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English Clubs in EuropeThe history of English clubs in Europe is an impressive one. English clubs having been champions eleven times, level with Spain and Italy, despite the five year ban on English clubs from 1986-1990. Overall there have been 29 triumphs for English clubs, one ahead of clubs from Spain and Italy.
Click on the club badges below to view their records. (Only clubs which have contested at least 3 campaigns are included);
European Cup / Champions LeagueUEFA's premier club competition began life as the European Cup in 1955 and retained its original format until it became the UEFA Champions League in the 1992/93 season.The Football League barred League champions Chelsea from entering the inaugural competition in 1955-56, but allowed Manchester United to compete the following season, where they won through to the semi-finals. The first English triumph came at Wembley in 1968, when Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 after extra time, thanks to 2 goals from Bobby Charlton, one from Brian Kidd and a wonderful solo goal from George Best. Leeds United were the next English club to make the final (in 1975), but they lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich. Two years later, Liverpool lifted the first of their European Cups, triggering a remarkable sequence in which English clubs were European champions for six consecutive seasons. Terry McDermott, Tommy Smith and Phil Neal (penalty) scored as Borussia Monchengladbach were beaten 3-1 in Rome. A year later the Reds defended their trophy at Wembley, beating Brugge 1-0 courtesy of a Kenny Dalglish goal. Nottingham Forest, under Brian Clough, were next, winning the 1979 final against Malmo in Munich and then overcoming SV Hamburg in Madrid the following year. Liverpool were winners again in 1981, a goal by full-back Alan Kennedy enough to beat Real Madrid in Paris. And then, in 1982, Tony Barton's Aston Villa withstood a barrage of Bayern Munich pressure to hold on for a 1-0 victory. The following year, the English stranglehold was finally broken when SV Hamburg were champions, but in 1984 Liverpool were back for their fourth win, beating Roma on penalties in Rome. English clubs were banned from all UEFA competitions following the Heysel tragedy, and there would be a 15-year gap, before Manchester United scored two injury time goals to beat Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999. In 2005, Liverpool recovered from 3 goals down to secure an astounding victory on penalties. Arsenal became the first London club to reach the final, but they lost out to Barcelona in 2006, and the following year AC Milan gained revenge for their 2005 defeat, beating Liverpool 2-1 in Athens. 2008 saw the first all English final where Manchester United defeated Chelsea on penalties, after a 1-1 draw. UEFA Cup (including Fairs Cup)The UEFA Cup began life as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a competition for teams from cities with international trade fairs, so the first English club to reach the final was a London combined side, which lost to Barcelona in 1960.Birmingham City then reached two finals, losing each time to Spanish opposition, first Barcelona, and the Valencia. The first English winners were Leeds United in 1968, setting off a sequence of six English winners, as Newcastle, Arsenal, Leeds (again), Tottenham and Liverpool followed as winners. In 1971 the competition took its modern name and there was an all English final with Spurs beating Wolves over two legs. Ipswich won the Cup in 1981, before Spurs secured a second triumph in 1984. After the Heysel ban, Arsenal were the first to reach the Final, losing out to Galatasaray in an ill-tempered affair in 2000. The following year, Liverpool were convincing winners against Alaves. In 2006, Middlesbrough reached the final by were soundly beaten by Sevilla in Eindhoven. Cup Winners CupThe now defunct, Cup Winners Cup was a competition for national cup winners.English clubs won the trophy on a record eight occasions, with Chelsea winning twice (1971, 1996). The first English Winners were Tottenham Hotspur via a resounding 5-1 victory over holders Atletico Madrid in 1963. Two years later, West Ham won at Wembley with a side featuring Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters (who would all star in England’s World Cup winning team at the same venue a year later).
Manchester City were winners in 1970, and a year later Chelsea lifted the first of their Cup Winners Cups, beating Real Madrid, after a replay. Everton won the trophy in 1985, and after the enforced absence of English clubs because of the Heysel ban Manchester United were victorious in 1985, beating Barcelona. There were wins for Arsenal in 1994, and Chelsea in 1998, the penultimate year of the competition. English Winners in Europe
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