The anthem was written by English composer Tony Britten in 1992 for the rebranded UEFA Champions League, adapting George Frideric Handel's 1727 coronation anthem Zadok the Priest. Its lyrics move between English, French and German, UEFA's three official languages, and the famous refrain is simply the champions repeated in each language. Performed by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields chorus, it has opened televised matches ever since, becoming shorthand online for football prestige, dramatic entrances and anything presented as elite or unbeatable.
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The UEFA Champions League anthem hymn with its famous choir chant, played before European football matches and used for epic sports edits and reveals.
This is the soaring choral section of the UEFA Champions League anthem, built on powerful strings and a full choir rising toward the repeated chant of the competition's name. The recording feels grand and ceremonial, with sustained voices layered over dramatic orchestration that swells rather than stays flat. Even in a short clip it instantly signals a big occasion, turning an ordinary entrance, goal or lineup reveal into something that feels historic and high stakes. Listeners recognise the melody within seconds, and the final choral peak gives edits a sense of triumph and anticipation.
