How many times have we listened to the majestic melody which precedes each football match in stadiums across Europe during the UEFA Champions League, singing the final part at the top of their lungs “The champions“, but without really knowing What does the rest of the song say? On the occasion of the 2023-2024 final, between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, scheduled for Saturday 1 June, the anthem will be played once again and many of us will be there to listen to it.
The anthem of UEFA Champions Leaguecommonly known as “Champions League Anthem”, was composed in 1992 by Tony Britteninspired in part by the famous “Zadok the Priest” (The Priest Zadok) by Handel, who composed it in 1727 for the coronation of King George II of the United Kingdom and it has been used for British coronations ever since. This piece is part of the “Coronation Anthems” and is known for its powerful initial crescendo.
Britten's choice of this anthem is not accidental: the solemnity and majesty of the original melody are perfectly suited to the importance and prestige of the Champions League, which in this sense celebrates the “king” of football.
The lyrics of the song
The hymn was first performed on November 25, 1992on the occasion of the start of the group stage of the 1992/93 tournament, simultaneously in 4 stadiums: Jan Breydel (Bruges), Ibrox (Glasgow), das Antas (Porto), and San Siro (Milan), where the match was played between Milan and Gothenburg.
The anthem is sung in three official UEFA languages: English, German and French. The text exalts the values of excellence, competition and fair play, evoking the image of “great teams” clashing in a “tournament of great teams”. The hymn's best-known phrase, “Die Master! Die Besten! The great teams! The champions!” (“The masters! The best! The great teams! The champions!”), serves to highlight the elite of European football, the best of the best. In the official version it is performed byAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London.
The original lyrics of the anthem
Here are the original lyrics of the UEFA Champions League song:
There are the best teams
This is the allerbest Mannschaften
The main eventDie Meister
Die Besten
The great teams
The championsA great reunion
A large sports Veranstaltung
The main eventDie Meister
Die Besten
The great teams
The championsThey are the best
They are the best
These are the championsDie Meister
Die Besten
The great teams
The champions
The translation into Italian
Here is the Italian translation of the UEFA Champions League anthem:
These are the best teams
These are the best teams
This is the main eventTeachers
The best
The biggest teams
The ChampionsA great match
A great event
The main eventTeachers
The best
The biggest teams
The ChampionsThey're the best
They're the best
They are the championsTeachers
The best
The biggest teams
The Champions.
Being there UEFA Champions League such an important event, felt by both sports fans and non-sports fans, its anthem boasted some of the best performers during the opening of the matches. Among these stand out world-famous artists who have lent their voice and talent to enhance the solemn and majestic atmosphere of the anthem. Andrea Bocelli has given unforgettable performances, such as the one in 2009 in Rome in which during the opening ceremony he reinterpreted the text in Italian, while orchestras of the caliber of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra they performed the musical accompaniment. The solemnity of his music, combined with the passion of football, continues to inspire and excite fans and players around the world, creating a unique experience that celebrates sport and unites people.
