If Barcelona have enough to edge past Juventus in Berlin on Saturday evening, it’ll be the fifth time this storied club has won European soccer’s most coveted prize.
In seasons gone by they would have been able to keep this iconic trophy after reaching this cornerstone mark, but a rule was implemented in 2009, which means teams who reach this number—or secure three in a row—will now get multiple-winners badges and a special accolade instead.
But getting their hands on the cup is what every player to lace up a pair of boots dreams of. What a prize it is too.
The triumphant, towering handles make this cup, which stands at 2 feet 5 inches tall, a unique piece of silverware and across European football, the silhouette emblazoned on banners and in fan montages has become synonymous with a club on a charge towards the top prize in domestic club soccer.
It’s a trophy that was introduced in 1967 after Real Madrid, who had won their sixth crown, were awarded the original and FIFA commissioned a replacement to be issued.
Jung Stadelmann, a local specialist situated in Berne, was tasked with the design process and explained his thinking behind it, per UEFA.com:
My father Hans and I went along to Herr Bangerter’s office and covered the whole floor with the drawings.
He made comments like, ‘The Bulgarians would like the bottom of that. The Spaniards would like that, but the Italians would prefer that and the Germans would go for this bit.’ We put the design together like a jigsaw puzzle. It was a design constituted of many parts yet I like it and I think everyone in soccer likes it as well.
There are some similarities between the old and new design. The shape of the center-piece is comparable, the base of the cup is similarly circular, but the main difference is the added flamboyance of the handles that flank the main vase.
Weighing 24 pounds, it’s little surprise we’ve seen some captains seemingly struggle to hoist it aloft. Bangerter noted that it took a whopping 340 hours to complete and engraved on the front are the words “COUPE DES CLUBS CHAMPIONS EUROPEENS”; the European Champion Clubs’ Cup.
The cup that will be handed to either Barcelona or Juventus on Saturday will be the sixth that’s been issued.
Liverpool were awarded the trophy permanently after they secured their fifth triumph back in 2005, the last team to be awarded the original trophy before the regulations were changed. Others bestowed with that honor were Ajax and Bayern Munich in 1973 and 1976, respectively, after they sampled three consecutive victories; Milan too after their fifth success in 1994.
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