The Champions League anthem is a well-known tune in the world of football, recognized by fans worldwide. However, many may not know that it is based on a song played during the Royal Coronation. The upcoming coronation of King Charles III has brought attention to the anthem’s relation to the event. Here is everything you need to know about the iconic Champions League anthem.
The Champions League anthem is derived from George Frideric Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest.’ When the Champions League was rebranded in 1992, Tony Britten, an English composer, was commissioned to write the new anthem. He adapted the famous ‘Zadok the Priest’ to create the tune that is traditionally played before huge European nights.
‘Zadok the Priest’ was initially composed in 1727 for the coronation of King George II. It has since been traditionally performed during the anointing of the sovereign at the coronation of every British monarch, including the late Queen Elizabeth II. The song will be performed again on Saturday for King Charles III’s coronation.
During the ten-day national mourning period following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, UEFA made the decision not to play the anthem in Champions League fixtures involving British teams. Liverpool, Rangers, Chelsea, and Manchester City all had home games during this period, and clubs paid further respects with a period of silence.
The Champions League anthem has lyrics in French, German, and English. The lyrics are as follows: “Ce sont les meilleures équipes. Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften. The main event. Die Meister. Die Besten. Les grandes équipes. The champions. Une grande réunion. Eine grosse sportliche Veranstaltung. The main event. Die Meister. Die Besten. Les grandes équipes. The champions. Ils sont les meilleurs. Sie sind die Besten. These are the champions. Die Meister. Die Besten. Les grandes équipes. The champions.”
In English, the lyrics translate to: “They are the best teams. They are the best teams. The main event. The master. The best. The great teams. The champions. A big meeting. A great sporting event. The main event. The master. The best. The great teams. The champions. They are the best. They are the best. These are the champions. The master. The best. The champions.”