The UEFA Champions League trophy is one of the most coveted prizes in football. Let me share some interesting details about it:

The current UEFA Champions League trophy stands 73.5 cm tall and weighs 7.5 kg. It may not be an artistic masterpiece, but everybody in football is keen to get their hands on it1.A rule introduced in 1968/69 stipulates that the cup becomes the property of any club that wins the competition five times or three years in a row. After achieving this feat, the club starts a new cycle from zero.Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern München, Milan, and Liverpool all have a version of the trophy in their trophy rooms. However, the rule was changed ahead of the 2008/09 season. The original trophy remained with UEFA, and the clubs were awarded replicas.The current trophy is the fifth version of the current design. It was commissioned by UEFA General Secretary Hans Bangerter after Real Madrid was allowed to keep the original in 1967.The trophy was designed and made in Berne, near UEFA’s then headquarters, by Jürg Stadelmann. Stadelmann recalled the process: “My father Hans and I went along to Herr Bangerter’s office and covered the whole floor with drawings. He made comments like, ‘The Bulgarians would like the bottom of that. The Spaniards would like this, but the Italians would prefer that, and the Germans would go for this.’ We put the design together like a jigsaw puzzle.”Creating the trophy took 340 hours, with Stadelmann meeting a strict deadline. “It had to be finished before 28 March,” Stadelmann added, “because I was getting married and taking my wife on a ten-day boat trip to Los Angeles. I did the finer work, then it was finished off by the engraver, Fred Bänninger. On time, I am glad to say.”So, while it might not be a masterpiece, the UEFA Champions League trophy holds immense significance for football clubs worldwide!