Frank Christian
The UEFA Champions League is regarded as the top club competition worldwide in football.
With the biggest leagues in Europe featuring some of the wealthiest and most talented squads, participating in this prestigious tournament is considered the ultimate ambition for many football players.
Over its nearly 70-year history, the Champions League has experienced numerous changes, the latest being in the 2024/25 season, amplifying the honor associated with winning this tournament.
However, understanding which team first secured the Champions League title can be somewhat complicated due to these format updates.
Here’s a breakdown from Sporting News.
Who was the inaugural UEFA Champions League winner?
The answer to this depends largely on how you interpret the competition’s history.
The very first European Cup, held in the 1955/56 season, was claimed by Real Madrid.
The first Champions League season in 1992/93 saw Marseille lifting the trophy.
In modern discussions, these two events are often merged, which can lead to confusion.
The European Cup transitioned into the Champions League starting in 1992/93 when UEFA revamped the format, a change that has continued to develop over time.
Nonetheless, the trophy remains unchanged, and winners are still crowned champions of Europe, just like in the 1950s.
History of Winners: European Cup/UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid’s victory in the inaugural tournament kickstarted their dominance, leading to an impressive five consecutive wins. They hold the record for most titles in the competition with a total of 15.
Of these, nine titles were achieved during the Champions League era, which is at least two more than any other club since the competition’s inception.
| Club | Titles Won | Years |
| Real Madrid | 15 | 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| AC Milan | 7 | 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007 |
| Bayern Munich | 6 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013, 2020 |
| Liverpool | 6 | 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, 2019 |
| Barcelona | 5 | 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 |
| Ajax | 4 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995 |
| Inter Milan | 3 | 1964, 1965, 2010 |
| Manchester United | 3 | 1968, 1999, 2008 |
| Juventus | 2 | 1985, 1996 |
| Benfica | 2 | 1961, 1962 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 2012, 2021 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1979, 1980 |
| Porto | 2 | 1987, 2004 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 1 | 1997 |
| Celtic | 1 | 1967 |
| Hamburg | 1 | 1983 |
| Steaua Bucharest | 1 | 1986 |
| Marseille | 1 | 1993 |
| Manchester City | 1 | 2023 |
| Feyenoord | 1 | 1970 |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1982 |
| PSV | 1 | 1988 |
| Red Star | 1 | 1991 |
