Historical Football Kits

 

European Cup Finals 1956 - 1959

european cup final programme 1956Sixteen teams took part in the inaugural European Champions Cup (to give it its full, official title), selected by the french football magazine, L'Equipe. Chelsea were among the original invitees but declined, in part because of the active discouragement of the Football league. The competition was a organised on a straight forward knock-out format, each tie being played over two legs. If the aggregate scores were tied, a play-off was arranged, with extra time if necessary. If score were still level, the winner was decided by the toss of a coin. The first round pairings were set by the organisers but in all subsequent tournaments, they would be drawn.

1955 - 1956

real madrid 1956-1959

Real Madrid

stade de reims 1956

Stade de Reims

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Real Madrid 4 Stade de Reims 3

Parc des Princes, Paris (38,239)
13 June 1956

The French side were 2-0 after only ten minutes but Madrid drew level before half-time. Reims took back the lead after 62 minutes but the Spanish champions scored twice to win the first ever pan-European club competition.

 

1956 - 1957

real madrid 1956-1959

Real Madrid

fiorentina 1957

Fiorentina

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Real Madrid 2 Fiorentina 0

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (124,000)
30 May 1957

A staggering 124,000 people witnessed Real retain their title in their home city against the Italian champions.

 

1957 - 1958

real madrid 1956-1959

Real Madrid

ac milan 1958

AC Milan

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Real Madrid 3 AC Milan 2 (after extra time)

Heysel Stadium, Brussels (67,000)
28 May 1958

Milan took the lead in the 59th minute and held it until Di Stefano equalised with just 16 minutes left. Grillo put the Italians ahead again three minutes later but sensationally Rial levelled the scores once more in the 79th minute. A goal by Gento in the 17th minute of extra time put Real in the lead for the first time in the match and they held on to take the European Cup for the third successive year.

 

1958 - 1959

real madrid 1956-1959

Real Madrid

stade de reims 1959

Stade de Reims

Real Madrid 2 Stade de Reims 0

Neckerstadion, Stuttgart (72,000)
3 June 1959

The fourth final was a replay of the first but this time Madrid's dominance was never in doubt. They took the lead in the first minute and added a second two minutes after half-time, finishing as comfortable winners.

 
| European Cup Index | 1960-1969