In 1956, the first European Cup winner emerged. This new tournament was designed to pit the best club football teams in Europe against one another. Over the years, the formatting has changed, as have the ways in which teams are invited, and also the name. We now know it as the Champions League, arguably the most prestigious tournament in football, give or take a World Cup, which has the benefit of jingoism and only happening every four years.
Real Madrid has the most titles in the event’s history with 14, though there is a bit of an asterisk on that, what with them having won the first five European Cups. The tournament was new and different then, and also Real Madrid was Francisco Franco’s favorite club and, well, the Generalissimo may not have been afraid to put his thumb on the scales, as dictators are wont to do. This isn’t about Real Madrid, though, but England. On 15 occasions, an English club has emerged hoisting the trophy at the end of a European Cup or, starting with the 1992-93 tourney, the Champions League trophy. These are those 15 squads.
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