A competition that ran for thirty-eight years and then simply stopped.
For most of its life the Cup Winners' Cup was the second most prestigious trophy in European football, and it had the cleanest entry criterion of any of them: win your national cup, and you were in. That produced a competition unlike the other two. A mid-table club with one good cup run could find itself in a European final, and often did.
UEFA abolished it in 1999, folding its entry places into the UEFA Cup. The reasoning was that the expanded Champions League had left it stranded — the strongest cup winners were usually already qualified for Europe by league position, so the field kept thinning at the top. The last final was played at Villa Park in May 1999.
It also had a genuine curiosity attached: no club ever successfully retained it, a run that lasted the full thirty-eight years and was still intact when the competition ended. Every final is below.
Play the the european cup winners' cup quizEvery answer below is quoted from the page it came from. Where a claim could not be confirmed against a source, it was left out rather than guessed at.
Where was the first leg of the 1961 European Cup Winners' Cup final played?
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
The first leg was played at Ibrox Park, Glasgow and the second leg at the Stadio Comunale in Florence. source
What was notable about the format of the 1962 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was the first final played as a one-off match rather than over two legs
This was the second European Cup Winners' Cup final and the first to be played as a one-off match following the two-legged tie held the previous year. source
At which ground was the 1963 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid played?
Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam
It was contested between Tottenham Hotspur of England and the defending champions, Atlético Madrid of Spain, and was held at Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands. source
Where was the 1964 European Cup Winners' Cup final replayed after the first match finished 3–3?
Bosuil Stadium, Antwerp
The fourth European Cup Winners' Cup final, the match was played at Heysel Stadium, Brussels, ending in a 3–3 tie after extra time, and the therefore necessary replay two days later in Bosuil Stadium, Antwerp. source
Which West German club did West Ham United beat in the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
1860 Munich
The 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match between 1860 Munich of West Germany and West Ham United of England. source
What was the attendance for the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup final at Hampden Park?
41,657
Watched by a crowd of 41,657, the first half was goalless. source
What was notable about Rangers' appearance in the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was the first time two clubs from one city contested the two main European finals
Six days before the 1967 final Rangers rivals Celtic had won the European Cup in Lisbon and it was the first time two teams from the same city had contested the two main European finals. source
What was the score in the 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Milan and Hamburg?
2–0 to Milan
Milan won the match 2–0 thanks to two goals by Kurt Hamrin. source
Who was Barcelona's manager for the 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Slovan Bratislava?
Salvador Artigas
Barcelona manager Salvador Artigas congratulated his opponents. source
What was notable about the timing of the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was the last European final to be played and won in the month of April
It was also the last European final to been played and won in the month of April. source
How was the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Chelsea and Real Madrid resolved after extra time?
It went to a replay a few days later
There were no further goals scored in extra time, so the final went to a replay game. source
What happened to Rangers after they won the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
They were banned from European competition for two years
However, Rangers did lose the right to defend the trophy as they were handed a two-year ban from European competition following their fans' behaviour. source
Which referee's performance in the 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final provoked missile-throwing by the crowd?
Christos Michas
The Greek crowd at the final reacted to perceived bias towards Milan by referee Christos Michas by throwing missiles during the victors' lap of honour, but despite protests, the result was not overturned. source
What made Magdeburg's win in the 1974 European Cup Winners' Cup final unique?
It was the only major European trophy won by an East German club
It was the only time one of the major European trophies was won by an East German club. source
Which club did Dynamo Kyiv eliminate in the semi-finals on the way to the 1975 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
PSV Eindhoven
After beating PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands 3–0 in the first leg at home, Dynamo Kyiv advanced to the final despite a 2–1 loss on the night (4–2 on aggregate). source
At which ground was the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Anderlecht and West Ham United played?
Heysel Stadium, Brussels
The final was held at Heysel Stadium in Brussels on 5 May 1976. source
At which ground was the 1977 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Hamburger SV and Anderlecht played?
Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam
The final was held at Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam, Netherlands (the venue was decided in Bern by the UEFA Executive Committee on 17 September 1976). source
What was notable about Anderlecht's presence in the 1978 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was their third consecutive appearance in the final
It was Anderlecht's third consecutive appearance in the final; they won the competition in 1976 and were runners-up in 1977. source
What was the score in the 1979 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Fortuna Düsseldorf and Barcelona?
