The UEFA Europa League is an annual football cup competition for top football clubs in Europe. The clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues and cup competitions. It is the second-tier competition for European clubs, below the UEFA Champions League.

From 1970 until 2009, the competition was called the UEFA Cup. Since 2009, there has been a change in format, and the competition has been known as the Europa League. Since 1998, the final has been played as a single match; before that, the winner was based on the result of a home-and-away series.

The most successful club in the competition is the Spanish team Sevilla, with seven titles.

Spanish Dominance

Spanish clubs have won 14 titles, with Sevilla (7), Atlético Madrid (3), Real Madrid (2), Villarreal (1), and Valencia (1) contributing to this success.

Italian Success

Italian teams have 10 victories, with Juventus, Inter Milan, and Parma each winning multiple titles.

English Clubs

English teams have 10 wins total, with Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea among the successful clubs.

Complete List of UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup Winners
Season Winners Score Runners-up
2024-25 Tottenham (England) 1–0 Manchester United (England)
2023-24 Atalanta (Italy) 3–0 Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
2022-23 Sevilla (Spain) 1-1 (a.e.t.) penalties 4-1 Roma (Italy)
2021-22 Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) 1–1 (a.e.t.) penalties 5-4 Rangers (Scotland)
2020-21 Villarreal (Spain) 1–1 (a.e.t.) penalties 11-10 Manchester United (England)
2019-20 Sevilla (Spain) 3-2 Inter Milan (Italy)
2018-19 Chelsea (England) 4-1 Arsenal (England)
2017-18 Atlético Madrid (Spain) 3-0 Marseille (France)
2016-17 Manchester United (England) 2-0 Ajax (Netherlands)
2015-16 Sevilla (Spain) 3-1 Liverpool (England)
2014-15 Sevilla (Spain) 3-2 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine)
2013-14 Sevilla (Spain) 0-0 (penalties 4-2) Benfica (Portugal)
2012-13 Chelsea (England) 2-1 Benfica (Portugal)
2011-12 Atlético Madrid (Spain) 3-0 Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
2010-11 Porto (Portugal) 1-0 Braga (Portugal)
2009-10 Atlético Madrid (Spain) 2-1 Fulham (England)
2008-09 Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 2-1 Werder Bremen (Germany)
2007-08 Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia) 2-0 Rangers (Scotland)
2006-07 Sevilla (Spain) 2-2 (penalties 3-1) Espanyol (Spain)
2005-06 Sevilla (Spain) 4-0 Middlesbrough (England)
2004-05 CSKA Moscow (Russia) 3-1 Sporting CP (Portugal)
2003-04 Valencia (Spain) 2-0 Marseille (France)
2002-03 Porto (Portugal) 3-2 Celtic (Scotland)
2001-02 Feyenoord (Netherlands) 3-2 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
2000-01 Liverpool (England) 5-4 Deportivo Alavés (Spain)
1999-2000 Galatasaray (Turkey) 0-0 (penalties 4-1) Arsenal (England)
1998-99 Parma (Italy) 3-0 Marseille (France)
1997-98 Inter Milan (Italy) 3-0 Lazio (Italy)
1996-97 Schalke 04 (Germany) 1-0, 0-1 (penalties 4-1) Inter Milan (Italy)
1995-96 Bayern Munich (Germany) 2-0, 3-1 Bordeaux (France)
1994-95 Parma (Italy) 1-0, 1-1 Juventus (Italy)
1993-94 Inter Milan (Italy) 1-0, 1-0 Austria Salzburg (Austria)
1992-93 Juventus (Italy) 3-1, 3-0 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
1991-92 Ajax (Netherlands) 2-2, 0-0 (away goals) Torino (Italy)
1990-91 Inter Milan (Italy) 2-0, 0-1 Roma (Italy)
1989-90 Juventus (Italy) 3-1, 0-0 Fiorentina (Italy)
1988-89 Napoli (Italy) 2-1, 3-3 VfB Stuttgart (West Germany)
1987-88 Bayer Leverkusen (West Germany) 0-3, 3-0 (penalties 3-2) Espanyol (Spain)
1986-87 IFK Göteborg (Sweden) 1-0, 1-1 Dundee United (Scotland)
1985-86 Real Madrid (Spain) 5-1, 0-2 1. FC Köln (West Germany)
1984-85 Real Madrid (Spain) 3-0, 0-1 Videoton (Hungary)
1983-84 Tottenham Hotspur (England) 1-1, 1-1 (penalties 4-3) Anderlecht (Belgium)
1982-83 Anderlecht (Belgium) 1-0, 1-1 Benfica (Portugal)
1981-82 IFK Göteborg (Sweden) 1-0, 3-0 Hamburger SV (West Germany)
1980-81 Ipswich Town (England) 3-0, 2-4 AZ (Netherlands)
1979-80 Eintracht Frankfurt (West Germany) 2-3, 1-0 (away goals) Borussia Mönchengladbach (West Germany)
1978-79 Borussia Mönchengladbach (West Germany) 1-1, 1-0 Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia)
1977-78 PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) 0-0, 3-0 Bastia (France)
1976-77 Juventus (Italy) 1-0, 1-2 (away goals) Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
1975-76 Liverpool (England) 3-2, 1-1 Club Brugge (Belgium)
1974-75 Borussia Mönchengladbach (West Germany) 0-0, 5-1 Twente (Netherlands)
1973-74 Feyenoord (Netherlands) 2-2, 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (England)
1972-73 Liverpool (England) 3-0, 0-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach (West Germany)
1971-72 Tottenham Hotspur (England) 2-1, 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (England)

