The UEFA Super Cup began in 1972.
Previously, it had been said that Nottingham Forest was the European champion because they were the Champions League winner. But at Liverpool, the Liverpool fans also thought of themselves as the European champion because their team had just won the UEFA Europa League.
In that way, there were two European champions, but there could only be one champion. What could they do about it? The winners of the two tournaments would have a match to determine the final winner. This method implied there would be a "king of all kings." Everyone was a king, but which king was more powerful? It was believed that many fans would be interested in the answer to this question.
Initially Europe had three major cup tournaments, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and the UEFA Europa League.