Trophy tour triumphs in eastern Europe

The 2011 UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by UniCredit, proved a resounding public and media success throughout its 4,890km trek across eastern Europe, as almost 100,000 fans met stars of the game and got close to the continent's most treasured club football prize.

The autumn trophy tour, presented by UniCredit, visited five cities – St Petersburg andMoscow (Russia), Kyiv and Donetsk (Ukraine), and Belgrade (Serbia) – and the fans turned out in force not only to meet a distinguished team of ambassadors, but also to see and take photos of the trophy that is coveted by the best players in the world. No fewer than 37,632 official pictures were snapped of the trophy in the five participating cities.

Football greats – players who brandished the trophy in triumph at some stage of their careers – were on hand to greet the supporters, talk to the media, and give the tour that added touch of class and glitter. The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour Ambassadors were Cafu (AC Milan, 2007), Davor Šuker (Real Madrid CF, 1998), Dwight Yorke (Manchester United FC, 1999) and Ruud Gullit (AC Milan, 1989, 1990) – all proud winners of the silverware. The four men recalled the thrill of holding the trophy on their nights of glory.

The illustrious quartet was joined by Luís Figo, UniCredit Ambassador for the UEFA Champions League, triumphant with Real Madrid in 2002, and by four local UniCredit Bank Ambassadors – Dmitri Alenichev (Russia, a 2004 champion with FC Porto), Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko and Andriy Pyatov (Ukraine), and Stevan Stojanović (Serbia, crowned with FK Crvena zvezda in 1991).

With the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour in Europe, UEFA and UniCredit bring the lustre of the competition to the home towns of its dedicated fans and offers them an opportunity to learn more about the tournament's rich history, glittering moments, and legendary clubs and players. The media attendance at the various press events also proved the pulling power of the UEFA Champions League trophy, with more than 350 media representatives present to spread the message about the tour and its activities.

At each venue, the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour Village afforded visitors a memorable experience. The entrance, a tunnel-style amphitheatre, led into the village itself which, with its unique competition memorabilia displayed alongside exclusive archive photography and videos, highlighted the competition's legacy since it began as the European Champion Clubs' Cup over five decades ago.

Mini-football pitches next to the village also provided plenty of scope for various grassroots activities and mini-tournaments – because without the grassroots, top-class football could not flourish.

Since the tour continues to grow in stature and appeal from year to year, 2012 will see another edition – locations yet to be confirmed – that will no doubt entice even more football enthusiasts to follow wherever the trophy goes.