The gallery, which is now officially open, is free to view and contains 160 images that have defined Europe's premier club football competition, featuring some of the best players to ever grace the continent, such as Lionel Messi, Ryan Giggs and Andrés Iniesta.

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Steve McManaman, UEFA Champions League final ambassador, said: "The words and images that appear in the 'Kings of Europe' exhibition will undoubtedly evoke memories of great games, great players, great coaches and great teams but, above all, the emotion and passion that we created together.

"It is 'our' heritage because it belongs to everyone who has followed a team into Europe and should be shared and celebrated."

The gallery is part of the UEFA Champions Festival; a free four-day event which is due to take place from Thursday May 23 to Sunday May 26 at the International Quarter of London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the dates surrounding the UEFA Champions League Final between German titans Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on May 25 at Wembley Stadium.

The UEFA Champions Festival will take place from May 23-26 in London's Olympic Park International Quarter

The gallery is part of the UEFA Champions Festival; a free four-day event which is due to take place from Thursday May 23 to Sunday May 26 at the International Quarter of London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the dates surrounding the UEFA Champions League Final between German titans Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on May 25 at Wembley Stadium.

The Festival will offer a range of activities for fans of all ages, including the opportunity to have photos taken with the famous Champions League and Women's Champions League trophies and skills workshops and coaching sessions for children run by professional coaches.

Festival ambassadors such as McManaman, the first British player to lift the Champions League trophy twice in its current format, and former England captain Faye White, who captained Arsenal Ladies to the Women's Champions League title in 2007, will be at the festival to meet and greet fans.

McManaman will also be one of a host of former superstars to compete in the annual Ultimate Champions Match, which gives fans the opportunity to watch Champions League legends of yesteryear roll back the time in a unique game of football.

The gallery is open from now until May 26, and is open from 10.00- 21.00 Monday to Friday,  09.00- 21.00 on Saturdays and from 12.00–18.00 on Sundays. 

For more information on the gallery and the festival, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories: 
March 2013: UEFA to stage annual football festival at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park