Who designed the Champions League logo and why did he choose the stars?

The Champions League logo is one of the most iconic in the world of football, yet few people know its origins. Phil Clements, designer and founder of the agency Design Bridge, conceived the logo in 1992 for the European Cup, which sought to rejuvenate itself after years of controversies.

His proposal was among the final 50 projects from which UEFA had to choose. “They hung all the options on the wall and chose mine,” declared Clements.

Why are there eight Champions League stars?

Initially, the competition was to have a league format and culminate with eight teams competing in knockout rounds until only one remained. For this reason, Clements included eight stars in his proposal, one for each team reaching the final round. The influence of the design was such that the stars were imprinted on the ball for that same season, although UEFA was initially unconvinced.

Despite Phil Clements’ significant impact on the history of Europe’s premier competition, the English designer hasn’t attended many matches.

“I wasn’t invited to the first games; they were all big shots, and the small, humble designer took a back seat,” he confessed. However, he realised he had never seen his design live and so attended the 2003 final at Old Trafford. “I was surprised; they mowed the grass following the pattern of my design.”

The project he presented to UEFA, despite becoming the official one, didn’t significantly change Clements’ life, as he continued to focus on his business. In 2013, he founded Smart & Gifted, a company aiming to promote local gifts and souvenirs.