do you know who joão martins is? well, you probably don't, and there is a good reason for that: he used to play for sporting lisbon, one of three portuguese top clubs, in the year 1955. sporting had become portuguese champions for the seventh time in eight years in 1954, and somehow qualified for the first ever european champions cup, even though their local rivals benfica had been champions in 1955. joão martins played in the first ever european competition match, against the champions from yugoslavia, fk partizan belgrade. martins scored the first ever goal in a european football competition, and his second goal in that game helped his squad tie the game 3x3. this was on a sunday, september 4, 1955. almost 55 years ago, the story began.
yesterday, it added another chapter to its history. for the first time ever, the uefa champions league final, as it is called now, was played on a saturday. internazionale milan won against bayern munich, 2x0, no doubts there. fair victory for the italians, who have conquered their third title in five finals - and first title since 1965, a long 45 year wait.
what have the clubes done in between, what memorable games, player, coaches and goals have there been?
let us look back to this while we take a closer look at the hundred best clubs in this 55 year history.
this blog will also present various rankings, current and historical ones, both from clubs and from leagues represented in the european competitions.
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