UEFA

Generally known as the European Cup, the European Champion Clubs' Cup is an annual knockout competition for the league champions of all UEFA-affiliated countries. It was first held in 1955-1956 and was the idea of Gabriel Hanot, the football editor of the French newspaper L'Equipe. From the 1991-1992 season the structure was modified so that the top teams take part in the Champions League, with home and away matches between teams in divisions; the top sides then entering a knockout competition. From the 1997-1998 season the competition was enlarged to include the runners-up from selected leagues, including that of England, and in the 1999-2000 season was enlarged again.

The European Cup-Winners' Cup was formerly open to winners of domestic senior cup competitions in countries affiliated to UEFA. The first final was in 1961 over two legs. Thereafter, all finals were played as a single game at a neutral venue. (After 1972 the winners of the European Cup and the European Cup-Winners' Cup played a two-legged match to determine the winners of the European Super Cup.) After the 1998-1999 season the competition was suspended, with national cup winners now entering the UEFA Cup competition instead.

The UEFA CUP was established in 1955 as a tournament for European cities that sponsored international trade fairs, and the original name was the International Industries Fairs Inter-Cities Cup (or Fairs Cup). In 1971 it became known as the UEFA Cup and the competition was opened to leading teams not eligible for the other two principal European competitions. The final was played over two legs on a home and away basis until the 1997-1998 season, when it was played as a single game for the first time. The rules of the competition changed again for the 1999-2000 season when, after the abolition of the European Cup-Winners' Cup, teams that were cup winners in their countries entered the UEFA Cup competition for the first time. Other qualifiers for this competition include certain teams who win "feeder" tournaments into the cup draw and also teams who win "fair play" awards in their own domestic leagues.