European giants hold an unwanted 45-year Champions League record

Sport360 staff 10:16 13/05/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Top prize: The Champions League trophy

    Winning the Champions League is the pinnacle for every European club side.

    For those who have the honour of winning the trophy, the next goal is, obviously, to win it again.

    But not everyone can be like the great Real Madrid side of the 1950s, who won the first five European Cup competitions, as it was known previously.

    Some sides have to wait years, even decades, to follow up on European triumph.

    But which side has had the longest wait between successes?

    Some of the biggest teams around have had to wait huge lengths to get their hands on the coveted trophy once more.

    Amongst those are AC Milan who suffered for two decades following their win in 1969. It wasn’t until 1989 – a full 20 years later that they would win again thanks to a wonderful side includes Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten.

    Liverpool had to wait a year longer – 21 to be precise. A club of huge European pedigree, they waited from 1984, to 2005 – when the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ brought them their fifth success following an incredible game that saw them come from 3-0 down to beat Milan on penalties.

    Finally: Liverpool ended their wait in Istanbul

    Finally: Liverpool ended their wait in Istanbul

    German giants Bayern Munich are another side waiting more than 20 years – 26 in their case. They lifted the trophy in 1976, but not again until 2001.

    Now we get into the team that waited more than 30 years – and it’s two of the biggest names in Europe.

    Firstly, Manchester United.

    They famously lifted their first European Cup at Wembley in 1968, beating Benfica with the likes of Bobby Charlton and George best pulling the strings.

    Fast forward 31 years, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were victorious in 1999 – part of their famous treble-winning year. Injury time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer snatching an improbable win from under the noses of Bayern Munich.

    European winners: Manchester United defeated Bayern Munich in '99

    European winners: Manchester United defeated Bayern Munich in ’99

    As mentioned already, Real Madrid won the first five European Cups, from 1956 to 1960.

    But from 1966 to 1998, they waited 32 years between victories. A single goal from Pedrag Mijatovic was enough for a 1-0 over Juventus, and their seventh crown.

    However, none of these compare to Inter Milan.

    They had won back-to-back titles in 1964 and 1965, and again reached the final in 1972 – however another win in the competition eluded them until 2010 – an incredible 45 years after the last triumph.

    Jose Mourinho led the side to a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, with both goals scored by Diego Milito. Like Manchester United, this was part of a famous treble for Inter – the first Italian side to complete the feat.

    Finally: Inter Milan win again at last

    Finally: Inter Milan win again at last

    Octo Finissimo Automatic A Third World Record for Bulgari

    Bulgari is once again the spotlight, proudly presenting its third successive world record.

    The Octo Finissimo Automatic is the slimmest ultra-thin self-winding watch on the market to date.

    After introducing its Tourbillon in 2014 and the Minute Repeater in 2016, the Maison unveils its new creation featuring a total thickness of just 5.15mm, while its self-winding movement is just 2.23mm thick for a 40mm diameter.

    The iconic Octo is once again pushing the boundaries of watchmaking feasibility.

    Bulgari-Finissimo-Octo-5Bulgari-Finissimo-Octo-3 (1)

    Recommended