In 1954, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) became the first English football club to win a major European trophy, overturning football history on the continent.
At that time, the European Cup, which is now known as the UEFA Champions League, was only in its second year of existence. The tournament was still in its early stages, with only 16 teams participating in the knockout format.
Wolves, who were managed by the legendary English coach Stan Cullis, entered the tournament as outsiders but quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. They defeated some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Schalke 04 and Honvéd, the famous Hungarian team.
In the final, which was held at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wolves faced Stade de Reims, the reigning French champions and one of the most successful teams in Europe at the time. The French side was heavily favored to win the match, but Wolves produced a stunning performance to win 4–3 and become the first English club to win a major European trophy.
The victory was seen as a major upset at the time, and it helped to establish English football as a major force in Europe. Wolves’ triumph was also significant because it marked the start of a period of dominance by English clubs in European competition. Over the next two decades, English clubs would go on to win the European Cup on numerous occasions, with teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest achieving great success in the tournament.
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