HistoryData
general1991

1991 European Cup Final — association football match

May 29, 1991

Red Star Belgrade won their only European Cup title, defeating Marseille on penalties in a final where both clubs were making their debut appearances.

Quick Facts

Year
1991
Category
general

Key Facts

Date
29 May 1991
Venue
Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy
Winner
Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia)
Runner-up
Marseille (France)
Decisive moment
Manuel Amoros missed penalty for Marseille
Both clubs' final debut
Last such European Cup final as of 2025

Location

Map of Bari, ItalyMap of Bari, ItalyBari, Italy

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Red Star Belgrade and Marseille each navigated their respective national leagues and European Cup knockout rounds to reach the 1991 final, marking the first time either club had appeared in the competition's deciding match.

Event

Played on 29 May 1991 at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari, the match ended goalless after 90 minutes and extra time. The tie was settled by a penalty shoot-out, in which Manuel Amoros's miss proved decisive, allowing Red Star Belgrade to hold their nerve and claim the trophy.

Consequence

Red Star Belgrade claimed their first and, to date, only European Cup title. The victory represented the peak of Yugoslav club football before the country's dissolution. As of 2025, the match remains the last European Cup final in which both competing clubs were making their debut appearance in the final.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 199119911988198919901992199319941991 FIFA World Youth Championship — International football competitionEuroBasket 1991 — FIBA EuroBasket1991 European Super Cup — football matchEurovision Song Contest 1991 — 36th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1991 Formula One World Championship — sports season1991 Copa América — 1991 edition of the Copa América association football competition1991–92 UEFA Cup — 21st season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup — 1991 edition of the association football competition CONCACAF Gold Cup1991-european-cup-final-association-football-match-1991