The 2010s were the age of the super-clubs. From Madrid in 2010 to Madrid again in 2019, ten finals produced three trebles, a penalty triumph in the opponent's own stadium and, above all, the Real Madrid of four titles in five years. Let us take them one by one, with an eye on the shirts too.
2010 · Madrid: Inter – Bayern 2-0
On 22 May 2010, at the Santiago Bernabéu, Diego Milito scored both Inter goals (35', 70'). José Mourinho's side let Bayern have the ball and hit them on the counter. It was the first treble by an Italian club and Inter's first European title since 1965.
Inter wore their black and blue, but with white socks, because their black ones clashed with Bayern's new kit. The Bavarians debuted their 2010-11 shirt, inspired by the red and white stripes of the late '60s and early '70s. It was also the first final played on a Saturday instead of a Wednesday.
2011 · London: Barcelona – Manchester United 3-1
At Wembley, on 28 May 2011, Pep Guardiola's Barcelona gave a masterclass. Pedro opened the scoring (27') and Rooney equalised (34'), but Messi (54') and Villa, with a curler into the top corner (69'), settled it. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted it was the best team he had ever faced.
The most moving moment came at the presentation. Eric Abidal, who had undergone surgery for a liver tumour two months earlier, wore the armband and was the first to lift the trophy in the blaugrana.
2012 · Munich: Chelsea – Bayern 1-1 (4-3 pens)
Bayern were playing in their own stadium, the so-called "Finale dahoam", the final at home. Thomas Müller scored on 83', but Didier Drogba equalised with a header on 88'. In extra time Petr Čech saved a Robben penalty.
In the shoot-out Olić was stopped by Čech and Schweinsteiger hit the post. Drogba took the last kick and made Chelsea the first London club to win the trophy, without their suspended captain John Terry.
2013 · London: Bayern – Dortmund 2-1
The first all-German final, again at Wembley, on 25 May 2013. Mandžukić gave Bayern the lead on 60', Gündoğan levelled from the spot soon after and Arjen Robben scored the winner a minute from time. A year after Munich, the Dutchman had his revenge.
Bayern already wore their red shirt for the following 2013-14 season and completed the treble under Jupp Heynckes. Facing them, Jürgen Klopp's yellow and black gave way at the end of an exhausting year.
2014 · Lisbon: Real Madrid – Atlético Madrid 4-1 (aet)
The first final between two teams from the same city, at the Estádio da Luz. Godín put Atlético ahead (36') and the cup was heading for the red and white, until Sergio Ramos equalised with a header on 93'. In extra time Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo, from the spot, all scored.
It was the long-awaited "Décima", Real's 10th title and their first since 2002. Both teams wore their usual home kits, and Atlético had the name of Luis Aragonés, who had died that year, inside the collar.
2015 · Berlin: Barcelona – Juventus 3-1
At the Olympiastadion, on 6 June 2015, Rakitić scored on 4' and Morata equalised (55'). The Messi, Suárez and Neymar trio made the difference: Suárez made it 2-1 (68') and Neymar 3-1 in stoppage time. Barça became the first club with two European trebles.
It was a final of "classic" shirts: Juve's black and white stripes against Barça's broad stripes with blue shorts. It was also Xavi's last game for Barcelona.
2016 · Milan: Real Madrid – Atlético Madrid 1-1 (5-3 pens)
A rematch of 2014 at San Siro. Ramos scored on 15', Griezmann hit the bar with a penalty and Carrasco equalised on 79'. In the shoot-out Juanfran struck the post and Cristiano sealed the 11th title.
Atlético had asked to play in their navy away kit, out of superstition, since they had worn it in most of their European games that season. UEFA said no. Zinedine Zidane became the first French coach to win the trophy.
2017 · Cardiff: Real Madrid – Juventus 4-1
The only final played indoors, with the Millennium Stadium roof closed for safety reasons. Ronaldo scored twice (20', 64'), Mandžukić briefly equalised with a spectacular goal (27'), and Casemiro (61') and Asensio (90') also scored.
For collectors, this is the final of the purple Real: facing Juve's black and white, Madrid wore their purple change shirt. They became the first club to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era.
2018 · Kyiv: Real Madrid – Liverpool 3-1
A third title in a row for Real, at Kyiv's Olimpiyskiy. Salah went off injured on 25' after a challenge by Ramos. Benzema punished a Karius error (51'), Mané equalised (55') and Gareth Bale, shortly after coming on, scored with a bicycle kick and again with a long shot on 83'.
Both teams wore their 2017-18 kits: Liverpool had already debuted their new shirt, but went back to the old one for the final. Red against white.
2019 · Madrid: Liverpool – Tottenham 2-0
The second all-English final, on 1 June 2019 at the Metropolitano. Mohamed Salah scored a penalty inside the first two minutes and Divock Origi sealed the win on 87'. It was the first final with VAR.
Liverpool won their 6th title and Jürgen Klopp his first trophy with Liverpool, a year after the tears of Kyiv. Tottenham were playing in the first final of their history.
The decade's legacy
The decade belonged to Spain and to Real: four titles in five years, three in a row, and a purple shirt that became a collector's item. At the same time Inter, Barça and Bayern proved that the treble was no longer a dream.
For shirt lovers, the images remain: the blaugrana at Wembley, Atlético's stripes with Aragonés' name, and Liverpool's red in Madrid.
See our Champions League club jerseys at sportarena.gr.
Photo: Philipp Lahm takes a penalty in the 2012 final in Munich – Markus Unger, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.