There are billions of football fans around the world, and perhaps the only anthem all of them know is the UEFA Champions League Anthem. Even if you’ve listened to it hundreds of times, that iconic music still excites you every time as if you were hearing it for the first time. The Champions League anthem is a masterpiece that can capture the interest even of music lovers who don’t watch football.
So when did this anthem come into being, what is its story, and how did it become the symbol of the UEFA Champions League? Let’s look at the story from the very beginning.
Interesting Facts
- The full version of the anthem lasts 3 minutes and 4 seconds, but the version played in stadiums and on TV broadcasts is usually a shortened edit of about 1 to 1.5 minutes.
- In interviews, some orchestra members have said that the anthem’s tempo changes and vocal structure are quite complex, which makes it one of the most difficult pieces to perform live.
- Hearing this anthem in pre-match broadcasts—especially on popular betting platforms such as bizbet giriş, Bizbet, and Bwin—signals to many users that the game is about to begin.
- UEFA has registered the anthem as intellectual property, so it is not possible to download the UEFA Champions League music, either for free or for a fee.
- Hundreds of parodies and remixes of the anthem exist on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Some DJs have even included it in their live remix sets.
- In 2019, after a football fan became an astronaut, NASA fulfilled his request and played the Champions League anthem in space as a “wake-up call.”
How Was the Champions League Song Composed?
Until 1992, the tournament we know today as the UEFA Champions League was called the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. In 1992, UEFA decided to rebrand the tournament, and an important part of that process was creating an anthem that would symbolize it. Up to that point, the tournament had no official anthem.
This major responsibility was given to the English composer Tony Britten, who at the time was writing music for films and commercials. Britten presented UEFA with several classical music examples, and the organization was particularly impressed by George Frideric Handel’s “Zadok the Priest.” Britten then composed the new anthem based on that piece.
“Zadok the Priest” was written in the 18th century for the coronation of King George II, and it has been used in coronation ceremonies for British kings and queens ever since. Tony Britten adapted it for the Champions League by re-composing it with modern orchestration and choral arrangements. There could hardly have been a better idea than basing Champions League music on a piece associated with coronations.
Since that day, the anthem has been preserved without any changes and is used at all Champions League events and matches. In 2018, UEFA released a new high-quality recording of the anthem to mark its 25th anniversary.
Who Is Composer Tony Britten?
Born in London, England in 1955, Tony Britten is not only a composer but also a conductor and director. Although his most famous work is the Champions League Anthem, he is also known for the music he has created for theatre, films, and documentaries. In 1994, he composed the music for the Christmas-themed animated TV special Mole’s Christmas. In 2007, he adapted and directed Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy She Stoops to Conquer for Sky Arts.
Britten has given many media interviews about the Champions League anthem. From what he has said, it’s clear that even he didn’t anticipate how popular the music he composed in his twenties would become. In an interview with Front Office Sports, he says:
“I think it took me three or four years to realize they were still using it. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, they’re still playing it—how nice.’”
Interestingly, Britten received only a one-time payment from UEFA for this composition, meaning he does not continue to earn royalties from it. Still, the fame the anthem brought him has given him recognition worth millions of dollars.
The Lyrics of the Champions League Anthem
The Champions League anthem was jointly written in English, German, and French, UEFA’s three official languages. According to UEFA’s official website, the anthem is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and sung by the renowned British choir Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields. The lyrics are simple yet highly symbolic:
“Ce sont les meilleures equipes
Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften
The main event
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes equipes
The champions
Une grande reunion
Eine grosse sportliche Veranstaltung
The main event
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes equipes
The champions
Ils sont les meilleurs
Sie sind die Besten
These are the champions
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes equipes
The champions”
Who Performed the Champions League Anthem at the Final?
Since 2009, various artists have performed the anthem at Champions League finals. Among those who have performed the anthem live at the final are world-famous artists such as Andrea Bocelli. The table below shows who has performed the anthem at the final from 2009 to the present:
| Year | Location | Artist Performing the Anthem |
| 2009 | Rome | Andrea Bocelli |
| 2010 | Madrid | Juan Diego Flórez |
| 2011 | London | All Angels |
| 2012 | Munich | Jonas Kaufmann & David Garrett |
| 2013 | London | No live performance |
| 2014 | Lisbon | Mariza |
| 2015 | Berlin | Nina Maria Fischer & Manuel Gomez Ruiz |
| 2016 | Milan | Andrea Bocelli |
| 2017 | Cardiff | Andrea Bocelli |
| 2018 | Kyiv | 2Cellos |
| 2019 | Madrid | Asturia Girls |
| 2020 | Lisbon | No live performance |
| 2021 | Porto | Marshmello (DJ) |
| 2022 | Paris | No live performance |
| 2023 | Istanbul | Ádám György |
| 2024 | London | No live performance |
| 2025 | Munich | Linkin Park |
Who will perform the anthem at the 2026 Champions League final has not yet been announced. However, judging by tradition, we can say that spectators can once again expect an unforgettable performance. For those asking when the Champions League final will take place, let us remind you that the final match of the tournament will be held on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
Those who want to follow the match live can watch the live broadcast by downloading 1xBet. However, if you have the opportunity to listen to that legendary anthem in the stadium atmosphere, as a football fan, it is something you should experience at least once in your lifetime.
