Nottingham Forest's astonishing rise under Brian Clough took them from the second tier of English football to the European Cup final, which they won in 1979 and 1980. Forest's back-to-back triumphs make them the only club to have been crowned European champions more times than champions of their own domestic league.
Benfica asserted their status as continental top dogs by winning two successive European Cups at the start of the 60s. However, at the time of writing, the Lisbon giants have yet to lift another piece of major UEFA silverware after they were apparently cursed by legendary manager Bela Guttmann, who furiously left the club when he was denied a pay rise following that pair of European Cup victories.
Atletico Madrid claimed their first Europa League crown in 2010, Diego Forlan bagging a brace as Quique Sanchez Flores' side edged out Fulham after extra time in the final. Atleti won their next two, in 2012 and 2018, under club legend Diego Simeone, sweeping aside Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in an all-Spanish final then beating Marseille by the same scoreline.
Feyenoord became the first Dutch club to lift the UEFA Cup in 2002, showcasing their importance in European football by securing a significant trophy and cementing their legacy in continental competition.
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