Trophy Tour a big draw in Zagreb

The picturesque setting of Zagreb's Jarun Lake, combined with the magnetic presence of Croatia coach Slaven Bilić, helped to make the second stop on this season's UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by UniCredit, a resounding success.

Large turnout
Stage two of the latest, all-European edition of the Trophy Tour drew about 5,000 visitors to the Jarun Lake location in the Croatian capital. Around 30 media representatives also attended the event which, taking place between 25 and 26 September, afforded Croatia's football public some 17 hours of unprecedented access to the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Pulling power
As ambassador for the Croatian leg, local hero Slaven Bilić gave added prestige to proceedings: the national-team coach and former player spent more than an hour signing autographs and having his picture taken with fans. Big-name ambassadors, autograph sessions and photo opportunities form an integral part of the tour activities, especially with every supporter having the chance to get close to the European club game's most glittering prize.

European debut
The Trophy Tour – visiting this continent for the first time – aims to give fans a truly memorable football experience. A Trophy Tour village is set up in each venue featuring displays of unique memorabilia, pictures and films, all of which convey the rich tradition of the UEFA Champions League and European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Public access
The Croatian leg was the sequel to a five-day stopover in Milan and involved a press conference followed by long sessions, both on Friday and Saturday, where the public had free access to the Trophy Tour village. Visitors had been able to pre-register for fast, VIP entrance to the exhibition. Zagreb is home to top-flight clubs NK Dinamo Zagreb, the 1967 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners, and NK Zagreb.

Next stops
The Trophy Tour continues from Zagreb to Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia, the respective capitals of Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, and runs until mid-October in this, the debut season for presenting sponsor UniCredit. The tour is designed to offer supporters the chance to share in the glamour and excitement of the UEFA Champions League. UniCredit also has the opportunity to promote its own activities on this high-profile event platform.

Next legs
• Bucharest – Constitutiei Square: 3/4 October
• Budapest – Felvonulási Square: 10/11 October
• Sofia – Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square: 17/18 October