In the early 1990s, UEFA sought a way to elevate the competition's prestige and move football away from its association with hooliganism at the time. Inspired by the "Three Tenors" success at the 1990 World Cup, they commissioned Britten to create a classical, anthemic piece that felt like a "major event".
The lyrics are unique for their mix of UEFA's three official languages: . Britten used a series of superlatives to reflect the elite nature of the teams involved. Translation French Ce sont les meilleures équipes These are the best teams German Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften They are the best teams English The main event Chorus UEFA Champions League Theme Song
The original Handel piece was based on the biblical anointing of King Solomon, traditionally used for the coronation of British monarchs. This regal history gave the new football anthem an immediate sense of grandeur and authority. In the early 1990s, UEFA sought a way
The official UEFA Champions League anthem, simply titled "," was created in 1992 by British composer Tony Britten to celebrate the rebranding of the tournament from the European Cup. The Creation Story Britten used a series of superlatives to reflect