“Die Meister! Die Besten! Les Grandes Equipos! Champions!” – This is a well-known chant among football fans, adding an extra layer of excitement to the football played on the Champions League field. As Zinedine Zidane put it, it is “magic.” He once said on UEFA’s YouTube channel, “Magic… it’s above everything. When you hear the song, it will captivate you.”
The concept of the UEFA Champions League anthem “The Champions” began when the tournament was renamed “Champions League.” Until 1991, the tournament was known as the “European Cup.” However, in 1991, UEFA, the governing body of European football, decided to completely overhaul the tournament. The process of change started with the name change, followed by a new logo and music—music that would resonate with football fans from across the globe. UEFA began the search for a composer who could create such a song.
UEFA found a British music composer named Tony Britten. He had graduated from the Royal College of Music in London. Britten began thinking about what the theme of the Champions League anthem would be like. For reference, he took inspiration from George Frederick Handel’s Zadok the Priest, a theme deeply associated with the British royal family.
This tune originated in the 18th century. In 1727, it was first played during the coronation of King George II at Westminster Abbey in London. It was also performed at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and most recently, it was played again during King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.
Although at that time the tune had no lyrics, Tony Britten gave it full form in 1992. He wrote the lyrics to match the music, which became the official anthem of the Champions League. The song was written in UEFA’s official languages: German, English, and French. It was first recorded by the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields choir.
The three-minute anthem contains two short verses and a chorus. During Champions League matches, part of the anthem is played when the teams enter the field. However, the full version is only heard during the final match of the tournament. For football fans, this anthem holds a special significance. Among the countless matches played across Europe, a Champions League match represents a unique excitement, a distinct feeling. The music amplifies the excitement of the legendary football battle between two teams, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the atmosphere.
