercard.com/football/ucl/eng/index.html|title=UEFA Champions League: MasterCard|publisher=|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/PressRelease/uefa/UEFAMedia/83/86/32/838632_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Media Services |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=24 July 2011}}</ref>
**] is the brand advertised.
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26909719|title=Champions League: Uefa signs Nissan as new sponsor|work=BBC News|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>
*]<ref name=Gazprom>{{cite news|last=UEFA|title=Gazprom becomes an official partner|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/events/marketing/news/newsid=1839761.html|accessdate=13 July 2012|date=9 July 2012}}</ref>
*] (excluding France, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, some regions of Spain and Turkey, where alcohol sponsorship is restricted. In France, Switzerland and some parts of Spain, the Heineken hoarding is replaced by an "Enjoy responsibly" or "open your world" hoarding, and in Kazakhstan and Turkey the Heineken hoarding is replaced by a "Respect") hoarding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10662941/Galatasaray-1-Chelsea-1-match-report.html|title=Galatasaray 1 Chelsea 1: match report|date=25 February 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicreditgroup.eu/en/pressreleases/PressRelease1248.htm |title=UniCredit starts a three-year sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League |publisher=Unicreditgroup.eu |date=20 September 2009 |accessdate=14 August 2010}}</ref>
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=1901926.html|title=HTC to partner with UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League|publisher=UEFA.com|date=12 December 2012|accessdate=6 January 2012}}</ref>

] is a secondary sponsor and supplies the official match ball, the ], and referee uniform, as they do for all UEFA competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1768999.html|title=adidas Finale Munich|date=14 February 2012|work=UEFA.com|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> ]'s '']'' is also a secondary sponsor as the official Champions League video game.

Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations, which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/01/75/63/78/1756378_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Kit Regulations Edition 2012 |publisher=] |format=PDF |pages=37, 38 |accessdate=29 January 2014 }}</ref>

If clubs play a match in a country where the relevant sponsorship category is restricted (such as France's ] restriction), then they must remove that logo from their jerseys. For example, when ] played French sides ] and ] in the ] and the ], respectively, Rangers players wore the logo of ] instead of ].<ref name="Alternative to alcohol">{{cite web|url=http://www.truecoloursfootballkits.com/articles/an-alternative-to-alcohol|title=An alternative to alcohol|work=truecoloursfootballkits.com|publisher=True Colours|date=3 July 2009|last=Devlin|first=John|accessdate=5 June 2013|quote=Rangers have actually sported the Center Parcs logo during the course of two seasons.}}</ref>

==Media coverage==
{{Main|List of UEFA Champions League broadcasters}}

The competition attracts an extensive television audience, not just in Europe, but throughout the world. The final of the tournament has been, in recent years, the most-watched annual sporting event in the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Champions League final tops Super Bowl for TV market |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=31 January 2010 |accessdate=25 February 2010 }}</ref> The 2013 final was the most watched final to date, drawing 360&nbsp;million television viewers.<ref name="record"/>

==Records and statistics==
{{Main|European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics}}
{{See also|UEFA Champions League clubs performance comparison}}

===Winning clubs===
{{Main|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals}}
{{UEFA Champions League performance by club}}

===All-time top scorers===
'''excluding qualifying games'''

As of 13 May, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Champions League |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_goalgetter/champions-league/tore/1/ |work=World Football |accessdate=22 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UEFA Champions League All time leading scorers |url=http://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeLeadingScorers?comp_code=UCL |work=Stat Bunker |accessdate=22 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="stats">. UEFA.com. Retrieved 14 August 2014</ref>
{{See also|List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers}}

