How Inter Milan made history in the 1963–64 European Cup tournament

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 1963–64 European Cup marked a turning point in football history. As the ninth edition of UEFA's premier club tournament, it saw 31 teams compete for the title. Inter Milan's victory in Vienna not only secured the trophy but also established a unique milestone for their home city.

The 1963–64 season of the European Cup was defined by a significant shift in continental dominance. Inter Milan emerged as champions after defeating Real Madrid 3–1 in the final held at the Praterstadion in Vienna on 27 May 1964. This victory was historic for Italian football, as it made Italy the first country to produce two different competition winners, and Milan the first city to claim that same distinction. The previous title holders, AC Milan, had been eliminated by Real Madrid during the quarter-finals.

Participation in the tournament reached 31 teams, reflecting the growing reach of the competition. Notably, Cyprus entered its national champion for the first time. The structure of the tournament also saw adjustments; due to the number of participants, only the title holders, AC Milan, received a bye directly into the first round. The remaining clubs were required to compete in a preliminary round held throughout September and October 1963. This phase produced intense competition, including a notable instance where Zürich qualified for the next stage after a coin toss following a 2–2 draw in a play-off match against Galatasaray.

The tournament featured a mix of established powerhouses and debutants. While Real Madrid remained the only ever-present team in the competition's history, 12 clubs made their debut, including Everton, Ferencváros, and AEK Athens. Other teams returned after long absences, such as PSV Eindhoven, which reappeared for the first time since the inaugural season. The eligibility rules were largely consistent, with all participants being their respective national champions, with the exception of AC Milan and the Norwegian club Lyn, which qualified despite finishing second in its league after the season concluded in October 1963.

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