Throughout its 39-year history, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was always a knock-out tournament with two-legged home and away ties until the single match final staged at a neutral venue, the only exception to this being the two-legged final in the competition's first year.

The first competition was won by Fiorentina, from Italy, who defeated Scotland's Rangers 4–1 over two legs to win the 1961 final.

[1] Barcelona are the most successful club in the competition's history, having won it on four occasions,[1] followed by Anderlecht (Belgium), Milan (Italy), Chelsea (England) and Dynamo Kyiv (USSR / Ukraine) with two victories each.

Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid (all from Spain), Anderlecht (Belgium), Rangers (Scotland), Arsenal (England) and Rapid Wien (Austria) hold the record for being runners-up the most times, with each team losing the final twice.

Additionally, England provided nine different teams in the finals, seven of which went on to win the trophy at least once, both also records.