The Greatest Stage
On June 1, Wembley Stadium will host the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final.
It will be the eighth time the final takes place at Wembley Stadium - a record for any venue in the history of the competition.
Here, we take a look back at the seven previous occasions, when the final of Europe's most prestigious club competition, came to Wembley.
Milan Magic
AC Milan V Benfica
2-1
22 May, 1963
45,715
The first ever European Cup final at Wembley featured the champions of Italy against the champions of Portugal.
It was the third final in a row for Portuguese giants Benfica. Milan were making their first ever final appearance.
The 'Eagles' had won the two previous finals, and with star striker Eusebio up front, were expected to complete a hat-trick of victories.
Eusebio opened the scoring for the Portuguese side in the 19th minute. The ‘Black Panther’ would go on to score 57 goals in 75 games in Europe for Benfica, during a glittering career.
Milan had their own goal machine up front. Striker Jose 'Mazzola' Altafini hit back with two second half goals to give the Italians a first European success.
A young Giovanni Trappatoni patrolled the midfield for Milan on that day.
‘Il Trap’ would later go on to become one of Italy’s most successful coaches, managing Milan and Juventus to European Cup glory.
Red Devils Delight
Manchester United V Benfica
4-1 (aet)
29 May, 1968
92,225
Benfica were back at Wembley again in 1968 for their fifth final.
Manchester United were appearing in their first.
United thumped Benfica 8-3 two years previously in the quarter final.
A young George Best scored two goals in the away leg of that tie, earning the name El Beatle on his return to England.
Bobby Charlton, a World-Cup winner with England at Wembley in 1966, opened the scoring with a header.
Benfica’s Jaime Graça would level the scores in the 79th minute – sending the game into extra-time.
Best put United back in front with a brilliant solo goal, just two minutes into the first period of extra-time.
Two minutes later, Brian Kidd, who was celebrating his 19th birthday, extended the lead to put the English side a 3-1 up.
Charlton would grab his second, and United’s fourth goal before the half-time break of the extended period.
United were on their way to becoming the first English side to win the European Cup.
Total Football
Ajax V Panathinaikos
2-0
2 June, 1971
83,179
Ajax were appearing in their second final, having lost the 1969 Final to AC Milan.
Panathinaikos were appearing in their first.
Ajax, were managed by Rinus Michels, often hailed as the architect of Total Football.
On the pitch they were led by the young genius Johan Cruyff.
Panathinaikos were managed by European cup legend Ferenc Puskas. The Hungarian scored four goals in the 1960 final which Real Madid won 7-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
He would score another treble in the 1962 final which Madrid lost 5-3 to Benfica.
Dirk van Dijk gave Ajax the early lead with a goal in the 5th minute.
Arie Haan would double the Dutch side’s advantage in the 87th minute.
Ajax would win their first European Cup 2-0.
Victory in 1971 was the first of three European Cup final victories in succession for Ajax, who would go on to dominate the European stage in the early 70’s.
King Kenny
Liverpool V Club Brugge 1-0
10 May, 1978
92,500
Liverpool came to Wembley Stadium in 1978 as the reigning European Cup champions.
Brugge were surprise opponents having beaten Italian giants Juventus in the semi-final.
Wembley Stadium was a sea of red as Liverpool fans took advantage of the final being played in their native country.
A tight affair was settled by a solitary goal from Kenny Dalglish.
King Kenny would go on to become a Liverpool legend, lifting the European Cup two more times in 1981 and 1984.
The Liverpool team parade around Wembley Stadium with the European Cup.
It was the second year in succession that Liverpool would celebrate being European champions following their victory in 1977.
Bravo Barcelona
Barcelona V Sampdoria
1-0 (aet)
20 May, 1992
70,827
The 1992 European Cup Final would be the last one before it was rebranded to the UEFA Champions’ League.
It would also be the last European Cup final played under the twin towers of the old Wembley Stadium.
Barcelona were appearing in their third final, having lost the previous two in 1961 and 1986.
Sampdoria were led by a young Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli up front.
In defence was Italian Marco Lanna - the current chairman of Sampdoria.
The Italians won the Cup Winners Cup in 1990 and their only Scudetto title the following year in 1991.
Barcelona were managed by Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff.
His ‘dream team’ featured a young Pep Guardiola in midfield alongside other stars such as Hristo Stoichkov and Michael Laudrup.
However, it was another superstar, Ronald Koeman, who would get the only goal of the game, to give Barcelona their first European Cup victory.
The Dutch defender broke the deadlock deep in extra time with a trademark free-kick past goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca.
Messi Masterclass
Barcelona V Manchester United 3-1
28 May, 2011
87,965
The 2011 final was the first to take place at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
It would again feature Barcelona, in a repeat of the 2009 final against Manchester United.
The Catalan giants had added two more European titles since winning their first title at Wembley, 19 years previously.
They were the dominant team of the era, led by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
United were also looking to win their fourth Champions League victory.
They had their own superstar forward in Wayne Rooney.
Barcelona took an early lead via a strike from Pedro RodrÃguez.
United hit back quickly with Rooney curling in an equaliser.
However, the Spanish side would go on to dominate the rest of the game.
Man of the match Messi scored a second for Barca before David Villa added a third for a 3-1 win.
United manager Alex Ferguson would later describe Barcelona as the ‘greatest team he had ever seen.’
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Brilliant Bayern
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund 2-1
25 May 2013
86,298
In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the English FA, Wembley Stadium hosted the 2013 Final, for a record seventh time.
The match featured two sides from the Bundesliga in the first ever all German final.
Bayern Munich had lost previously in the 2010 and 2012 Champions League Finals.
An exciting Dortmund side were managed by Jurgen Klopp, in his first ever Champions League Final.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski was in red hot form for Dortmund having scored four goals in the semi-final against Real Madrid - a UEFA Champions League record.
Bayern took the lead with a goal from Croatian forward Mario Mandžukić after 60 minutes.
A penalty by Ilkay Gundogan levelled things up for Dortmund.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben sealed victory for Bayern with a classy goal in the 89th minute.
It was sweet revenge for Robben who missed a penalty in extra time in the 2012 final against Chelsea.
2024?
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