The 1962âÂÂ63 European Cup was the eighth season of the European Cup, UEFA's premier club football tournament. The competition was won by AC Milan, who beat two-time defending champions Benfica in the final at Wembley Stadium, London, on 22 May 1963. Milan's victory was the first by an Italian club.
Five-time winners Real Madrid were eliminated in the preliminary round by Anderlecht, the first time previous winners didn't make it to the first round of the competition.
Albania entered its champion for the first time this season.
A total of 30 teams participated in the competition.
Portugal continued to be represented by two clubs, with Benfica qualifying as title holders and Sporting CP as Portuguese champions. CSKA Red Flag appeared in the seventh edition of European Cup, with only Real Madrid having more appearances in the competition.
Partizani, Esbjerg, Ipswich Town, Union Luxembourg, Floriana, Shelbourne, Dundee and 1. FC Köln made their debut in the competition.
Galatasaray returned to the tournament for the first time since 1957, while IFK Norrköping, Polonia Bytom, Anderlecht and eventual winners Milan returned to the competition after five, four, three and three years, respectively.
All participants were their respective associations champions, except for Benfica and Fredrikstad. The latter was leading Hovedserien at the summer break on 1 July 1962, after 21 of 30 matches had been played, but finished third in autumn of 1962.
Due to the number of participating teams only Reims (apart from title holders Benfica) received a bye to the first round. The remaining clubs would play the preliminary round in September.
IFK Norrköping won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Galatasaray won 4âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Esbjerg won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Polonia Bytom won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Milan won 14âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Servette 4âÂÂ4 Feyenoord on aggregate; play-off needed.
Vasas won 11âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Ipswich Town won 14âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Anderlecht won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Austria Wien won 7âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Sporting CP won 7âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Dundee won 8âÂÂ5 on aggregate.
CSKA Red Flag won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Dukla Prague won 4âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Feyenoord won play-off 3âÂÂ1.
Dundee won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Anderlecht won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Reims won 7âÂÂ3 on aggregate.
Dukla Prague won 5âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
Galatasaray won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Benfica won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Feyenoord 3âÂÂ3 Vasas on aggregate; play-off needed.
Milan won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Feyenoord won play-off 1âÂÂ0.
Benfica won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Feyenoord won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Milan won 8âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
Dundee won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Milan won 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Benfica won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate.
The top scorers from the 1962âÂÂ63 European Cup (including preliminary round) were as follows: