The European Championship started life in 1960 because the European Nations’ Cup.
Performed each 4 years, it was initially solely a four-team event, with preliminary rounds performed residence and away.
In 1968, the event grew to become the European Championship and over time, it has grown from a four-team affair to function eight, 16 and now 24 nations.
Right here, a take a look at the captains who led their nationwide sides to the Euros title…
16. Ferran Olivella
Spain gained the European Nations’ Cup on residence soil in 1964, overcoming Hungary 2-1 after further time within the final 4 after which beating defending champions the Soviet Union within the ultimate on the Santiago Bernabéu by the identical scoreline.
Chus Pereda and Marcelino scored the objectives as Spain claimed their first main title on the soccer subject. The captain was a Catalan: Barcelona-born former Barça defender Ferran Olivella.
15. Lars Olsen
Denmark acquired a late invitation to play at Euro 88 after Yugoslavia have been disqualified as a result of Balkans warfare.
The Danes made essentially the most of their alternative, surprising Europe’s elite by going all the way in which and taking the trophy after a 2-0 win over Germany within the ultimate. Centre-back Lars Olsen captained the workforce to victory and lifted the trophy in Gothenburg.
14. Anton Ondruš
Czechoslovakia’s European Championship victory in 1976 is finest remembered for Antonín Panenka’s well-known penalty within the shootout win towards West Germany.
However captain Anton Ondruš was additionally key to the nation’s win. The sweeper scored at each ends in a formidable show because the Czechoslovaks overcame the Netherlands within the semi-finals and transformed within the shootout as his facet defeated West Germany to take the title.
13. Theodoros Zagorakis
Greece went into Euro 2004 ranked second-lowest of all of the groups within the event, with solely Latvia beneath them.
However Otto Rehhagel’s facet surprised a sequence of extra illustrious opponents and after victories over France, Czech Republic and Portugal (twice), midfielder Theo Zagorakis lifted the trophy in Lisbon.
12. Bernard Dietz
West Germany grew to become European champions for the second time in 1980, beating Belgium 2-1 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to take residence the trophy.
The West Germans have been captained by defender Bernard Dietz, who had made his debut in 1974 however was not a part of the World Cup-winning squad that 12 months. Dietz gained over 50 caps for his nation and the previous Duisburg and Schalke participant lifted the trophy after victory within the Italian capital.
11. Álvaro Morata
Álvaro Morata has had his justifiable share of criticism over time, however the striker is one in all handful of Spanish footballers to have gained a significant worldwide trophy as captain.
Morata was Spain’s skipper for his or her Euro 2024 success and lifted the trophy after La Roja beat England 2-1 within the ultimate on the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
10. Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit was probably the greatest gamers on the planet within the late Nineteen Eighties and the quantity 10 starred alongside compatriots Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten at AC Milan.
Gullit was additionally the Dutch captain as a gifted era of gamers got here out on high at Euro 88, beating the Soviet Union 2-0 in Munich to win a primary main trophy for the Netherlands in males’s soccer.
9. Michel Platini
Michel Platini was instrumental in France’s European Championship win on residence soil in 1984, scoring 9 objectives en path to the title.
These included hat-tricks towards Belgium and Yugoslavia and a purpose within the ultimate as Les Bleus beat Spain 2-0 to assert their first main trophy in males’s soccer.
8. Giacinto Facchetti
Giancinto Facchetti spent his complete profession at Inter and the legendary left-back gained 94 caps for Italy within the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies.
Facchetti was Italy’s captain for his or her European Championship triumph in 1968, calling accurately because the Azzurri overcame the Soviet Union on a coin toss within the semi-finals and lifting the trophy after victory over Yugoslavia within the ultimate, which went to a replay.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo gained the Champions League for a 3rd time in 2016 and later in the summertime, the Portuguese ahead helped his nation to a continental crown as nicely.
Ronaldo went off injured within the ultimate towards France, however was again on the sidelines to will on his team-mates and lifted the trophy after Éder’s extra-time strike gave Portugal victory over hosts France in Paris.
6. Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann was a key participant for West Germany of their 1990 World Cup win and captained a unified Germany to European Championship success in 1996.
Klinsmann was the skipper as Berti Vogts’ facet broke English hearts with victory on penalties within the semi-finals at Wembley and adopted that up with a comeback win over the Czech Republic as Oliver Bierhoff struck twice – golden purpose included – to take the trophy.
5. Igor Netto
The primary European Nations’ Cup befell in 1960 and the title was claimed by the Soviet Union, 2-1 winners towards Yugoslavia after further time within the ultimate on the Parc des Princes.
Midfielder Igor Netto was the captain and the primary man to get his palms on a European Championship trophy. Netto, who spent his complete profession at Spartak Moscow, additionally skippered the Soviet facet which gained. Olympic gold in 1956.
4. Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini led Italy to their first European Championship crown since 1968 because the Azzurri beat England on penalties at Wembley within the ultimate of Euro 2020.
As a consequence of Covid-19, the event was performed in 2021 and Chiellini grew to become the oldest participant to signify Italy at a Euros, lifting the trophy on the age of 36 following the Azzurri’s 3-2 win within the shootout.
3. Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is one in all a choose group of gamers to have gained the World Cup, European Championship and the European Cup as captain.
After France’s World Cup win in 1998, Deschamps helped Les Bleus declare victory at Euro 2000, because of a late leveller from Sylvain Wiltord and a David Trézéguet golden purpose towards Italy. Deschamps additionally went on to win the World Cup as coach in 2018 and led Les Bleus to the ultimate of Euro 2016.
2. Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer was West Germany’s captain for back-to-back European Championship finals in 1972 and 1976 and likewise for the nation’s World Cup win in 1974.
The legendary sweeper lifted the Euros trophy after West Germany’s 3-0 win over the Soviet Union in 1972, however Die Mannschaft misplaced out on penalties to Czechoslovakia within the 1976 ultimate. Beckenbauer went on to win two Ballons d’Or, three European Cups as Bayern Munich captain and a World Cup as Germany coach in 1990.
1. Iker Casillas
Iker Casillas was Spain’s skipper all through their wonderful period between 2008 and 2012, bookmarked by back-to-back Euros wins.
The previous Actual Madrid goalkeeper grew to become the primary Spaniard to elevate a World Cup and is the one man from any nation to win two European Championships as captain.