4–3 to Barcelona after extra time
Barcelona won 4–3 after extra time after goals from Tente Sánchez, Juan Manuel Asensi, Carles Rexach, and Hans Krankl, conquering the first UEFA-sanctioned trophy in its history. source
What was unique about the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Valencia and Arsenal?
It was the only final in the competition's history decided by a shoot-out
It was the 20th European Cup Winners' Cup final and the only time that the winner was decided by a penalty shoot-out. source
How many people does the page say attended the 1981 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
Only 4,750, though some sources claim 9,000
Only 4,750 people attended the match, though some sources claim there were 9,000 people. source
What was introduced for the first time at a Cup Winners' Cup final in 1982?
The match official was accompanied by three linesmen instead of two
It was the first Cup Winners' Cup final, where the match official was accompanied by three linesmen, instead of two. source
What was the attendance for the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Aberdeen and Real Madrid?
17,804
Watched by a crowd of 17,804, Aberdeen took the lead early in the first half with a goal by Eric Black, but Madrid drew level following a penalty scored by Juanito in the fifteenth minute. source
What run did the 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup final extend?
The fourth year in succession the final had been settled by a 2–1 scoreline
It was the fourth year in succession the final had been settled by a 2–1 scoreline. source
Why was Everton unable to defend the Cup Winners' Cup they won in 1985?
All English clubs were banned from European competition after Heysel
Everton were unable to defend the trophy: as league champions they would have entered the 1985–86 European Cup, but they were not permitted to play in either competition following the events at the Heysel Stadium, which saw all English clubs banned from European competitions. source
At which ground was the 1986 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Dynamo Kyiv and Atlético Madrid played?
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
The final game was held at Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France. source
What was the score in the 1987 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Ajax and 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig?
1–0 to Ajax
Ajax won the match 1–0 with a 20th-minute header from Marco van Basten. source
Which defending champions did Mechelen beat in the 1988 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
Ajax Amsterdam
The 1988 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match contested between Mechelen of Belgium and the defending champions, Ajax of the Netherlands. source
At which ground was the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup final between Barcelona and Sampdoria played?
Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
The final was held at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, on 10 May 1989. source
How did Sampdoria win the 1990 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Anderlecht?
2–0, with both goals coming in extra time
Sampdoria won the match 2–0, thanks to two goals in extra time from Gianluca Vialli. source
What was significant about the season in which Manchester United won the 1991 Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was the first season English clubs were readmitted to Europe after Heysel
It came at the end of the first season of the reintroduction of English clubs into European competition after the ban following the Heysel disaster in 1985. source
What was notable about the crowd at the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup final at the Estádio da Luz?
16,000 in a stadium with a capacity of around 130,000
The attendance of 16,000 in a stadium which, at the time, had a capacity of around 130,000 meant that this was one of the most sparsely attended UEFA finals of all time, both in actual and relative terms. source
What was notable about the 1993 European Cup Winners' Cup final at Wembley?
It was the last European club final staged at the old Wembley
This was the last European club tournament final staged at the old Wembley, as it was going to be rebuilt to an all-new stadium. source
What was notable about the venue for the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup final?
It was the first time any European final had been held in Denmark
It was the first time Parken Stadium had hosted the major European competition's final and the first time any European competition's final had been held in Denmark. source
What was notable about the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup final between Arsenal and Zaragoza?
It was the first final after the competition changed its name
It was the final match of the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 35th UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, and the first since the tournament changed name from the European Cup Winners' Cup. source
At which ground was the 1996 Cup Winners' Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Rapid Wien played?
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
The final was held at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 8 May 1996, hosting its first European club final since the scenes of the Heysel Stadium disaster eleven years prior. source
What did Paris Saint-Germain's defeat in the 1997 Cup Winners' Cup final continue?
The 'jinx' that no club ever successfully retained the Cup Winners' Cup
The final saw the last instance of the Cup Winners' Cup "jinx" that no club had successfully retained the cup in successive seasons — with Paris Saint-Germain failing to defend the trophy that they won in 1996. source
Who refereed the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final between Chelsea and Stuttgart?
Stefano Braschi
Stefano Braschi from the Italian Football Federation, was appointed to officiate the final. source
What was notable about the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final between Mallorca and Lazio?
It was the last final in the history of the competition
The final was the last in the history of the competition. source