2019 will forever be remembered as the year Liverpool Football Club firmly cemented itself as part of European royalty. For the sixth time in the Club's history they were crowned the undisputed Kings of the continent. Victory over Tottenham Hotspur on an unforgettable night in Madrid secured the most coveted prize in club football--the Champions League trophy. It was a momentous triumph--one that reverberated across the globe. This is the story of how it was achieved.
The Undisputed Champions of Europe is a trilogy-ending homage to the golden era of the European Cup. A place where the gods of the game battled for the biggest prize in club football; a place where the likes of Di Stefano, Eusebio, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Dalglish, Gullit and so many others became legends, as they skated across thin ice to glory, in the colours of clubs that are now considered European royalty. An entirely different beast than the Champions League, it was a competition where you had to win your domestic league title to gain entry. With no safety net of group stages, one bad night of football was enough to send you back to square one. In contrast to today's Champions League winners - whose status as Europe's best team is regularly disputed - the winners of the European Cup truly were the undisputed kings of Europe. These are the stories and glories of football's highest achievers.
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Union of European Football Associations Champions League with this handsome history, including new interviews and a stats section The UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League celebrated its diamond jubilee in 2005. The first match was played on September 4, 1955, when Sporting Lisbon played Partizan Belgrade. The Yugoslavs advanced to the next round by winning 8-5 on aggregate, but lost to the eventual champions, Real Madrid, giving the first glimmering of the Spanish club's legendary status. Real have won the Champion Clubs Cup/UEFA Champions League (the name changed in 1992) 10 times, three more successes than their nearest rival, Milan. Fully updated, this book covers every season's competition with a full report and statistical summary of the Final up to, and including, the 2015 final in Berlin. There are specially commissioned interviews with a soccer legend from each decade from the 1950s to the present. The book also includes a full statistical section, listing every result and all major record-holders, both club and individual.
Dive into the epic journey of the UEFA Champions League with "Champions of Europe: The Complete History of the UEFA Champions League." From its origins as the European Cup to the modern-day spectacle, this book provides an in-depth chronicle of the most prestigious club competition in world football. Travel back to the thrilling beginnings of the tournament in 1955, where legends like Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskás laid the foundation for Real Madrid's early dominance. Relive the glory days of iconic teams such as Benfica, Ajax, and Bayern Munich, and marvel at the tactical innovations brought by legendary managers like Rinus Michels and Arrigo Sacchi. Experience the drama and intensity of unforgettable matches, from Manchester United's last-minute triumph in 1999 to Liverpool's miraculous comeback in Istanbul in 2005. Explore the fierce rivalries that have defined the competition, including El Clásico, the Milan Derby, and the Battle of Britain. As you journey through each season, discover detailed statistical records, milestones, and profiles of the players who have left an indelible mark on the competition. Learn about the economic and cultural impact of the Champions League and its role in the globalization of football. Finally, get a glimpse of the future with an exploration of the new format set to begin in the 2024-2025 season, designed to bring even more excitement and competition to fans around the world. "Champions of Europe" is a must-read for every football enthusiast, offering a comprehensive and engaging look at the history, evolution, and enduring legacy of the UEFA Champions League.
What makes countries rich? What makes countries poor? Europe's Growth Champion: Insights from the Economic Rise of Poland seeks to answer these questions, and many more, through a study of one of the biggest, and least heard about, economic success stories. Over the last twenty-five years Poland has transitioned from a perennially backward, poor, and peripheral country to unexpectedly join the ranks of the world's high income countries. Europe's Growth Champion is about the lessons learned from Poland's remarkable experience, the conditions that keep countries poor, and the challenges that countries need to face in order to grow. It defines a new growth model that Poland and its Eastern European peers need to adopt to grow and catch up with their Western counterparts. Poland's economic rise emphasizes the importance of the fundamental sources of growth- institutions, culture, ideas, and leaders- in economic development. It demonstrates that a shift from an extractive society, where the few rule for the benefit of the few, to an inclusive society, where many rule for the benefit of many, can be the key to economic success. *IEurope's Growth Champion asserts that a newly emerged inclusive society will support further convergence of Poland and the rest of Central and Eastern Europe with the West, and help to sustain the region's Golden Age. It also acknowledges the future challenges that Poland faces, and that moving to the core of the European economy will require further reforms and changes in Poland's developmental character.
"The Wonderful Randomness of the European Cup Winners' Cup is a homage to the awkward sibling of the European Champions' Cup (for high achievers) and the UEFA Cup (where the cool kids hung out). Domestic cup success was what gained entry to this hipster tournament, attracting a richer diversity of competitor than its more celebrated counterparts. " --Amazon.com.
