Welcome back to the Get German Football News advent calendar. As the countdown to Christmas continues, so does our festive fun on day twenty, as we remember the 20 occasions in which German clubs have been crowned European champions.
While only nine German clubs can boast about lifting a European trophy, collectively, they have been able to record a total of 20 trophies. This has seen Germany become the fourth-most successful country on the continent regarding European club football.
Starting with the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup, Hamburg, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Werder Bremen can all claim to have lifted the famous old trophy on one occasion each. However, it is the story of Magdeburg that must be remembered. The only East German nation to lift a European trophy, Magdeburg beat a star-studded AC Milan side 2-0 in Rotterdam to crown their remarkable journey while creating history.
Nevertheless, the UEFA Cup, or, as it is now known, the Europa League, is a competition that has most recently been won by a German club. Eintracht Frankfurt’s victory over Rangers in the 2021/22 final saw Die Adler equal Borussia Mönchengladbach with two Europa League titles. Regardless, Schalke, Bayern Munich, and Bayer Leverkusen can also boast a single triumph in this competition.
However, the European Cup, or Champions League, is the continental tournament that Germany have been able to achieve the majority of their success. With Europe’s greatest prize coming back to the country on eight different occasions, Bayern Munich can also claim to be the third most successful club in the competition’s history with six final victories.
Nevertheless, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg have also been able to lift the most converted prize in European football on one occasion. With BvB underperforming in the Bundesliga, they have appeared to be a different beast in Europe, threatening to potentially be a dark horse in this season’s version of the tournament. Could BvB go on to win their second Champions League trophy?
GGFN | Will Shopland
