Who were the last five clubs to win the Champions League?

Everything is almost set for starting this 2024/25 edition of the Champions League. The draw will take place this Thursday, 28 August, and the second leg of the playoffs will determine the last four teams of the 36 who have qualified.

Since the Champions League format was established in 1992 when Olympique Marseille became the first champion, 32 editions have been held, and we’ve seen some outstanding teams lift the trophy - take, for instance, Ajax’s 1995 squad. With players like Edwin van der Sar, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf and Jari Litmanen, the Dutch defeated AC Milan in the final.

Real Madrid must also be included. Los Blancos were the first team to win back-to-back trophies in the new format with Zidane as head coach. More impressive is that they were also the first team to win the tournament three times in a row, a record that will surely last for a while.

Of course, if we also count the previous European Cup format, in which Real Madrid was crowned the first European champions in 1956, this will be the 70th edition of Europe’s most prestigious club tournament. It’s never too late to review the past, so let’s have a look at the last five teams to win the Champions League.

Last five Champions League winners

Bayern Munich (2019/20)

The Germans are the only club on this list that is neither from the Premier League nor La Liga. With Hansi Flick as head coach, Bayern Munich became the first team to win a European competition with a 100% winning record.

The Bavarians topped Group B with an impressive record of six wins, 24 goals scored, and only five conceded. Because of covid-19, the tournament was suspended in March and resumed in August; that didn’t stop Flick’s squad intentions. After trashing Barcelona (8-2) in the quarterfinals and Lyon (3-0) in the semis, Bayern defeated PSG in the final thanks to Kingsley Coman’s lone goal.

Chelsea (2020/21)

Despite qualifying first in Group E, the Blues were not among the favorites to win the trophy. However, the beauty of the Champions League is that anything can happen.

With Thomas Tuchel as head coach, Chelsea knocked out Atlético Madrid in the round of 16, Porto in the quarterfinals, and Europe’s most successful club, Real Madrid, in the semifinals. The Blues completed their incredible title run by beating Manchester City in the Estádio do Dragão thanks to Kai Havert’s goal.

Real Madrid (2021/22)

Real Madrid fans remember this edition fondly, given that it was a Champions League full of comebacks. Under Ancelotti’s second run as Real Madrid coach, the team topped Group D with 15 points.

The magic arrived in the knockout stages, where they made outstanding comebacks against PSG (round of 16), reigning champions Chelsea (quarterfinals) and Manchester City (semifinals). Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final at the Stade de France.

Manchester City (2022/23)

After many failed attempts, the citizen’s dreams finally came true. With Erling Haaland as the team’s new striker, Manchester City dominated throughout the tournament.

Pep Guardiola’s team trashed Leipzig in the round of 16 and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they took revenge on Real Madrid after an outstanding 4-0 win in the second leg, while in the final, they clutched a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan.

Real Madrid (2023/24)

We gave a spoiler at the beginning, and the truth is that Real Madrid continues to demonstrate why they are the kings of Europe.

With Ancelotti once again in the lead but no Benzema, Real Madrid topped Group C, where they showed an amazing display by winning all of their six games.

After a dramatic qualification against Leipzig in the round of 16, they had to face reigning champions Manchester City in the quarterfinals, knocking them out in the penalties. After beating Bayer Munich in the semifinals, Real Madrid faced a tough Borussia Dortmund side in Wembley.

Los Blancos lifted their fifteenth title thanks to Carvajal and Vinícius Jr.’s goals.