The UEFA Champions League (abbreviated as UCL) is a yearly club football competition arranged by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) as well as contested by top-division European clubs, determining the competition champions via a rounded robin group phase to certify for a double-legged ko format, and a single leg last. It is among one of the most distinguished football tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in European football, played by the nationwide league champions (as well as, for some nations, several runners-up) of their national organizations. Introduced in 1955 as the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens (French for European Champion Clubs Cup), and frequently referred to as the European Mug, it was originally a straight knockout tournament open only to the champs of Europe s residential leagues, with its champion thought as the European club champ. The competition tackled its existing name in 1992, adding a round-robin group phase i...