Bayern greats hand over trophy

German football legends Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller returned the UEFA Champions League trophy to UEFA at a special ceremony in Glasgow today.

Bayern handover
The European Champion Clubs' Cup was handed back to UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner by current title-holders FC Bayern München at the City Chambers in the Scottish city, which will be hosting this season's Champions League final at Hampden Park on 15 May.

Last final in Glasgow
Beckenbauer, who is Bayern's president, and Müller, currently coaching the Bavarians' amateur team, played in the Bayern side which defeated AS St-Etienne 1-0 when the final of European club football's premier competition was played last in Glasgow in 1976. Beckenbauer lifted the trophy as Bayern's captain on that occasion.

On display
The trophy will now be on display at the Kelvin Grove Art Galleries & Museum in Glasgow from Friday until 21 April, before being moved for display at the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park from 22 April until the day before the final.

'A great football city'
"Glasgow has played an important role in the history of the European competitions," said Mr Aigner at the ceremony. "Glasgow is a great football city - the population has a particular affection for the culture of football." Beckenbauer agreed, saying: "Glasgow is born for football. It was good to play in front of the Scottish fans. They are passionate, but also very fair."

Scottish winners
Thursday's ceremony was also attended by members of Scottish clubs who have won European trophies - Celtic FC, Rangers FC and Aberdeen FC, as well as players and officials with Scottish clubs who have won European trophies with other teams.

Lisbon Lions
Celtic were represented by players from the team which won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1967 - the 'Lisbon Lions', who earned that nickname for their 2-1 success over Internazionale FC in the Portuguese capital.

Greig and Miller
Rangers FC were represented by John Greig, who captained the team which won the UEFA European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, while Aberdeen FC's representative was Willie Miller, who was captain when the club carried off the same trophy in 1983.

Dortmund team-mates
Rangers FC goalkeeper Stefan Klos and Celtic FC captain Paul Lambert, who also attended the ceremony, were team-mates in the Borussia Dortmund team which won the Champions League in 1997.

Forest memories
Celtic FC coach Martin O'Neill and his assistant John Robertson renewed acquaintance with the trophy they won with Nottingham Forest. Robertson played in both the 1979 and 1980 European Cup finals, while O'Neill took part in the 1980 final.

Referees represented
Scotland's refereeing community was represented by Hugh Dallas, who is one of 14 European referees who will be travelling to Korea/Japan to take part in this summer's FIFA World Cup finals.