Two goals from Inter Milan striker Diego Milito saw his side crowned European Champions with a 2-0 win over German side Bayern Munich in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
The win means that Inter coach Jose Mourinho has now joined an exclusive club of coaches who have led two different clubs to the title, after his 2004 triumph with Porto.
Inter produced a typical organized display in defense to hit their rivals on the break, but after this season winning a domestic double and beating Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern: this season's champions of England, Spain and Germany, nobody can doubt the Italians are deserved kings of Europe.
Fittingly for a game played in the capital of Spain, both sides kicked off with former Barcelona and former Real Madrid players in their ranks.
Samuel Eto'o, Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder were in the Inter starting 11, while Arjen Robben and Marc van Bommel started for Bayern.
Bayern was, however, missing French international Frank Ribery, who was suspended for the game after his sending off in the semifinal against Olympic Lyon.
The first 10 minutes saw both sides showing their big match nerves, before Bayern began to press forward with more insistence than their rivals. Robben caused problems with a run down the right, but was unable to pick out Muller with his cross, while at the other end Sneijder's powerful free kick had to be punched away by Bayern goalkeeper Butt.
The game also had some physical play with Robben in particular the target for some heavy tackles from Inter, although English referee Howard Webb preferred to control the game by speaking to players rather than by showing any yellow cards.
Inter won another free kick around 40 meters from goal after 25 minutes, and again Sneijder elected to shoot, although Butt made a comfortable claim.
On the half hour Webb finally lost his patience and booked Chivu for yet another foul on Robben.
The Italians took the lead after 35 minutes. Julio Cesar's long clearance was flicked to Sneijder whose precise pass set up Milito to fire a powerful shot past Butt.
Milito returned the favor for Sneijder three minutes before the break after his run from the left set up the Dutch midfielder whose shot was straight at Butt, who made an important block.
Bayern's only response was a Van Bommel shot that went wide of the post in injury time.
The second half got off to an explosive start. Firstly, Muller wasted a great chance for Bayern by shooting straight at Julio Cesar after great work from Olic and Altintop. Before Inter went straight to the other end for Milito to set up Pandev's curling shot over the bar.
That as the moment Inter decided to surrender control of the ball to their rivals and sit deep waiting for a chance on the break. Bayern moved the ball across the field trying to break down an Inter's defensive organizaton. Muller saw a goalbound shot headed away by Cambiasso, while Julio Cesar produced a magnificent save to frustrate Robben.
Miroslav Klose replaced Altintop, but with 20 minutes remaining Milito scored his second of the match to assure the win. The striker beat the offside trap, turned Van Buyton inside out and beat Butt with a right foot shot.
With Inter typically solid in defense and midfield, there was no way Bayern was ever going to get back on level terms and Mourinho was able to celebrate in the Stadium many expect to be his home next season.