The European Cup is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and contested by top-division European clubs. 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 champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of the strongest UEFA national associations.
History[]
Background[]
After the South American Championship of Champions was created in 1947, discussion of a European wide competition didn't really take place until May 1953 when Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Budapest Honvéd FC which would have five of the World Cup winning squad which would take place the following year. The manager in Stan Cullis staking that they were "Champions of the World". But after some of the media from outside of Europe started to question this claim, talks was slowly starting to creep about a European wide competition which would determine who is truly the best in Europe.
After UEFA was formed only a year later, the idea was brought up in a March 1955 meeting and it was decided that a European competition will take place and in April 1955, it was approved to run.
1956-1960[]
The first edition took place in the 1955-56 season with sixteen teams competing in the first competition with the first match being played on September 4, 1955, between Belenenses (Portuguese champions) and Hajduk Split (Yugoslav champions). In the final help in Paris, it was the Italians champions in Milan that would take out the title after they defeated Budapest Honvéd FC 3-1 in the final.
The following year would see Budapest Honvéd FC again fall short in the final after they lost to Yugoslav champions Red Star Belgrade 2-1 in the final in a tournament which got expanded to see five new nations compete in the competition with the winners of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Luxembourg, Romania and Turkey. The English champion in Tottenham Hotspur F.C would join the following season
List of Finals[]
| Season | Nation | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Nation | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–56 |  Italy
|
Milan | 3-1 | Budapest Honvéd FC |  Hungary
|
 Parc des Princes
|
25,000 |
| 1956–57 |  Yugoslavia
|
Red Star Belgrade | 2-1 | Budapest Honvéd FC |  Hungary
|
File:Flag of Spain.svg Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | 31,000 |
External Links[]
Template:European Cup seasons Template:European Cup winners Template:UEFA competitions Template:International club football Template:European Club Competitions