Most Successful Clubs

“Sevilla, the undisputed kings of the Europa League, have now won all seven of the finals they have played in the competition.”

— Reuters, May 30, 2023

Sevilla - 7 Titles

Won in: 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023. The Spanish club has made the Europa League its signature competition.

Inter Milan - 3 Titles

Won in: 1991, 1994, 1998. The Italian giants were dominant in the 1990s era of the UEFA Cup.

Liverpool - 3 Titles

Won in: 1973, 1976, 2001. The English club's success spans multiple decades of the competition.

Juventus - 3 Titles

Won in: 1977, 1990, 1993. The Italian powerhouse was particularly successful in the early 1990s.

Atlético Madrid - 3 Titles

Won in: 2010, 2012, 2018. All victories came in the Europa League era post-2009.

Tottenham Hotspur - 2 Titles

Won in: 1972, 1984, 2025. The English club also lost the 1974 final.

Competition Evolution and Format Changes

The UEFA Europa League has undergone significant transformations since its inception as the UEFA Cup in 1971. Understanding these changes helps appreciate the competition's growth into one of football's premier tournaments.

The UEFA Cup Era (1971-2009)

Originally established to replace the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the UEFA Cup featured a two-legged final format until 1998. This home-and-away system created memorable encounters, with away goals often proving decisive. The competition allowed multiple entries from each country based on their UEFA coefficient ranking.

Modern Europa League Format (2009-Present)

The 2009 rebrand to the Europa League brought substantial changes. A group stage was introduced, similar to the Champions League format. Teams now compete in a round-robin group phase before progressing to knockout rounds. The winner earns automatic qualification to the following season's Champions League, adding significant prestige to the title.

Pro Tip: The Europa League final is always held at a neutral venue predetermined by UEFA, typically announced two years in advance. This single-match format has produced dramatic finals often decided by penalty shootouts.

Recent Trends and Notable Finals

The past decade has witnessed several memorable finals that showcase the competition's competitive nature and global appeal. Spanish dominance has been particularly notable, though recent winners from Germany and Italy demonstrate the tournament's competitive balance.

Penalty Shootout Drama

Since 2020, three of the last six Europa League finals have indeed gone to penalty shootouts, including Villarreal’s epic 11–10 win over Manchester United in 2021, one of the longest shootouts in European final history.

All-Country Finals

The competition has produced several finals between teams from the same nation, including the 2018-19 all-English final between Chelsea and Arsenal, and the 2011-12 all-Spanish clash between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which team has won the most UEFA Europa League titles?

Sevilla is the most successful club with 7 titles, all won between 2006 and 2023. They've essentially made the Europa League their signature competition, winning it more than twice as many times as any other club in the modern era.

When did the UEFA Cup become the Europa League?

The competition changed from UEFA Cup to Europa League in 2009. The rebrand came with significant format changes, including the introduction of a group stage and increased prize money.

How many teams compete in the Europa League?

Currently, 36 teams compete in the group stage, 11 of which come from the qualifying rounds.

What does the Europa League winner receive?

The winner receives the Europa League trophy, significant prize money (approximately €8.6 million for winning), and automatic qualification to the following season's Champions League group stage. This Champions League spot makes the competition highly valuable.

Which country has the most Europa League wins?

Spain leads with 14 titles, followed by Italy and England, each with 10 wins.

Has any team won the Europa League consecutively?

Yes, Sevilla won three consecutive titles from 2014 to 2016, the only team to achieve this feat. Real Madrid (1985, 1986) and Sevilla again (2006, 2007) have won back-to-back titles.