<!-- PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE EDITING

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT UNTIL THE END OF MATCHDAYS TO ENSURE MISTAKES AREN'T MADE AND/OR DOUBLE EDITS AREN'T MADE. IF YOU MAKE AN EDIT, MAKE SURE YOU EDIT ALL THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED/SCORED. ONCE YOU HAVE MADE THE EDIT TO THE GOALS SCORED AND GAMES PLAYED, EDIT THE RATIO. EDIT THE ABOVE DATE AT THE END OF EACH MATCHDAY. THIS LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE GOALS SCORED IN QUALIFICATION GAMES, PLEASE DO NOT ADD THOSE. IF YOU ARE MAKING AN EDIT, CHECK THE ABOVE SOURCES BEFORE YOU DO SO TO CHECK YOUR EDIT IS CORRECT.-->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!|
!|Player
!|Country
!|Goals
!|Apps
!|Ratio
!|Years
!|Clubs
|-
|align=right|1
|''']'''
|{{flagicon|ARG}}
|align=center|'''77'''
|align=center|98
|align=center|{{#expr:75/95 round 2}}
|align=center|'05–
|''']'''
|-
|align=right|1
|''']'''
|{{flagicon|POR}}
|align=center|'''77'''
|align=center|115
|align=center|{{#expr:75/112 round 2}}
|align=center|'03–
|], ''']'''
|-
|align=right|3
|]
|{{flagicon|ESP}}
|align=center|'''71'''
|align=center|142
|align=center|{{#expr:71/142 round 2}}
|align=center|'95–'11
|], ]
|-
|align=right|4
|]
|{{flagicon|NED}}
|align=center|'''56'''
|align=center|73
|align=center|{{#expr:56/73 round 2}}
|align=center|'98–'09
|], ], ]
|-
|align=right|5
|]
|{{flagicon|FRA}}
|align=center|'''50'''
|align=center|112
|align=center|{{#expr:50/112 round 2}}
|align=center|'97–'10
|], ], ]
|-
|align=right|6
|]
|{{flagicon|ARG}}{{flagicon|ESP|1945}}
|align=center|'''49'''
|align=center|58
|align=center|{{#expr:49/58 round 2}}
|align=center|'55–'64
|]
|-
|align=right|7
|]
|{{flagicon|UKR}}
|align=center|'''48'''
|align=center|100
|align=center|{{#expr:48/100 round 2}}
|align=center|'94–'12
|], ], ]
|-
|align=right|8
|]
|{{flagicon|POR}}
|align=center|'''46'''
|align=center|65
|align=center|{{#expr:46/65 round 2}}
|align=center|'61–'74
|]
|-
|align=right|9
|]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=center|'''46'''
|align=center|81
|align=center|{{#expr:46/81 round 2}}
|align=center|'97–'12
|], ]
|-
|align=right|10
|''']'''
|{{flagicon|CIV}}
|align=center|'''44'''
|align=center|91
|align=center|{{#expr:44/91 round 2}}
|align=center|'03–
|], ''']''', ]
|}

===Most appearances===
'''excluding qualifying games'''

As of 13 May, 2015.<ref>. UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=3%|Rank
!width=7%|Player
!width=5%|Nation
!width=5%|Appearances
!width=5%|Goals
!width=5%|Goal ratio
!width=5%|Debut in Europe
!width=15%|Clubs
|-
|1
|align=left|''']'''
|{{flag|ESP}}
|150
|12
|0.08
|1998
|align=left|''']'''
|-
|2
|align=left|''']'''
|{{flag|ESP}}
|150
|0
|0.00
|1999
|align=left|''']'''
|-
|3
|align=left|]
|{{flag|ESP}}
|142
|71
|0.50
|1995
|align=left|], ]
|-
|4
|align=left|]
|{{flag|WAL}}
|141
|29
|0.20
|1993
|align=left|]
|-
|5
|align=left|]
|{{flag|NED}}
|125
|12
|0.09
|1992
|align=left|], ], ], ]
|-
|6
|align=left|]
|{{flag|ENG}}
|124
|25
|0.20
|1994
|align=left|]
|-
|7
|align=left|]
|{{flag|BRA}}
|120
|17
|0.14
|1996
|align=left|], ], ]
|-
|8
|align=left|''']'''
|{{flag|POR}}
|115
|77
|0.67
|2003
|align=left|], ], ''']'''
|-
|9
| style="text-align:left;"|]
|{{flag|ESP}}
|115
|2
|0.17
|1999
|align=left|]
|-
|10
|align=left|]
|{{flag|FRA}}
|112
|51
|0.45
|1993
|align=left|], ], ]
|}
<small>Players in '''Bold''' are still active.</small>

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|UEFA Champions League}}
*
*
*
*
* UEFA October 2004

{{UEFA Champions League seasons}}
{{UEFA Champions League winners}}
{{UEFA competitions}}
{{International club football}}
{{Intercontinental Cup (football)}}
{{FIFA Club World Cup}}
{{European Club Competitions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uefa Champions League}}
]
]
]

Revision as of 15:12, 17 May 2015

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