Gelsenkirchen welcomes trophy

Thursday, 15 April 2004

European club football's most prestigious prize, the UEFA Champions League trophy, has been put in the hands of the German city of Gelsenkirchen, the host venue of this season's final on 26 May.

Milan return trophy
The trophy was handed over by holders AC Milan in a special ceremony at the Musiktheater im Revier in Gelsenkirchen. Milan returned the trophy to UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson, who then handed it over to the Mayor of Gelsenkirchen, Oliver Wittke. The trophy is now in Gelsenkirchen's safekeeping, and will be put on display until the final at the city's spectacular Arena AufSchalke.

Maldini senior
Milan were represented by Cesare Maldini, father of current captain Paolo Maldini and skipper of the Milan team which won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1963, and Franco Baresi, Milan's successful European Cup captain in 1989 and 1990.

'City of tradition'
"Gelsenkirchen is a city of tradition that lives for football, and which is known for its great club FC Schalke 04," said Mr Olsson. "The relationship between the club and its club's fans is like a love affair. The city has also built a splendid, modern stadium." UEFA's Swedish CEO added that he had especially happy memories of Gelsenkirchen because of Sweden's victory there against Austria in a FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off in 1973.

Great honour
"We consider it a great honour to be hosting the final, and would like to thank UEFA," said Mr Wittke. "We and the entire Ruhr region are looking forward to welcoming football friends from Europe and throughout the world."

Father and son
The Maldini family has a special relationship with the trophy. Father Cesare lifted it in triumph in 1963, and last year, son Paolo brandished the trophy as the Milan captain after their victory over Juventus FC in Manchester. "It was something special to see my son with the trophy in his hands 40 years later," said Cesare Maldini. Milan will not contest the final this year after their quarter-final elimination at the hands of RC Deportivo la Coruña. "We're still trying to figure out how this happened, but there's nothing left for us now than to win the trophy again in the future," said Baresi.

Special guests
German Football Association (DFB) general secretary Horst R. Schmidt was present for the handover, and Germany's 1954 FIFA World Cup-winning team was represented by Horst Eckel, a special guest at the ceremony.

Starball match
A commemorative Starball match has also taken place in Gelsenkirchen to coincide with the ceremony. The match was contested in the square outside the Musiktheatre and came to an end before the main handover event.

Twenty-four hour game
The Starball match is a 24-hour five-a-side match played on an outdoor pitch dressed as a miniature Champions League venue. The match is open to players of all ages and the event was first staged before the cup handover ceremony in Glasgow in 2002 and again in Manchester last year.