Trophy Men

"Trophy Men – The Invention of the UEFA Champions League" tells the little-known story of two Germans who changed world football forever: Klaus Hempel and Jürgen Lenz. At the beginning of the 1990s, the two sports marketers suddenly found themselves without a job – and from this situation, they developed the Champions League as it is known today: with the iconic logo, the world-famous anthem, and a completely new, internationally marketable structure. In short: they created a global brand.
 
The documentary also looks at the historical context, such as the state of European football in the 1980s, its major structural problems, and the dramatic events surrounding the Heysel disaster in 1985, which almost brought international football to a standstill. It also sheds light on the increasing commercialisation of the sport, with all its advantages and disadvantages.
 
Renowned experts such as Marcel Reif, Claudia Neumann, Tommi Schmitt, Lena Cassel, and many more give their assessment. Football icons such as Oliver Kahn, Giovane Élber, and Lars Ricken also look back on their historic victories with Borussia Dortmund (1997) and FC Bayern Munich (2001).


Nominations and awards

The documentary won awards at the World Media Festivals and was nominated for the Oberursel Film Festival.