Few pieces of music excite football fans like the Champions League anthem. As soon as the first notes play, players line up, the crowd rises and everyone knows a big night has begun. This guide explains where the music comes from, what the words mean and why it has become so iconic.
Where the Champions League anthem comes from
When UEFA relaunched the European Cup as the Champions League in 1992, it wanted a new identity. So it asked the English composer Tony Britten to write an anthem for the competition.
Britten based his piece on Zadok the Priest, a famous work by George Frideric Handel. Handel wrote it for the coronation of King George II of Great Britain in 1727. Since then, it has been sung at every British coronation.
Who performs it?
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded the Champions League anthem, together with the chorus of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. As a result, the recording has a grand, classical sound that feels very different from most sports music.
The Champions League anthem lyrics
The lyrics use the three official languages of UEFA: English, French and German. For example, the chorus shouts “Die Meister! Die Besten! Les grandes รฉquipes! The champions!” In English, that means “The masters! The best! The great teams! The champions!”
Most fans do not know every word. Still, many of them sing along to the chorus anyway, especially on big European nights.
When you hear it
The Champions League anthem plays before every match in the competition, while the teams walk out and line up. Also, it features at the start of every TV broadcast and in highlights shows around the world.
The version you hear in stadiums lasts only about a minute. The full recording is around three minutes long. Interestingly, UEFA has never released the full version for sale.
Why the Champions League anthem matters to players
Many players say the Champions League anthem gives them goosebumps. For young players, hearing it for the first time in a stadium is a dream come true. In fact, some players have said they knew they had made it only when they heard the anthem while lining up.
The music also puts pressure on players. Because it signals the biggest club competition in the world, it reminds everyone of what is at stake.
The starball
The anthem arrived at the same time as another famous symbol: the starball. This logo shows a football made of eight stars. It appears on the centre circle before each game, on the match ball and on the official branding of the competition.
Together, the music and the starball helped turn the Champions League into one of the strongest brands in world sport.
A lasting legacy
More than three decades after its launch, the Champions League anthem remains largely unchanged. Formats have changed, new clubs have risen and legends have come and gone. Yet the anthem still opens every match, just as it did in 1992.
To understand the current tournament, read our guide to the new league phase. You can also find the official story of the anthem on the UEFA website, or browse more Champions League guides.