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From the inaugural tournament in 1960 to the present day, a look at the captains who led their nations to European Championship glory. ..

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The European Championship began life in 1960 as the European Nations' Cup. Played every four years, it was initially only a four-team tournament, with preliminary rounds played home and away. In 1968, the tournament became the European Championship and over the years, it has grown from a four-team affair to feature eight, 16 and now 24 nations. Here, a look at the captains who led their national sides to the Euros title. .. Spain won the European Nations' Cup on home soil in 1964, overcoming Hungary 2-1 after extra time in the last four and then beating defending champions the Soviet Union in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu by the same scoreline. Chus Pereda and Marcelino scored the goals as Spain claimed their first major title on the football field. The captain was a Catalan: Barcelona-born former Barça defender Ferran Olivella. Denmark received a late invitation to play at Euro 88 after Yugoslavia were disqualified due to the Balkans war. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. The Danes made the most of their opportunity, shocking Europe's elite by going all the way and taking the trophy after a 2-0 win over Germany in the final. Centre-back Lars Olsen captained the team to victory and lifted the trophy in Gothenburg. Czechoslovakia's European Championship victory in 1976 is best remembered for Antonín Panenka's famous penalty in the shootout win against West Germany. But captain Anton Ondruš was also key to the nation's win. The sweeper scored at both ends in an impressive display as the Czechoslovaks overcame the Netherlands in the semi-finals and converted in the shootout as his side defeated West Germany to take the title. Greece went into Euro 2004 ranked second-lowest of all the teams in the tournament, with only Latvia below them. But Otto Rehhagel's side stunned a series of more illustrious opponents and after victories over France, Czech Republic and Portugal (twice), midfielder Theo Zagorakis lifted the trophy in Lisbon. West Germany became European champions for the second time in 1980, beating Belgium 2-1 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico to take home the trophy. The West Germans were captained by defender Bernard Dietz, who had made his debut in 1974 but was not part of the World Cup-winning squad that year. Dietz won over 50 caps for his country and the former Duisburg and Schalke player lifted the trophy after victory in the Italian capital. Álvaro Morata has had his fair share of criticism over the years, but the striker is one of handful of Spanish footballers to have won a major international trophy as captain. Morata was Spain's skipper for their Euro 2024 success and lifted the trophy after La Roja beat England 2-1 in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Ruud Gullit was one of the best players in the world in the late 1980s and the number 10 starred alongside compatriots Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten at AC Milan. Gullit was also the Dutch captain as a talented generation of players came out on top at Euro 88, beating the Soviet Union 2-0 in Munich to win a first major trophy for the Netherlands in men's football. Michel Platini was instrumental in France's European Championship win on home soil in 1984, scoring nine goals en route to the title. Those included hat-tricks against Belgium and Yugoslavia and a goal in the final as Les Bleus beat Spain 2-0 to claim their first major trophy in men's football. Giancinto Facchetti spent his entire career at Inter and the legendary left-back won 94 caps for Italy in the 1960s and 1970s. Facchetti was Italy's captain for their European Championship triumph in 1968, calling correctly as the Azzurri overcame the Soviet Union on a coin toss in the semi-finals and lifting the trophy after victory over Yugoslavia in the final, which went to a replay. Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League for a third time in 2016 and later in the summer, the Portuguese forward helped his nation to a continental crown as well. Ronaldo went off injured in the final against France, but was back on the sidelines to will on his team-mates and lifted the trophy after Éder's extra-time strike gave Portugal victory over hosts France in Paris. Jürgen Klinsmann was a key player for West Germany in their 1990 World Cup win and captained a unified Germany to European Championship success in 1996. Klinsmann was the skipper as Berti Vogts' side broke English hearts with victory on penalties in the semi-finals at Wembley and followed that up with a comeback win over the Czech Republic as Oliver Bierhoff struck twice – golden goal included – to take the trophy. The first European Nations' Cup took place in 1960 and the title was claimed by the Soviet Union, 2-1 winners against Yugoslavia after extra time in the final at the Parc des Princes. Midfielder Igor Netto was the captain and the first man to get his hands on a European Championship trophy. Netto, who spent his entire career at Spartak Moscow, also skippered the Soviet side which won. Olympic gold in 1956. Giorgio Chiellini led Italy to their first European Championship crown since 1968 as the Azzurri beat England on penalties at Wembley in the final of Euro 2020. Due to Covid-19, the tournament was played in 2021 and Chiellini became the oldest player to represent Italy at a Euros, lifting the trophy at the age of 36 following the Azzurri's 3-2 win in the shootout. Didier Deschamps is one of a select group of players to have won the World Cup, European Championship and the European Cup as captain. After France's World Cup win in 1998, Deschamps helped Les Bleus claim victory at Euro 2000, thanks to a late leveller from Sylvain Wiltord and a David Trézéguet golden goal against Italy. Deschamps also went on to win the World Cup as coach in 2018 and led Les Bleus to the final of Euro 2016. Franz Beckenbauer was West Germany's captain for back-to-back European Championship finals in 1972 and 1976 and also for the nation's World Cup win in 1974. The legendary sweeper lifted the Euros trophy after West Germany's 3-0 win over the Soviet Union in 1972, but Die Mannschaft lost out on penalties to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 final. Beckenbauer went on to win two Ballons d'Or, three European Cups as Bayern Munich captain and a World Cup as Germany coach in 1990. Iker Casillas was Spain's skipper throughout their glorious era between 2008 and 2012, bookmarked by back-to-back Euros wins. The former Real Madrid goalkeeper became the first Spaniard to lift a World Cup and is the only man from any country to win two European Championships as captain. Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine. 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