The history of the Champions League anthem

Prior to every match in the Champions League, the biggest football tournament for club teams in Europe, the Champions League anthem is always played. The melody is largely based on a piece by the German Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759): Zadok the Priest. Traditionally, this song is played during the anointing of a British king or queen in Westminster Abbey in London. The last time was at the coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023. Who is Georg Friedrich Handel and who is the composer of the Champions League anthem? The final play-off matches to qualify for the major tournament are currently taking place, which will start on 8-10 September 2026. The final will be held at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on 5 June 2027.

Georg Friedrich Händel

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685–1759) was a German-British Baroque composer. Handel wrote many music-dramatic works: 42 operas, 29 oratorios, and more than 120 cantatas, trios, and duets. This corresponds to approximately 2000 arias. Furthermore, he composed English, German, Italian, and Latin church music, serenades, and odes. His instrumental works include organ concertos, concerti grossi, overtures, and chamber music such as flute, oboe, and violin sonatas, as well as works for harpsichord and organ. Along with Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born in the same year (1685), Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of his time. Handel composed a total of more than 610 works, many of which are still performed today.

Champions League anthem

The modern football anthem was written in 1992 by the English composer Tony Britton. UEFA, the organizer of the Champions League, had asked him to create a powerful piece of music. European football was dealing with an image problem during this period, partly due to major issues surrounding hooligans. The new tournament for the very best clubs in Europe was intended to restore some of football's class. A stylish piece of music could help with this. As mentioned, Tony Britton was inspired by Handel's *Zadok the Priest*. This work appealed to him because of the “power, success, and grandeur” that, in his opinion, emanated from the piece.

Zadok the Priest (HWV 258) is a four-part English-language hymn written by Handel. The work is known as the coronation hymn. During the British coronation liturgy, this hymn is traditionally sung during the anointing of the king. It has been performed since the coronation of King George II. In doing so, the biblical symbolism of the divine anointing of King Solomon is emphasized. During the coronation liturgy, it is normally sung by the Boys' Choir of Westminster Abbey. The piece was completed before October 1727 and was performed for the first time then. Handel used various time signatures for this festive Baroque composition. It is accompanied by a large orchestra, including Baroque trumpets. This piece is considered one of the most famous works in the composer's oeuvre.

The anthem we hear nowadays before all Champions League matches is a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with the choir of the Academy of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields.

The Champions League anthem does not have much text. In the three official languages ​​of UEFA ( German, French, and English ), it is made clear that the players on the field belong to the very best and that the Champions League is the biggest tournament a club player can participate in.

Text of the hymn:

These are the best teams

They are the very best teams

The main event

The Masters The Best

The great teams

the champions

A Grand Reunion

A major sporting event

The main event

The Masters The Best

The great teams

the champions

Ils sont les meilleurs

Sie sind die Besten

These are the champions

The Masters The Best

The great teams

the champions

Source Historiesk: https://historiek.net/champions-league-hymne-geschiedenis-tekst/83368/

<strong> More info: </strong>

UEFA Champions League 2026/2027:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026%E2%80%9327_UEFA_Champions_League