Since its inception in 1955 as the European Cup (rebranded as the UEFA Champions League in 1992), the competition has been the pinnacle of club football. The image of a captain lifting the famous “big ears” trophy is one of the most iconic sights in sport. These leaders embody not just skill, but composure, inspiration, and responsibility on football’s biggest stage.
Let’s take a journey through time and highlight every captain who has lifted the European Cup/Champions League, decade by decade.
1950s: The Beginning of Greatness
The competition began in 1956, and Real Madrid quickly established dominance, winning the first five titles.
- 1956–1957: Miguel Muñoz (Real Madrid)
- 1958: Juan Alonso (Real Madrid)
- 1959–1960: José María Zárraga (Real Madrid)
Madrid’s dominance was matched by strong leadership on the pitch—Muñoz and Zárraga became early symbols of European excellence.
1960s: New Powers Rise
Benfica and Inter Milan emerged, while Celtic made history as the first British winners.
- 1961–1962: José Águas (Benfica)
- 1963: Cesare Maldini (AC Milan)
- 1964–1965: Armando Picchi (Inter Milan)
- 1966: Paco Gento (Real Madrid)
- 1967: Billy McNeill (Celtic)
- 1968: Bobby Charlton (Manchester United)
- 1969: Gianni Rivera (AC Milan)
Billy McNeill’s triumph with Celtic marked the first time the trophy went to a British club, while Manchester United’s 1968 win was emotional, coming a decade after the Munich Air Disaster.
1970s: Dutch Dominance and Bayern’s Rise
This decade saw the Dutch revolution with Ajax, followed by Bayern’s emergence.
- 1970: Rinus Israël (Feyenoord)
- 1971–1973: Piet Keizer & Johan Cruyff (Ajax)
- 1974–1976: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich)
- 1977–1978: Emlyn Hughes (Liverpool)
- 1979: John McGovern (Nottingham Forest)
Franz Beckenbauer’s leadership solidified Bayern’s dominance, while Nottingham Forest’s back-to-back wins under Brian Clough were led by the composed McGovern.
1980s: English Clubs Shine, More Diversity
- 1980: John McGovern (Nottingham Forest)
- 1981: Phil Thompson (Liverpool)
- 1982: Dennis Mortimer (Aston Villa)
- 1983: Horst Hrubesch (Hamburg)
- 1984: Graeme Souness (Liverpool)
- 1985: Gaetano Scirea (Juventus)
- 1986: Ștefan Iovan (Steaua București)
- 1987: João Pinto (Porto)
- 1988: Eric Gerets (PSV)
- 1989: Franco Baresi (AC Milan)
The decade included surprise winners like Steaua and PSV, but Baresi’s Milan laid the groundwork for an era of Italian dominance.
1990s: Champions League Rebranded
- 1990: Franco Baresi (AC Milan)
- 1991: Stevan Stojanović (Red Star Belgrade)
- 1992: Andoni Zubizarreta (Barcelona)
- 1993: Didier Deschamps (Marseille)
- 1994: Mauro Tassotti (AC Milan)
- 1995: Danny Blind (Ajax)
- 1996: Gianluca Vialli (Juventus)
- 1997: Matthias Sammer (Dortmund)
- 1998: Manuel Sanchís (Real Madrid)
- 1999: Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)
From Barcelona’s first triumph to Manchester United’s dramatic treble, captaincy often decided the character of the win.
2000s–2020s: Modern Legends
From Maldini to Ramos, modern greats have left their mark.
- 2003 & 2007: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
- 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
- 2008: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
- 2010: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)
- 2012: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
- 2014–2018: Iker Casillas & Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
- 2019: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
- 2021: César Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
- 2023: İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City)
- 2024: Nacho Fernández (Real Madrid)
Final Thoughts
Each of these captains represents more than just a trophy lift—they symbolize resilience, passion, and legacy. The Champions League might evolve, but the captain’s armband remains a symbol of timeless leadership.
